Florida 4-H Program Handbook

SECTION 3: 4-H Membership Guidelines and Policies

4-H Program Year

In Florida, the 4-H year starts September 1 and ends August 31 of the following year. 4-H enrollment and participation revolve around this 4-H program year definition.

Membership/Participation in 4-H

In Florida, the term 4-H member and 4-H participant are used synonymously in Florida where youth engage in a minimum of six (6) hours of educational learning experiences. This may be a club member; a youth enrolled in a series of six continuous sessions of a school enrichment program; a youth enrolled in a summer day camp series or going to summer 4-H camp. 4-H in Florida promotes that all youth who receive this minimum level of participation through Extension educational programs are 4-H members regardless of the method of participation.

This does differ from the national definition where youth in "clubs" are the only 4-H'ers referred to as "members." This difference is relevant in reports of accountability, especially for the state and federal youth statistical reports of enrollment.

4-H Member/Participant Defined

A 4-H member/participant is any youth, ages 5-18, who enrolls and participates (individually or as part of a group) in a planned sequence of learning experiences (project) of six hours or more. Members are guided by Extension staff or trained volunteers of both the 1862 and 1890 institutions.

An annual report of all 4-H member participation that meets this definition is required by State and Federal Partners. This county statistical report is described in the REPORTING AND ACCOUNTABILITY section of this handbook.

4-H Youth Contact Defined

A 4-H contact is any youth taking part in a program of less than six (6) hours provided as a result of action by Extension personnel (professional, paraprofessional or volunteer). This includes youth and programs conducted through both the 1862 and 1890 institutions such as garden tours, field trips, career seminars, and similar short-term experiences.

What are examples of 4-H youth contacts?

Conducting short-term community or school activities, for example:

• Having a booth at a school health fair or an Ag in the Classroom event where youth rotate to you every 30 minutes for an activity;
• A school group visits the Extension gardens for a two hour tour; or
• You conduct a 50 minute bicycle safety class for all 2nd graders in your county.

In these or similar situations, youth are not considered to be 4-H members and you do not complete enrollment procedures with them. These events alone, therefore, do not constitute 4-H membership. As a result of these experiences, youth might elect to join existing 4-H groups. You could follow up with these youth to organize further educational programs of at least 6 hours that would constitute 4-H youth membership.

Youth contacts are not reported for a statewide aggregated 4-H report. They may be reported by each Extension professional as part of their annual Report of Accomplishment (ROA) along with 4-H membership.

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4-H Membership And Participation Policies

The following list are the Florida 4-H membership policies. These policies relate to general 4-H membership not the specific criteria for participation in specific programs or events and activities.

1. All members must be engaged in a minimum of six hours of educational programs.
2. 4-H membership is available to all youth ages 5-18 without regard to race, color, sex, handicap, or national origin. However, selected projects or programs do have enrollment restrictions. Not all projects or program activities are deemed appropriate for all age ranges due to either developmental appropriateness, safety, or other considerations.
3. A young person may become a member of the Florida 4-H program by enrolling in 4-H clubs, classroom enrichment programs, short-term special interest groups, after-school programs, camps or as an individual, at any time during the year. Enrollment procedures vary with these methods but the rights and privileges of all aspects of the 4-H program do not.
4. 4-H members participating in one or more of these membership types are eligible to participate in all aspects of the 4-H program (e.g. camps, fairs, competitions, special event, or recognition) providing they meet the participation requirements of the particular event or activity.
5. Membership age of youth participation is determined by September 1 of the current program year. The minimum age of a 4-H'er is 5 years old by September 1 and the maximum age for a 4-H'er is 18 years of age by September 1, or completion of high school, whichever comes first.
6. The county of residence is the primary county for 4-H enrollment. Youth and adults are expected to enroll or participate in their home county. A 4-H member may enroll in projects and participate in events outside the county of residence, with the written approval of the 4-H agents in both counties. In any case, a 4-H member cannot be enrolled in the same project in two different counties at the same time.
7. 4-H members transferring to one county to another or one state to another should be accepted by that county and given full credit for their past 4-H work or achievements.
8. No uniform is required for participation in 4-H. Members are expected to abide by dress codes established for some events and activities.
9. All members are expected to abide by the established Code of Conduct.

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4-H Members, ages 5-7

Youth, five to seven year of age, officially became eligible for 4-H membership in Florida in 1995. Five to seven year olds are 4-H members with no special name (such as peewee or cloverbud) being used statewide.

General Program Guidelines

1. Learning in the group setting is the primary method for involving 5-7 year olds in 4-H. Individualized projects are not appropriate methods for most 5-7 year olds due to limited reading and other self-management skills.
2. Dual participation of child and parent or guardian is encouraged. Family activities are incorporated in curricula to encourage parent/child participation and to build a family involvement pattern that can be maintained as children become older.

Level of Participation and Eligibility Requirements for Selected Programs and Projects

Not all 4-H curricula areas are deemed appropriate for this age range. The following program and project restrictions apply to 5-7 year old 4-H member participation:

1. Animal projects for 5-7 year olds will be limited to "lap" animals only. Therefore, companion rather than production animal projects will be the focus of 4-H animal experiences for this age group.
   
   4-H'ers, 5-7 years of age, are ineligible to enroll in any large animal 4-H projects (sheep, goat, swine, beef, dairy, llama, ostrich, or horse) or participate in any livestock or horse shows. A 4-H'er must be 8 years of age at the beginning of the current 4-H program year (September 1) to be eligible to enroll in a large animal 4-H project and to own a large animal.
   
   This policy does not prohibit 5-7 year olds from learning about large animals through attendance at meetings, videos or through field trips. They cannot participate, however, in 4-H activities that bring them in contact with large animals due to safety. Note: Families (parents or guardians) assume all risk and responsibility of young children if assisting 4-H siblings with large animals.
2. Motorized vehicle and shooting sports 4-H programs will not permit the participation of 5-7 year olds. Again, safety and insurance coverage considerations are the reasons for this program limitation.
3. Summer residential camping programs operated in cooperation with the 4-H Youth Development Program is not designed to address the unique developmental and supervisory needs of 5-7 year olds. Therefore, 5-7 year olds are not eligible to participate in these residential camping programs. Family camps, especially designed to include 5-7 year olds, are encouraged.

Does a County Have to Provide Programs for 5-7 Year Olds?

This is probably the most often asked question regarding the expansion of 4-H programs within counties. The basic premise upon which programs are determined are the needs of the local citizens. At the time of implementing the program expansion it was recognized that not all counties may have the financial or human resources to expand program opportunities to this age range of youth. Therefore, each county with advisory committee input, will establish programs that address the local needs of 5-7 year olds through various delivery methods such as: community clubs, school enrichment, day camps. Many factors will influence county programming including: clientele needs and interests, population demographics, and availability of staff, and program resources.

As a reminder, county established program guidelines and policies must be consist with the previously sated statewide membership guidelines. Agent and Volunteer Staff Development Support University of Florida Extension Specialists can provide staff development training for county and/or multi-county groups upon request.

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