The new 4-H year kicks off September 1st and that means our Virtual Volunteer Leadership Academy will begin our fall series. Based on volunteer feedback, we have made some exciting changes! The biggest change is that our live sessions will be offered in the evenings instead of the middle of the day. An email notification has been sent to all our registered participants about the time change. Hopefully, this will allow more people to attend the live sessions.
The second change is that we have adjusted some of the topics based on COVID-19 transition needs. Here is our updated schedule, as well as a description of the session:
Time is 6PM Central/7PM Eastern on the third Thursday of the month
Date
Topic
Description
September 17th
Making Virtual Meetings Fun
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the 4-H club year looks different right now. As we move through phase 2 and phase 3 of our transition to “normal” virtual programs are still encouraged. Join us to learn simple strategies for making virtual and socially distanced programs fun and engaging for youth. This session will provided resources for:
1. Virtual and socially distanced icebreakers
2. How to lead hands on activities in a virtual or socially distanced setting
October 15th
4-H Judging Teams
Judging contests are a great way for youth to learn decision making skills, public speaking and teamwork. This session will:
1. Give an overview of judging opportunities in Florida 4-H
2. Provide resources for getting started coaching a judging team (virtually or in person)
November 19th
Mindfulness for the 4-H Volunteer
For many counties in the Northwest District, the past few years have been extremely stressful. Between Hurricane Michael and now COVID-19, our 4-H volunteers are burning the candle at both ends. This session will help you learn strategies to relieve stress through the science of mindfulness.
December
No session- enjoy time with family and friends!
If you are not registered, there is still space (and registration is free). Register once, and you will be signed up for all the sessions. If you can’t make a session, you will receive a link to the record so that you can participate at your convenience. While these sessions are geared towards 4-H club leaders, anyone interested in helping with a club or eventually becoming a volunteer is welcome to attend.Attend at least three live sessions in 2020, and you will receive a digital badge! We also have some exciting doorprizes as we gear up for our 4-H Volunteer Retreat in January 2021. If you have questions, or would like to suggest topics for 2021, please contact your local UF IFAS Extension Office.
April’s 4-H Virtual Volunteer Leadership Academy on April 16, 2020 was on the importance of awards and recognition. We learned that recognition is important feedback that every individual needs as it helps to give a sense of belonging when a task or achievement occurs. Recognition builds self-esteem and allows for self-reflection and personal growth.
In 4-H, youth members, volunteers, parents, and community partners all want to know that they have been successful in their participation and/or contribution to the program and that they belong in 4-H. All members need to experience recognition for their efforts and that recognition is more meaningful when it occurs soon after it is earned. April’s 4-H Virtual Volunteer Leadership Academy webinar explained that the National 4-H recognition model is based on five areas for recognition: participation, progress toward goals, standards of excellence, competition and cooperation. It also shared helpful tips on creative, low cost ways of recognition that will still send a meaningful message of value and importance to members in the program.
Registration Information
If you were unable to join us for April’s 4-H Virtual Volunteer Leadership Academy, it is not too late to register for future webinar sessions. And, as a registered participant, you will have access to all of the sessions available, including missed sessions, which can be viewed on demand.
Registration is required and can be found at http://bit.ly/4HVVLA Once registered, you can join each session live through Zoom. In addition, if you are unable to connect live, all monthly webinars will be available to you on demand as they are recorded. Register early – seats are limited to the first 100 registrants.
Future 4-H Virtual Volunteer Leadership Academy Webinars
May – Club Tools for Online Use
September*- Judging Contests
October*- Preparing for Exhibits & Shows
November* – Club Organization Basics
*Fall session registration will be available July 1, 2020.
Webinar Viewing Information
Join each live session simply with one click from your phone, tablet or computer, using the Zoom app. Once you have registered, you will receive email communication regarding the Zoom session links, dates and times.
4-H is one of the largest youth development programs in America with more than 6.5 million young people, ages 5-18, and 540,000 youth and adult volunteers. A variety of fun, educational, engaging activities are offered to teach the fundamental 4-H ideal of practical, “learn by doing” experiences which encourages youth to experiment, innovate and think independently. For information on how you can get involved with 4-H as a youth, volunteer, or supporter, please contact your local UF/IFAS Extension to learn about 4-H in your county.
