Working with 4-H Club
Members and Officers
Working with 4-H Club Members and Officers
OBJECTIVE
Identify 3 ways youth can
develop life skills as a 4-H club
member.
Working with 4-H Club Members and Officers
Life Skills
Hendricks, P.A. (1998)
Working with 4-H Club Members and Officers
The Essential Elements
In the 4-H Club
Belonging
Youth help develop an inclusive environment for all club members.
Independence
Youth see themselves as active participants in the future of their club.
Generosity
Youth have opportunities to value and practice service to others.
Mastery
Youth have opportunities to try, make mistakes, and learn.
Working with 4-H Club Members and Officers
The 4-H Connection
The 4-H Pledge
The Essential Elements
Life Skills
Head
Independence
Thinking, Managing
Heart
Generosity
Relating, Caring
Hands
Mastery
Working, Giving
Health
Belonging
Being, Living
Working with 4-H Club Members and Officers
Youth Development Objectives
Increased:
• planning and organizing skills
• teamwork, leadership, and social skills
• communication and public speaking skills
• self - responsibility and decision-making skills
• record keeping
• management skills and commitment
• making new friends.
Working with 4-H Club Members and Officers
Mastering Maximum Impact
ACTIVITY
• Small groups of participants
Materials
• Mastering Maximum Impact of Club Members Worksheet
• Pens/pencils
In small groups, complete the Mastering Maximum Impact
of Club Officers Worksheet. Be ready to share your
discussion with the whole group.
Working with 4-H Club Members and Officers
Life Skills
Thinking:
• Evaluating relevance
• Assessing accuracy
• Understanding systems
• Thinking critically
Working with 4-H Club Members and Officers
Life Skills
Communication:
• Listening
• Interpreting
• Conveying information
• Articulating thoughts and ideas
Working with 4-H Club Members and Officers
Life Skills
Teamwork and Leadership:
• Working as a team
• Contributing to a group effort
• Encouraging others
Working with 4-H Club Members and Officers
Life Skills
Lifelong Learning and Self-direction:
• Continually improving capabilities
• Setting goals and improving skills
• Engaging in mentoring
• Learning from one’s mistakes
Working with 4-H Club Members and Officers
Life Skills
Professionalism and Ethics:
• Demonstrating accountability
• Developing effective work habits
• Practicing ethical behavior
Working with 4-H Club Members and Officers
• How do you feel about focusing on the Essential
Elements or life skills when working with clubs?
REFLECTION
• What do you see as some of the most important
Essential Elements/life skills youth can learn through
participating in clubs?
• What challenges do you think might face club
members, officers or the club meeting program in your
youth center?
• What implications could officers building life skills have
on your club?
Working with 4-H Club Members and Officers
• How will you introduce youth in your program to the
idea of participating in a 4-H club?
REFLECTION
• How will applying the Essential Elements of 4-H and life
skills effect the youth and club(s) you work with?
• What steps will you take to ensure 4-H members are
positively involved as members and officers in your
club?
• What idea will you take back to help your club run
more smoothly and ensure skills are being developed?
Working with 4-H Club Members and Officers
Key Concepts
• 4-H club members and officers can learn and share the
Essential Elements with other youth through their
leadership
• Life skills learned in clubs are skills needed later in life
CONCLUSION
• Life skills and Essential Elements can be effectively
delivered through the club format, especially to youth
who serve as club officers
• Remember each state and community 4-H program
looks a little different.
• Contact your local extension agents for assistance on
4-H club officer training materials
Working with 4-H Club Members and Officers
• Hendricks, P.A. (1998). Developing Youth
Curriculum Using the Targeting Life Skills Model,
Iowa State University Cooperative Extension, Iowa
State University, Ames Iowa.
REFERENCE
• 4-H 101: The Basics of Starting 4-H Clubs, Retrieved
1/15/12,
<www.national4-hheadquarters.gov/library/4H101.pdf>
• Positive Youth Development; Developing Life Skills, VRKC:
Volunteer Research Knowledge Competency Taxonomy
<nextgeneration.4-h.org/volunteerism/vrkc/>
Working with 4-H Club Members and Officers
• 4-H Club Officers and Committees
<ohioline.osu.edu/4h-fact/0014.html>
• 4-H Experience & Service Officers Training
<www.ca4h.org/Resources/Publications/>
REFERENCE
• Ohio Workforce Preparedness - Skills for Success,
retrieved 8/30/11
<youthsuccess.osu.edu/?page_id=6>
• Selecting 4-H Club Officers and Committee
Members
<www.4-h.org/images/volunteer/VolunteerResources/
Selecting%204-H%20Club%20Officers-Committees.pdf>
For more information, visit
www.4-Hmilitarypartnerships.org