Has anyone had kids in 4-H?

[USAmma]

Anyone had kids in 4-H? I was thinking about girl scouts for my dd but somehow it seems to "cliquish" or something. At least that was my experience when I was in it as a child, and I hate the idea of selling cookies.

I was looking on their website and was interested in the Clover Kids program for 5-8 year olds. Can anyone tell me more about it, what the meetings are like, what they do?

Thanks! :)

[afishwithabike]

4-H is a great way to spend some time learning. I am coming from experiences of friends when I was a child myself. Usually meetings are broken down into sections. At least they were where I was from. I can't help you much with the description of what you are talking about because everybody I knew showed horses. I can bet you would be able to attend a meeting or two before you would actually decide whether to let them join or not. I just think it is a good organization that actually really teaches things to DC. Girl scouts is fine. I was one myself, but I agree it is a popularity thing and most scouts around here really don't "TEACH" the girls anything. In 4-H they will learn about the earth and how to preserve it. If they are showing animals they will learn how to take responsibility for "Living creatures". There are art things and photography avail for the creative child. I just think it is a good idea.

[ZachsMommy]

I was a 4-Her and I LOVED it!! :thumb You learn all kinds of interesting things. We did speeches and cook-offs (we were a Crafts and Cooking 4-H Club) and we had sleepovers and get-togethers at nearby restaurants to learn about how things were made. In the summer we went to camps and did crafts and archery and went on hikes, swimming, canoeing, etc. It was fantastic and I hope if I have a girl she can join something like it too. It really was a learnng experience - especially the speeches and such. You had to research something and speak for 10 minutes on whatever you found and then had to learn how to impromptu speak. It really helped me be more confident all around. Plus meeting SO many new girls and friends and just a great experience. I would definitely look into it!

:shamrock to you!

[hookahgirl]

I loved 4-H too!! I was in it for so many years! 10 to be exact!! I love the fact it isnt divided by gender, and you are encouraged to take what ever you are interested in, from sewing and cookiing to woodworking and skiing. You can even do indepedent projects of your choice!! If you arent in the country, you can join a group out there, or you can join one in the city!! Clover Bubs is a great program as well!! I was a leader for 4-H camp as well, so much fun!! And I truley belive it helps kids keep that "innocence" a bit longer!
:thumb

NAK

[turtlemama77]

I was in 4-H from about middle school until I graduated from high school. The best part was the county fair and exhibiting all my projects.

Our club met in a town hall once a month. We elected a president who ran the meetings (usually an older kid), a vice president, a secretary, a treasurer, and a few reporters. There's lots of encouragement for kids to get involved with community service projects. We cleaned up a stretch of highway, cleaned the town hall twice a year, visited nursing homes...that sort of thing. That was the big group meeting.

The smaller group meetings were based around the project areas you decided to take that year. I think you could learn about as many project areas as you wanted. I remember taking foods and nutrition, cats, gardening, veterinary science, childcare...lots of things (usually five or so areas a year). The goal was to learn about the areas and develop projects you could show at the county fair. Each area was supposed to have an adult leader that facilitated meetings a few times a year, but I don't recall having many of the smaller meetings. It kind of depends on how involved the parent supervising that area wants to be.

I thought it was a good experience, but like anything, you get out of it what you put into it. It helped me learn about organization and deadlines (fair time...projects had to be done, and we had to do a record book for each year of our activities too). I'd recommend going to a few meetings and talking to the general leader.

Edited to add: oh yeah, the speeches!! I forgot about that! I was also involved in drama and singing in our club, too. It really is a great program, and I think it can be a whole family thing too because the age span is so wide, and parents are encouraged to get involved.

[USAmma]

Thanks so much for the feedback! I am going to locate a local chapter and ask if we can sit in on some meetings and learn more about it. It sounds like exactly what I was looking for! :thumb