Imperial County 4-H Youth

Development Program – 2014-2015

New

Leader

Training2014-2015 Program Year

Thank You for

Volunteering Your Time!

Each year, about 270 adult

volunteers contribute hundreds

of hours of their time to the

Imperial County 4-H Program.

Without your support, the 4-H

Program would not be possible.

Thank you so much for your

interest, dedication and

support!

4-H is a youth development program sponsored by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the University of California at Davis (UC Davis), and Imperial County. It is the only youth program to receive federal, state and county funding and support.

Welcome to the World of

4-H!

Head Heart Hands Health

Through 4-H, youth participate in

innovative, fun programs designed to

develop valuable life-long skills.

Learn by doing!

The 4-H Program is designed to develop

each member’s Head, Heart, Hands & Health.

Head • Decision Making

• Problem Solving

• Goal Setting

• Planning/Organizing

• Prioritizing

• Time Management

Heart • Communication

• Cooperation

• Accepting

Differences

• Empathy

• Sharing

• Concern for others

Hands • Community Service

(Volunteering)

• Leadership

• Responsible

Citizenship

• Teamwork

• Self-motivation

• Community Pride

Health • Healthy Lifestyle

• Self-esteem

• Stress Management

• Disease Prevention

• Personal Safety

• Self-discipline

• Self-responsibility

Some of the specific life-long skills youth members

develop are:

These are traits we want our young

adults to possess.

The result is young adults that are:

Competent

Confident

Connected

Compassionate

Of Good

CharacterProductive

Ad

ult

Le

ad

er

Ro

les a

nd

Re

sp

on

sib

ilit

ies

What skills can 4-H teach to

help our youth become

successful adults?

Project-specific content such

as preparing a nutritious meal

or building a rocket;

Life skills such as time

management, conflict

resolution, leadership,

teamwork, etc.

Our youth are a resource. All resources

are more productive if they are properly

developed.

As parents/guardians or

adult leaders, we have

an important job to do.

Our role is to assist our

youth with their

project(s), but not to do

the project(s) for them.

4-H is about learning

by doing.

… Experience hands-on activities.

… Share what happened with the

group.

… Process the steps needed to

complete the activity. Identify common

experiences, themes and issues. How

were issues overcome?

… Generalize what was learned by

answering the question “so what?”

Identify real life principles that arose

by completing the activity. Why is the

skill we practiced important in daily

life?

… Apply what was learned to a

similar or different situation.

Experience

Share

Process

Generalize

Apply

As a Project or Community Club Leader, you will use

an experiential learning model that provides 4-H

members with the opportunity to…

So what does that really mean? Let’s take a

close look at the following examples:

EXAMPLE 1

• At their 4-H cooking meeting, three groups of 4-H

members baked brownies from scratch. (Experience)

• When the brownies were done, each group drank a

glass of milk and ate their brownies. (Experience)

EXAMPLE 2

• At their cooking meeting, three groups of 4-H members

baked, then tasted their brownies. (Experience)

• Next, the groups discussed how their brownies tasted. Group

1 reported theirs were really moist & chewy, while Group’s 2

& 3 said theirs were really dry. (Share)

• The leader asked: “Why do you think that happened?”

• Group 1 said they baked their brownies at 350° for 20

minutes, while Groups 2 & 3 said they baked their brownies

at 350° for about 30 minutes because they forgot to watch the

time. (Process)

• The leader then asked Groups 2 & 3: “Do you think it is

important to watch the time when you are cooking?”

(Generalize)

• The leader then expanded the discussion by asking: “What

about in your daily life? Is it important to watch the

time?” (Apply)

Experiential learning is completing a hands-on

activity, followed by a series of open-ended questions

designed to connect the learning to real life and

increase retention.

How will you incorporate experiential learning

into the projects you lead this year?

SUMMARY:

Which of the above provides the BEST example of

experiential learning?

That’s right – Example 2!

Belonging -- provide opportunities for youth to develop positive relationships with adults and peers.

Mastery -- recognize youth for their achievement in appropriate ways.

