Helping Members Select A Project

With over 150 projects to choose from, it may be difficult for members, especially new members, to select a project that's right for them. The Project Selection Guide is an excellent online resource to aid volunteers to help members select appropriate projects. This lesson provides highlights from that resource.

How Many Projects Should a Member Take? There is no "official" limit to the number of projects a 4-Her can enroll in, but it is usually best for new members to begin with just one project.

Accepting Responsibility is an important 4-H life skill. Completing a project is a good way for a 4-Her to demonstrate he or she can accept responsibility. It is better to complete one project than to enroll in several, become overwhelmed and not complete any. Requirements for completing a project vary somewhat among 4-H Units. Please check with your 4-H educator. This topic is covered in more detail in a later lesson in this unit.

Build On Success Whenever possible, we want to help members be successful. A first year member who completes a project and receives some form of recognition will likely be interested in exploring another project the next year. A bad project experience may cause some 4-Hers to avoid project work in the future or even drop out of 4-H. Selecting the right project is a good way to encourage 4-Hers and assure success.

Enroll New Projects Anytime While it is usually preferable to start a project early in the 4-H year, additional projects can be added at anytime of year. But, be aware, enrolling in a project later in the year can present some challenges. Many fairs have project enrollment deadlines that may restrict fair exhibits. A finite number of project manuals are printed annually and some may not be available later in the year. Lastly, projects started late in the year may be difficult to complete in time for the fair.

Tips for Wise Project Selection

Interest and Commitment - Projects are intended to enable 4-Hers to Acquire Knowledge and skills on topics of interest to them. Unlike school, 4-H empowers members to decide what subjects they will explore. New members often need help selecting their first project, ideally with parental advice. Completing a project takes commitment by the 4-Her and his or her parents. Commitment is usually greatest when the 4-Her is allowed to select the project.

Parental Involvement - Engaging a parent in project selection has many benefits, including supervision and financial support. There are some costs associated with all projects ranging from a few dollars to several thousand (primarily with large animal projects). The better the member and parent understand what's involved in the project, the better able they will be to make a wise choice.

Age Appropriate - Learning is usually most effective when the subject matter is geared to the age of the learner. Most 4-H projects are designed with three levels. The first level introduces the topic with information and activities designed for younger members. There are usually enough activities to engage the 4-Her for two or three years before moving to the next level. Members should be encouraged to always begin a new project with the first level as it provides a solid foundation that later units build upon. Older members should also be encouraged to start with the first level.

Ask an Expert - There are so many projects available to 4-Hers that it is not possible for anyone to be an "expert" in all of them. But, somewhere within the 4-H family there is someone who has a good understanding of the project area you want to know more about. This person, sometimes called a Project Leader, can probably answer the project related questions your members or parents have asked. Contact your 4-H educator for a list of volunteers who are "experts" in a given project area.

Visit the Project Library - A great way to gain a basic understanding of a project is by reviewing the project manual and the Helper Guide. Every 4-H Office maintains reference copies of most project manuals. If possible, spend some time at the local 4-H Office reviewing the project manuals. It's a good idea to call first to make sure the project manuals you want are available.

Volunteer Quick Reference

Learning Check

One of the most commonly asked questions is how many projects a 4-Her could/should take. There is no one right answer to this question as it really depends on the interest and commitment of the 4-H member. As a rule of thumb, most new 4-Hers should enroll in a single project. What has been your experience with new members and project selection?

A 4-Her may enroll in a project at any time of year. But keep in mind that project manuals may be in short supply later in the year and that some fairs have deadlines for project enrollment. Do your members often select projects in the middle of the year?

It is usually good to involve parents in project selection, but the 4-Her should always be allowed to make the final decision. Do you have a good method of encouraging parents to allow their child to select the project they really want?

Online Learning Community

Please share your thoughts on project selection with other online volunteer learners by posting a message to the Learn By Doing Discussion Forum in response to one of the Learning Check questions or one of your own. You must post a message to complete this lesson. (Password: 4-H Vol)

If you have questions or comments you'd rather not post, share them with Dan by sending a message to dtabler@umd.edu .

After posting a message click Ordering Project Manuals to move to the next lesson.

For more information, contact Dan Tabler, Volunteer Coordinator

Last updated: 03/13/2009