Each year, 4-H members participate in a public display that showcases the results of their project accomplishments and performances. Knowledgeable judges evaluate the projects. Ribbons, trophies, and other awards are presented to the members based on the level of the quality of their 4-H work.

This is the 4-H motto.

The youth development education program of the University of Illinois Extension and the United States Department of Agriculture. The program consists of a collection of access systems in which youth learn in group settings or on their own. A number of activities and events enrich the program experiences for the learners.

An identifiable group of youth sanctioned by University of Illinois Extension, which has been organized to have similar learning experiences.

An adult or older youth who provides support to a 4-H club/group to complete the annual program plans and goals of the club/group. Titles may include: 4-H Leader, Organizational Leader, Activity Leader, Enrollment Leader, Junior Leader, New Family Support Coordinator, Project Leader or other needed volunteers to conduct the club/group program.

A youth who has completed an individual enrollment and attended at least one meeting of an organized ongoing local 4-H club or group and is aware of their involvement in 4-H. Includes, but is not necessarily limited to 4-H club members.

Youth may participate in 4-H through a variety of ways, called access systems. These access systems include: school or community based 4-H Clubs/ Groups, Special Interest Groups, Short-term Project Groups, 4-H camping programs. Youth can learn with others by enrolling in 4-H clubs or groups, or they can work on their own, at their own pace, as an individual member. Youth ages 5-7 may participate in the 4-H Cloverbud program. Youth ages 8-18 may participate in more structured club/group experiences.

An annual event in which 4-H youth, clubs/groups, leaders, community partners, and alumni are recognized for their achievements. Awards are distributed for levels of 4-H participation and accomplishment.

A volunteer that leads and/ or helps coordinate a club or county activity. For example, an activity leader might coach youth preparing for a county 4-H horticulture judging contest or help a group of youth coordinate a club fundraiser.

Unpaid support for the 4-H program by an individual 19 years of age or older. Camp: Usually an overnight outdoor living experience that is offered to 4-H youth during summer months. Camp is an excellent opportunity for youth to learn more about the environment, themselves, and working together in a “community.”

The award application is a form that a 4-H member completes at the end of the year. The application reflects the work that the 4-H member has accomplished. Applications are evaluated against others at the county level, with older members’ applications advancing to state competition.

Usually an overnight outdoor living experience that is offered to 4-H youth during summer months. Camp is an excellent opportunity for youth to learn more about the environment and themselves.

An adult or older teen who volunteers to assist with the 4-H camp program for 4-H members. Counselors usually stay in cabins with campers at a ratio of 1 counselor for no more than 10 campers. Counselors supervise campers throughout the daily 4-H camp activities, including cabin supervision, project activities, recreational activities, campfire and evening programs.

This stands for Child Abuse Neglect Tracking System, and is a part of the volunteer application process, conducted through the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. CANTS helps University of Illinois Extension ensure that volunteers with the 4-H program are the best possible.

This bi-annual trip to Washington D.C. is for teen 4-H members. Participants have the opportunity to learn more about our government and their role in it.

Youth that are 5-7 years of age that are enrolled in a 4-H group. Cloverbud groups participate in unique 4-H projects that are age appropriate. Volunteer leaders help coordinate activities and the program for Cloverbuds.

University of Illinois Extension staff member who is based in the county at a local University of Illinois Extension office. The community worker teams with other Extension staff and local volunteers to deliver local youth development programs.

A recommended style of evaluating 4-H members’ project work and performances. The 4-H member meets one-on-one or in a small group to discuss their project accomplishments or performance. The judge asks questions about what the 4-H member learned while working on the project and the 4-H member can receive feedback from the expert about how the work could be improved.

A county or Extension Unit group of volunteers chartered to raise funds from individuals, businesses, corporations, and organizations to provide financial support for county programs.

An Extension staff member responsible for program, staff and fiscal considerations within a specific local University of Illinois Extension unit. The unit may be a single county or multiple counties.

A method where a 4-H member shows and explains how to do something. Many counties have contests for the members to use public presentation skills while showcasing the knowledge they have learned in their project.

An adult or older teen who coordinates the enrollment process for the club/group. Collection of enrollment forms from individual members, communicating with the local Extension office to complete the enrollment process, and distributing project resource materials are a part of this volunteer’s role.

An educational or recreational occasion occurring at a particular place and time. Events support ongoing positive development of youth and are one part of the 4-H experience.

See (4-H) Show

The process by which an individual or group participates in a learning experience, responds to the experience, discusses and processes the experience in terms of past and present, and generalizes & applies the experience in terms of future situations.

An Extension staff member with specific subject matter responsibility. The educator may be responsible for the subject matter programming in a single county or in a larger multi-county area.

Illinois is divided into five geographical areas for administration of the University of Illinois Extension programs. Each area has a regional director, who supervises and supports the local Extension staff.

One or more counties that work together to provide University of Illinois Extension programming to local citizens. Extension Unit and county are used interchangeably throughout this publication.

The Extension Unit Council assists University of Illinois Extension staff to determine the direction of local programs. Members of this local advisory group reflect the diversity of the local constituents. They bring a variety of views and backgrounds to local decisionmaking.

See (4-H) Show

A group of 4-H youth that represent individual 4-H clubs/groups in a county or multi-county area. This group serves as communications links between 4-H clubs and Extension staff.

Direct practical experience in the operation or function of something.

