What is a 4-H club?
A club, or group of 4-H members, is one of the most important parts of the 4-H program. A club or group of five or more 4-H members, guided by one or more adult volunteer leaders. The size of the club depends on the age of the members, the places they have to meet, and the leadership available. The ideal club is big enough to have fun together but small enough for everyone to feel a part of the group. Depending on what the group wants to do, most clubs meet once or twice per month all year long. The 4-H year runs Sept. 1 to Aug. 31. Sometimes, members may have to be enrolled in a project by a certain time to be eligible for some activities, such as the 4-H fair.
4-H club is a group of five or more youngsters guided by one or more adult volunteer leaders. A club can be any size—from a small group of kids from one neighborhood to a larger club consisting of youth from all over the county. Back to top • Where does 4-H get its funding? Florida Cooperative Extension, of which 4-H is a part, receives funds from a cooperative partnership of three levels of government: federal (via the Science and Education Administration of the US Department of Agriculture), state (via the University of Florida), and county (through the county Board of Commissioners). 4-H also receives support from private sources and grants.
A 4-H Club is an organized group of youngsters (ages 9-19) with elected officers and a planned program that is conducted throughout the year or the majority of the year. Clubs are lead by volunteer leaders and may focus on one or more project areas. Club officers conduct monthly organizational meetings. Members also participate in a variety of learning experiences in their organizational meeting as well as within their project meetings. Project meetings may be held as often as deemed necessary, but at least once a month. Club officers, made up of youth members, are elected each year and serve in the various leadership positions at each meeting. The officers conduct the meeting using parliamentary procedures. 4-H clubs may meet as neighborhood clubs, as after school clubs, or as within school clubs. The “key” is that all clubs should have officers, be managed by volunteers, meet over a sustained period of time, and are focused on positive youth development.
A 4-H club is a group of young people in your school or in your community who want to improve their heads, hearts, hands and health. Each 4-H club has its own officers. They are supervised by Extension agents and volunteer leaders. A leader may be anyone interested in helping young people. Volunteer leaders who supervise clubs are “organizational” leaders. What do 4-H members do? “Learn by doing” is the 4-H club slogan. 4-H members don’t just read about things; they do them. They make things. They take part in club meetings. They learn interesting new things. They learn to follow, and they learn to lead. They help their neighbors and their neighborhoods through club activities. What activities can you do? 4-H members choose the activities they want to do. Would you like to…
