4-H promotes growth in children — and adults
Rhonda Gordon, Special to the Gazette
Thursday, October 8, 2009
You may have heard local youngsters talk about National 4-H Week in recent days.
The special week for 4-Hers began Sunday and will end on Saturday.
Although 4-H had its beginnings in rural America, it now serves youth in urban and suburban as well as rural communities. Only 17 percent of Kansas 4-H members live on farms. Kansas 4-H is open to youths between the ages of 7 and 19 years, with eligibility based on age as of Jan. 1.
The new 4-H year starts in October. Many prefer to join at the start of the school year, and enrollment is open year-round, so youths can join at any time.
4-H is a nationwide program led by state land-grant universities in cooperation with local county and district Extension councils. In Kansas, 4-H is the largest youth educational program, aside from public schools. Lyon County has 281 4-H members in 11 clubs, with a total of 70 adult leaders and 244 registered volunteers working with the 4-H members.
The four Hs represent:
• Head, for critical thinking, problem-solving.
• Heart, for self-discipline, integrity, communication.
• Hands, for serving others.
• Health, for choosing healthy lifestyles.
4-H community clubs clubs typically have structured business meetings, and emphasize community service, recreational activities and improving communication skills.
In this busy world, where schedules often send family members in a variety of directions, 4-H can bring families together. 4-H families learn together. They plan meetings, events, projects and activities together. Family members help out as club leaders, project leaders, meeting helpers, transportation aides and in a variety of other ways. Parental involvement can help ensure the best learning experience for our children.
As part of the 4-H experience, 4-H members are encouraged to learn about and contribute to the betterment of their communities. 4-H also utilizes a variety of community resources to enhance the educational experiences of members. Those resources may include meeting places, guest speakers, volunteers and field trips.
In 4-H, youth “learn by doing,” and much of that learning happens through project experiences. From photography to plant science and from electricity to entomology, Kansas 4-H offers 29 project areas designed to develop the wide range of interests that appeal to today’s young people. In addition to subject-matter skills, many young people develop interests that last a lifetime.
Club participation, projects and friendships with other members become memorable parts of the 4-H program. Equally important are the skills that last a lifetime. Successful adults often credit their experiences in 4-H as turning points in their lives. They credit planning, organization, record-keeping, public speaking and parliamentary procedure as essential to their success. The Kansas 4-H program has played a leadership role in identifying the five life skills most needed to help young people:
• A positive self-concept.
• An inquiring mind.
• A concern for the community.
• Healthy interpersonal relationships.
• Sound decision-making.
The 4-H program, like many other youth groups, relies heavily on volunteers who are involved in almost every aspect of the program. More than 16,000 volunteers work directly with 4-H youths throughout the year as club leaders and project specialists. Another 3,500 assist with events, club organization and 4-H promotion.
Volunteering to help a group of kids through 4-H can be one of the most rewarding experiences. From being a judge at a local contest to starting and leading a 4-H Club, the Extension Office can come up with a way to volunteer that fits your interests. Give us a call today if you are interested in volunteering in our community.
If you have questions about becoming involved in 4-H as a member or as a volunteer please call the extension office at 341-3220. The office is located at 2632 W. Highway 50.
• Rhonda Gordon is the Family and Consumer Sciences agent for K-State Research and Extension in Lyon County. For more information on this column or on nutrition, food safety, parenting, financial management, health and safety, e-mail Rhonda at rgordon@ksu.edu or call the extension office, 341-3220.