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Junior and Teen Leadership
The 4-H junior and teen leadership experience is designed to provide members with the opportunity to learn about the qualities and competencies needed to be a leader. Junior leaders provide assistance, while teen leaders assume more challenging leadership roles. Junior and teen leaders may assist with specific projects or with more general 4-H activities and events. A 4-H member may be a junior or teen leader for one or more projects during the year.
Responsibilities
The primary duties of a junior or teen leader are (varies by age, experience, and other factors):
- Work collaboratively with the adult leader to set goals, develop lesson plans, teach skills, and evaluate activities.
- Coordinate logistical details such as meeting times, locations, materials, supplies, and expenses with the adult leader.
- Communicate with the adult leader and members about group expectations, responsibilities and expected outcomes.
At the beginning of the year, the 4-H member and the adult leaders should meet to discuss the project and define each of their roles. The 4-H member should complete the pre-project part of the form. At the end of the year, the 4-H member must complete the post-project part of the form and include the entire form in his/her Record Book to receive credit. Please see 4-H Record Books for more details.
Requirements
Junior leaders (intermediate members): To become a junior leader, members must be at least 11 and no more than 13 years old by December 31st of the program year.
Teen leaders (senior members): To become a teen leader, members must be at least 14 and no more than 19 years old by December 31st of the program year.
Club Officers
4-H Members serve as Club Officers through an election process based on the club's constitution and bylaws. The 4-H Club Officer team works under the guidance of the Club Leader and/or Officer's Advisor. As a team, you plan and lead club meetings. Club Officer positions vary based on the club's needs. Generally, 4-H clubs have a president, vice president, secretary, treasurer and sergeant of arms. See below for descriptions for a Healthy Living Officer and Civic Engagement Officer.
As a Club Officer, you will practice leadership skills such as:
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Identifying problems and developing action plans to solve them
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Teamwork and group building skills
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Taking responsibility for actions
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Follow through on goals
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Written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills
You can gain self-confidence and practice self-reflection in a safe environment. Youth-adult partnerships support you as you practice leadership skills.