Making lotions and bath scrubs, practicing relaxation and doing yoga…doesn’t this sound like a great 4-H club program? Discover 4-H Spa and Relaxation Clubs are a great way to learn about homemade body products while learning relaxation techniques. Youth create a day at the spa by making lotions, soaps, scrubs and lip balms while learning methods to relax like tennis ball massages, creating a happy list, doing yoga and creating a zen garden. An added bonus is homemade products are a fraction of the cost of purchasing and make great gifts for friends and family.
Make your own Luxurious Bath Salts
Naval Support Activity-Panama City staff learning how to making calm bags.
½ cup baking soda
½ cup powdered milk
1 cup sea salt
1 cup Epsom salt ( scented or plain)
Use 3-5 drops fragrance oil designed for soaps or diluted essential oil for plain Epsom salt
Mix ingredients
Spoon the mixture into storage containers (wide mouth jars, bowls or zip style bags work well)
Label your container with ingredients and direction for use – Pinterest has several cute label designs
Caution: Essential oils are very strong and can be a skin irritant if applied directly to your skin. National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy recommends diluting essential oils with a carrier oil: use 1 teaspoon of coconut, almond, olive, sunflower or jojoba oil with 2 – 12 drops of the desired essential oil. Then, mix 3-5 drops of the diluted oil to your bath salt mixture. Bath salts are generally safe for most when used properly, but you should talk to your doctor before using bath salts if you have medical conditions such as skin diseases, heart disease or diabetes.
How to Use Your Bath Salts: Fill your tub halfway with warm to hot water, and pour in about 1/2 cup (120 g) of bath salts. For a stronger concentration, you can always add more. If you prefer showers, take a handful and rub over desired area. Bath salts are great to exfoliate by removing dead skin cells leaving the skin smooth and fresh. Tired achy feet or hands? No problem! Add salts to warm water in a dishpan, and immerse your feet or hands and soak away the pain.
NSA-PC staff learning the 4-H Spa & Relaxation Curricula they will use in their 4-H programs.
Are you an adult looking for ways to coach, teach and mentor youth? Contact the 4-H Agent in your county and enroll as a volunteer in 4-H Online. Volunteering not only strengthens the 4-H club, but also shows young people how to live with integrity, optimism, hope, determination, compassion, responsibility and resiliency – skills that will help them succeed in life.
Every organization has its own culture, and 4-H is no exception. Here are the ones that make 4-H unique!
What is 4-H?
4-H is the youth development outreach program of Land Grant Universities, the Cooperative Extension system, county government, and the United States Department of Agriculture.
4-H members are actively involved in educational projects that are fun but also instill life skills while working with caring adult leaders. 4-H projects use quality curriculum incorporating the most current research and knowledge available through the Land Grant University system.
4-H Pledge
The 4-H Pledge states what we want youth to achieve as a result of their involvement in the 4-H Youth Development program. It reminds members of the four areas of growth 4-H targets and reinforces the importance of mastery of life skills.
4-H Colors
The 4-H colors are green and white. White symbolizes purity and high ideals. Green, nature’s most prominent color, represents growth.
Motto: “To Make The Best Better”
The motto’s intent is to inspire young people to continue to learn and grow and to make their best efforts better through participating in educational experiences.
Slogan: “Learning By Doing”
This sums up the educational philosophy of the 4-H program. Young people learn best when they are involvedin learning. The intent is for youth to become engaged in learning by doing, reflecting on their experiences, and applying it to future situations.
4-H Name and Emblem
The 4-H Youth Development Program is represented by a popular, recognizable image that consists of a green four-leaf clover with a right turned stem and the letter “H” in white on each leaflet.
The text, 18 U.S.C. 707, appears with the emblem.The name and emblem are held in trust by the Secretary of the USDA and are protected by Title 18 of the United States Code, Section 707 (18 U.S.C. 707). This means it is afforded the same status and regard as the White House and Presidential Seals and may only be used as authorized by the statute, regulations and guidelines, and according to the authorization of the Secretary or designated representative.
I hope you enjoyed learning more about the culture of 4-H. Use of the 4-H name, motto, slogan and emblem signifies youth, adult leaders and 4-H Agents agree to the principles of youth development promoted through 4-H. To find about more about 4-H in your county, click here.
Make a Difference Monday is an online volunteer training series.
Most youth have started back to school, and soon we will roll over onto a new 4-H year as well! We are excited to kick off our Make a Difference Monday series next month. Make a Difference Monday is a online training series for both new and experienced 4-H volunteers. This year’s series will focus on the concept of Independence. There are two Essential Elements for Positive Youth Development related to Independence: Opportunity to see oneself as an active participant in the future and the opportunity for self determination.
