4-H
Senior Portfolio
(Ages 14-19)
20___
Name
Age (as of Jan. 1)
Mailing Address
Email
Phone
Club
Years in 4-H
Leader
Grade
Member Signature
Date
Parent Signature
Date
Leader Signature
Date
Agent Signature
Date
Revised August 2015
0
Senior Portfolio
4-H Experiential Learning
4-H has a long history of “learning by doing”. Experiential learning happens
when a person gets involved in an activity, looks back at the experience
critically, determines what was useful or important to remember from the
activity, and uses this information in doing something else. It is more than
doing activities as experiential learning involves discussing what was done
(what), thinking about was learned (so what) and applying new skills and
information to a real life experience (now what).
Why Record Books?
4-H records are a written expression of learning experiences. From their records, members can see to
what degree they participate in club events and activities and how well they meet their own personal
goals. Records also relate experiences in leadership and community service and in addition can be used
as a tool for members to assess the skills and knowledge learned and how it can be applied to real life
experiences.
4-H records help youth to:
 Establish goals
 Collect and record information
Assume responsibility for record keeping
Evaluate progress in certain areas
Life Skills
By keeping 4-H records, members obtain experience and training that is of value throughout their adult lives.
Life Skills are categorized under the four H’s in the 4-H clover – Head, Heart, Hands, and Health. These
skills are useful long after the project is over. The chart below shows some examples of life skills.
HEAD
Using Scientific Methods
Processing Information
Understanding Systems
Managing Resources
Practicing Creativity
Making Decisions
Solving Problems
Visualizing Information
Learning to Learn
Reasoning
Thinking Critically
Keeping Records
Planning and Organizing
Achieving Goals
HEART
HANDS
HEALTH
Communicating
Interacting Socially
Cooperating
Sharing
Resolving Conflicts
Valuing Social Justice
Valuing Diversity
Building Relationships
Caring for Others
Being Empathic
Mastering Technology
Learning Through
Community Service
Volunteering
Being Responsible
Developing Self Esteem
Managing Yourself
Practicing Integrity and Character
Developing a Sense of Purpose
Being a Responsible Citizen
Working in a Team
Exercising Leadership
Completing a Project
Motivating Yourself
Developing a Positive View of the Future
Utilizing Resistance Skills
Being Resilient
Managing Stress
Making Healthy Lifestyle Choices
Preventing Personal Injury
Expressing Emotions Positively
Preventing Disease
Navigating in Your-Environment
Working with Numbers
1
Senior Portfolio
The 4-H Senior Portfolio shows cumulative 4-H work from grades 4 to current year.
4-H Project Review
 Using this page tell us about your projects. What projects did you complete and which 4-H curriculum did you
use? What were your project goals? If you have been in this project more than one year, how did your project
change over time? What new experiences are you glad you had and what did you learn? (limited to 3 pages)
2
Senior Portfolio
4-H Club Project Summary & Learning Experiences- Use the chart on the following page to document
club/project work completed during club meetings.
Date
EXAMPLE
5/3/2015
What did you do?
I learned to identify
sandy, silty, clay, peaty
and saline soils
Focus Area
(select from page 4)
G3
What new project/life
skills did you learn?
I learned soil identification
(or using scientific
methods)
How have you applied new
knowledge?
I took what I learned to
determine the type of soil I
have at home in my garden
# of meetings your club held _______________ # of meetings you attended __________________
3
Senior Portfolio
Project Focus Area
A. CITIZENSHIP AND CIVIC EDUCATION:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Citizenship
Cultural Education
Global Education
Intergenerational Programming Swine
Understanding Physical and Mental
Limitations
6. Volunteerism
7. Service Learning Rabbit
8. Community Service
F. PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT AND
LEADERSHIP:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
B. COMMUNICATIONS AND EXPRESSIVE ARTS:
1. Communications Arts
2. Performing Arts Sciences
3. Visual Arts Engineering
G. PLANTS AND ANIMALS:
1. Ag in the Classroom
2. Animals
a. Beef
b. Swine
c. Lamb
d. Goat
e. Rabbit
f. Poultry
3. Plants
C. CONSUMER AND FAMILY SCIENCE:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Child Development, Child Care, Babysitting.
Clothing and Textiles
Consumer Education
Home Environment
Parenting and Family Life Education
D. ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND EARTH
SCIENCES:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Environmental Stewardship
Earth, Water and Air
Energy HB Biological Sciences
Forests, Rangeland and Wildlife
Outdoor Education/Recreation
Waste Management
Career Exploration and Employability
Critical Thinking Skills
Economics, Business and Marketing
Exploring 4-H
Hobbies and Collections
Leadership Skills Development
Leisure Education
Personal Development
Reading Literacy
Social Recreation Skills
Values Clarification
H. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Science/Technology Literacy
Biological Sciences
Technology and Engineering
Physical Sciences
E. HEALTHY LIFESTYLE EDUCATION:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Chemical Health
Mental and Emotional Health
Foods and Nutrition
Physical Health
Safety
4
Senior Portfolio
Other 4-H Activities (County/State/National) - List all your 4-H activities completed outside of your club
meetings, such as workshops, field trips, camps, county/state judging contests, youth-adult partnerships,
state fair, and participation in National 4-H Council sponsored programs, like the NYSD events and 4-H
Paper Clover Campaign.
