All About 4-H

4-H is...

4-H is one of the oldest and most effective programs of non-formal education in Hawaii.  The 4-H classroom is a world of real hands-on projects and demonstrations, leadership development, and personal economics.  4-H teaches pride in workmanship and accomplishments, personal interaction with peers, and respect for the environment.

4-H assists young people in developing life skills and in forming attitudes that will enable them to become self-directing, productive, and contributing members of society.  4-H strives to help young people "make the best better" through programs that emphasize learning by doing.  4-H touches approximately 35,000 young people annually throughout the State of Hawaii.

4-H helps young people develop quality friendships with adults and peers.

4-H teaches youth important life skills such as leadership, decision-making, and personal-coping skills and helps them acquire and use knowledge.

4-H is a program about our future, our youth-an organization that is constantly changing to meet the needs of young people in today's world.

Who...

4-H is for youths age 5-19 from all racial, cultural, economic, and social backgrounds.

Projects...

Popular projects today are food & nutrition, clothing, health, safety, environment, and leadership.  New projects range from aerospace to theatrics to food safety.

4-H members may also learn about livestock, crops, forestry, marketing, and machinery.  Other projects are electricity, environmental protection and conservation, photography, public speaking, woodworking, entomology, small engines, and personal development.

Where...

4-H involves young people everywhere.  They meet in homes of members or their leaders, in schools, or in other community buildings.  4-H is found wherever professional Cooperative Extension Service personnel and CES volunteer leaders are available to conduct the program.

Flexibility is the key to today's 4-H projects-flexibility is the kinds of learning offered and in the variety and scope of projects.

4-H Emblem:

A green four-leaf clover with a white "H" on each leaf.  The four H's stand for Head, Heart, Hands, and Health.

4-H Slogan:

"Learn by Doing"

4-H Motto:

"To make the best better."

4-H Colors:

4-H Pledge:

• I pledge:
  • My head to clearer thinking
  • My heart to greater loyalty
  • My hands to larger service
  • My health to better living for my club, my community, my country, and my world.

4-H Statement:

"4-H is a community of young people across America who are learning leadership, citizenship, and life skills."

Ways to Participate:

To meet the needs of a constantly changing society, 4-H has developed a number of ways to participate.

4-H Club

Youth participate in organized 4-H clubs, with officers and a planned program that is carried on through all or several months of the year.  The 4-H club offers multiple projects and club activity programs.  Completing an individual enrollment form accomplishes enrollment.  A club consists of five or more members.

4-H Individual Membership

Participating in a planned youth 4-H program for individual members or youth who cannot meet with 4-H club units due to distance or undue conflict, such as some seniors in high school or freshmen in college have, may become individual members.

To enroll as an individual member, youth must:

    1. Meet the age requirements set up to belong to 4-H

    2. Complete an individual enrollment form

Individual 4-H members are bound to rules set up by local 4-H Councils concerning deadlines for enrollment, appropriate conduct and other policy requirements.

4-H School Enrichment Programs

4-H School Enrichment programs are based on 4-H curricula.  Completing a group enrollment form accomplishes enrollment.

The following criteria govern the use of 4-H curricula in school settings:

1. Experientially based, including activities for each lesson

2. Conducted by the classroom teacher or other volunteer with assistance from 4-H personnel

3. A cooperative program between school and 4-H.  The school provides the enrollment list and teachers.  4-H provides program assistance, training ties with the community and support  materials.   (Support materials are provided to teachers and students at the cost of printing and  handling.)

How to Join: