Dane County 4-H. New Family Handbook

Transcription

1 Dane County 4-H New Family Handbook

2 5201 Fen Oak Drive, Suite 138 Madison, WI (608) A Warm Welcome to a New 4-H Family! The 4-H community in Dane County would like to extend you a very warm welcome! You have just joined a rather large family. There are 40 different 4-H clubs in this county comprised of over 800 different families. These families help make up the 150,000 4-H participants in Wisconsin. Across the United States there are over 6,000,000 4-Hers. And, contrary to popular belief, 4-H is not confined to this country s borders. More than 80 countries around the world have a 4-H program. Each club is as unique and special as your own family. This large organization you have joined may seem overwhelming at first. There are so many rules, forms, schedules, and opportunities to sort out that it can be extremely frustrating and often confusing. This handbook will help ease some of those first year frustrations. Also listed in this handbook are the names and contact information for the staff at the Dane County 4-H Office. Going over this handbook with the 4-H members in your household would be an excellent opportunity for everyone to become familiar with the 4-H program in Dane County. There is a very important role for family members in 4-H: family is what binds this diverse program. It is important to get the entire family invested in the 4-H program as much as possible. The 4-H program realizes that not every family has an ideal amount of time to spend with their 4-H member. That is why we support one another with information, encouragement, transportation, etc. No matter how much time is available to you, make that time valuable by offering genuine interest and guidance when needed. Make 4-H an important and respected activity in your family. This will help your family receive the most benefit from this wonderful youth program. Remember, without YOU, there can be no 4-H! The Dane County 4-H Staff Team Kathy Ottem Jess Guffey Calkins Lara Miller

3 University of Wisconsin-Extension (UWEX), Dane County 4-H Office (see map below) Lyman F. Anderson Agriculture and Conservation Center 5201 Fen Oak Drive, Suite 138 Madison, WI (608) Kathy Ottem Support Staff; ; Jess Guffey Calkins 4-H Youth Development Assistant, Lara Miller 4-H Program Assistant; University of Wisconsin Extension - Dane County 4-H Office Lyman F. Anderson Agriculture & Conservation Center The facility is located at the southeast corner of Agriculture Drive and World Dairy Drive. To find our offices from the Beltline, take the highway 51-exit north. Turn right at the lights onto Broadway East. Follow this road as it becomes Dutch Mill Road and then Femrite Drive. At the intersection of Agriculture Drive, turn left. As you drive up Agriculture Drive, on your right you will see a 2-story brick building. Turn right onto World Dairy Drive and then right again onto Fen Oak Ct. and into our parking lot. To find our offices coming from the north on Highway 51, turn left at the lights on Pflaum Road. This road will curve right, or south, and become Agriculture Drive. Follow this to World Dairy Drive and turn left onto Fen Oak Drive.

4 WHAT IS 4-H? 4-H is a youth organization that belongs to the members, their families and other interested adults who serve as volunteer leaders. Professional leadership is provided by Cooperative Extension of the University of Wisconsin-Extension. Support for 4-H programs is a joint effort of county government, the University of Wisconsin and the United States Department of Agriculture. In 4-H young people share, grow and learn together. They participate in various projects, events and activities in informal situations under the guidance of their families and other volunteer adult leaders. Members can choose projects that fit them and the places where they live. Group activities and events such as drama, trips, camps, fairs, shows and conferences provide additional learning experiences and opportunities. 4-H is open to all youth and adults regardless of race, color, sex, creed, disability, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, sexual orientation, pregnancy, marital or parental status. Most 4-H clubs have meetings for the entire membership once a month. During these meetings, decisions are made about group-sponsored activities such as community service efforts, project opportunities and fund raising efforts. In the event that a member/leader is unable to pay the club enrollment fee, please contact the Dane County 4-H Office. The Dane County 4-H Program is open to all regardless of the ability to pay. Regardless of the structure, a 4-H club may involve families, neighbors, relatives and others. Participants have fun learning, working and succeeding together in the home, neighborhood and community. The purpose of 4-H is two-fold: PURPOSE OF 4-H * To provide real-life educational experiences through a fun, action-oriented and practical program. * To provide an opportunity for parents and other interested adults to help youth develop life skills. The major focus of 4-H is on activities of the local 4-H club. Volunteers serve as 4-H leaders who plan and organize learning experiences with youth. The many county and state activities supplement, support and enhance local club programs.

