…. Improve your skills
You're on the way to becoming a more well-rounded and capable person! 4-H can help you develop your knowledge and skills in a wide variety of topics. The 4-H Family Guide lists literally dozens of 4-H booklets on a wide variety of project topics, arranged by age and level of experience. Explore and refine your abilities by purchasing one of them on your favorite subject, and completing the activities inside. We can help you gain awards and recognition for your efforts at local events, the Cuyahoga County Fair, of the Ohio State Fair. (click here to get connected with the 4-H Family Guide.)

… Develop your speaking abilities
Nearly everyone has to speak in front of a group at one time or another. 4-H Speaking Skills Programs offer teens a "minimal risk" way to improve their public speaking abilities.

... Let your voice be heard!
Teens can share their ideas, opinions, and reactions to issues of concern or to experiences they share by putting their thoughts on paper. Check out the latest edition of Youth Voices, a special teen newsletter published occasionally by teen groups who are part of the 4-H teen network. (Click here) We've shared some tips on how to put an issue together with teens and adults all across Ohio, and you can find out how to publish your own version (it's easy!) by contacting Greg Siek at 216-429-8221.

… Try your hand at helping to run things!
Cuyahoga County 4-H can offer teens a chance to learn management skills by taking part as an active member of various committees:

County 4-H Committee – a diverse group of adults and youth which meets several times a year to offer suggestions to County 4-H staff on the overall direction of our youth development program, and helps with promotion, publicity, getting resources, and some other important roles.

Junior Fair Committee – Youth and adults from 4-H, Scouts, and other groups provide guidance to the County Agricultural Society on youth activities for the Cuyahoga County Fair. The Junior Fair Committee is in charge of decorating the Junior Fair Building, and running various games and events (such as pie eating contest, Junior Fair Dance, Bake-off and Auction) during Fair Week. This Committee meets occasionally over the winter, and more often in spring and summer.

4-H Fashion Board --- This team of teens and adults provides ideas for promoting educational activities and special events related to clothing construction and shopping, and fashion design careers. Activities include the 4-H Style Revue at the County Fair and tours and special student days at Ohio State University related to fashion design.

Horse Committee – Only youth members have the vote! With support and suggestions from adult advisors, teens meet monthly to provide direction to 4-H educational activities involving horses, such as horse shows, special contests, riding clinics, career information, and service projects.

Animal Science Committee – Is there a pet in your family? Do animal care or veterinary careers interest you? This group of adults and teens meet monthly to help plan educational activities and County Fair events related to animals ranging in size from hamsters to rabbits to cats, and also some livestock such as lambs, hogs and steers.

Dog Committee – Get involved and train the family dog at the same time! Teens and adults meet as needed to plan dog obedience and dog care clinics, dog shows, agility contests, and assistance dog and "pet therapy" opportunities.

All you need to do to get involved is to have an interest in the topic, and have some time to help out. We'll provide some training, and we'll be VERY glad to have you involved! Contact Greg Siek at 216-429-8221 or siek.1@cfaes.osu.edu to get started!

Make Career Connections…

Where will the future lead you? 4-H can help you figure out better ways of matching your interests and abilities with career that will put them to use…

4-H "Learn by Doing" activities can help you learn information and skills, no matter what your future plans might be. Check the list in the 4-H Family Guide!

Plan for Success!! The 4-H Career Action Plan can help you get better organized in your quest for career success:

--Inventory your personal interests and possible careers that relate to them;
--Set a career goal;
--Figure out a plan to reach the goal;
--TAKE ACTION! (Don't leave your plan "on the shelf!")
--Check up to see if your plan is working; (If not, make some changes.)

For a more detailed Career Action Plan format, contact the 4-H Office. For a look at the 4-H Career Quest Teen Tip Sheet, click here…

"Seek Professional Help!" The U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Outlook Handbook web site (www.bls.gov/oco/) has detailed profile information on over 8,000 different job titles (as in, "Your career? Yeah, ... we've got that!). Most schools and some libraries have access to the Ohio Career Information Service online (similar to the Handbook, but it uses information on salaries and job openings in Ohio). Both data bases also have links to various trade and professional associations which can give you more information about specific careers.

More help is available to you from 4-H on particular career areas:

--Animal Care & Veterinary Careers
--Fashion & Clothing Careers
--Foods & Nutrition Careers
--Horticulture and Landscaping Careers

For over 100 years, we have been nationally recognized as leaders in helping youth prepare for successful futures in these career areas. Contact the 4-H Office and ask for details on dealing with these areas of interest.
**Career profiles
**Training needed
**Recommended school subjects
**Things you can do to build your knowledge and skills
**Special 4-H or Ohio State University activities, workshops, and field trips dealing with these areas of interest

Travel and Learn!

