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Why
4-H?
It
changes lives by forming lifelong friendships. Young people
share new experiences, solve problems or tackle tough projects together
to form unshakable bonds. These bonds replace the need to become
involved in negative peer associations, such as gangs.
It
changes lives by developing leadership skills. 4-H Members
have many opportunities to learn and practice leadership skills.
They often use these skills to assume positions of responsibility
within the community.
It
changes lives by showing real-life application of concepts.
4-H projects take classroom concepts and apply them to everyday
life. 4-H projects demand that youth undertake a number of competencies
hands-on.
It
changes lives by creating youth and adult partnerships.
Development professionals are utilizing “youth as partners”
to reflect the principle that young people MUST have opportunities
to develop and exercise decision-making power with program activities
and community resources. When we view young people as partners,
the hands-on learning with the 4-H Youth Development experience
becomes self-owned, which creates a rising self-esteem.
Today
4-H is everywhere – in cities, suburbs, small towns
and rural communities. 4-H is not about cows, rabbits, cooking,
computers, sewing, camping, leather craft, or horses. It is really
about what happens to people, both people who participate in 4-H
and people who have contact with 4-H. In short, 4-H CHANGES
LIVES.
Adapted
from City Kids and Calves newsletter, January 1994, by Dick Shelstad,
former Pierce County 4-H Program Assistant.
Life
Skills Development
4-H
members learn by doing. Through hands-on experiences,
youth members, with guidance from adult volunteers, learn life
skills they can use throughout their lifetimes.
All
4-H youth development emphasizes three types of basic life skills:
competency, coping, and contributory.
Competency
skills are: learning and using accepted practices for mental,
physical, emotional, and social health; exploring and evaluating
career and job opportunities; acquiring subject matter skills and
knowledge in science or art; and developing and practicing responsible
skills related to the environment.
Examples
of coping skills are: acquiring a positive self-concept;
learning to respect and get along with people; and developing productive
use of leisure time.
Contributory
skills are: learning and practicing leadership skills and
fulfilling leadership roles; participating in community affairs;
and developing as individuals and leaders in the 4-H program.
Youth
develop life skills through the 4-H youth development to become
capable, competent, and caring citizens.
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