You Are a 4-H Project
Leader
A 4-H
project leader is a Very Important Person in the world of 4-H. You will:
· Help members learn skills they
will use throughout their life
· Help members reach their goals
· Serve as a role model
· Complete a 4-H volunteer form
The form is part of the
Missouri
4-H plan to ensure the safety of 4-H members We are making character
education a top priority. This includes six pillars of character:
- Trustworthiness
- Respect
- Responsibility
- Fairness
- Caring
- Citizenship
A part of your role is to
make these pillars part of your 4-H project experience.
Qualities that Will Help
You be a Great Project Leader
- Caring about 4-H members
- Helping them feel good
about themselves
- Developing meaningful
relationships with 4-H members
- Understanding the ages and
stages of youth development
- Organizing learning
experiences
- Having patience to help 4-H
members set and achieve their goals
Each of these qualities
will be helpful to you as a project leader. We will provide more
information on some of them in this and other project leader materials.
What Do You Need to Get
Started?
- Names, addresses and phone
numbers of 4-H members enrolled in the project group
- Project literature
- 4-H
Clover
- Y620
4-H Project Record or Animal Project
Record
The club leader or project
advisor in your club can provide you with the information about the 4-H
members enrolled in your project group. The 4-H Clover will provide you general information about 4-H
and the project you are leading. Project literature may be available for you
and your members. Finally, the 4-H
Project Record will provide you with an opportunity to help members
determine their personal goals for the project and may be used in your club
and county 4-H program as a record of the member's completion of the project.
Many counties have 4-H
newsletters that will provide additional information for 4-H leaders and
members on awards and opportunities available, deadlines, etc. Watch for
yours in the mail.
Missouri 4-H encourages each project
leader to have 6 hours of teaching/contact time with members. You will want
to check with your club leader, project advisor or your local University
Outreach and Extension office about the completion requirements for your
club and county. Also, ask what is eligible to be exhibited at the fair.
You also may want to ask about community service opportunities in the
project area.
First Meeting
Many
experienced 4-H project leaders like to invite members and parents to the
first project meeting. This helps parents understand what will be involved,
and they can help select project activities that will fit the family
budget.
You can use this
meeting to set project meeting dates times, places that will fit the family
calendar. One way to do this is to have weekly meetings for 6 weeks; another
is to have monthly meetings for 6 months. For younger 4-H members it's
important to get started early — while they are interested.
If parents are involved
with the goal setting process, they can provide additional support at home.
Goal Setting and Record
Keeping
Helping
members set goals that are a challenge to them and are achievable will help
you plan the remaining project meetings. The goals should be ones the 4-Her
can control. For younger members, helping break them down to shorter-term
goals may also be of help.
Project Meeting Plan
Here is
a suggested project meeting plan. Following this plan will help you have
clearly in mind the direction you hope to take. Involve members in the
planning process as much as possible and keep their goals in mind as you
plan each meeting. Work with 4-H members at the end of your project to
review goals, evaluate their progress and help them learn from the
experience.
·
Date
·
Time
·
Place
·
What I want to accomplish
·
Materials and equipment needed
·
What tasks I must do
·
How will the members participate
·
Assignments for the next meetings
·
Announcements
Work with 4-Hers at the end of your project to
review goals, evaluate their progress and help them learn from the
experience.
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