Minnesota Operation: Military KidsExtension > Youth Development > Minnesota 4-H > Projects > Citizenship & Leadership
Citizenship & leadership
Explore what it means to be an active citizen and leader in your community. Learn leadership skills through community involvement to:
- create community working with others in leadership roles;
- motivate yourself and others to greater personal and public achievements;
- understand how to contribute to your community, your state, your economy, your country, and the world;
- create a personal and public vision for life in the 21st century
Citizenship & leadership projects
Citizenship
Learn to solve problems and take action in your community.
Youth Leadership
Build relationships, develop communication techniques, and strengthen your organizational skills to make a positive impact in your club, home, school or community.
State Ambassadors
Minnesota State 4-H Ambassadors educate youth and adults across the state about leadership, service, diversity and teamwork.
Cloverbuds
4-H Cloverbuds explore and learn about the world in a non-competitive environment by doing fun activities with the guidance of parents or other adult helpers.
Global Connections
Explore language, family traditions, culture, global connectedness, genealogy, and concerns of other young people.
Community Pride/Service Learning
Learn how to identify community needs, plan a service project and execute your idea.
Self-determined
If you find that no single project is quite right for you, you can develop your own project. Be your own researcher, scientist, artist, communicator, and evaluator. Ask your local 4-H leader or Extension staff for resources to help create your own project area.
Club-level opportunities
Club involvement
From learning a pledge to basic practices of parliamentary procedure practices youth begin to practice citizenship and leadership, even from the Cloverbud (K-3) level.
Club officer positions
Members of 4-H clubs are elected to a officer positions. There are also committee membership opportunities. Involvement in these leadership roles will allow youth to begin learning responsibility and accountability as they take on these roles. Through training and practice the members are taught the competencies of planning and conducting a business meeting, facilitating group dynamics and the basics of Robert’s Rules of Order.
Community pride
Members of a 4-H Club are encouraged to practice giving back to their communities by Community Pride projects. Working together clubs will identify and plan out a project that will benefit the community. This process should be club driven with youth and adult voice working together for success.
County-level opportunities
County officer positions
Youth in the county 4-H program are elected to a county wide officer position. These positions are elected to a 4-H Council or Federation that is the governing body for the clubs in the county. There are also committee membership opportunities on the county level. Involvement in county wide leadership roles will build upon the competencies members learned in the club level.
Day camp counselors/adventure volunteer/project day
Youth are given the opportunity to provide leadership at Day Camps, Adventures or Project days during the year. Youth will be able to use their competencies of group dynamics and presenting topics to campers attending the day camp, Adventure or Project Day.
County ambassador programs
Youth are given the opportunity to development leadership competencies by becoming a member of a County Ambassador program. Meeting monthly youth enhance their competencies in leadership while working with peers and adult advisors. Youth in these programs will build the competencies around organizations, respect and learning leadership.
4-H Council and 4-H Federation meetings
These are county wide meetings where all members are encouraged to attend. From making motions to becoming a member of a county committee youth are given opportunities to advance their competencies in organizations, communication and respect.
To view additional county or local club events, visit your county website.
Regional opportunities
4-H camp counselors
Camp counselor training is designed to provide the skills and knowledge to be an effective camp counselor and leadership team member. Training topics include: role of camp counselor, theme and program development, recreation leadership, group facilitation, conflict resolution, outdoor environment and nature programming, and much more.
Regional youth leadership training
Youth are given the opportunity to attend trainings designed to enhance and build their leadership competency. Through a regional leadership training youth will learn about their leadership styles, communication, respect and various club leadership to help at the local club and county level.
BLU - Building Leadership and Understanding
Building Leadership and Understanding (BLU) is an exciting and fun leadership adventure. More than 400 youth from across Minnesota come together to learn and practice valuable leadership skills that they will use in their communities throughout their lives. More info.
State-level opportunities
State Ambassadors
The Minnesota State 4-H Ambassadors provide leadership and service to Minnesota 4-H. They are selected to serve all 4-H youth and act as spokespeople for 4-H youth development programs. They serve as educational resources by teaching, planning leadership conferences, and working for 4-H at the Minnesota State Fair. They also work to fulfill county requests for leadership trainings, award ceremonies, retreats, and promotions of 4-H to outside organizations. A considerable amount of time and energy goes into spreading the word about 4-H and its positive impact on youth. More info.
YELLO! Conference
Youth Exploring Leadership and Learning Out Loud! is an annual statewide, four-day leadership conference with group discussions, workshops, service opportunities, challenging speakers and hands-on activities designed for youth. More info.
Minnesota State Fair
4-H plays a pivotal role in youth development and public education at the Minnesota State Fair. More than 7,000 4-H youth have the opportunity to interact with the public and educate fairgoers through 4-H exhibits, demonstrations, performances, and 4-H promotion. More info.
National-level opportunities
National 4-H Conference
The National 4-H Conference is a working conference in which youth and adults, at the invitation of the Secretary of Agriculture, assist in the development of recommendations to help guide 4-H Youth Development Programs nationally and in their communities. More info.
Citizenship Washington Focus
CWF is a citizen and leadership event for high school youth from across the United States. Youth learn about government, the legislative process, meet with elected officials and visit many national monuments and historical sites in Washington D.C. More info.
