Volunteer to help grow true leaders

Throughout the United States, more than 500,000 volunteers provide caring and supportive mentoring to 6 million 4-H'ers, helping them grow into true leaders. Garland County 4-H has approximately 250 members. These members come from all areas of the county -- the communities of Fountain Lake, Lake Hamilton, Lakeside, Jessieville, Mountain Pine and within the city limits of Hot Springs. Garland County 4-H needs more adult volunteer leaders to help us serve even more youths of this county.

The 4-H adult volunteer leaders are the core of every successful 4-H program! A 4-H volunteer leader plays a key role in helping young people grow as individuals, acquire new knowledge and skills, and become active members of their communities. A 4-H adult volunteer gains personal satisfaction and pride in knowing they have contributed significantly to the personal development of youths. The 4-H volunteers help 4-H members to:

• Learn by doing.

• Develop leadership and life skills.

• Make new friends.

• Give back to the community.

• Build connections with others.

• Prepare, do and share.

Research shows that 4-H helps young people excel beyond their peers. The 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development, conducted by Tufts University, explores the impact that participation in 4-H has on youths. For more than 10 years, 4-H has partnered with Tufts University to study the effectiveness of its youth development programs. This research study found that the 4-H program's unique hands-on approach gives kids the opportunity to learn by doing and build life skills. Compared to their peers, the findings show that youths involved in 4-H programs excel in several areas.

When compared to youths in other out-of-school activities, 4-H'ers are nearly four times more likely to make contributions to their communities. The 4-H'ers are two times more likely to be civically active. They are nearly two times more likely to participate in science, engineering, and computer technology programs during out-of-school time; 4-H youths are nearly two times more likely to make healthy choices; 4-H girls are two times more likely to take part in science programs.

People volunteer with 4-H for many reasons. One obvious benefit is to help guide and mentor the country's future citizens and leaders. Volunteers also develop new leadership skills, meet new friends and have great adventures.

Adult volunteers play an important role in 4-H youth education programs. They coordinate local community clubs and help to plan and conduct local, regional, state and national 4-H events. A club can be established with as few as six kids from at least two different families and an adult who will lead the club. Clubs meet at least six times per year, but most clubs meet each month. Club meetings consist of having an "official" business meeting, a program which could be a guest speaker, a training workshop or even a talk from one of the youth members. A game or activity usually follows and most of the time a snack is provided by one of the members.

If interested in becoming a 4-H volunteer leader and possibly establishing a club in your neighborhood, contact Linda Bates, 501-623-6841, or email [email protected] at the Extension Office for more facts about 4-H and for information about getting a club started.

Additional information is available at website http://www.uaex.edu/garland.

Master Gardener

Master Gardener meetings are held on the third Thursday of each month at the Elks Lodge. They're open to the public. For information, call the Extension Office, 623-6841 or 922-4703, or email Allen Bates, [email protected].

EHC

Interested in joining an existing Extension Homemakers Club? EHC is the largest volunteer organization in the state. For information, call Jessica Vincent, 623-6841 or 922-4703, or email her at [email protected].

Society on 07/25/2016

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