Sullivan County 4-H Club Resources

What is a 4-H Club?

A 4-H Club is an organized group of at least 5 youth from three different families who meets regularly with adult volunteers or staff for a long-term, progressive series of educational experiences.

Club Purpose:

The purpose of a 4-H club is to provide positive youth development opportunities to meet the needs of young people to experience belonging, mastery, independence, and generosity- the Essential Elements- and to foster educational opportunities tied to the Land Grant University knowledge base. Research has shown that there are eight critical elements of positive youth development settings that need to be in place to ensure positive outcomes for youth. These include:

• A positive relationship with a caring adult
• Safety- physical and emotional
• An inclusive environment
• Opportunities for mastery and skill building
• Opportunities for engagement in learning
• Opportunities for self-determination
• A sense of hope and belief in the future
• Opportunities to value and practice service to others

Structure of a 4-H Club

• Enrolls at least 5 youth members from at least 3 families.
• Conducts a minimum of 6 regular club meetings per year.
• Selects youth officers or youth leaders to provide leadership to the club.
• Meets in any location-a home, community center, military installation, library, public housing site, school, after school program, and/or many other places.
• Is advised by adult staff or volunteers who been screened, certified and trained.

Educational and Youth Development Principles of a 4-H Club:

• Uses experiential learning- learning by doing- as a primary teaching approach.
• Must provide the Eight Critical Elements of positive 4-H youth Development
• Includes planned opportunities to learn and apply life skills such as leadership, citizenship, community service and public speaking.
• Provides individual project experiences to develop in-depth knowledge about science, engineering and technology; citizenship; and healthy living and other topics.
• Provides programs, curricula, and procedures that are based in research and are developmentally appropriate.
• Provides members and volunteers access to resources of land-grant universities and to county, state and national 4-H opportunities.
• Fosters youth-adult partnerships that encourage active involvement and participation by youth and adults.
• Offers projects in a wide range of subject matter areas relevant to the Land Grant University knowledge base to meet youth needs and interests.

4-H Club Officer Training Materials

This page includes resources that can be provided to the 4-H members who have been selected to serve in a 4-H Club Officer role for the 4-H Club year.

General Workshop Materials

• Workshop Agenda
• Mock Meeting Agenda
• Officer Duties
• Officer Goals
• Purpose of Training Workshop
• Committee Instruction Sheet​
• Sample Motion​

President/Vice President

• President's Guide
• Vice President's Guide
• President Suggestions
• Vice President Suggestions

Secretary

• Secretary's Guide
• Suggestions for Secretaries
• Duties
• Outline for Secretary's Minutes

Treasurer

• Treasurer's Guide
• Suggestions for Treasurers
• Outline for Treasurer's Reports
• Dues Checklist

Health & Safety

• Health and Safety Coordinator's Guide
• Suggestions for Heath & Safety Reports

News Reporter

• News Coordinator's Guide
• Suggestions for Reporter
• Suggestion for News Article
• Example News Story
• News, Democracy, and You publication

Recreation Leader

• Recreational Activities Coordinator's Guide
• Suggestions for Recreational Leaders

Song Leader

• Singing Coordinator's Guide
•  
Suggestions for Song Leaders

Understanding Parliamentary Procedure 

• Parliamentary Procedure Fact List
• Parliamentary Procedure Power Point 
• Parliamentary Procedure Lesson Plan

Risk Management Forms

It is good practice to have copies of these forms in a binder on-hand at 4-H activities. 

• 4-H Member Special Trip/Field Trip Permission Forms
• Non 4-H Member Field Trip & Activities Permission Form
• Purdue Accident Incident Report
• Youth Health Form
• Youth 4-H Camp Health Form
• Adult Health Form
• Mini 4-H Liability Release Form

4-H Clipart and Graphics for Flyers/Publications

• Use of the 4-H Name & Emblem
• 4-H Name & Emblem 4-H Professional's Handbook (Rev.2017)

Virtual Meeting Information​

Engaging Youth and Volunteers Virtually

• Engaging Youth and Volunteers Virtually - PPT from 4-H Youth Staff Conference
  Marion County 4-H Club Safety Plan - submitted by Ashley Shufflebarger, 4-H Extension Educator

Considerations for Staying Connected to 4-H Youth While Physically Apart 

Resources developed by Minnesota 4-H designed to help 4-H Volunteers and Extension staff take necessary steps to ensure safety of youth in an online setting:

• Keeping Young People Safe Online (MN)
• A Guide for Staying Connected to 4-H Groups While Physically Apart (MN)