First Cloverbud Fun Day @ OC 4-H!

The STARS were out at Orange County Extension Education Center today to celebrate the first Cloverbud Fun Day. Cloverbuds who achieved the OC 4-H Standards of Excellence for the 2009-2010 club year were invited to attend this Event along with their siblings and parents.

OC 4-H cloverbuds, the youngest members of the OC 4-H family, were treated to popcorn and other concessions and were the guests of honor as they screened a movie in their own private movie theater! So what does it take to be a Cloverbud Star? OC 4-H Standards of Excellence at the Cloverbud Level includes the following:

• completing a show and tell activity with your 4-H club
• attending at least 2/3rds of your club meetins
• completing at least one cloverbud workbook or project book
• completing a WILDCARD event (Share the Fun, County Events, or Central Florida Fair)
• completing the Standards of Excellence application by May 2, 2011.

Congratulations to Jeremy of Junior Master Garderners 4-H Club, Ellen, MaryBrian, and Vivian of City Farmer's 4-H Club!

What is 4-H?

The purpose of 4-H is to help youth become productive members of society. By acquiring life skills, youth learn about practical problems they will fac ein life. Subject matter curricula help youth understand research-based educational topics and learn how to think about and solve problems. In the broadest sense, 4-H is a human development program designed to foster a sense of confidence, a feeling of accomplishment, and a heightened level of competence.

What makes 4-H Possible?

In Florida, 4-H is part of the Florida Cooperative Extension Service based at the land-grant universitites. 4-H is tax supported. The combined efforts of the county, state and federal governments support 4-H to provide practical, educationally-researched based programs for everyday living and development of life skills among youth. Programs and activities are conducted through a partnership of local community volunteers and professional staff.

What are the advantages of being in 4-H?

4-H offers flexible programming to meet youth needs by empahsizing skill building processes and effective outcomes through quality curriculum that promotes positive values, social responsibility, and lifelong learning. Young people in 4-H have an opportunity to:

• develop as an individual;
• learn lifelong skills related to project/subject areas;
• make new friends through 4-H meetings, events, and activities;
• work with adult volunteer leaders;
• develop pride as they learn by doing;
• develop leadership skills, including the ability to speak before a group;
• explore projects that can lead to future careers.

A recent 4-H research study from Tufts University (Learner et al 2009) showed that youth enrolled in 4-H were 1.8 times more likely to attend college than peers enrolled in other youth development programs.

What experiences does 4-H provide for youth?

4-H helps youth learn to live and make a living through individual and group experiences.

Welcome to our Blog!

Welcome to Orange County 4-H 2.0. We are experimenting with content and social media and hope you will join us on the journey. Become one of our followers/subscribers and BE connected with current events and updates, picture posts and more.