4-H Terms

4-H - A youth educational development program directed by the Cooperative Extension Service through a lay leadership system.

4-H Alumni - Persons who were 4-H members in their youth and persons who began their 4-H involvement as adults. This definition is inclusive rather than exclusive, allowing all persons who have a vested interest in 4-H to consider themselves "4-H alumni".

4-H Member - Any youth under 19 years of age who knowingly participates in any educational program offered by the Cooperative Extension Service.

• Junior Member - Any person who has passed their 9th birthday or is in the 4th grade and who has not passed their 14th birthday as of January 1 of the current year.
• Senior Member - Any person who has passed their 14th birthday but has not passed their 19th birthday as of January 1 of the current year.
• EFNEP - A boy or girl participating in the Extension Food-Nutrition Educational Program for Youth.
• TV Member - A boy or girl who is receiving 4-H program instruction by television programs.

Concerning youth whose birthday IS January 1: a member who turns 14 ON January 1 is officially 13 4-H age and is a junior member. A member who turns 19 ON January 1 is officially 18 4-H age and is a senior member. They may continue in 4-H until the next program year begins.

In Kentucky 4-H, young people participate in 4-H beginning at age 9 through age 18. Another way to state that is “beginning at age 9 up to age 19”. Some counties involve youth under the age of 9 as Clover Bud members. Whether to have Clover Bud activities is a county decision.

4-H Age for Program Year 2006

(Program Year begins Sept 1, 2005 and ends August 31, 2006)

If a child’s date of birth is:

Jan 1 - Dec. 31, 1996, his/her 4-H age is 9
Jan 1 - Dec. 31, 1995, his/her 4-H age is 10
Jan 1 - Dec. 31, 1994, his/her 4-H age is 11
Jan 1 - Dec. 31, 1993, his/her 4-H age is 12
Jan 1 - Dec. 31, 1992, his/her 4-H age is 13
Jan 1 - Dec. 31, 1991, his/her 4-H age is 14
Jan 1 - Dec. 31, 1990, his/her 4-H age is 15
Jan 1 - Dec. 31, 1989, his/her 4-H age is 16
Jan 1 - Dec. 31, 1988, his/her 4-H age is 17
Jan 1 - Dec. 31, 1987, his/her 4-H age is 18
Jan 1 - Dec. 31, 1986, his/her 4-H age is 19 and is no longer a 4-H member

4-H Age for Program Year 2007

(Program year begins Sept 1, 2006 and ends August 31, 2007)

If a child’s date of birth is:

Jan 1 - Dec. 31, 1997, his/her 4-H age is 9
Jan 1 - Dec. 31, 1996, his/her 4-H age is 10
Jan 1 - Dec. 31, 1995, his/her 4-H age is 11
Jan 1 - Dec. 31, 1994, his/her 4-H age is 12
Jan 1 - Dec. 31, 1993, his/her 4-H age is 13
Jan 1 - Dec. 31, 1992, his/her 4-H age is 14
Jan 1 - Dec. 31, 1991, his/her 4-H age is 15
Jan 1 - Dec. 31, 1990, his/her 4-H age is 16
Jan 1 - Dec. 31, 1989, his/her 4-H age is 17
Jan 1 - Dec. 31, 1988, his/her 4-H age is 18
Jan 1 - Dec. 31, 1987, his/her 4-H age is 19 and is no longer a 4-H member

Volunteer Leader - A teen or adult who works with 4-H groups, clubs or individuals in a leadership capacity.

• Adult Leader - Any person 19 years of age or older involved in any 4-H leadership roles. This could be in any of the following capacities: Council Member, Organizational Leader, Project Leader, County Chairperson, Resource Person, Committee Member, Advisory Group, etc.
• Teen Leader - A teenager who serves as a volunteer 4-H leader.
• Project Leader - A volunteer leader who primarily arranges learning experiences for 4-H members enrolled in a specific project.
• Club or Organizational Leader - A volunteer leader who provides overall leadership for the organization and operation of a 4-H club.
• Activity Leader - A volunteer leader who primarily helps members learn through group activities such as Speech Events, Community Service Projects, Club Tours, Camping, etc.
• Resource Leader - A volunteer leader who helps present programs and provides information and materials.