5 4-H CUSTOMS EMBLEM: THE 4 Hs: PLEDGE: The national 4-H emblem is a four leaf clover with the letter "H" on each leaf. The four Hs stand for Head, Heart, Hands and Health. The 4-H pledge and the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag are recited at the beginning of all 4-H club meetings. 4-H Pledge: I pledge...my Head to clearer thinking...my Heart to greater loyalty...my Hands to larger service, and...my Health to better living, for my Club, my Community, my Country, and my World. COLORS: MOTTO: SLOGAN: Green and white are the 4-H colors. The white background of the flag symbolizes purity. The green of the 4-H emblem is nature's most common color in the great outdoors. Green is also the color of springtime, life and youth. The national 4-H motto is "To Make the Best Better." It should be the objective of every member and leader. "Learn by Doing," illustrates the "hands-on" approach 4-H incorporates in its projects. The 4-H emblem is a green (Pantone 347) fourleafed clover with a white H on each leaf. When displaying or using the 4-H emblem there are some specific guidelines. The stem of the clover must always point to the right and be flush with the numbers, 18 U.S.C No part of the emblem may be obscured, no leaves may be removed, and no graphics or text may be superimposed on top of the emblem. The emblem may be displayed in black and white for copying purposes. For complete guidelines concerning the use of the emblem you can contact the UW - Extension or visit

6 HOW 4-H BENEFITS CHILDREN AND YOUTH 4-H members: Gain new skills while they learn. Complete projects that are appealing and meaningful to them. Make friends and belong to a group. Give and receive acceptance and affection. Enjoy themselves while learning. Earn recognition and awards. 4-H members develop and practice important life skills relating to the four H s: Head -- thinking and learning, solving problems, making decisions and setting goals Heart -- caring, determining values, respecting and supporting one another Hands -- using new skills to create, build, design or shape Health -- forming attitudes, habits and life styles that enhance physical and mental well-being WHO'S WHO IN 4-H Cloverbud Anyone in kindergarten to second grade who enrolls in a 4-H club is enrolled as a Cloverbud. Cloverbuds enroll in the Cloverbud Project. Explorer Many members enroll in Exploring in their first year after being a Cloverbud or if they first enroll in 4- H when they are nine or older. Exploring allows a member to sample many projects before deciding on which to concentrate. 4-H Member Anyone enrolled in third grade, through age eighteen who enrolls in a 4-H club or as an independent member is a 4-H member. Members are invited to participate in all county-level 4-H activities. Youth Leader Youth who have experience/knowledge in a project sign up as a Youth Leader to help younger members learn and grow in that project area. Youth Leaders are encouraged to enroll in the Youth Leadership Project. Organizational Leader An Organizational Leader is the general leader for the 4-H club. They coordinate programs and activities planned by the group. They work with club officers in helping them conduct monthly meetings. They help members as well as parents follow through with responsibilities they have accepted. The Organizational Leader is the main resource between the club, the Leaders Association and the Extension Office. Enrollment Coordinator The Enrollment Leader is responsible for processing all enrollment forms, verifying information and submitting enrollment information to the UWEX-Dane County 4-H Office. Project Leader Project Leaders are the key teaching members of the 4-H club. These individuals conduct project meetings where 4-Her s learn the how to s of their projects. They provide encouragement, guidance, and evaluation. They also arrange for educational opportunities like tours, and other activities that relate to the project areas. Activity Leader An activity leader takes responsibility for organizing and conducting special activities. (Examples: music, drama, community service activities, chaperone, etc.) Note: All leaders and volunteers must complete a VIP (Volunteers in Preparation) Training. For more information, call the UWEX-Dane County 4-H Office.

