Cecil County 4-H
Presented By: April Hall Barczewski
4-H Basics
• The “official” emblem is a green
four-leaf clover with a white H on
each leaf.
• Head
• Heart
• Hands
• Health
• Motto-To Make the Best Better
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Some Basics
• The 4-H Program is supported by Federal, State and Local Governments
and Private Funds and Grants.
• We are linked to the USDA through the National Institute of Food and
Agriculture.
• In Maryland we are tied to the University of Maryland in College Park and
the University of Maryland Eastern Shore in Princess Anne and are a
department in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
• The mission of University of Maryland Extension is to provide educational
outreach in the areas of agriculture and natural resources, sea grant, 4-H
youth development, family and consumer sciences, and community,
resource and economic development. Through these programs,
individuals and communities have access to research based educational
programs to promote the themes and outcomes.
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Taking the University to Youth in
Communities
• 4-H Youth Development is the only youth program with
direct access to technological advances in agriculture and
life sciences, home economics, human development, and
related areas, which result from land-grant university
research.
• The foundation of 4-H Youth Development is in the
practical application of the land-grant university
knowledge by youth in their communities.
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What is 4-H?
4-H is a community of youth people
across America who are learning
citizenship, leadership and life skills.
4-H is
“ Some people WISH it will happen. Some people
WAIT for it to happen. 4-H people MAKE it happen.”
Maryland 4-H Mission
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Help all youth reach their full potential
Teach useful life skills
Community focused, research based
Create competent, caring and responsible
individuals
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What is Youth Development?
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Youth Development is the acquisition of attitudes,
competencies, values, and social skills that will carry
youth forward into successful adulthood.
- National Research Council
Features of Positive Youth
Development
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Physical and psychological safety
Appropriate structure
Supportive relationships
Opportunities to belong
Positive social norms
Support for efficacy and mattering
Opportunities for skill building
Integration of family, school, and community efforts
4-H Youth Development Creates
Opportunities for Youth to
Experience:
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Independence
Belonging
Generosity
Mastery
Types of 4-H Clubs
• Community Clubs
• Project Clubs
• Clover Clubs
• Special Interest or Short Term Outreach
• School Enrichment
• Independent Study
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What is a 4-H Club
• A 4-H Club is an organized group of at least five youth
from three different families who meet regularly with
adult volunteers or staff for a long-term, progressive
series of educational experiences.
www.national4-hheadquarters.gov/library/fs-clubs9-08.pdf
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4-H Age
• The age of a 4-Her on January 1st of the
current year.
– Clovers: ages 5 - 7
– Juniors: ages 8 – 10
– Intermediates: ages 11 – 13
– Seniors: ages 14 - 18
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4-H Membership Standards
• The 4-H Year runs from 1/1 – 12/31
• Enroll by May 1st for Cecil County and Maryland State
Fair Participation
• Membership in multiple clubs is permitted
• Expectation of 4-H members
• Regularly attend club meetings/activities
• Complete at least one project
• Complete project book
• Give an oral presentation at a club meeting
• Exhibit at local, county or state fair
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4-H Projects
• Agriculture Sciences
• Animal Sciences
• Citizenship &
Community Service
• Communication and
Expressive Arts
• Environmental Science
• Gardening &
Horticulture
Leadership
Health & Nutrition
Healthy Living
Personal Development
Science, Engineering
and Technology
• Workforce Preparation
• Clover Curriculum (Ages
5-7)
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Projects and Record Keeping
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Experiential Learning
Obtaining useful skills
In groups or individually
Record books & resumes
The Clover Award Program
4-H Events and Contests
• Cooperative and Competitive
• County/City, Region, State & National
• Family Friendly
• Workshops, Field Trips & Camps
• Newsletters & www.maryland4h.org
Awards and Recognition
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Everyone likes recognition
Club awards
County awards
State awards
Maryland 4-H Teaches Life Skills
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Decision Making
Acquiring Knowledge
Personal Responsibility
Creative Thinking
Communicating
Understanding Self
Getting Along With Others
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Major 4-H Highlights
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Winterfest
Record Books
Achievement Night
Cecil County Breeders’ Fair
4-H Horse Hoopla
Cecil County Fair
Maryland State Fair
4-H Benefit Auction
Cecil County 4-H Camp
Variety of Educational Workshops including: Horse Fun Day and
Hands-On Animal Science Classes.
County, Regional, & State Activities
• Archery & Shotgun Safety
Practices & Competition
• Horse Quiz Bowl
• Dairy Quiz Bowl
• Dog Quiz Bowl
• Horse Judging
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Hippology
Dairy Judging
Goat Judging
Horticulture Judging
Livestock Judging
Poultry Judging
Rabbit Judging
Demonstrations & Public
Speaking
Regional Activities
• Eastern Shore Spring Show
• Cecil County Breeders’ Fair
• Project Based Educational Workshops
State Activities
• Maryland State Fair
• State 4-H Congress
• State Volunteer Trainings
Our ultimate goal in the Cecil County 4-H
Program is for youth to learn by doing while
having fun doing what they enjoy . . .
Cecil County Statistics from 2015
22 Community and Project Clubs
Enrollment in Traditional Clubs – Over 449 Youth
118 Youth attended Cecil County 4-H Camp in 2015
Outreach to Over 3,050 Youth Annually with Outreach
Program and Reach over 10,000 Youth at the Cecil County
Fair
• Over 284 UME Volunteers
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Standards for 4-H Clubs
• Minimum of 5 members ages 8-18
• Members should be from three different
families
• Elected Officers
• UME Volunteers (At least 2 per club)
• Six or more club meetings annually
• Annual club educational plan
• Written by-laws developed by members
• Have a Club Charter
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4-H Behavioral Expectations
• Provides opportunities for character building
• Based on Six Pillars of Character Counts!
– Trustworthiness
– Respect
– Responsibility
– Fairness
– Caring
– Citizenship
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Naming a 4-H Club or Event
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Names must be Specific
Names should not imply Exclusivity
Names should not be Overtly Religious
Names should not be Offensive
Names should foster the Character-Building Purpose of 4-H
Names should be Sustainable over Time
Names should comply with Copyright Regulations
www.national4-hheadquarters.gov/library/fs-naming_4-H4-08.pdf
Club Finances
• Good Financial Records:
– Are an open, public record
– Fulfill University auditing
requirements
– Enable accountability for
everyone
• Bank Account, EIN & Two Signatures
• Good Record Keeping
• Club Treasurer’s Record Book
Fund Raising
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Educational activity
Raise $$ for a specific purpose
Match the fundraiser to amount needed
Safety First!
Annual Club Plan
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Everyone helps in planning
Responsibilities are shared
Balanced and interesting programs
Provides direction
Improves quality of meetings
Use of 4-H Name and Emblem
• The “official” emblem is a green
four-leaf clover with a white H on
each leaf.
• The 4-H name and emblem are
“owned” by USDA.
• Check with 4-H Educators before
designing club signs, clothing,
etc.
www.national4-hheadquarters.gov/library/4-Hguidelines-v4-26-04.pdf
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Thank You!
Contact Information
University of Maryland Extension Cecil County
Cecil County Administration Building
200 Chesapeake Blvd., Suite 1500, Elkton, MD 21921
Phone: 410-996-5280 ∙
http://extension.umd.edu/cecil-county/4-h-youth-development
April Hall Barczewski, Extension Educator, 4-H Youth Development
adhall@umd.edu
Victoria Stone, Program Assistant, 4-H Youth Development
vstone@umd.edu
Micki Preston, Administrative Assistant II, 4-H
mpresto2@umd.edu