Celebrating Nebraska 4-H Strong
Nebraska will be celebrating a strong 4-H and Youth Development program in February.
Counties across the state will be celebrating and promoting the program to communities each week during Nebraska 4-H Month. 4-H offers many strengths for youth, volunteers, and communities such as building life skills through hands-on learning; growing confidence, resilience, and compassion while adults provide a positive strong environment.
The theme for this year’s Nebraska 4-H celebration is I BELONG.
There will be several opportunities for the 4-H members, volunteers, and supporters to celebrate across the state.
The 4-H Pledge is the strong backbone of the 4-H program that has been around over 100 years. The H’s stand for head, heart, hands, and health. The pledge has been recited at 4-H meetings and events for almost 95 years.
Let’s explore what the pledge has to offer youth and adults:
We pledge our heads to clearer thinking.
Nebraska 4-H is committed to supporting the youth in our state with hands-on learning. Whether it be in a school classroom, a cafeteria, a gym, a living room, an outside space, or online, learning can happen anywhere. There are several educational resources online for families to download along with curriculum available at local county extension offices.
[More information can be found at: https://4h.unl.edu/virtual-home-learning]
We pledge our hearts to greater loyalty.
It is important for youth to know they are cared about by others and feel a sense of connection to others in a group. Feeling nurtured in a safe emotional and physical environment is essential to their development. It is also important for youth to see themselves as an active participant in the future.
Nebraska 4-H is committed to providing learning environments for youth that contain the elements which are essential to effective youth development programs. Belonging, Mastery, Independence, and Generosity, are integral to designing high-quality activities for hands-on learning.
[More information can be found at: https://4h.unl.edu/essential-elements]
We pledge our hands to larger service.
4-H civic engagement programs empower young people to be well-informed citizens who are actively engaged in their communities and the world. Youth learn about civic affairs, build decision-making skills, and develop a sense of understanding and confidence in relating and connecting to other people.
[More information can be found at: https://4h.unl.edu/civic-engagement]
We pledge our health to better living.
4-H healthy living programs empower youth to be health – body and mind – with the skills to make healthy decisions and lead healthy lifestyles. To assist caring adults who help young people cope, a series of articles focused upon “Supporting Young People Through Change”. Topics focus upon contributing in a changing world; creating routine, coping, and connecting in changing times; finding comfort in a changing world; and identifying grief. All who work with and/or care for youth can provide assistance in helping young people cope with the challenges and develop into caring, connected, and capable adults.
[More information can be found at: https://4h.unl.edu/supporting-young-people-through-change]
How do you get involved with this strong program in Nebraska? Please contact a Nebraska Extension Office or visit the website at https://4h.unl.edu.