7 Parents Parents are very important to the success a child will have in the 4-H program. Parents are encouraged to attend monthly meetings and project meetings with their child. All county-wide events are open to the public, and parents are encouraged to attend with their children. The parents' key roles include supporting the child's commitments, helping the child think through decisions, and seeing the child reach his/her goals. There are several ways for parents to help: o Attending 4-H meetings and other special events. o Guiding the 4-Hers project and encouraging completion without doing the work. o Supporting local 4-H club leaders by offering assistance. o Making it possible for youth to participate in a variety of 4-H activities such as camps, fairs, contests, and festivals. o Being an example of a good sport so children will learn to appreciate the successes of others. o Volunteering as club project leaders. o Serving on county committees. (Call the UWEX-Dane County 4-H Office for information) o Volunteering at the Dane County Fair 4-H Leaders Association All parents, members and leaders are automatically members of the Dane County 4-H Leaders Association. The Association meets three times per year in order to plan and provide training for leaders, parents and members to enhance local project work. The Association is led by a Board of Directors who meet monthly to support the work of the Association.

8 4-H RECORD BOOKS Records are a way of recording a 4-H member's growth through learning and experience. The record book should be a detailed account of all project work. This information becomes very valuable to older 4-H members if they wish to complete an M.E. (Member Evaluation), apply for state or national trips, awards and scholarships. By completing a record book each year, members develop good organizational, planning and decision-making skills; learn to identify and set realistic goals; improve written communication skills; and learn to objectively evaluate and critique their work. A Dane County Awards Packet is available online at: 4-H Offers Limitless Opportunities! Community Service Help your community by cleaning highways, visiting the elderly, sponsoring community meals, teaching children, or anything else you can think of! 4-H Members have the opportunity to display their projects at the County Fair in July. If you are looking for a wide variety of things to do in one location, then this is it. There are so many different seminars to choose from - everything from horses to learn to wind surf! Meet teens from around h M b i 8 th 10 th d U ll h ld i Enjoy 3 days of outdoor fun, adventure and learning with adult and youth leaders from the Dane County area. Available to both members and non 4-H members. 4-H Ambassadors coordinate and lead county-wide educational programs, service activities, and promotional events. For more information about these or any of the other exciting opportunities offered through 4-H, contact an Organizational Leader or the Extension Office at International Programs Travel the world or host an International family the 4-H way!

9 A Little 4-H History- 4-H s beginnings are as varied as the 50 states. No one club or specific individual can be credited as the founder of 4-H. 4-H began as boys corn clubs and girls canning clubs that began to pop up between 1902 and 1909 in Ohio, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Texas. These early youth clubs developed, in part, out of the state land grant college s efforts to take agricultural information to the public. Founders of these clubs wished to not only interest young people in rural life, but to also bring new knowledge home to their parents. Volunteer farm men and women were trained by county extension agents to act as leaders in these early clubs. In about 1907 or 1908 the early clubs became known as 3-H clubs, with the three leaf clover s H s standing for head, heart, and hands. In 1911, there was discussion of adding a fourth H. The word hustle was considered, and then replaced by health. From the 4-H emblem was patented. Then in 1939, a law was enacted to protect the 4-H name and emblem. Now this very special emblem can be used for official 4-H club and program activities. The Linn Junior Farmers Club was the very first 4-H club in Wisconsin. Mary Hatch and Thomas Bewick organized the club on October 30, Four boys and three girls attended this very first meeting. A historic marker on Highway BB in Rock County marks the area and tells the story of these 4-H pioneers in Wisconsin. For more information about the history of 4-H consult these great sources: Heritage Horizons (1976) Editors: C. Austin Vines and Marvin A. Anderson. Published by: Journal of Extension Reck, Franklin M. (1951) The 4-H Story; A History of 4-H Club Work. Chicago: National Committee on Boys and Girls Club Work. On the web:

10 Welcome to Dane County 4-H! If you have any questions, comments, concerns, etc. please feel free to contact one of the staff. To Learn By Doing