T HAT ’ S A 4-H P ROJECT ?!? Laura A. Huebinger Extension Program Specialist 4-H & Youth Development.

THAT’S A 4-H PROJECT?!?Laura A. Huebinger

Extension Program Specialist

4-H & Youth Development

SO YOU TELL ME….. Give me an example of a 4-H project. What do you think a 4-H project is?

Write down your own definition. Get with a partner. Share your definitions and rewrite

one definition together. What really is a 4-H project?

4 COMPONENTS About 5-6 (or more) sequential learning experiences of

20-30 minutes in length Approximately 2 hours or more

Community Service Leadership Exhibition of Project Work

LEARNING EXPERIENCES - EXAMPLES

• 4-H Project Meetings• Educational Tours• Workshops• Clinics• Contests• Demonstrations• Interviews of Experts• Educational

Presentations

• Exhibits• Expos• Speeches• Videos/DVD• Television shows• Bowls• Self-study: Magazines,

internet research• National 4-H Curriculum

COMMUNITY SERVICE - EXAMPLES

Definition: helping others and your community

Community Service Guide http://texas4-h.tamu.edu/oneday/index.php

Service Project Ideas 2009 one day 4-H Community Service Project List

COMMUNITY SERVICE & VOLUNTEER LEADERSHIPWhat’s the difference?? Community Service

Helping others outside of the 4-H program Volunteer Leadership

Benefits the 4-H program

LEADERSHIP - EXAMPLES

Teaching/Guiding others Conducting a workshop Organize a group activity Share information with

others

Demonstration/speech Assist an adult Plan a tour Junior/Teen Leader Lead an activity

Definition: help other people achieve goals through guidance; teaching or leading others.

EXHIBIT PROJECT WORK Sharing what you have learned with someone else! Examples

Contest Livestock show Educational presentation Speech Fair Exhibit Project meeting

TIMELINE FOR A PROJECT Projects can take place any time of the year Each project has its own timeline Some project timelines are designated by contests or

exhibitions. Some include: Food & Nutrition Clothing & Textiles Livestock projects Horse

WHO LEADS A 4-H PROJECT? Adult Project Leader

4-H project leaders provide structured learning experiences, personal guidance, and counseling for 4-H members enrolled in projects

Generally ages 19 and up Must be screened through the 4-H Youth Protection

Standards Program

WHO LEADS A 4-H PROJECT?Youth Leadership Roles Teen Leader

A teen leader is a youth of age 13 to 18 who has at least 1 year of project experience and who takes total responsibility for a project, activity, or event.

Junior Leader A junior leader is a 4-H member 10 to 12 years old who has

been a 4-H member for at least 1 year and who assists adult 4-H volunteers in any aspect of the 4-H program.

PROJECT RESOURCES Curriculum Books Magazines Experts Professionals Hobbyists Associations/Organizations Internet http://texas4-h.tamu.edu/projects/index_projects_programs.php

4-H EXTRACURRICULAR PRIVILEGES County Extension Agents are Adjunct Faculty with

School Districts Texas Education Code Extracurricular Activities & 4-H Eligibility School Absences

WHAT ARE YOUTH SUPPOSE TO BE LEARNING WITH A 4-H PROJECT? You tell me!

TARGETING LIFE SKILLS MODEL

Iowa State University Extension, 4-H Youth Development

http://www.extension.iastate.edu/4H/lifeskills/homepage.html

TARGETING LIFE SKILLS MODELHEAD HEART HANDS HEALTHManaging Thinking Relating Caring Giving Working Living Being

Resiliency Service Learning

Accepting Differences

Nurturing Relationships

Community Service/Volunteering

Marketable Skills

Healthy Lifestyle Choices

Self-esteem

Keeping Records

Critical Thinking

Conflict Resolution

Sharing Leadership Teamwork Stress Management

Self-responsibility

Wise Use of Resources

Problem Solving

Social Skills Empathy Responsible Citizenship

Self-motivation

Disease Prevention

Character

Planning/Organizing

Decision Making

Cooperation Concern for Others

Contribution to Group Effort

Personal Safety

Managing Feelings

Goal Setting Learning to Learn

Communication Self-discipline

RECOGNIZING 4-H MEMBERS FOR THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS National 4-H Recognition Model

NATIONAL 4-H RECOGNITION MODEL Participation

Membership card, Ribbons, Year Pins Progress Toward Self-Set Goals

Certificate of completion Achievement of Standards of Excellence

Project Pins, Blue/Red/White Ribbons Peer Competition

Awards for exhibits/contests not appropriate for youth under age 8

Cooperation Club Awards for teamwork, Club Celebration/Party

A GOOD PROJECT EXPERIENCE…IT DOESN’T JUST HAPPEN It takes planning, practice, processing, evaluation Planning allows members to participate Processing allows members to apply skills to other

projects and programs Evaluation gives members a chance to see:

What have I learned? What would I do differently next time?

Gives families a sense of security & direction

QUESTIONS? Your County Extension Agent is here to help you! Visit with other project leaders to gain ideas, resources,

and more! Good luck with your project groups!

LAURA A. HUEBINGEREXTENSION PROGRAM SPECIALIST4-H & YOUTH DEVELOPMENTCENTRAL DISTRICT 8

Educational programs of the Texas AgriLife Extension Service are open to all people without regard to race, color, sex, disability, religion, age, or national origin.The Texas A&M University System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating