Modoc County 4-H Youth Development Program – July 2014

New Leader Training

2014-2015 Program Year

Thank You for Volunteering Your Time!

Each year, about 100 adult volunteers contribute hundreds of hours of their time to the Modoc County 4-H Program.

Without your support, the 4-H Program would not be possible.

Thank you so much for your interest, dedication and support!

4-H is a youth development program sponsored by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the University of California at Davis (UC Davis), and Modoc County. It is the only youth program to receive federal, state and county funding and support.

Welcome to the World of 4-H!

Head Heart Hands Health

Through 4-H, youth participate in innovative, fun programs designed to

develop valuable life-long skills.

Learn by doing!

The 4-H Program is designed to develop each member’s Head, Heart, Hands & Health.

Head • Decision Making• Problem Solving• Goal Setting• Planning/Organizing• Prioritizing• Time Management

Heart • Communication• Cooperation• Accepting

Differences• Empathy• Sharing• Concern for others

Hands • Community Service (Volunteering)

• Leadership• Responsible

Citizenship• Teamwork• Self-motivation• Community Pride

Health • Healthy Lifestyle• Self-esteem• Stress

Management• Disease Prevention• Personal Safety• Self-discipline• Self-responsibility

Some of the specific life-long skills youth members develop are:

These are traits we want our young adults to possess.

The result is young adults that are:

Competent

ConfidentConnected

Compassionate

Of Good CharacterProductiv

e

Ad

ult

Lead

er

Role

s a

nd

Resp

on

sib

ilit

ies

What skills can 4-H teach to help our youth become successful adults?

Project-specific content such as preparing a nutritious meal or building a rocket;

Life skills such as time management, conflict resolution, leadership, teamwork, etc.

Our youth are a resource. All resources are more productive if they are properly developed.

As parents/guardians or adult leaders, we have an important job to do.

Our role is to assist our youth with their project(s), but not to do the project(s) for them.

4-H is about learning by doing.

… Experience hands-on activities.… Share what happened with the group. … Process the steps needed to complete the activity. Identify common experiences, themes and issues. How were issues overcome?… Generalize what was learned by answering the question “so what?” Identify real life principles that arose by completing the activity. Why is the skill we practiced important in daily life?… Apply what was learned to a similar or different situation.

Experience

Share

Process

Generalize

Apply

As a Project or Community Club Leader, you will use an experiential learning model that provides 4-H members with the opportunity to…

So what does that really mean? Let’s take a close look at the following examples:

EXAMPLE 1

• At their 4-H cooking meeting, three groups of 4-H members baked brownies from scratch. (Experience)

• When the brownies were done, each group drank a glass of milk and ate their brownies. (Experience)

EXAMPLE 2

• At their cooking meeting, three groups of 4-H members baked, then tasted their brownies. (Experience)

• Next, the groups discussed how their brownies tasted. Group 1 reported theirs were really moist & chewy, while Group’s 2 & 3 said theirs were really dry. (Share)

• The leader asked: “Why do you think that happened?”• Group 1 said they baked their brownies at 350° for 20

minutes, while Groups 2 & 3 said they baked their brownies at 350° for about 30 minutes because they forgot to watch the time. (Process)

• The leader then asked Groups 2 & 3: “Do you think it is important to watch the time when you are cooking?” (Generalize)

• The leader then expanded the discussion by asking: “What about in your daily life? Is it important to watch the time?” (Apply)

Experiential learning is completing a hands-on activity, followed by a series of open-ended questions designed to connect the learning to real life and increase retention.

How will you incorporate experiential learning into the projects you lead this year?

SUMMARY:

Which of the above provides the BEST example of experiential learning?

That’s right – Example 2!

Belonging -- provide opportunities for youth to develop positive relationships with adults and peers.

Mastery -- recognize youth for their achievement in appropriate ways.

Independence -- allow youth to make decisions and to accept the responsibility for their choices.

Generosity -- encourage young people to help others.

As a 4-H leader, your responsibility is to foster youth development by creating an environment that promotes:

BELONGING

Research shows today’s youth benefit if they have a sense of belonging. What are some things you can do to help 4-H members feel welcome?

ExamplesGreet members as they arrive.Learn something about each

member. Introduce new families to the group.Have returning or older members

mentor new or younger members.Have experienced 4-H families

mentor new 4-H families.Provide equal opportunities for all

members.