The first session will help volunteers perfect their processing skills as they facilitate 4-H learning in their club. Learning how to lead youth through the process of learning and discovery can be easier said than done. Sarah Hensley, our state curriculum and evaluation specialist, will provide simple resources and tips so that volunteers can become experts in our Learn by Doing Model.
The second session will really help us fine tune our skills at forging youth adult partnerships. How we as adults see youth sets the tone of our club and county program. This session will help us examine our own beliefs and attitudes towards youth (and how it impacts our success as leaders) and will also help us teach youth how they can have an impact on their own life rather than passively submitting to the will and whims of others. In short- it is about empowering youth to make decisions and prepare them to be leaders to make a positive difference. One of the most powerful ways that club leaders can foster this Essential Element is by engaging youth in the club programming planning. 4-H Agent Karen Miliffe and myself will help guide you through that process.
One of the most difficult tasks for youth is learning how to set SMART goals. For example, this year for my daughter’s very first 4-H demonstration, she wanted to demonstrate how to make home-made pasta. Although that was an excellent idea, I felt that that would be a difficult demonstration for an 8-year old to pull off (to be honest, making home-made pasta is a bit of a challenge for most adults). Instead, I helped her choose a more realistic and age-appropriate goal- demonstrating how to make her favorite batch of cookies. Success in setting a achieving goals gives youth the confidence to aspire to more challenging goals in a safe way. This session, taught by our Positive Youth Development Specialist Dr. Kate Fogarty and 4-H Agent Sonja Crawford, will also help us better understand the ages and stages of positive youth development to guide us as we support different age groups of youth.
Sessions will start promptly at 7 PM Eastern/6 PM Central. You can join at home on our computer, phone, or tablet or if you prefer a group setting, you can contact your local UF IFAS Extension office for the nearest location available to you. More information is available at http://florida4h.org/madmondays.
Florida 4-H offers hundreds of events and activities to support 4-H clubs and members. 4-H events are specialized programs designed and conducted to SUPPORT a 4-H members projects at the club, county, district, state, and national levels. Events and activities are typically tied to a project (or curriculum) area and help the youth develop and demonstrate mastery; one of four essential elements that must be present in a young person’s life in order for positive youth development to occur. Last month, Tracey Tesdall and Travis Shepard shared resources and tips for navigating Florida 4-H Events and activities to help parents and volunteers guide their 4-H members. You can watch the 45-minute presentation online, but here are some key points and pieces of information that they covered:
General 4-H Policies on membership and participation can be found online. Note that the 4-H Age policy did change this year on September 1st. Rules related to specific contests and competitive events can be found on the events page.
Overnight Events Policy- 4-H Members “real age” 19 have elevated risks associated with their attendance as a participant. Members “real age” 19 will not be housed with youth age 18 or younger. Otherwise members are housed within 2 years of age. Members who are real age 18+ are considered an “adult” in all illegal activities and conflicts.General Tips and Reminders:
State Level Competitive Event Rules– Youth must be enrolled in 4-H at least 30 days prior to the events and they much have completed at least one year of 4-H work including the current year, as established by the 4-H Agent. 4-Hers on a state level winning team may not compete as FFA members the next year or vice-versa.
Cancellation policy– Participants who register for an event and cancel before registration closes will receive a full reimbursement of any associated fees. Once registration has closed, no refunds will be awarded unless a documented medical emergency or natural disaster inhibits a participant from attending.
General Tips and Reminders:
Pay close attention to state event deadlines
Payment should always come from your county, unless otherwise specified (contact your local 4-H Office to be sure!)
Make sure that your participation form is updated and current before an event (in case of an emergency). This applies to both youth and adult chaperones and volunteers. Forms can be updated electronically in 4HOnline or you can print and complete a paper participation form.
Make sure you are familiar with event schedules, directions, dress codes, and what to pack (if overnight). Your local 4-H Office is a great resource. State-level event information can be found online and is updated often.
We hope that this information will help you and your 4-Hers plan a successful project this year in 4-H. If you have any questions, please contact your local UF IFAS Extension Office, or view the Make a Difference Monday presentation. On November 16th, join us at 7PM Eastern/6PM Central to learn about Mastering 4-H Project Records, Portfolios and Awards. For more information about Make a Difference Monday, our online volunteer training series, visit our website at http://florida4h.org/madmondays.
