Thinking about forming a 4-H Club? If so, now is an ideal time to start the process. Our 4-H community clubs typically break for the summer, but the 4-H staff are still here ready to guide you through the important and (sometimes time-consuming) first steps.
What’s Required for a Club?
The Florida 4-H program requires all clubs to have at least two background screened approved adult volunteers prior to the first meeting. It’s best to recruit that second adult at the beginning to ensure that you are ready to go when the 4-H year begins on September 1st. In addition to the adult volunteers, a club must have a minimum of five enrolled youth from two or more families. 4-H members must be at least five years old and not older than 18 on September 1st of the program year. Typically, this translates to K-12 school-aged youth.
The 4-H Club Model
Community Clubs are not one-size fits all. Some meet every month, some meet every week. Some focus on a particular project area while others are more general in nature and offer a variety of projects. What all clubs have in common is a focus on positive youth development and helping youth thrive. The Florida 4-H program has resources to guide club leaders in planning and supporting their club program. Here in Orange County, we offer training, online resources, and guidance on an ongoing basis. If you already have ideas for your club, that’s great! If not, we can help point you in the right direction.
The 4-H club model uses 4-H projects as the spark to ignite the motivation to develop life skills that help youth succeed in adulthood. Youth choose projects and associated project curricula that guide them through hands-on activities and challenges to develop mastery over a period of years. Adult volunteers support learning, create a sense of belonging, and provide opportunities to practice generosity through community service efforts. The county and state 4-H programs provide workshops, events, contests, and recognition to both complement and deepen the benefits of 4-H membership.
If you are interested in learning more about the UF/IFAS Extension Orange County 4-H Program and want to get started as a 4-H club leader, please email us today at orange4H@ifas.ufl.edu or call 407-254-9222.
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