First Posted: 6/14/2013
How often have you heard your child say, “There’s nothing to do.”
For our 4-H members that’s not the case. Robeson County 4-H is known as a positive youth development program. Best known for its community clubs, 4-H members have the opportunity to set goals and reach for the stars while discovering and building on strengths, and overcoming fears. In a club, members are involved in all aspects of planning and decision-making, which teaches them about responsibility, consequences and leadership.
When youth are involved in the decision-making process, they feel more a part of the program, and it helps to build self-confidence. This is where the 4-H County Council comes in. The county council is where 4-H members elect other 4-H members into officer positions and these officers have a key voice in 4-H. The officers help make decisions, run countywide meetings utilizing Parliamentary Procedure and represent our county 4-H program at District and State events. It’s a great honor and responsibility for youth who serve in this role.
If leadership is not what your child aspires to do, don’t stop reading because 4-H has a variety of youth programs throughout the year based on age. There are competitive programs such as public speaking, entertains and animal science. Teen Retreat is a structured weekend leadership/team building program that is fun and educational in a safe environment. Then there is the summer where 4-H offers a variety of day and overnight camping options known as Summer Fun. Programs such as: Junior Chef Academy, Biotech, Junior Master Gardeners, Time Travel Camp and a week-long overnight camp will fill up a child’s summer and engage their mind. These programs are filling up fast, so contact the 4-H office to register.
If you miss this summer you might want to go ahead and become a 4-H member now. There are many fun and exciting programs and events throughout the year where youth have the opportunity to learn through hands-on activities in safe and nurturing environments. Doesn’t that sound like a great place for your child to be?
The 4-H staff can’t take all the credit for all the opportunities. The adult volunteers who serve as club leaders are the key to the success. 4-H has about 150 trained adult volunteers. All youth between the ages of 5 and 19 are welcome to join 4-H. It is a fact that youth in 4-H are 20 percent more likely to attend college, and more likely to be successful in their adult lives. So why not stack the deck in their favor?
For information about the 4-H program, contact Wendy Maynor, 4-H Program Assistant with North Carolina Cooperative Extension, Robeson County Center, at 910-671-3276, by email at [email protected], or visit our website at http://robeson.ces.ncsu.edu.
