4-H Membership

   South Carolina 4-H membership is open to all boys and girls ages 5 to 19 regardless of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and/or marital or family status.  A youth may become a bona fide 4-H member on his/her 5th birthday and may continue as long as he/she has not passed their 19th birthday as of January 1st of the current year.  All youth reached through Extension organized clubs, special interest groups, EFNEP youth, youth in 1890 programs and instructional TV members are considered 4-Hers.  Members work with a volunteer leader or directly with an Extension Agent under the direction of the Clemson University Extension Service.

    An individual that meets these requirements and that has a completed 4-H enrollment card on file in the Charleston County Extension Office and whose name appears on a club enrollment or computer roster is considered to be 4-H members.  An individual who has completed these requirements is considered to be a member from the date the enrollment may be accepted throughout the year.  The official 4-H year for membership purposes is September 1st through August 31st.

    4-Hers will be considered representatives of the county in which their membership for a specific project or activity is held.  4-Hers may enroll in more than one project or activity and can be members in more than one county.  However, they should not enroll in the same project or activity in more than one county.  Four-H coordinators in counties affected by dual membership should work together to minimize confusion and the potential participation concerns.

    Membership in 4-H is a privilege and may be denied to persons who have been banned from school, school-related programs, or who have exhibited behavior that may place other 4-H members or leaders at risk.

Current Policy Regarding 4-Hers with Physical and Mental Limitations:

    4-H members that are enrolled in educational programs or schools for students with physical or mental limitations may participate in 4-H awards program age divisions according to the member's intellectual or tested age of achievement rather than his or her chronological age.  School counselors should be consulted when questions regarding appropriate level of competition arise.  Counties with winners under this policy will be permitted to participate in programs above the county level.

Termination of Membership:

    4-H membership shall cease at the end of the calendar year following the member's 19th birthday.

4-H Age Divisions:

Cloverbuds - Participants in the cloverbud division must be at least 5 years of age but not 9 years of age on January 1st of the current year.

Cloverleaf - Participants in the cloverleaf division must be at last 9 years of age but not 12 years of age January 1st of the current year.

Juniors - Participants in the junior division must be at least 12 years of age but not 14 years of age on January 1st of the current year.

Seniors - Participants in the senior division must be at least 14 years of age but not 19 years of age on January 1st of the current year.  College students are eligible except where regional or national policy prohibits.

Interested in 4-H?  Call the Charleston County Extension Office at (843) 722-5940 or contact Ellen Blanchard at eblnchr@clemson.edu.

    A 4-H club is a group of young people and adults who meet on a regular basis for fun and learning.  Most clubs hold monthly meetings attended by members and sometimes their parents.  The members of the club elect officers who lead the group and the meetings.  An adult club leader advises the officers.  The meeting usually lasts less than 2 hours.  The time is equally divided between club business, recreation and educational programs.  A well-organized 4-H club meeting provides opportunities for every member to be involved.

    Activities are topics that interest the entire 4-H club.  They are the basis for the educational programs at the monthly club meetings.  Each club selects two or three activity topics to study during the year.  Popular activities are Natural Resources, Health, Safety, & Food Nutrition.  As in all 4-H programs, the key word is ACTION.  The 4-H club works together to learn by doing.  An activity committee plans an action program that includes, for example, community projects, nursing home visits, speakers and home safety inspections.

    Projects are interest areas for 4-H members.  Projects are a key way that 4-H members can study.  Each project should have a volunteer who will teach the group.  Once the club has determined which projects to offer, the 4-H members may enroll in the projects that interest them.  Members can enroll in new projects each year or go to the next level in projects previously taken.

    Four-H offers many kinds of recognition for young people.  Four-H members may earn medals, ribbons and certificates for completing projects or for finishing a year in their 4-H club.  Members who enter 4-H contests or participate in fairs receive awards for their efforts.  Some 4-H awards take the form of special trips or scholarships.

    Four-H members are often rewarded for their participation and all who participate share in the celebration of completing a task together, rather than having winners or losers.

    Four-H volunteers are also recognized for their efforts.  Recognition may take the form of certificates, pins, trips, tours, and special leader events.  For most leaders, the greatest reward is the satisfaction of seeing members grow and achieve.

    Four-H clubs usually involve families from a community.  Clubs are often formed around school, churches, or community centers.  If you know of a 4-H club in your area, contact one of the members or leaders.  They will invite your family to a club meeting to learn more.  A parent should accompany a child to the meeting.

    If you do not know of a club in your area, contact the Charleston County Extension Office.  We will help you locate a club in your community or area and put you in contact with the club leader.  Many clubs function around the school term so the fall of the year might be a good time to join 4-H, but membership is open year round so you may join at any time.

    Visit one or two monthly meetings.  Learn as much as you can about the club and 4-H.  Then, let the club leader know you want to become a 4-H family.  The new 4-H member will fill out an enrollment form and select projects.  Parents may also be asked to help out by leading a project group or assisting in some other way.

4-H LIFE SKILLS

Life skills are basic learned abilities and attitudes that enrich the lives of youth and increase their potential for success as individuals and group members.  Although youth learn many life skills through their involvement in 4-H, the seven priority life skills identified as the focus of the Maryland 4-H Youth Development Program are:

    Decision MakingAcquiring KnowledgeTaking personal ResponsibilityCreative ThinkingCommunicatingUnderstanding SelfGetting Along with others