Date
EXAMPLE
4/18/2013
Activity
4-H Floriculture
Workshop
Level
(Club, County,
State, National)
County
What did you learn?
I learned how to make floral
arrangements
5
How have you applied
what you learned?
Over the years I’ve
helped to make floral
table arrangements
for our 4-H banquets.
Senior Portfolio
Leadership - List 4-H leadership acts you performed to assist others during your 4-H career. Also include
general 4-H leadership such as Club Officer, County 4-H Federation, or County Committees.
Date
EXAMPLE
7/20/15 to
7/24/15
Leadership
Activity
Youth –Adult
Partnership
Leadership Role
(Elected, Appointed,
Volunteered)
Level
(Club, County,
State, National)
Volunteered
State/County
6
Responsibilities/
Duties/
Accomplishments
# People
Reached
#
Hours
Provided 4-H programs
to after school kids
30
55
Senior Portfolio
Citizenship - List 4-H community service or 4-H service learning projects showing how you have given back on a
voluntary basis. Examples might include: organizing, managing, and/or coordinating clean up efforts, collection
events, care packets, visitations, donations, and presentations.
Date
EXAMPLE
3/1/15 to
4/16/15
Service Activity
Organized a food drive for our 4-H
club, so members could donated
produce they grew to the food bank
Importance of Project and Impact on Community
This allowed me to learn and use new leadership
skills and the donated food will help feed the
homeless in our community
7
Senior Portfolio
# of Hours
20
Activities Outside 4-H - School activities, church activities, sports, non-4-H leadership projects, non-4-H
community service projects, etc.
Date
EXAMPLE
10-2014 to
5-2015
What you were involved in?
List leadership responsibilities
Helped with organizing a March of Dimes Walk-aThon. My job involved PR so I made flyers, wrote
PSA’s for the newspaper and went on the radio to
tell about our event.
Key Club
8
Senior Portfolio
Project Photos - Paste two photos, with captions, that best captures your 4-H experience.
Caption:
Caption:
9
Senior Portfolio
4-H Reflections
Describe the Life Skills you have learned/practiced under each “H” of the 4-H Clover:
HEAD: (Managing and decision making)
HEART: (Relating and caring)
HANDS: (Giving and working)
HEALTH: (Living and being)
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Senior Portfolio
MY 4-H RESUME
(Your resume should include the following basic information; limit 2 pages)
Name:
Address:
Phone Number:
E-Mail:
Future Goal: (Career or Educational)
Goal Statement:
Educational Experiences:
Work or Volunteer Experiences:
Special Talents and Abilities:
Letter of Recommendation: Provide two letters of recommendations. You may ask someone who knows you well
and this recommender can be a teacher, 4-H leader, counselor, advisor, civic leader, mentor, organizational leader
or an employer. These letters must be written within the last year and must be signed by the writer. They should
have direct contact with you, but should not be an immediate relative.
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Senior Portfolio
The following experiences qualify me to be considered as a State delegate to National 4-H Congress:
If selected as a State delegate to National 4-H Congress, I will:
12
Senior Portfolio
My 4-H Story – Describe yourself and explain your 4-H journey.
Your 4-H Story should include the following:







Tell us some things about yourself.
Why did you choose to be involved with 4-H and chose to do the project(s) that you did.
Tell about things you enjoyed learning or doing. (experience)
Tell about results and/or challenges you had. (share)
Explain how you would improve your 4-H experience. (process)
Tell what you have learned about yourself through your 4-H participation. (generalize)
Explain how you will use the life and/or project skills you learned in other areas of your life. (apply)
Minimum 2 pages; Maximum 6 pages, double-spaced
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Senior Portfolio
My 4-H Story (continued)
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Senior Portfolio
Senior 4-H Portfolio Evaluation
Name:__________________________________
Section
Judge:_______________________
Total
Pts
Comments
4-H Project Review
Organization –Review is very well organized. Ideas
following a logical sequence and with clear transitions.
4-H Focus -Review emphasizes 4-H projects &experiences
Main Project - The review summarizes activities and
learning experiences within the project categories.
10
Other Records
4-H Project Summary & Learning ExperiencesMember effectively demonstrates high level of
involvement in 4-H meetings.
10
Other 4-H Activities (County, State-National)Member effectively demonstrates involvement in 4-H
opportunities outside of 4-H club level.
4-H Leadership - Member displays leadership
involvement.
4-H Citizenship- Member shows involvement within
community and beyond.
Activities Outside of 4-H- Member shows involvement
beyond 4-H.
Project Photos- Photos are detailed, attractive, creative,
and relate to the member’s 4-H involvement.
4-H Reflection – member reflects on how they’ve
practiced the four different H’s.
10
10
10
5
5
15
5
Resume
My 4-H Story
Organization -Story sections are well organized. One idea
follows another in a logical sequence with clear transitions.
Main Project – The story summarizes activities and
learning experiences within the project categories.
Spelling/Punctuation/Grammar -There are minimal
spelling, punctuation, or grammatical errors in the story.
Creativity - The story contains creative details and/or
descriptions that contribute to the reader's enjoyment.
TOTAL:
20
100
15
Senior Portfolio