MASTERY

Research also shows today’s youth need to be recognized for their accomplishments. What are some ways you can recognize 4-H member achievements?

ExamplesProvide every member with an

opportunity to share in front of the group.

Provide positive feedback.Write club/project group newspaper

or 4-H newsletter articles recognizing achievements and include pictures.

Focus on what the members can do instead of what they can not.

The 4-H program recognizes youth achievement in a number of ways, such as Year Pins, Service Stripes, Project Pins, and Star Ranks. As a 4-H Leader, one key responsibility is to assist and encourage members to achieve this recognition.

INDEPENDENCE

A primary goal in 4-H is to help our youth become successful and independent adults. What are some ways you can grant 4-H members their independence?

Examples Include members in decision

making (meeting schedule, meeting topics, activities, etc.)

Allow the members to do their own work.

Encourage parents to allow members to do their own work.

GENEROSITY

Another important goal is to develop young adults who care about other people and the world around us. What are some things our youth can do that will promote generosity?

ExamplesClub, project, or individual community

service activities.Club Officers, Junior Teen Leadership,

Junior Show Board.

Please Note: 4-H members may only receive Community Service credit when that opportunity has been announced and made available to all members.

Jointly set the year’s goals for learning and doing with your group.

Plan fun, innovative hands-on activities.

Schedule and conduct 6 hours of educational instruction related to your project.

Encourage members to do their own work.

Encourage members to give presentations (share their work with others).

As a 4-H Leader, your role is to:

Encourage participation in county, regional or state events. Help members complete the necessary entry forms.

Help members complete their Annual Project Report(s).

Attend 4-H Leader’s Council meetings and help plan local/county events relating to your project.

Obtain project literature from the 4-H Office and distribute it to project members.

See the Project Leader Position Description at: http://cemodoc.ucdavis. edu for more information.

Leader Roles (continued):

GETTING STARTED

4-H Project Leaders

For your protection and the protection of youth members, 4-H policy requires:

Two adults must be present at all 4-H meetings and activities:

One must be a certified 4-H volunteer.The other can be anyone over the age of 21.

One adult may drive two or more 4-H members.

Avoid one-on-one interactions with 4-H members.

4-H Supervision Policy

You may not hold your first project meeting until you receive your Volunteer Appointment Card.

Volunteer Appointment Cards are mailed after you successfully…

Submit a completed 4-H enrollment form, including a Confidential Disclosure Statement and Medical Release;

Clear a DOI background check (fingerprinting);

Complete New Leader Orientation Training.

When can I hold my first project meeting?

Every 4-H member and adult volunteer is covered by Accident/Sickness insurance paid for with your enrollment fee.

4-H automobile insurance is secondary to your personal insurance if you meet the minimum requirements…

$50,000/$100,000/$50,000.

Does 4-H have insurance?

Refer to the individual(s) Medical Release Form(s) and arrange for appropriate first-aid and medical care.

Call the 4-H Office as soon as possible and work with the 4-H Program Representative to complete an insurance claim and incident report.

What do I do if there is an accident or injury?

What do I need to complete the fingerprinting requirement?

Complete 1 copy of the “Livescan Request Form” (call the 4-H Office at 233-6400).Driver’s License.

Call to make an appointment at:

Modoc County Sheriff’s Office at 233-4416. (Be aware this is the only location that can provide this service for Modoc County 4-H).

(Note: the Modoc County Sheriff’s Office has waived the cost for live-scanning 4-H adult volunteers.)

Fingerprinting (DOJ Background Check)

As volunteers, we will be more successful if we have a plan in place to help 4-H members develop the skills they need to be successful adults. 4-H has three tools to help you plan meetings that yield results:

1. Project Calendar; 2. 4-H Project Meeting Plan; and 3. Member Enrollment Attendance Sheet.

Electronic copies of these and other forms that may be helpful are available at http://

cemodoc.ucdavis.edu

Preparing for Project Meetings

Preparing for Project Meetings(cont’d):

Effective communication is really important. Be sure 4-H members and their parents/guardians know what to expect. The following can help foster effective communication:

1. Project Calendar: use this form to document agreed upon meeting topics and project goals and communicate meeting dates, times and locations to all 4-H members and parents.

2. Meeting Plan: use this form to plan, organize and conduct project meetings, make assignments, identify needed supplies, communicate expectations, and incorporate experiential learning principles.