Independence -- allow youth to make decisions and to accept the responsibility for their choices.

Generosity -- encourage young people to help others.

As a 4-H leader, your responsibility is to

foster youth development by creating an

environment that promotes:

BELONGING

Research shows today’s youth benefit if

they have a sense of belonging. What are

some things you can do to help 4-H

members feel welcome?

Examples

Greet members as they arrive.

Learn something about each member.

Introduce new families to the group.

Have returning or older members

mentor new or younger members.

Have experienced 4-H families mentor

new 4-H families.

Provide equal opportunities for all

members.

MASTERY

Research also shows today’s youth need to

be recognized for their accomplishments.

What are some ways you can recognize 4-H

member achievements?

Examples

Provide every member with an

opportunity to share in front of the

group.

Provide positive feedback.

Write club/project group newspaper or 4-

H newsletter articles recognizing

achievements and include pictures.

Focus on what the members can do

instead of what they can not.

The 4-H program recognizes youth achievement

in a number of ways, such as Year Pins, Service

Stripes, Project Pins, and Star Ranks. As a 4-H

Leader, one key responsibility is to assist and

encourage members to achieve this recognition.

INDEPENDENCE

A primary goal in 4-H is to help our

youth become successful and

independent adults. What are some

ways you can grant 4-H members

their independence?

Examples

Include members in decision

making (meeting schedule,

meeting topics, activities, etc.)

Allow the members to do their

own work.

Encourage parents to allow

members to do their own work.

GENEROSITY

Another important goal is to develop young

adults who care about other people and the

world around us. What are some things

our youth can do that will promote

generosity?

Examples

Club, project, or individual community

service activities.

Club Officers, Junior Teen Leadership,

Junior Show Board.

Please Note:

4-H members may only receive Community Service

credit when that opportunity has been announced and

made available to all members.

Jointly set the year’s goals for learning and doing with your group.

Plan fun, innovative hands-onactivities.

Schedule and conduct 6 hours of educational instruction related to your project.

Encourage members to do their own work.

Encourage members to give presentations (share their work with others).

As a 4-H Leader, your role is to:

Encourage participation in county,

regional or state events. Help

members complete the necessary

entry forms.

Help members complete their Annual

Project Report(s).

Attend 4-H Leader’s Council or

Livestock Leaders Council meetings

and help plan local/county events

relating to your project.

Obtain project literature from the

4-H Office and distribute it to project

members.

See the

Project

Leader

Digest at:

http://4h.uca

nr.edu/files/4

462.pdf

for more

information.

Leader Roles (continued):

GETTING STARTED

4-H Project Leaders

For your protection and the protection of youth

members, 4-H policy requires:

Two adults must be present at all 4-H meetings and

activities:

One must be a certified 4-H volunteer.

The other can be anyone over the age of 21.

One adult may drive two or more 4-H members.

Avoid one-on-one interactions with 4-H members.

4-H Supervision Policy

You may not hold

your first project

meeting until you

receive your

Volunteer

Appointment Card.

Volunteer Appointment Cards

are mailed after you

successfully…

Submit a completed 4-H

enrollment form, including

a Confidential Disclosure

Statement and Medical

Release;

Clear a DOJ background

check (fingerprinting);

Complete New Leader

Orientation Training.

When can I hold my first project meeting?

Every 4-H member and adult

volunteer is covered by

Accident/Sickness insurance

paid for with your enrollment

fee.

4-H automobile insurance is

secondary to your personal

insurance if you meet the

minimum requirements…

$50,000/$100,000/$50,000.

Does 4-H have insurance?

Refer to the individual(s)

Medical Release Form(s) and

arrange for appropriate first-

aid and medical care.

Call the 4-H Office as soon as

possible and work with the 4-H

Program Representative to

complete an insurance claim

and incident report.

What do I do if there is an

accident or injury?

What do I need to complete the fingerprinting requirement?

Complete 1 copy of the “Livescan Request Form”

(call the 4-H Office at 760-352-9474).

