Anyone do 4-H

[EllyMayMomma]

I have been told we can sign up at the local office. Anyone know if we would have to go to the meetings at the public school? I want they kids to show their animals at the 4-H shows but not so sure I want to stick my kids in a room full of public-schoolers for it. My kids really want to join up because it is a "club" and they do have some really neat projects. To be honest, I am very nervous about going in and giving people my and my kids names and address and saying we homeschool - we try to stay under the radar as much as possible. What do you think?

[frugalmama]

in many areas there is a homeschool 4H group. I'd call and ask if there is a group in your area.

I loved 4H as a kid in a hsing group - we did yearbooks, rocketry, cooking, sewing, fashion design and a lot more.

[oneotamama]

Bumping this thread because I've thought the same thing!

[zeldamomma]

We LOVE 4-H. In our area, clubs are not linked to schools (though for all I know some clubs might meet at schools, our club meets at a church, and it is a homeschool group). I don't believe they asked about my kids' school on the registration form, but I wouldn't worry too much about it if they do-- the folks who run 4-H have way too much to do to waste time hassling people for homeschooling.

The way 4-H works varies a lot from state to state, I'd call your local university extension office and ask them how it works in your area.

[elizawill]

we've participated with our 4-H since my daughter was 5. we've been in 2 homeschool groups (starting the second one in sept), and we've also participated as independents (with the embryology program). anyway, i'd say you could participate independently or find a homeschool group. hth.

[Sneezykids]

We've been involved in 4H for five years and have participated in groups and independently. Some clubs are homeschool based and some are a mix, others are mostly ps kids. Our homeschool (yahoo) group has it's own 4H club that has activities. Most of the time, in my experience, kids do not have to belong to clubs to show their animals. My dd has rabbits and is not in a club for it, she tried it but dropped out.

[Sam*]

Each group is different and some tend to focus on one topic. I was in 3 different groups (at the same time) when I was in school. Most of them met at the leaders house and there were never any issues about how people were rasing their kids. The focus was always about the projects. I was in one that focused on rasing and showing sheep, one that focused on community service, and one that was craft focused. I also did some independant things with other animals.

[Breathless Wonder]

You can register "at large", which means as individuals, instead of as a part of a group. When you register at large, they are supposed to notify you of county wide and regional events. You can do project books, and participate how you want to.

There are some homeschool 4-H groups in my area- 3 or 4 that I can think of in my county. Our local groups weren't a good fit for us, but we do occasionally team up with a group from another county, and work on projects.

FWIW, I homeschool my 4 children, and we have had no issues with any of our organized activities, and we've done tons over the years, as my oldest is 17. YMMV.

[elanorh]

How it's set up varies a lot by state/region. Where I was in 4-H (MT), clubs were by where people lived. It was a rural area, and some clubs had homeschoolers because the homeschoolers lived near the rest of the club. We met at each others' homes, and since the clubs were by area, the clubs included all sorts of projects (sewing, rocketry, beef cattle, whatever). The clubs are still set up that way there today. Some people would commute to what they considered a "better" club (there was one which tended to have lots of kids who did very well at the state and national level with projects) but that was less usual than simply belonging to the one nearest where you lived.

Where I live now, clubs are more by project type. So there are kids from all different schools (including homeschools) in the clubs; there's one club which is mostly small/indoor projects catch-all but most clubs are predominantly HORSE, or CATTLE, or etc. (kids choose the club they want to be in, so you'd be in the horse club, and then attend other project training meetings if you want to, or do on your own). This area has quite a few homeschoolers integrated into the other 4-H clubs, they don't have a separate homeschool 4-H group. Kids can and do occasionally enter as "independents" but in my biased opinion, that really loses some of the great things about being in a club - learning how meetings work, getting experience with being club officers, taking minutes, planning activities etc. You'd still be keeping records etc. but would be missing out on that "organizational group" experience which 4-H also provides.

My dd1 is in Cloverbuds (for kids 5-8). We meet monthly and do small projects at each meeting. It's been nice, and it draws kids from all over our county to the meeting. I think we're the only homeschool family there, but literally every school in the county is represented by at least one kid/family. It's been a lot of fun for Ina.

I worked for the Extension office here (as the Family & Consumer Sciences Educator) for quite awhile - I know each office is different but at least here, no one would blink an eye about homeschooling (and my former coworkers are very supportive of our decision to homeschool in fact!). Ask your local office how the clubs work and if there is a particular club which they think would be a good fit for your child, and they may suggest a couple different options for you. I *would* recommend that if you weren't in 4-H yourself growing up, you find someone who is a former 4-Her to kind of show you the ropes so you know how things are done (realizing that varies, again, by where people are from).

[lonegirl]

I was a 4-H member and leader....way back when....and a friend of mine is still very active and one of the local directors. I think it is great for kids....whether in PS of Home schooled. I know that in the real world the kids will meet other people. I don't want my son to grow up in a bubble....after all I met and married my husband at public highschool and all our closest friends are from there.
That being said....I think the best for you is to research the local chapters and see if you find a group that meets your needs...most are pretty laid back that I have come across and the kids can sit in and see if they like the feel. I think one of the best things about 4-H is being in a club setting where they learn together and have fun together.

[eastkygal]

We do homeschool 4H and it meets at the county extension office. It is a great program and my girls love it. It is one of several "schools" they go to.