Virginia 4-H offers a wide variety of opportunities beyond the local level that enable teens to develop the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and aspirations needed for success. However, before we involve teens in opportunities such as State 4-H Cabinet, State 4-H Congress, Virginia 4-H All Stars, Citizenship Washington Focus, National 4-H Congress, and National 4-H Conference, we — as 4-H professionals — must be sure the teens are adequately prepared for such ventures. This fact sheet provides tips on how to prepare your teens for district, state, national, and international 4-H opportunities.

Often, society hears negative reports related to teens — for example, 51 percent cheated on a test in the last year (Josephson Institute of Ethics 2012) — and the lack of positive opportunities provided for teens contributes to these statistics. Research shows that when teens are engaged in long-term, positive opportunities with caring adults, they are more likely to be academically productive in high school and to graduate (Lerner et al. 2011). 4-H Youth Development provides the longitudinal opportunities and caring adults who promote positive outcomes for teens. However, the recruitment and retention of teen 4-H members is often difficult because of family and community factors. While these factors may inhibit positive teen opportunities, there are other factors that can help overcome the barriers.

4-H Portfolio Tip Sheet

During the summer months of 2017, a team of Virginia 4-H extension agents and a 4-H extension specialist surveyed currently active teens and their parents/guardians to gather insight on how they became involved in 4-H, what keeps them engaged in the program, what they have learned as a result of their participation, how they are utilizing what they have learned, and their familiarity with the variety of opportunities available to teen 4-H members. As a result, 233 teens and 388 parents/guardians responded to the survey, representing all four districts and 71 of our 106 counties and cities in Virginia. The age range of teen respondents was 13-19 years old. This publication highlights the key findings from the study.

During the summer months of 2017, a team of Virginia 4-H Extension Agents and a 4-H Extension Specialist surveyed currently active teens and their parents/guardians to gather insight on how they became involved in 4-H, what keeps them engaged in the program, what they have learned as a result of their participation, how they are utilizing what they have learned, and their familiarity with the variety of opportunities available to teen 4-H members. As a result, 233 teens and 388 parents/guardians responded to the survey, representing all four districts and 71 of our 106 counties and cities in Virginia. The age range of teen respondents was 13-19 years old. This publication highlights the key findings from the study.

This guide is to be used to help you in completing the following 4-H Member Record Books: • 4-H Member Record Book • Novice (4H-689NP) • 4-H Member Record Book • Experienced Junior (4H-690NP) •4-H Member Record Book • Experienced Senior (4H-691NP)