3. Attendance Record: use this form to document meeting attendance and verify member’s completion of 6 hours of project-related instruction.

Keep it fun!

Incorporate group activity(s) to burn off some energy before instruction begins.

Incorporate time for a snack and something to drink.

Include time for sharing.

Tips for Success

CALIFORNIA 4-H

Things you should know about

California 4-H offers a variety of programs for youth of different ages to learn, interact and participate with their peers. Included is:

Primary 4-H: youth ages 5-8 years old. limited availability in Modoc County; participation only (no competition); no large animals or shooting sports.

Junior 4-H: youth ages 9-11. Intermediate 4-H: youth in ages 12-13. Senior 4-H: youth ages 14-19.

4-H Members

Educational activities about a specific topic.

Led by a certified 4-H Volunteer. Require 6 hours of project-related

educational instruction. Horse Project - members must wear

ASTM/SEI certified helmets while riding or driving.

This is not optional & members may not participate unless they are wearing their helmet. (Parents/guardians are responsible for obtaining the proper helmet for their child.)

4-H Projects

4-H members are encouraged to complete a record book because it helps them:

Learn to keep a record of their accomplishments.See how much they have learned in a certain

time period.Learn about expenses, income and profit.Take pride in what they have learned to do.

A completed record book also helps:

Project leaders see what challenges youth should assume during the coming year.

Club leaders know what awards the member has earned.

4-H Record Books

MODOC COUNTY 4-H

Things you should know about

For more information, refer to the Modoc County 4-H Handbook for the 2014-2015 Program Year @ http://cemodoc.ucdavis.edu/4-H - Youth Development Program/

Enrollment begins September 1st

Enrollment fees will stay the same as 2013-2014

$12.00 per adult and $34.00 per youth

Enrollment fees are used to cover the costs for insurance, curriculum development and program delivery

Completed enrollment forms are due to the 4-H Office on November 6th

December 31st will be the last date for appointment of new adult volunteers.

4-H Enrollment (2014-2015)

Club Leader & Officer Training, Information & Materials

Recruitment and Enrollment Materials & Information

New Leader Orientation Training Project Activity Guides, Forms, & Other Materials 4-H Record Book Training, Forms, & Other Materials Resource Library 4-H Website Modoc County 4-H Handbook Modoc County 4-H Record Book Handbook Community Club Leader Handbook How to Manage Your 4-H Club’s Finances Bi-monthly Newsletter – Mule Tales Questions, Concerns, Complaints, Variance

Requests, Accident Reporting

How the 4-H Office Can Help

Enroll in 4-H by November 6th.

Attend 80% of Community Club Meetings.

Participate in 6 hours of project-specific instruction led by a certified 4-H project leader.

Submit a completed 4-H Record Book by September 30th.

Required Content Title Page Table of Contents Personal Development

Report; My 4-H Story; Annual Project Report(s); Collection of 4-H Work Prior Year’s Materials.

Minimum Requirements for Completion of 4-H Year

To successfully complete the 4-H year, a youth member must:

Participation in Modoc 4-H Competitions

To exhibit and sell a market animal in the coming year at these competitions, a member must:

Be 9 years old by January 1st.Enroll in 4-H by November 6th.Meet Fair or Show-specific livestock ownership

requirements.Submit a completed 4-H Record Book by

September 30th (primary members 8 years of age must submit a Primary Member Personal Development Report).

Entry forms must be signed by the 4-H Project Leader. This verifies the youth has completed the project.

Obtain Annual Project Report (APR) forms for every member.

Ask members to update their APR at each project meeting.

Collect and file the APRs until the next meeting.

Repeat for all project meetings.

Sign when 6 hours of instruction is completed.

Return the signed APR to the member at the end of the year.

“No job is complete until the paperwork is done.”

How Project Leaders Can Help

Host or attend a Record Book workshop.

Schedule special meetings for youth members to work on their record books.

Share Senior 4-H or other 4-H member’s record books as examples.

How Parents/Guardians and Community Club Leaders Can Help

For more information, see the Record Book

information and materials at:

http://cemodoc.ucdavis.edu/4-H - Youth Development Program/Record Books

Modoc County 4-H Events & Activities

Milano 4-H Scholarship Presentation Workshop Presentation Day Home Economics Day Record Book

Competition Science Saturday Natural Resources

Management Day Camp

4-H Events & Activities

4-H sponsors a wide range of events and activities designed to help youth develop life-long skills.

