MSU Extension 4-H Volunteering & Mentoring

Welcome to Beyond
Ready in 5, a Michigan 4-H volunteer video
series from MSU Extension, quick learning
for 4-H volunteers on the go. In just
five minutes or less, you'll discover
practical ideas to help youth build
confidence, connection, and purpose in every
4-H experience. Whether you're a new or
experienced volunteer, these brief learning
moments are designed to keep you and
the youth you serve ready for success.
For this video, we'll explore promoting awareness,
helping youth know it's 4-H. Have you
ever worked with a young person who
participated in a 4-H club, camp, workshop, or
project, but didn't realize they were building
leadership skills, career readiness
skills, or even participating in 4-H? It happens more often
than we think. When youth understand
what they're learning, why it
matters, and how 4-H is helping them prepare
for the future, they're more likely
to stay engaged, recognize their growth,
and communicate the value of their
experiences to others. As 4-H volunteers,
we know youth gain valuable skills
through club meetings, projects, camps, and
service experiences. But do youth
recognize that these experiences are part
of something larger? Promoting awareness
means helping youth understand they aren't
just members of a local club, but part
of something bigger. Promoting awareness
is about helping young people recognize their
connection to the broader 4-H program
through putting together the 4-H puzzle.
Young people should understand they are
members of the 4-H club and connected to their
county 4-H program. There are Michigan
4-H members who are connected to millions
of youth through 4-H Nationwide. Their
experiences contribute to something larger
than a single club or activity. They're developing
skills that prepares them for work, life,
and their future. Awareness helps youth
answer an important question, what am I
part of? When young people answer this
question, they're more likely to stay engaged.
When youth understand the bigger picture,
they begin to see themselves as
contributing to a larger movement. They recognize
that their club is part of a county
program. Their county is part of Michigan
4-H. Michigan 4-H is part of the National
4-H Network. 4-H youth around the world
are making positive contributions to their
communities. This broader perspective
can increase pride in membership, commitment
to participation, interest in new
opportunities, a stronger sense of purpose
and contribution. Awareness helps youth
understand what they do matters, not only
within their club, but also within their
community and beyond. We'll now be sharing
strategies you can use as a volunteer to build
awareness. First, make 4-H visible. Use
reminders that help youth identify with 4-H. This
might include displaying the 4-H flag, displaying
the 4-H clover, wearing 4-H apparel,
using 4-H materials and branding. These
simple reminders reinforce that youth are
participating in something larger than an individual
activity. Incorporate different 4-H
traditions. This helps create connection and
identity. Say the 4-H pledge at every 4-H
activity. Build the 4-H model of Make the
Best Better into 4-H experiences. Whenever
possible, use the 4-H colors of green and white and
help youth understand 4-H history and
heritage. These practices help youth understand
they are part of a long-standing organization
with shared values and experiences. 4
-H, there are so many different opportunities
that youth can take a stop at. In your role
as a volunteer, consider how you can regularly
share about these opportunities available
through 4-H. Always include upcoming county
events at your meeting. Share information about
statewide programs like 4-H Exploration
Days, 4-H Capital Experience, or Great
Lakes Natural Resource Camp, encourage them
to participate. Share information about national
opportunities. Help youth understand the
variety of leadership opportunities that 4-H
offers. Helping youth see future opportunities
expands their vision of what is possible
through 4-H. Another strategy that is
powerful awareness tool is community service.
Through my Hands to Larger service, we can
help youth understand how to connect service
to community impact. Community service is
a powerful awareness building tool. It helps
youth understand who benefits from their
service, why the project matters, how their
efforts contribute to the community. When you
see the impact of their actions, they begin
to understand their role as engaged community
members and leaders. Youth are in the heart
of the 4-H experience. As we build the
awareness, they see how they fit into the
bigger picture. To help with this, consider
these questions while planning and with the
youth in your club. How does our club help
our community? What difference are we making?
How are we connected to other 4-H members
across the county and Michigan? What opportunities
might you pursue next? These conversations
help youth recognize their place within
the larger 4-H system. Take a moment to reflect
on these questions. Do youth recognize
they're part of 4-H? Do they understand how
their club connects to their county,
state, and national 4-H opportunities? Do we
make 4-H visible through traditions, symbols,
and shared experiences? Do youth understand how
their actions contribute to the community?
Awareness helps youth see that they're a part
of something bigger than themselves.
Promoting awareness helps young people see the
bigger picture, like pieces of a puzzle. When
we make 4-H visible, share traditions,
highlight opportunities, and help youth understand
the impact, they begin to see how they
fit into a larger 4-H story. As those pieces
come together, often youth develop greater
pride in being a 4-H member, a stronger
commitment to their involvement, and a deeper
sense of purpose. That's the power of promoting
awareness. Thank you for watching. This
video was brought to you by Michigan State
University Extension. Thank you.