Strengthen Local 4-H Programs
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This document outlines a plan called "Let's Go, Let's Grow" to strengthen the Texas 4-H program by increasing enrollment. It recommends focusing on developing local programs and empowering volunteers. Key strategies include recognizing the program is locally-driven, setting enrollment goals, training volunteers throughout the year, focusing on program strengths, and promoting short-term special interest clubs to engage more youth. The goal is to make the 4-H program bigger, better, and more flexible to serve more youth across the state.
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Strengthen Local 4-H Programs
- 1. Let’s Go, Let’s Grow Making Texas 4-H Stronger…Together
- 2. If you are the only hot dog stand in town, you do not have to be very good.
- 3. Well, guess what? If you have the only youth organization in town, your youth organization doesn’t have to be very good either!
- 4. GROW the 4-H Program – Increase Enrollment Recognize that the 4-H Program Happens LOCALLY! Purpose of Let’s Go, Let’s Grow
- 6. Develop and Empower Volunteers (throughout the year) Focus on the Local 4-H Program and Experience Strategies to Increase Enrollment
- 7. Review Previous 4-H Club Enrollment Review Previous 4-H Volunteer Enrollment Review County Youth Population Figures Set 4-H Enrollment Goals Increase 4-H Enrollment
- 8. Local Training for Volunteers Expectation of at Least Five (5) 4-H Leader Trainings focused on 4-H Projects Volunteers Are Trained to LEAD Project Training in Appropriate Areas Volunteer Development Volunteer enters reporting information
- 9. Volunteer Empowerment Engage volunteers so they FEEL empowered Volunteers must be “trusted” to lead project areas Develop working relationships with your volunteers Develop a 4-H volunteer network in your county The WE is WE(right here, right now!
- 10. Volunteer Follow-up Encourage volunteers Ask what is needed to be successful Establish expectations with volunteers State 4-H Office will provide bi-monthly MS Lync sessions to provide ways and ideas to encourage volunteers throughout the year Districts will lead on alternate dates.
- 11. Program and Project Strengths “Strength Based Areas” – Livestock Projects, Horse, Foods/Nutrition, Clothin g/Textiles, Photography. Available Resources – new project resources from State 4-H Unit Focus on Local 4-H Program
- 12. Trained 4-H Club Managers Trained 4-H Project Leaders County 4-H Event/Contest Committees County 4-H Livestock Project Committee County 4-H FCS Project Committee Focus on Local 4-H Program
- 13. Programs at 4-H Club Meetings 4-H Project Activities/Workshops/Clinics County 4-H Contests Multi-County 4-H Workshops/Clinics 4-H Project Visits 4-H Livestock Show or 4-H Contest Entry Nights 4-H Recognition Events/Banquet Focus on Local 4-H Program
- 14. BIGGER BETTER More Youth More Specialists Support More Flexibility Make Strength Areas BETTER More Local Move from Management to Leadership
- 17. More Flexible
- 18. One Size Does NOT Fit All Short Term Experiences A Year Long Program is NOT for Everyone Project Focused AND Community Focused
- 21. Short Term Experience SPecial INterest clubs Clubs for youth ages 5 – 18 who have common interests Gain knowledge and enhance skills through positive group experiences Youth are actively involved in planning and coordinating activities Adult provides expertise and guidance
- 22. Limited amount of “free time” Provide flexibility for positive youth development and adult mentorship May be a better use of volunteer’s time and expertise Specific focus for a specified time frame
- 23. Take programming to the youth involved At least 5-6 sequential learning experiences (at least 2 hours of total education) Time frame is variable but should be enough to cover the subject matter Identify and recruit volunteers for specific projects Suggested Structure: 1 volunteer per 6-8 youth Clubs must be chartered (simplified) Members will pay a membership fee
- 24. September / October / November Educate by eco region Species Plants Habitats Other topics might include Hunting Sportsmanship Wildlife Laws and Enforcement Wildlife Careers
- 25. Hands on activities Building feeders Wildlife management area Taxidermy and/or Habitat project End with hunter safety certification Curriculum available WHEP manual White-tailed Deer manual Enrichment curriculum modules
- 26. 8 weeks Hatching in the Classroom Facilities Workshop Record Keeping Care and Maintenance Feeding Showmanship Poultry Exhibition
- 27. Curriculum available Hatching in the Classroom 4-H Poultry Guide Texas A&M Poultry Science Website: http://posc.tamu.edu/
- 28. Fitness Challenge Safe Sitter Taxidermy Robotics Water Safety Shooting Sports Golf
- 29. The Promotion of Special Interest Clubs Find them where they are 6 learning experiences Example: Meet once a week for 6 weeks Specific project focused Give them opportunities to continue in other areas And for the nay-sayers: how many youth were at your May Meeting?
- 30. 4-H SPIN (Special Interest) Clubs Focus on Common Interest or Hobby Small number of youth in club (Higher volunteer to member ratio) Short term involvement (2 weeks – 2 months) 5-6 sequential learning experiences Focus on Local 4-H Program
- 31. Build on Strengths Foods & Nutrition Beef Meat Goats Clothing and Textiles Swine Photography Scholarship Judging • Foods & Nutrition • Swine • Shooting Sports • Meat Goats • Photography • Rabbits • Horse • Beef • Clothing & Textiles Enrollment
- 32. So, Build Local Strengths Best Programs are either: ◉ Volunteer Led ◉ Agent Led
- 33. Think Local We can create as many district, regional, or state programs as we want. ◉AND WE HAVE!
- 36. Two Years Ago it was $20 Last Year it was Texas 4-H Inc This year, it is: Lets Go / Lets Grow: ◉ Agency Priority, PERIOD ◉ WE have to respond. The Pressure is On
- 38. Website Resources o New and Existing Resources will be posted to new agent only password protected site o Additional resources will be developed
- 39. o Marketing resources to each county o Post Cards o Membership/ID Cards o Yard Signs o 4-H Participation fees used to support marketing resources Marketing
- 41. LOCAL Volunteer Leader Trainings Resources regarding Program Strengths Motivating – ALL YEAR LONG The Big Three
Editor's Notes
- Only constant is change. The 4-H program has changed through time with the people and the needs. To stay relevant and effective, change is necessary. We are not a “one-size fits all” program. Thought that we could talk a little history here and the reasons for change.
- -explain what SPIN Clubs are
- -get into the why’s
- SPIN groups must be chartered but there are some exceptions: -when there is no money or accounts, they do not have to have officers or club manager -when money is in play: must have a club manager and at least a president and treasurer
- The 3 month window could really be anytime depending on the focus or the passion of the group. For my example, I am looking at hunting and the youth being interested in doing that. Timing is stated so that the youth will be prepared to hunt when done and will have completed a hunter safety course at the end. I am thinking the topics listed would help them prepare for that and teach some wildlife education while giving them a group experience and maybe some take home projects.