Volume 5, Issue 1
Welcome to the New 4-H Cloverbud Year!
Fall 2003 brings the new 4-H year and the start or renewal of 4-H
Cloverbud groups.
If this is your first year and first issue of The Cloverpatch,
please know that past issues of The Cloverpatch are located on the
Urban Extension web site. To access these issues go to http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/cloverbuds/index.html.
The current issue should appear first on the screen. At the end
of the issue, you can click on Past Issues and a list of the all
issues will appear. You may then choose the issue of interest to
you.
Many counties have 4-H Cloverbud kits, which can be borrowed to
enhance your group meetings. The kits contain non-consumable supplies
and reading books based on the Ohio 4-H Cloverbud I and II curriculums.
Check with your local Extension office to see what is available.
Positive Youth Development
Beginning with Volume 3 Issue 4 of The Cloverpatch, we have been
featuring a series of nine articles related to the topic of positive
youth development. This issue deals with the sixth of the eight
critical elements.
PYD Critical Elements – – An opportunity for Self-Determination.
The 4-H Cloverbud group provides a wonderful opportunity for young
people to practice self-determination. Self-determination is believing
that one has some power over life’s events rather than submitting
passively to the will and whims of others. Young people must foster
a personal sense of influence over their own lives, exercising their
potential to become self-directing, autonomous adults.
The following are a few tips to consider in providing your 4-H
Cloverbud members an opportunity for self-determination.
- 4-H Cloverbud volunteers should conduct success-oriented activities
to help children gain confidence.Use cooperative-learning techniques
as children work together on activities. Each child has individual
responsibilities as well as must work with others to make joint
decisions regarding the outcomes of their play/work.
- By using noncompetitive activities to foster intrinsic motivation,
4-H Cloverbud volunteers can help members learn a little about
self-determination. Youth should be encouraged to try new things
and learn a little about themselves in the process. As a result
they discover and practice their interests and skills, gradually
learn to test their independence and will eventually take control
of their lives.
- 4-H Cloverbud volunteers should focus on the process of doing
activities, rather than the finished product.
As 4-H Cloverbud members participate in group activities, make
sure that each child understands the instructions for the activity
and that you have enough adult assistance to help them through the
individual steps of the activity. 4-H Cloverbuds will develop social
interaction skills such as learning how to work together cooperatively,
sharing resources, and resolving conflicts. 4-H Cloverbuds might
be encouraged to determine the length of time spent in the activity
as well as the depth of involvement (within parameters, of course).
Additional 4-H Cloverbud Curriculum Offerings
During 4-H Cloverbud orientation, we recommend that 4-H Cloverbud
groups enroll in the Cloverbud I or II curriculum published by Ohio
State University Extension. These two curriculums are leader guides
only.
Some 4-H Cloverbud youth continue as members from age 5 through
age 7. By age 6 or 7, the children will begin to read and write
at school. Therefore, they may be ready for more advanced 4-H Cloverbud
activities. Illinois 4-H offers additional curriculum geared to
the older 4-H Cloverbud members. These projects include Aerospace
I, Bicycle I, Child Development I, Health I, and Performing Arts
I. Each of these projects includes an individual member manual as
well as a leader’s guide. Check with your local Extension
office for publication costs. If you choose one of these projects,
we suggest that the entire group enroll in the project.
In addition, there are several other projects listed in the 2003-2004
Illinois Clover that are appropriate for 4-H Cloverbud groups. Advanced
curriculum training emphasizing the experiential learning process
is available for 4-H Cloverbud volunteers. Let your local Extension
office know that you are interested in this training.
4-H Cloverbud Role Descriptions
4-H Cloverbud volunteers are encouraged to involve parents, older
teens, and other adults with their 4-H Cloverbud groups. A number
of sample role descriptions have been written and placed on the
Illinois 4-H web site. They can be accessed at
http://www.4-h.uiuc.edu/staff/roledesc/index.html.
Current youth development research suggests that each child should
have a positive relationship with three other adults besides their
parents. 4-H Cloverbud volunteers can serve in this important role.
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