Teen Leadership and Community Service

COMMUNITY SERVICE

Service to others has always been an important part of the 4-H club program. One part of the 4-H pledge states, “I pledge my hands to larger service.” An entire section of the 4-H Summary Record is dedicated to the documentation of community service done by each 4-H member.

4-H groups conduct community service projects in local communities where they meet. These projects include community beautification, collecting donations for food pantries, and volunteering in nursing homes, to name just a few.

Recently the 4-H program has been conducting statewide community service projects. Past projects include the distribution of backpacks with school supplies to needy children, the collection of new toys to benefit children in the Foster Children Evaluation Services at the UMass Medical Center and the Hurricane Katrina relief effort to benefit 4-H families in Louisiana and Mississippi.

Contact your local 4-H office for additional information about on-going community service projects or for resource materials.

TEEN LEADERSHIP

The 4-H program provides teens with opportunities to develop leadership skills. This is done through work as a “junior leader” as well as through various conference and event opportunities.

Junior Leadership

A 4-H junior leader serves in the role of assisting the adult club leader. In this way, the adult leader serves as a mentor to the teen. The club leader and junior leader work out an agreement about what the role of the junior leader will be. Responsibilities of the junior leader could include: club record keeping, researching local community service opportunities, planning for a club activity such as a recognition banquet or field trip, and teaching younger members. The junior leader documents his/her goals for the year and the knowledge and skills he/she gained in the 4-H leadership project record.

EDUCATIONAL EVENTS & CONFERENCES

Massachusetts 4-H Ambassadors Program

Are you a 4-H member who thinks 4-H has a positive influence on your life? Helps you develop great friendships? Assists you in learning about yourself and others? Enables you to develop lifeskills such as communicating, and decision making skills you will use for the rest of your life? Introduces you to areas that you might pursue as a future career? Then we need your help!

4-H is looking for teens (ages 13 and older) and adults willing to help us tell the 4-H story in Massachusetts. 4-H Ambassador sessions are offered throughout the state to help participants develop and improve their communication skills, including writing speeches, brochures, flyers, and public service announcements, putting together exciting exhibits and delivering persuasive speeches. Don’t like public speaking? Not a problem! Ambassadors are needed for many jobs that don’t require public speaking.

All Ambassador candidates must be nominated by a leader, parent, Educator or 4-H Ambassador. To nominate a 4-H member, you must provide information about the candidate’s strengths and weaknesses in the areas of speaking, writing, teaching, organizing, leadership and ability to work alone and as a team member. You must also explain why you feel the member would make a good Ambassador. The nominations go to your local 4-H Educator. There is a nomination form available; contact your 4-H Educator to obtain a 4-H Ambassador nomination form.

4-H Ambassador sessions are scheduled throughout the state at several times during the year. Check out the 4-H Web calendar or contact your local 4-H office for dates.

4-H Teen Connection Conference-UCONN

To replace Teen Leadership Conference, Massachusetts 4-H will be participating in UCONN’s 4-H Teen Connection Conference June 29 –July1.  Held on even numbered years at the University of Connecticut Storrs campus, this conference provides experiences in personal development, leadership education, and career exploration in a college setting and CT Teen Ambassadors assist with conference planning.  Along with staying in the dorms, participants will also participate in a community service project while focusing on Career Exploration.  The event is open to all teens entering ninth through twelfth grades.  Registration information will be coming in April and chaperones will be needed. If interested contact Kim Pond at kima@umext.umass.edu or 508-831-1223 x245
with your name and address and a brochure will be mailed out to you.

4-H/FFA Teen Leadership Winter Camp

Barton Conference Center, N. Oxford, MA: Sharpen your leadership skills along with FFA and 4-H teens (ages 14-18) from across Massachusetts. This weekend event is usually held in early December each year. Some of the sessions are facilitated by out-of-state Leadership Trainers. Workshops and other sessions will have you actively engaged and asking for more! Registration materials are posted here in October of each year.

2007 Winter Camp Flyer
2007 4-H/FFA Registration Form

Statewide 4-H Teen Leadership/Community Service Club

Debbie Beaubien, 4-H volunteer from Pepperell, is starting a statewide 4-H Teen Leadership/Community Service Club and invites all Massachusetts teens to join.  The club will plan and conduct community service and educational events.  Other projects may include learning how to do resumes and college applications, touring the UMass campuses and recreational activities, depending upon the interests of club members.  To get more information, contact Debbie at 978-433-9744 or at debbie_1@charter.net.

National 4-H Conference, National 4-H Congress and other National 4-H Conference Opportunities

Massachusetts sends a delegation of youth to National 4-H Congress in odd numbered years (2007, 2009, etc.) and to National 4-H Conference and The National 4-H Teen Technology Leadership Conference in even numbered years (2008, 2010, etc.) Delegates are selected based on an application process which is posted on the 4-H website. Each delegate is expected to contribute $200 toward the cost of the experience: all remaining costs are paid by the Massachusetts 4-H Foundation.

Chaperones are needed each year. Any 4-H volunteer wishing to chaperone one of these events should contact their local Educator.

National 4-H Congress

National 4-H Congress is the flagship event of the 4-H program. For 80 years youth from the United States and its territories have participated in this youth leadership development conference. Congress provides youth ages 14-19 a quality educational and cross-cultural experience that exceeds what any state independently provides. It is designed to address the needs and issues of youth while helping to develop capable, competent and caring citizens. For more information, go to www.national4-hcongress.com.

Application for National 4-H Congress
Application for National 4-H Congress

National 4-H Conference

National 4-H Conference is the Secretary of Agriculture’s premier youth development opportunity to engage youth in developing recommendations for the 4-H Youth Development Program. The Conference brings together youth and adults from across the United States, U.S. territories and Canadian Provinces. The conference is housed at the National 4-H Youth Conference Center in Chevy Chase, Maryland. Delegates take part in field trips, recreational opportunities and Congressional visits in Washington D.C. For more information, go to http://4hconf.4-h.org.

Application Instructions for National 4-H Conference
Application Instructions for National 4-H Conference

National 4-H Technology Leadership Conference

The National 4-H Technology Leadership Conference is the newest National Opportunity for Teens with the first conference hosted by the University of Maryland, College Park in 2000 whose vision is to create an environment and experiences where youth and adults partner to share their skills, expertise and interests in 4-H programs that incorporate technology and 21st century skills. Participants return home to apply new skills and ideas to enhance existing programs and create new programs that will build technology skills across 4-H. For more information, go to http://4hntc.4-h.org .