4-H Hola and welcome!
4-H is many things to many people. It's
a community of young people across America who are learning leadership,
citizenship and life skills. It's the "youth" part of Cooperative
Extension. It's a volunteer-led, family organization that reaches
boys and girls through small groups called clubs and sometimes
in classrooms.
 Cooperative
Extension staff have been organizing and supporting 4-H groups for
100 years. During that time our membership has grown to include farm,
rural, suburban and urban families of all cultures. Today 4-H Youth
Development reaches out to Latinos in many ways, to increase the
participation of Latino youth and families throughout Wisconsin and
the country.
4-H is open to any youth in grades 1-13 (one year out of 4-H). Young
people enjoy 4-H because they have fun with friends at meetings,
social activities, camps, fairs, and on tours and trips. They learn
to do interesting things, like taking care of animals and plants,
fixing their bikes, taking photos, cooking, and collecting rocks.There
are about 50 projects to choose from, and dozens of activities to
enjoy.
A 4-H leader is an adult or older youth
who works voluntarily with a group of 4-H members. Many volunteers
teach members how to do things and are called "project leaders." They
usually have a special interest or skill, such as, photography, clothing
or gardening. Adults who help a group get organized and run its meetings
are called "organizational leaders." Older 4-H members who assist
the adults with project work, club program and activities, and county
events are called "youth leaders."
 To find out how
to be a 4-H member or leader, or if you just want to know more about
4-H, call your county UW-Extension office or follow this link to
our Wisconsin 4-H Web Site: http://www.uwex.edu/ces/4h/.
Be sure to check out our other links and resources on the following
pages. If you have information to share about Latino and 4-H programs,
resources, news and events, please contact Wayne Brabender at wayne.brabender@ces.uwex.edu or
Barb Hetzel at barb.barker@ces.uwex.edu.
And come back to visit us again!
4-H LATINO OUTREACH HIGHLIGHTS
 Many county
Extension offices have identified Latinos as a key clientele group,
including the counties of Brown, Calumet, Dane, Door, Fond du lac,
Green, Kenosha, Lincoln, Manitowoc, Outagmie, Sauk, Sheboygan, St.
Croix, Walworth and Waukesha.
The 4-H Latino program in Fond du
Lac County, near Lake Michigan north of Milwaukee is a great example.
In Fond du lac County Michelle Batterman, 4-H Staff Assistant, and
Denise Retzleff, 4-H Youth Development Agent, do 4-H Afterschool
programs at Riverside School in Fond du Lac where 30 per cent of
the students are Latinos. In collaboration with the school's 21st
Century program, the Fond du Lac County 4-H staff do six week sessions
that include communications, art, electricity, theatre, aerospace
and mini-society. "We also do a 4-H club at the school one Friday
a month. There are about 80 participants," says Reztleff.
In addition, Batterman helps teach a Junior Master Gardening Program
throughout the year that includes several Latino youth. The youth
spend lots of time outside in the garden, but also some time inside
working on communication and community service projects, as well
as preparing produce in the kitchen.
Photos by Michelle Batterman, Fond du Lac County 4-H staff assistant.
MORE LATINO OUTREACH HIGHLIGHTS
 The
Latino Intercultural Camp held on Oct.
16-17, 2004, at the Upham Woods Environmental Education Center,
Wisconsin Dells was a great success.
It was a weekend camp for 12-16 year old 4-H youth to pilot the
new national 4-H Latino Cultural Arts curriculum. The Latino
culture is rich in many ways. Latino people have shared the beauty
of their culture with us through crafts, oral and visual expression,
and celebrations. Conference participants shared in the history
and richness of Latino culture, from jewelry making and weaving,
to dance, music, folklore, and more.
Participants also learned about the many
programs available to Wisconsin youth through our 4-H International
Programs, discussed ways to share their knowledge with others, and
were introduced to the newly revised national International curriculum
called And
My World .
This curriculum focuses on understanding our physical world, global
issues, and other cultures.
Contact 4-H Youth Development Staff
Wayne W. Brabender
Learning Resources Coordinator
332 Lowell Center
610 Langdon Street
Madison, WI 53703
Phone: (608)262-1067
FAX: (608)265-6407
Email: wayne.brabender@ces.uwex.edu
Barb Hetzel
4-H Youth Development Agent
209 S St Marie, PO Box 487
Wautoma, WI 54982-0487
Phone: (920) 787-0416
FAX: (920) 787-0425
Email: barb.barker@ces.uwex.edu
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