4-H volunteer orientation

What: Learn the basics of the 4-H Youth Development Program and steps to becoming a 4-H volunteer or club leader.

When: 6-8 p.m., Wednesday, March 30

Where: Sequim Library, 630 N. Sequim Ave.

More info/RSVP: Contact 4-H Program Coordinator Jenny Schmidt at 417-2398 or jenny.schmidt@wsu.edu.

It wasn’t until attending the Washington State 4-H Know Your Government conference in Olympia that Sequim freshman JaneyDean O’Connor uncovered an interest in politics.

O’Connor was among six teens from Clallam County and 16, including those from Jefferson and Kitsap counties, that recently participated in the annual 4-H event.

“It was a lot of fun,” O’Connor said about her experience in Olympia. “I now know how voting works — both instant runoff voting and electoral voting.”

Although O’Connor never had attended the conference before, she now plans to participate every year, she said.

Reflective of the regional structure being implemented across all 4-H programs, Clallam, Jefferson and Kitsap counties 4-H programs are engaging more as a region, Jenny Schmidt, Washington State University Extension Clallam County 4-H program coordinator, said.

“It’s great to be able to pool resources, collaborate and share ideas among the different counties,” she said.

To prepare for the Know Your Governmental conference, 4-Hers from the three counties gathered in Sequim for an overnight teen leadership rally. The rally was a “perfect” example of the type of regional activities the programs are aspiring to do more of, Schmidt said.

Expanding teen programming, such as the overnight rally, has and continues to be a goal of Schmidt’s since she took on the role as the county’s 4-H coordinator three years ago, she said.

Opportunties

Know Your Government is only one of a seemingly endless array of positive youth development opportunities possible through the WSU Extension 4-H program.

The types of clubs and associated projects are mainly restricted by the interests of local youth and number of volunteers and club leaders, Schmidt said.

“There is no end to the project areas that 4-Hers can learn about as part of the program,” she said.

Youth can participate in multiple projects through different clubs. Prior to getting involved with the Know Your Government, O’Connor first joined 4-H four years ago with her cats and continues to show cats. She also plans to participate in both the swine and poultry projects this year.

Project areas supported by Clallam County 4-H clubs are plentiful and diverse, ranging from archery, animal science, health and fitness, gardening and photography to leadership.

Despite the variety, “learning life skills through the project areas” is a common objective, Schmidt said. The National 4-H Mission Mandates of citizenship, healthy living and science also help to guide projects.

Projects are pursued through varying formats, Schmidt explained. Example formats include Community Clubs, which tend to be year-round and ongoing, as well as Special Interest Programs that only last for the duration of a project or may be limited by grant funding.

Schmidt recently launched a Special Interest Program known as the 4-H Tech Wizards club at the beginning of the month. The program is centered on science, technology, engineering and mathematics — also known as “STEM.”

To help facilitate the program, Schmidt has partnered with the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Olympic Peninsula, Port Angeles School District and its AmeriCorps program.

Under the program, youth will have the opportunity to explore a range of projects, such as electricity, environmental science and robotics.

“It will be an exciting thing to do more focused science education with youth,” Schmidt said.

Volunteers wanted

To continue to grow 4-H locally, Schmidt is hosting volunteer orientations beginning mid-month in Forks, Port Angeles and Sequim.

“You don’t have to be an expert to volunteer,” Schmidt said. “Oftentimes the adults are learning right along with the youth.”

As an established organiz-ation, 4-H has curriculums and program coordinators to help train and support volunteers and club leaders. In doing the orientations and continuing to facilitate new Special Interest Programs and Community Clubs, Schmidt aims to increase people’s overall awareness of 4-H as a venue and platform for a variety of youth programming, she said.

Last year, Clallam County 4-H had 270 youth members in Community Clubs and another 80 youth participated in Special Interest Programs, with more than 100 adult volunteers.

For information on enrolling or volunteering with 4-H Tech Wizards or for general 4-H inquiries, contact Schimdt at 417-2398 or e-mail jenny.schmidt@wsu.edu.

Reach Alana Linderoth at alinderoth@sequimgazette.com.