Developing Leadership Skills
We all know someone who seems to have a natural knack for leadership. People listen and follow their direction, and have confidence in their guidance. For many of us, it is not as natural as it may seem. Just like learning to ride a bike, read a book, or play the piano, we can practice and learn leadership skills! It takes practice and we get better with experience.
Experiences in 4-H provide many opportunities for youth to practice leadership skills; they should increase their skill as they increase their responsibility. From those first roles in 4-H such as song or recreation leader to Junior Leaders who are working on community service projects and day camps, 4-H is all about experiential learning to be a leader. The Junior Leaders are 4-H youth 13-18 who are enrolled in the Leadership Project. These older youth have the opportunity to participate in state-wide events such as Kansas Youth Leadership Forum, Citizenship In Action, serve as counselors for 4-H Camp and Day Camps, as well as setting examples for the younger members of their clubs.
Keep in mind also that being a leader doesn’t necessarily mean having a title. Everyone can lead from where they are!
Make a Difference in the Life of a Child. . .
Volunteer to be a Project Leader
4-H’ers join 4-H to spend time with their friends learning new skills. They need adults to guide them in that learning. As we begin the new 4-H year, it’s time to identify folks who are willling to share their skills with youth. Are you one of those people?? What skills do you have that you could share? It might be a one time workshop helping one child learn to run a sewing machine. Or a longer term involvement like serving as a project leader for the county 4-H program. It takes both types of volunteers to help the over 400 youth in the Cottonwood District 4-H program have that positive learning experience.
Think back to your youth. Who was that caring adult who made a difference for you?? Won’t you consider “giving back” and making a difference in the life of one of our 4-H’ers?
To learn more about the volunteer opportunities in the Barton and Ellis County 4-H programs, give our office a call or stop by and visit with us.