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4-H Youth
Leadership Program Overview, Guidelines, and Resources
Leadership: Part of All Ohio 4-H Projects
Every 4-H member is involved in at least one of the more
than 200 projects offered in Ohio. Every 4-H member,
in every project, should experience some leadership development
related to that project. In order to be a well-rounded
person, one needs to be competent, capable, caring, and
contributing. Through leadership and citizenship experiences
in their project work, 4-Hers can develop these characteristics.
"
Member Project Guides" for each 4-H project or project
series incorporate learning objectives that include specific
subject matter as well as leadership development, citizenship
development, and related objectives. For example, 4-H
members in a foods projects might spend half of their
time learning the basics of food preparation and good
nutrition. The remainder of their time might be spent
setting up fitness activities for other members in the
club, working with community food banks, or doing foods
related exhibits or demonstrations. Livestock club members
might "adopt a grandparent" at a nursing home
or set up a petting zoo for urban youth at a community
event.
More information about specific leadership development
options is provided in the Member Project Guide for each
specific 4-H project.
4-H Club Officer System
4-H is one of the few places youth can actually learn
to apply the democratic decision making process. As club
officers, 4-H members learn to conduct business in such
a way that all club members have an opportunity to be
heard and to assist in formulating decisions.
Although 4-H school groups and special emphasis groups
do not typically elect officers, 4-H community clubs
and 4-H project clubs are lead by executive councils
which include the president, one or more vice-presidents,
a secretary, a treasurer, a reporter, a recreation leader,
a health and safety officer, and other officers as needed
by the group.
Training for these officers is provided locally by a
volunteer 4-H advisor or 4-H teen leader. 4-H Officer
Guides are provided to each officer as well, for guidance
and information in completing their responsibilities.
It is also desirable for a county or multi-club officer
training program to be conducted. Such programs give
officers and their parents a better understanding of
their responsibilities and how to complete them. Usually
local adult leaders are available to serve as willing
and excellent resource people for such programs. For
example, community bankers are usually willing to train
club treasurers, newspaper reporters will assist club
news reporters, etc.
More information about the leadership development opportunities
available to 4-H club officers is available in the officers
guides.
4-H Committee Opportunities
Standing committees include committees for membership, program, health, safety,
social, and finance. In addition, a variety of special committees handle the
day to day operations of the groups. These include tours, community service projects,
parents' nights, special parties or events, fair exhibits, camp, floats, picnics,
and so forth. Every 4-H member is expected to assume at least one major leadership
responsibility within the club or group each year. These responsibilities are
suited to the level of development of the individual 4-Her.
4-H Leadership Projects
4-H projects are specific areas of planned experiences in which youth develop
knowledge, attitudes, skills, and aspirations related to a specific topic or
subject matter area. It is primarily through projects that information and research
results are disseminated or "extended" from the land-grant university
to youth through the Extension 4-H program.
The 4-H Youth Leadership Development Curriculum includes the following projects:
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One-On-One
One-On-One is a mentoring project is designed for teens with at least two
years of 4-H experience. Teens mentor at least one beginner 4-H member
and complete a series of learning experiences with their protege.
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Club Teen Leadership
This project is designed for teens who want to provide leadership and assistance
to advisors and members within a local 4-H club or group. Teens who participate
in this project work with a local 4-H advisor to develop an individual
plan for gaining abilities needed to provide leadership within the club.
A variety of activities and leadership learning experiences are provided
through the project.
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Multi-Level Teen Leadership
In this project, teens complete responsibilities in local, county, and
state 4-H programs; participate in study guide experiences; may mentor
younger members; and take part in other 4-H teen leadership opportunities.
The project includes beginner, intermediate, and advanced level opportunities.
This project particularly targeted towards teens who participate in county
4-H Teen Leadership, Junior Leadership, Teen Corps, or similar long-term
4-H teen leadership programs.
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Teen Leadership On The Job
The Teen Leadership On The Job project is designed for teens who are employed, who want to develop leadership for "making the best better" on the job, and who want to succeed in attaining their personal goals and those of their employers. Information and experiences related to the real world of work, attaining goals and objectives, developing a work ethic, stress management, money management, time management, and performance assessment are included.
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CarTeens
The CarTeens project is designed for teens who are involved in providing
leadership and instruction through the 4-H CarTeens program. The project
includes information and experiences for planning, conducting, and evaluating
4-H CarTeens programs.
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Speak Out
This project is designed for teens who are interested in serving on 4-H
awareness teams, as 4-H Ambassadors, on 4-H Speaker's Bureaus, and other
public relations groups, as well as for teens who are interested in developing
abilities in public relations for working with non-4-H groups and organizations.
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Community Service (available statewide in 1996)
The 4-H Community Service project is designed for teens who wish to focus
on the service dimension of leadership development. Participants will
exercise leadership in planning, conducting, and evaluating at least
one community service program or activity. Beginner, intermediate, and
advanced experiences will be included.
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Teen Board Leadership (available statewide in 1996)
The Teen Board Leadership project is designed for teens who serve on Fashion
and Food Boards, Junior Fair Boards, Student Councils, and similar representative
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Camp Counseling (available statewide in 1996)
The Camp Counseling project is designed for teens who are involved in providing
leadership as camp counselors for 4-H and other youth programs and organizations.
The project includes information and experiences for planning, conducting,
and evaluating camp counseling responsibilities and camp activities and
programs.
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