4-H Kickoff Event, Club Carnival a Blast!

Over 200 people joined Orange County 4-H at the third annual 4-H Kickoff Event on Saturday, August 28th. This year’s club carnival was hosted at the Orange County Extension Education Center with a luau theme and was a smashing success. Nine clubs and the Orange County 4-H County Council staffed “booths” inside and outside the Extension Exhibit Hall allowing 4-H projects to “come to life” with fun activities that showcased the many opportunities youth have with 4-H club membership.

Outside there were even more activities including a 24 foot rock wall, archery demonstration, water shooting gallery, and steer/calf roping. A favorite treat was the tropically inspired Hawaiian Ices complete with mini umbrellas and beach music.

If you didn’t make it this year you will definitely have to plan now to be there next year, this is becoming a larger-than-life event for 4-Hers and families in Orange County interested in becoming members of our family!

District 8 Wins Spirit Stick & Change Wars!

District 8, which Orange County is a part of, won the Spirit Stick, as well as Change Wars, during 2010 Congress Camp. Congratulations to all members of District 8! We truly are H-O-T Hot!

 

-Erin Maio, Orange County Reporter

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.

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