More
Than You Imagined!
 More
Than You Imagined!
The
4-H emblem, a clover bearing an "H" on each of its four leaves,
represents the characteristics each member develops: head, heart,
hands, and health. Head involves thinking, making decisions, and
learning new things, while heart entails caring about other people,
accepting responsibility, and developing values. Hands symbolize
the effort to acquire and perfect new skills and to help others.
Health involves protecting the well-being of yourself and others.
The
focus of Colorado State University Extension's 4-H Youth
Development Program is on prevention and intervention. Colorado
4-H offers kids more than a chance to win a blue ribbon. It's a
learning laboratory for them. The idea is to involve them in hands-on
activities so they can feel good about accomplishing something and
share in a friendly learning environment. In 4-H, kids make decisions
about what they want to learn and how to do it; they choose projects
they are interested in, and work toward a goal they have set. Adult
volunteers help guide those experiences and encourage growth and
achievement through hands-on-learn-by-doing techniques.
Kids
have more choices in 4-H than they imagined!
Kids
have more choices in 4-H than they imagined!
Kids
in 4-H learn and grow by completing projects - constructive activities
ranging from archery to woodworking. 4-Hers choose projects to enhance
their communities, launch a rocket, explore insects, raise animals,
learn to sew, build things, or just satisfy their curiosity about
a topic.
Extension agents, specialists and volunteers contribute technical
knowledge in subject areas, such as:
-
environmental
sciences
-
workforce preparation
-
leadership and volunteerism
-
character and ethics
-
career
exploration
-
child
development
-
food and nutrition
-
consumer decision making
-
agriculture
and natural resources
-
gardening
-
electrical
and mechanical engineering
-
fish
and wildlife conservation
-
veterinary
medicine
-
animal
sciences
4-Hers
have fun while they develop good work habits, business skills, responsibility,
cooperation, commitment, and sportsmanship. By setting goals, making
plans to reach them, and completing projects, 4-Hers learn to make
decisions, how to use their time efficiently, and how to meet deadlines.
In the course of each project, they demonstrate their new skills
and give oral reports to their clubs, gaining experience in public
speaking and presentations.
4-Hers
also learn to work with each other. Members enrolled in the same kind
of projects often cooperate by comparing notes, studying together,
and sharing ideas and methods. Youth working on projects learn record
keeping, written communication skills and follow-through on commitments.
Competing in judging contests helps kids appreciate teamwork and group
decision-making. For a team to succeed, each member must be prepared
to work and contribute skills to the group.
As
youth work together and begin to assume meaningful roles in the
process of developing communities, they become invested in their
future, the people with whom they live, their surroundings and the
larger community.
The
effects of 4-H are more than you imagined!
The
effects of 4-H are more than you imagined!
The
4-H Youth Development Program is based on the foundation that
youth are a vital resource...that the youth of today comprise
our most important building block for the future. The world is
changing rapidly today, and societal changes continually put pressures
on our nation's youth. Young people face challenges created by
unique family environments, negative peer pressure, youth unemployment,
economic stress on families, crime, and violence, drop-out rates,
and drugs and alcohol. The American work force, the economy, the
social structure, education, justice, and democratic government
all depend on the next generation of educated, concerned and involved
youth. Colorado State University Extension 4-H Youth
Development Programs reach nearly 100,000 Colorado youth every
year. The 4-H Program helps youth build a solid foundation of
knowledge and life skills. 4-Hers learn responsibility, resiliency,
citizenship and good work habits. The 4-H Program offers a wealth
of opportunities for young people to learn decision making, leadership
and communication skills, interpersonal relations and community
service.
Assisting
young people as they prepare for the future continues to be the
central mission of 4-H. The 4-H vision is to be a world leader
in developing youth to become self-directed, productive, contributing
members and leaders of society through interaction with adults
who care
A
Life-Long Foundation for Youth
A
Life-Long Foundation for Youth
In 4-H, youth are valued for their knowledge, ideas and as a resource
for the future. To support and nurture this youth potential, the 4-H
Youth Development Program involves parents or caregivers and more
than 10,000 adult and older youth volunteers who dedicate their time
and knowledge to 4-H youth. Opportunities
for mental, physical and social growth are offered through organized
clubs, individual projects, camps, school enrichment activities, after-school
and special-interest programs.
-
The
4-H Club Program provides fun learning experiences through structured
educational projects that are supported by parents and project
leaders. Projects that teach subject matter and develop life skills
- from child development to veterinary medicine - are the method
used to enhance learning and growth of each child.
-
4-H
After-School and School Enrichment Programs reach thousands of
youth around the state each year throug 4-H - developed curricula
and programs - such as:
4-H SPACES, Kids in Conservation, SERIES (Science Experiences
and Resources for Informal Educational Settings), Environmental
Appreciation Days and gardening and wildlife programs - are
designed to strengthen science skills, enhance personal development
and enrich classroom learning. Teachers use the learn-by-doing
instruction of 4-H programs to increase students' critical thinking
skills.
Colorado 4-H International Programs offer young people and their families
the opportunity to participate in cross-cultural experiences to learn
about people from other countries and cultures. The home-stay experience
provides the unique opportunity to live, work and play side-by-side
with a foreign friend.
The
International 4-H Youth Exchange program provides 4-H alumni opportunities
to visit several overseas host families during a six-month exchange.
4-H
Special Interest Programs are offered to provide expanded educational
opportunities and support to youth audiences. The DARE to be You and
Partners in Parenting programs help strengthen families and reduce
high-risk behaviors by youth. The Colorado Youth Council helps youth
gain leadership skills through community activism. Through Kids on
the Block, children learn about cultural differences and disabilities.
STAND (Students Taking a New Direction) is a student-directed prevention
effort to reduce alcohol and drug use by teens. The 4-H Scholar Program
provides financial support and promotional experience for selected
4-Hers attending Colorado State University. Families are changing
- and the 4-H Youth Development Program is responding to change by
offering a wealth of diverse and dynamic programs. Since 1914, 4-H
has built on its rural roots to serve the development of the whole
child in both city and farm communities. 4-H is open to all rural,
small town, big city and suburban youth and their families.
For
more information on 4-H Youth Development Programs, contact one
of the following:
Our
expert agents and specialists will help you become involved in the
4-H program or direct you to sources to answer your specific questions.
Together we'll build a new foundation to support youth and families
for many generations to come.
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