4–H lowers entry age

Lower membership age as of January 1, 2011, and new Clover Bud 4-H pilot project being launched
(Guelph, ON – August 3, 2010) The Ontario 4-H Council Board of Directors voted in favor of lowering the starting age of 4-H Members to 9 years of age (prior to January 1st of the year the Member joins). This policy amendment will become effective as of January 1, 2011.
Shonna Ward, Ontario 4-H Council President, commented that “this policy change allows the Council to address three goals with the first being synergy with 4-H delivery partners across Canada. Second, enabling younger siblings of current members to join sooner, and third, supporting communities throughout Ontario with a younger entry point to outstanding youth leadership development opportunities.”
Concurrent with this announcement is the launch of a related 18-month pilot project entitled Clover Buds. During this pilot project, the staff of 4-H Ontario will be identifying and selecting 6 community partners to run 4-H Clover Bud programs for 6 to 8 year olds. With existing programs located in other provinces and the United States to mentor from, it is time for us to launch and evaluate this alternate program option on a pilot project basis.
These are two wonderful examples of 4-H Ontario embracing change through a clear and focused strategic plan. A plan designed to enable us to achieve our 5-year goal of welcoming 10,000 members and 3,000 volunteers into the program. 2015 will mark the 100th Anniversary of 4-H in Ontario and we invite all of you to come and explore 4-H today! We are looking for volunteers to run clubs in their own communities, whether in rural Ontario, the suburbs or downtown. Call us today at 1-877-410-6748.
4-H is an organization of leaders building leaders. Nearly 6000 youth 10-21 years of age, and a grass roots network of 1800 trained, screened volunteers pledge their Head, Heart, Hands and Health as members of community-based clubs. With projects encompassing agriculture, food, health and the environment, 4-H Ontario’s “Learn To Do By Doing” clubs, camps and conferences have a successful 95 year history in developing competence, confidence, connection, character and caring within rural and urban youth.