| What
is 4-H? - August
20, 2009
Submitted by Claudann M
Jones
4-H is a national organization
which helps young people develop
life-long knowledge and skills
to become engaged citizens.
Through 4-H, youth are also
taught how to meet the diversities
and challenges of today’s
society by bringing together
youth and adults to design programs
that will teach skills for living.
4-H is truly a model of the
“learning by doing”
teaching concept. It reaches
people in their own communities
with delivery methods suitable
to their needs. 4-H also helps
to provide opportunities for
families and communities to
develop stronger bonds. The
4-H program is a voluntary,
non-formal, educational program
offered to all youth regardless
of race, color, national origin,
residence, or handicap. The
Texas 4-H and Youth Development
Program is conducted by Texas
AgriLife Extension Service,
which is a part of the Texas
A&M University System. County
and district 4-H programs are
directed by Extension staff
who also provide training and
support to volunteers who work
with 4-H members. The Texas
4-H and Youth Development Program
serves youth in all 254 counties
in Texas.
Young people in 4-H learn about
citizenship, leadership, foods
and nutrition, healthy lifestyles,
veterinary science, mechanics
and technology, horticulture,
agriculture, and other subjects.
To teach young people about
these subjects, the 4-H program
uses the learn-by-doing method
of instruction. The 4-H project
that each member selects according
to their interest and ability
is the program’s cornerstone.
Projects involve setting goals
and evaluating progress. The
skills and knowledge learned
in 4-H project work help members
become more engaged individuals
and citizens. Because of the
educational concepts and methods
developed by the early leaders
of 4-H, the 4-H program has
thrived for more than 101 years
in Texas.
4-H continues to grow in Texas,
expanding to serve those in
the military, with emergency
disasters, and where the support
of youth are needed. How do
you join 4-H? Call your county
office of Texas AgriLife Extension
at 598-7744 or 3223. You can
also email Julie Flanagan at
jlflanagan@ag.tamu.edu. (office
manager), Lane Dunn, Ag. Extension
Agent at jldunn@ag.tamu.edu
or Family and Consumer Science
Agent Claudann M. Jones at cmjones@ag.tamu.edu
How much does it
cost?
4-H costs little or nothing
to join. Some projects might
cost something to get started—like,
if you want to do photography,
you’ll need a camera and
money to get pictures developed.
Does it matter
where you live?
4-H has things everybody can
do, in the city or the country
or anywhere in between. You
can find 4-H in every county
in Texas! How old do you have
to be? 4-H is for kids of almost
any age. If you’re in
kindergarten, first grade, or
second grade, you can be in
Clover Kids. From third grade
to age 19, you can be in 4-H.
What about your parents or guardians?
Your parents don’t have
to become 4-H leaders when you
join 4-H, but there are lots
of ways they can help. They
can lead special projects, drive
4-H’ers to activities,
make refreshments for meetings,
and much more! In fact, your
whole family can be part of
a lot of 4-H activities! Who
are 4-H volunteers? 4-H Volunteers
are people who care about the
kids and who supervise activities.
They are carefully screened
and trained to make sure that
4-H’ers are safe.
Educational programs of the
Texas AgriLife Extension Service
are open to all people without
regard to race, color, sex,
disability, religion. |