4-H Teen Leadership

4-H Teen Leaders

It is generally through long-term 4-H teen leadership development programs that adolescents have the opportunity to develop advanced leadership abilities through a variety of real-life leadership roles. For example, each year approximately 2,000 4-H teens serve as 4-H camp counselors, another 2,000 serve as members of junior fair boards, more than 1,000 as peer helpers in a variety of issue-based programs, and others serve in a variety of other capacities. Teens receive formal training, supervised internships, and finally on-going hands-on practical experience in each of these roles.

However, it is also acceptable to conduct such programs as opportunities separate from the long-term 4-H teen leadership experience. For example, rather than relying on the Teen Leadership group for a "pool" of candidates from which to choose camp counselors and 4-H board representatives, some counties find it more beneficial to recruit, train, and involve a separate group of teens for these specific leadership role opportunities. In such settings, camp counselors may be considered as participants in one program entity, teen council representatives as another entity, etc.

Regardless of the approach used, if 4-H professionals can effectively train and channel the energies and abilities of these teen 4-H members, they can strengthen and expand their programs to reach wider audiences. However, solid teen programming does not happen consistently by chance or accident. In order to conduct an effective leadership program it is important that 4-H professionals and volunteers have an understanding of what leader ship is, characteristics of leaders, how to communicate leadership skills to youth, and how to provide the learning experiences that combine actual leadership experience within a controlled risk setting (assuring high levels of success).