Driver’s License.

Call to make an appointment at:

Imperial County Sheriff’s Office at (760) 339-6311.

(Note: the Imperial County Sheriff’s Office has waived the cost for live-scanning 4-H adult volunteers.)

Fingerprinting (DOJ Background

Check)

As volunteers, we will be more successful if we have a

plan in place to help 4-H members develop the skills they

need to be successful adults. 4-H has three tools to help

you plan meetings that yield results:

1. Project Calendar;

2. 4-H Project Meeting Plan; and

3. Member Enrollment Attendance Sheet.

Electronic copies of these and other forms that

may be helpful are available at

http://ceimperial.ucanr.edu/4h/

Click on New Leader Orientation

Preparing for Project Meetings

Preparing for Project Meetings

(cont’d):Effective communication is really important. Be sure 4-H members

and their parents/guardians know what to expect. The following can

help foster effective communication:

1. Project Calendar: use this form to document agreed upon

meeting topics and project goals and communicate meeting

dates, times and locations to all 4-H members and parents.

2. Meeting Plan: use this form to plan, organize and conduct

project meetings, make assignments, identify needed supplies,

communicate expectations, and incorporate experiential learning

principles.

3. Attendance Record: use this form to document meeting

attendance and verify member’s completion of 6 hours of project-

related instruction.

Keep it fun!

Incorporate group activity(s) to burn off some

energy before instruction begins.

Incorporate time for a snack and something to

drink.

Include time for sharing.

Tips for Success

CALIFORNIA 4-H

Things you should know about

California 4-H offers a variety of programs for

youth of different ages to learn, interact and

participate with their peers. Included is:

Primary 4-H: youth ages 5-8 years old.

participation only (no competition);

no large animals or shooting sports.

Junior 4-H: youth ages 9-11.

Intermediate 4-H: youth in ages 12-13.

Senior 4-H: youth ages 14-19.

4-H Members

Educational activities about a specific

topic.

Led by a certified 4-H Volunteer.

Require 6 hours of project-related

educational instruction.

Horse Project - members must wear

ASTM/SEI certified helmets while

riding or driving.

This is not optional & members may not

participate unless they are wearing their

helmet. (Parents/guardians are

responsible for obtaining the proper

helmet for their child.)

4-H Projects

4-H members are encouraged to complete a record book

because it helps them:

Learn to keep a record of their accomplishments.

See how much they have learned in a certain time

period.

Learn about expenses, income and profit.

Take pride in what they have learned to do.

A completed record book also helps:

Project leaders see what challenges youth should

assume during the coming year.

Club leaders know what awards the member has

earned.

4-H Record Books

IMPERIAL COUNTY 4-H

Things you should know about

For more information, visit the Imperial County Website for the

2014-2015 Program Year @ http://ceimperial.ucanr.edu/4h/

Enrollment begins July 1st

Enrollment fees will stay the same as 2013-2014

$12.00 per adult and $34.00 per youth

Clubs may have additional fees please contact your

community leader.

Enrollment fees are used to cover the costs for

insurance, curriculum development and program

delivery

Completed enrollment forms are due to the 4-H Office

on November 1st

4-H Enrollment (2014-2015)

Club Leader & Officer Training, Information & Materials

Recruitment and Enrollment Materials & Information

New Leader Orientation Training

Project Activity Guides, Forms, & Other Materials

4-H Record Book Training, Forms, & Other Materials

Resource Library

4-H Website

Imperial County 4-H Handbook

Imperial County 4-H Record Book Handbook

Community Club Leader Handbook

How to Manage Your 4-H Club’s Finances

Monthly Newsletter – 4-H Intercom

Questions, Concerns, Complaints, Variance Requests, Accident Reporting

How the 4-H Office Can Help

Obtain Annual Project Report

(APR) forms for every

member.

Ask members to update their

APR at each project meeting.

Collect and file the APRs

until the next meeting.

Repeat for all project

meetings.

Sign when 6 hours of

instruction is completed.

Return the signed APR to the

member at the end of the

year.