4-H Program Assistant - A salaried para-professional working under the supervision of the county extension professional staff, with responsibility to take the leadership for developing, conducting and evaluating designated phases of the 4-H program.

4-H Councils - Organized groups of 4-H leaders, parents, donors and other representatives of those being served at county and state levels. These volunteer groups assist the agents in planning and conducting all phases of the 4-H program.

• 4-H Teen Councils - An organized group of teens who assist the agents and County 4-H Council in planning and conducting any and all phases of the 4-H program. Cross representation between the Teen and County Council is advised when both exist.
• Extension Councils - Organized groups of Extension supporters representing agriculture, 4-H, Home Economics, and Community Development. These groups serve in an advisory capacity and assist the Extension Staff in planning and conducting all phases of Extension programs.
• Friends of Kentucky 4-H, Inc. - A private non-profit fund development partner of KY 4-H and the Cooperative Extension Service.
• Collegiate 4-H - A 4-H service-oriented organization available to full or part time college students, married or not, enrolled in graduate or undergraduate school.

4-H Unit - A 4-H term that applies to all 4-H groups, including clubs, single project clubs, special interest groups and school enrichment programs. ES 237 asks for total units, this includes all of the above groups.

• Organized Club: An organized group of youth, led by an adult, with a planned program that meets over an extended period of time. Clubs have elected officers and may be referred to as a school club, community club, or a project club. 4-H Clubs may meet in any location such as a school classroom, neighborhood, housing project, or community meeting room. A club held as part of a school-age child care program but meeting criteria should be counted here.
• Special Interest/Day Camp: This category includes special interest, short term programs and day camps. Groups of youth meet for a set period of time for a specific issue, project or learning experience that involves direct teaching by extension agents/assistants or trained volunteers, including school teachers. The program is not part of the school curriculum and not restricted to members of 4-H clubs. Examples: school assembly program on bike safety; tractor certification school; FDM or EFNEP day camp; environmental day camp; lesson taught by home economics agent on bread baking; lessons taught by an agriculture agent on ATV safety; babysitters' training.
• Overnight Camp: Youth taking part in an Extension-planned educational experience of group living in the out-of-doors, which includes being away from home at least one night (resident, primitive, or travel camping). Examples include: summer 4-H camp, environmental camp for school students, sewing camp, wildlife weekend in which members spend two nights tent camping.
• School Enrichment: Groups of youth receiving a sequence of learning experiences in cooperation with school officials during school hours, to support, supplement, and enhance the school curriculum. Involves direct teaching by Extension staff or trained volunteers, including school teachers. Examples include: chick embryology; windowsill gardening; High School Financial Planning; American Private Enterprise Seminar; nutrition education using EFNEP publications; natural resources unit using the 4-H publication as text.
• Individual Study: This category includes individual study, mentoring, and family learning programs. Planned learning that occurs independent of a formal group setting such as a club, as an individual, paired, or family learning effort. Self-directed, usually with limited adult involvement except for parent or mentor. Examples include: member working on a swine project at home with parents serving as leaders; service learning experience done with a mentor; career shadowing done with a mentor; home-schooled student working on a project as part of the school curriculum.
• Child Care Programs: Educational programs offered to youth outside of school hours, usually in a school or other community center and incorporating 4-H curricula. The primary purpose is to provide care for youth while parents are working or unavailable. (4-H Clubs in school-age child-care settings are considered an "Organized 4-H Club.") This situation might exist where agents have linked up with Family Resource Center's child care program.
• Instructional TV/Video: Youth offered learning experiences through Extension via broadcast or closed-circuit television. Including satellite transmission or videotape replays of such series. Examples may include: "Blue Skies Below My Feet", "Gee Whiz in Agriculture", "Being All You Can Be", when the video is the major focus of the program/project.

Project - In-depth, structured subject matter study and participation, usually sequentially designed and built around the development of skills and knowledge. A project is expected to include at least six hours of experiential work under the leadership of a volunteer.

Activity - A learning opportunity selected by a club or project group which will be of value to the entire club or community, e.g., First Aid, Eye Care Examination, Home Safety Check.