This is a statewide conference held each June on the University of Illinois campus. The conference is open to youth between the ages of 14 and 19. It gives teens an opportunity to experience college life and to participate in subject matter workshops.

The Illinois 4-H Foundation raises funds from individuals, businesses, corporations, and organizations to provide financial support for state and county 4-H programs.

The Junior Show is a part of the Illinois State Fair. 4-H members from around the state exhibit their projects. Non-livestock projects are selected at the local 4-H Show or Fair while livestock exhibits are selected by 4-H members themselves. All exhibitors must be 10 years or older.

Detailed demographic data on individuals; including name, address, place of residence, age, gender, and cultural background. Individual enrollments are required of 4-H members and volunteers who work directly with youth.

This program is a two-way exchange between the U.S. 4-H members and alumni ages 15-30 and rural youth in countries around the world. 4-H families also serve as hosts for international exchanges.

Judging contests are educational events providing opportunities for members to evaluate a number of classes of specific items. They might rank four animals, carcasses, trees, etc. Sometimes the participants are required to give oral reasons for their rankings. Many counties or regions sponsor judging contests in different areas. These local contests then can lead to the statewide contests held during the summer.

An older 4-H member who assists adult volunteers of the 4-H club in carrying out the organizational duties of the club or who teach other members through projects or activities.

A 4-H slogan of doing and reflecting.

Life skills are abilities individuals can learn that will help them to be successful in living a productive life. The goal of youth programming is to provide developmentally appropriate opportunities for young people to experience life skills, to practice them until they are learned, and be able to use them as necessary throughout a lifetime. Through the experiential learning process, youth internalize the knowledge and gain the ability to apply the skills appropriately. (Source: Targeting Life Skills Model, Iowa State University Extension, November 1998)

The first full week of October is identified as National 4-H Week. The event recognizes 4-H youth and leaders nationally. Frequently this week is used as an opportunity to promote 4-H in local communities and recruit new members and leaders for 4-H clubs.

A club/ group volunteer who advises and supports new 4-H families during their beginning years of 4-H involvement.

A volunteer who is identified as the key contact for the 4-H club/ group. They are generally responsible for enrolling members, securing 4-H project resource books, maintaining communications with the local University of Illinois Extension office, and ensuring 4-H meetings run smoothly. Some clubs have several adults to share this duty; others may have only one.

Positive Youth Development is the research behind effective youth programs. There are eight essential elements of positive youth development that are incorporated into the key concepts of BIG-M: belonging, independence, generosity, and mastery. 4-H works with leaders and parents to instill these concepts in 4-H programming.

University of Illinois Extension staff member who is based in the county at a local University of Illinois Extension office. The program coordinator teams with other Extension staff and local volunteers to plan, promote, and implement educational programs.

A developmentally appropriate series of planned hands-on educational experiences leading toward achievement of learning goals, as established by the 4-H member.

A volunteer that is familiar with a project area and helps 4-H members learn and master skills related to that project.

A form that a 4-H member uses to outline what he/she wants to learn and skills to master during the 4-H year. The member should work with parents/ guardians and leaders to complete the project planning guide for each project they plan to do. The age-specific forms are available from the local Extension office.

Many counties offer a public presentations contest for 4-H members. Youth can deliver demonstrations or speeches on a variety of topics. Winners, who are 10 years or older, may advance to the State Fair competition.

A certification program to be completed by 4-H members with animal projects planning to exhibit at the Illinois State Fair. Counties may also require members to complete this certification program for exhibit at the local 4-H show. For more information, go to: http:// web.extension.illinois.edu/qaec/. This website is active from February 1 through July 1, but deadlines differ for each species of animal.

A system of recognizing 4-H members for their individual participation, progress toward goals, achievement of standards of excellence, and peer competition in 4-H. Illinois 4-H clubs/ groups are similarly recognized.

A special interest group is set of five or more members and one or more volunteers who meet to study a single topic. They meet six or more times over a given period of time.

A 4-H publication that serves as a 4-H member handbook or family resource of available 4-H learning opportunities in Illinois. It lists all stateapproved projects with brief project descriptions, supporting publications, and other resources. Awards available to 4-H members and leader resources are also included in the publication.

The unit secretary is a staff member with University of Illinois Extension. This person is often responsible for directing questions and requests for information that come into the Unit.

The land grant university in Illinois designated by Congress to receive the benefits of the Morrill Acts of 1862 and 1890, which provided for college education for the working classes. The University of Illinois has campuses at Chicago, Springfield, and Urbana- Champaign.

Extension provides practical, research-based information and programs to help individuals, families, farms, businesses and communities in Illinois. Its mission in short is to help the citizens of Illinois put knowledge to work. U of I Extension offers educational programs in five broad areas: energy & environmental stewardship, food safety & security, economic development & workforce preparedness, family health, financial security & wellness, and youth development.

A process adopted by the University of Illinois Extension to prevent child abuse and neglect and to protect youth within the 4-H program. The volunteer must complete and sign the Extension Volunteer Application and authorize contact of three listed references. An authorization for a search of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services Child Abuse Neglect Tracking System and a complete criminal conviction investigation with the Illinois State Police is a part of the volunteer screening process. All volunteers who have contact sufficient to build a personal relationship with young people in the Illinois 4-H program must successfully complete the full process.

4-H promotional display that is placed in the window of a store, school, or other community place. This activity is frequently held during National 4-H Week.

Unpaid support for the 4-H program by a person under the age of 19.