Junior Livestock Show Modoc District Fair Intermountain Fair Tulelake Butte Valley

Fair

Regional (Sectional) Events Presentation Day Why Conference

State 4-H Events Field Day Fashion Revue Presentation Day California Focus Leadership Conference Record Book Competition Shooting Match

4-H Events and Activities (cont’d):

Refer to: http://cemodoc.ucdavis.edufor additional information.

National 4-H Events 4-H Week Youth Science Day Washington Focus National

Convention

SWITCHING GEARSAdult Volunteers

Expectations

As adults involved in the 4-H Program, we serve as a role model for impressionable youth.

One important responsibility is to demonstrate the skills our youth will need to cope with the challenges life can bring. Among these are how to:

• win or lose with equal grace, • work with others to positively and

effectively resolve problems or conflicts,

• be a strong team member committed to helping the team be the best it can be,

• listen with respect, and • offer positive feedback and constructive

suggestions.

Problem Solving

When faced with a problem or conflict, think about the following:

How you choose to handle a disappointment or work through a problem or conflict is the lesson youth will learn.

Confronting another parent or adult in front of youth members or their siblings is not okay. If you have a concern, ask the individual to step outside the room or away from others before you share your concern.

Talk about your concern or problem – not the other person. It is important for our youth to understand how important it is to preserve positive, effective working relationships with others and that it is not okay to personally attack someone.

Problem Solving (Cont’d)

Speak calmly, listen with respect and remain positive. Understand that mistakes can happen. Make constructive suggestions. Rather than telling someone: “You got it wrong!”, choose to offer positive feedback and constructive suggestions such as: “Next time, maybe we could try…” or “Have you thought about…?”

Look for win-win solutions whenever possible. While there are times when solutions cannot be found, solutions can often be found to many of life’s challenges. This is a lesson we want our youth to learn. “Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is

success.” -- Henry Ford

As a first step, work with your project leader(s) or the community club leader to address or resolve the concern.

If the concern cannot be resolved at the club level,

please contact the 4-H Program Representative at 233-6400 to ask for help at the county level.

If the issue cannot be resolved at the county level, you may contact the 4-H Program Advisor for assistance.

Dr. Cynthia Barnett, 4-H Program AdvisorCooperative Extension Shasta County

1851 Hartnell Ave., Redding, CA 96002-2217(530) 224 - 4900

What Do I Do If Have A Problem, Issue Or Concern?

Complaint? Variance Request?

VARIANCE REQUEST4-H members may request an exception from a specific Modoc County 4-H policy requirement if they have a special circumstance. Contact the 4-H Office & ask for a variance request form. Requests are evaluated by the Modoc 4-H Leader’s Council who may approve, approve with modifications, or deny the request. Their decision is final.

COMPLAINTSWhen a conflict cannot be resolved at the club or county level, it may be taken to the county director for additional review. Contact the 4-H Office for a complaint form or write a letter which provides the relevant information.

Food for Thought

Have fun, make new friends, make a difference – through 4-H!

As a 4-H leader, you have the opportunity to help kids learn, explore and thrive.

QUESTIONS?

Call the 4-H Office at 233-6400.

SOURCES Facts About 4-H:Understanding the Basics (4-H 0244L). Oregon

State University Extension Service. Revised by Roger Rennekamp and Marilyn Lesmeister. Originally prepared by Leonard J. Calvert. 2011.

Experiential Learning Workshop: Level 1. Adapted from the work of David Kolb (1984) by Pfeiffer and Jones (1985). 4-H Experiential Learning Website @ www.experientiallearning.ucdavis.edu. University of California Davis.

The Symbols of 4-H. Oregon 4-H Program Handbook. April 2002. Oregon 4-H Youth Development Program Model. Oregon State

University Extension Service. Developed by Roger Rennekamp and Mary Arnold. August 2006.

Targeting Life Skills in 4-H (4H FS 101.9). 4-H 101. University of Florida Extension. Marilyn Norman and Joy C. Jordan.

4-H Pledge Handout. 4-H Cloverbuds. Ohio State University Extension.

Modoc County 4-H Handbook (2012-2013 4-H Year). Approved by the Modoc County 4-H Leader’s Council on July 10, 2012. 4-H website @ http://cemodoc.ucdavis.edu/4-H Youth_Development_Program/