Cuyahoga County 4-H sponsors an annual "Career Decisions" tour to The Ohio State University in Columbus. We feature A special "hands-on and up close" look at food science, veterinary, medical, business, fashion design, and child development career opportunities. We also organize occasional visits to the Agricultural
Technical Institute in Wooster to explore career training related to horticulture, landscaping, animal care, equipment maintenance, and construction. Check the 4-H Activity Calendar for information on dates,
and call Dina Allen at 216-429-8218 to get details and registration materials when tour dates are announced.

Liven up your career search… Let us help you "make a game of it!!" Check with your youth leader or school counselor about scheduling a program with 4-H featuring one or both of our popular "hands on" career
games:

Career Quest -- Play your cards right, and you can get ahead and make"megabucks" while you simulate the whole career search process.

Career Job-Pardy -- Patterned after a popular TV game and adapted to team format, teens can learn valuable tips about preparing for the world of work.

It'll cost you, but we can help! (with some scholarship assistance for college or career training):

Cuyahoga County 4-H John and Sally Ebling Scholarships -- any current 4-H member getting ready to graduate can apply for one of these awards, limited to 4-H members and participants from Cuyahoga County only. Our Committee tries to give out two $500 awards each year.

Ohio 4-H Scholarships -- If you have been involved with 4-H for several years, you can apply for one of several scholarships open to any graduating 4-H member from any county in Ohio. There are several types and amounts with some having special eligibility requirements.

Other Cuyahoga County sources: The Cuyahoga County Agricultural Society offers scholarships to youth who have exhibited or participated in the previous year's Cuyahoga County Fair. Contact Joyce Kish at 440-243-0090 to get an application. The Cuyahoga County Farm Bureau also offers scholarships to graduates from member families. Contact Anita Cook at 440-877-0706.

REACH OUT! Teens are a vital part of every community in America. They have the time, energy, enthusiasm, creativity, and talents they can put to use on behalf of others. This makes the community a better place for all. Here are some ways that you and your friends can connect and get involved in service learning projects:

4-H Community Service Fact Sheet --- This fact sheet can help you start planning and carrying out a service project, and is available on line at http://ohioline.osu.edu/4h-fact/0012.html .

Youth Community Service Learning: A Project Resource Guide can help you with finding sources of “mini grants” which can help in carrying your project out, or for getting recognition for successful projects worth talking about. Contact Cuyahoga County 4-H at 216-429-8218 to request a copy.

John K. Mott Youth Fund Distribution Committee --- ( www.uws.org/help/teachers/youth.asp ) Youth helping youth! This special Fund of the United Way of Cleveland uses a Youth Allocations Committee of teen volunteers from around the County to award approximately $50,000 a year to various community projects by and for youth. Contact Rebekah Dorman at 216-436-2221.

Youth Philanthropy & Service Program (Celebrated their 10th anniversary in 2006) – Also has a Youth Advisory Committee made up of teens from around the area. Visit ( www.case.edu/mandelcenter/yps/ ). 4-H is on of several sponsoring organizations of this effort by the Mandel Center of Case Western Reserve University.

Other Information Resources – The Resource Guide lists a number of other national organizations that provide suggestions on selecting, organizing, or evaluating youth efforts to improve their communities.

National Service Events --- at various points during the year, national collaborations invite young people to get involved in helping others. Among them are Make a Difference Day and National Volunteer Week. The Youth Community Service Learning fact sheet listed above has details on web addresses, and on how to get involved.

Community Donors and Sponsors --- Need money for supplies, t-shirts, or some other aspect of your project? The fact sheet lists some national companies that like to help youth help their communities. But don't be limited to the companies suggested ---use your creativity to think of other businesses in your area.

Awards for Good Work! ---Several groups listed in the Resource Guide which offer cash awards to outstanding group projects or to teens who distinguish themselves in serving others.

News Reporter (and other Public Relations opportunities) --- Help get the “good news” out! 4-H has information to help you write a short article to your local paper describing the project your group has just done. ( Tip --- find out if your paper has a “local communities,” or “metro,” or “regional” section or column, and find out who is in charge; send your information to them and make sure you mention the home town of your group or Club members). Contact Greg Siek at 216-429-8221 (or e-mail him at siek.1@cfaes.osu.edu) for more information.

 

 

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