“No job is complete until

the paperwork is done.”

How Project Leaders Can Help

Host or attend a

Record Book

workshop.

Schedule special

meetings for youth

members to work on

their record books.

Share Senior 4-H or

other 4-H member’s

record books as

examples.

How Parents/Guardians and

Community Club Leaders Can Help

For more information,

see the Record Book

information and

materials at:

http://ceimperial.ucanr.e

du/4h/RecordBooks/

SWITCHING GEARS

Adult Volunteers

Expectations

As adults involved in the 4-H Program, we

serve as a role model for impressionable

youth.

One important responsibility is to

demonstrate the skills our youth will need to

cope with the challenges life can bring.

Among these are how to:

• win or lose with equal grace,

• work with others to positively and

effectively resolve problems or conflicts,

• be a strong team member committed to

helping the team be the best it can be,

• listen with respect, and

• offer positive feedback and constructive

suggestions.

Problem Solving

When faced with a problem or conflict, think about the

following:

How you choose to handle a disappointment or work

through a problem or conflict is the lesson youth will learn.

Confronting another parent or adult in front of youth

members or their siblings is not okay. If you have a

concern, ask the individual to step outside the room or

away from others before you share your concern.

Talk about your concern or problem – not the other person.

It is important for our youth to understand how important

it is to preserve positive, effective working relationships

with others and that it is not okay to personally attack

someone.

Problem Solving (Cont’d)

Speak calmly, listen with respect and remain positive.

Understand that mistakes can happen. Make constructive

suggestions. Rather than telling someone: “You got it

wrong!”, choose to offer positive feedback and constructive

suggestions such as: “Next time, maybe we could try…” or

“Have you thought about…?”

Look for win-win solutions whenever possible. While there

are times when solutions cannot be found, solutions can

often be found to many of life’s challenges. This is a lesson

we want our youth to learn.

“Coming together is a beginning. Keeping

together is progress. Working together is

success.” -- Henry Ford

As a first step, work with your project leader(s) or the

community club leader to address or resolve the concern.

If the concern cannot be resolved at the club level, please

contact the 4-H Program Representative at 760-352-9474

to ask for help at the county level.

What Do I Do If Have A Problem, Issue Or Concern?

Complaint? Variance Request?

VARIANCE REQUEST

4-H members may request an exception from a

specific Imperial County 4-H policy requirement if

they have a special circumstance. Contact the 4-H

Office & ask for a variance request form. Requests

are evaluated by the Imperial 4-H Leader’s Council

who may approve, approve with modifications, or

deny the request. Their decision is final.

COMPLAINTS

When a conflict cannot be resolved at the club or

county level, it may be taken to the county director

for additional review. Contact the 4-H Office for a

complaint form or write a letter which provides the

relevant information.

Food for Thought

Have fun,

make new friends,

make a difference –

through 4-H!

As a 4-H leader, you

have the opportunity to

help kids learn, explore

and thrive.

QUESTIONS?

Call the 4-H Office at

760-352-9474.

SOURCES

Facts About 4-H:Understanding the Basics (4-H 0244L). Oregon State

University Extension Service. Revised by Roger Rennekamp and Marilyn

Lesmeister. Originally prepared by Leonard J. Calvert. 2011.

Experiential Learning Workshop: Level 1. Adapted from the work of David

Kolb (1984) by Pfeiffer and Jones (1985). 4-H Experiential Learning

Website @ www.experientiallearning.ucdavis.edu. University of California

Davis.

The Symbols of 4-H. Oregon 4-H Program Handbook. April 2002.

Oregon 4-H Youth Development Program Model. Oregon State University

Extension Service. Developed by Roger Rennekamp and Mary Arnold.

August 2006.

Targeting Life Skills in 4-H (4H FS 101.9). 4-H 101. University of Florida

Extension. Marilyn Norman and Joy C. Jordan.

4-H Pledge Handout. 4-H Cloverbuds. Ohio State University Extension.

4-H website @ http://ceimperial.ucanr.edu/4h/