Teens assist with running booth during the Dinwiddie 2nd grade Farm Day field trip. Our booth is in charge of teaching 2nd graders about how our food comes from soil. We do this through a scripted puppet show where the teens get to act out the various parts. Lots of public speaking!

REQUIREMENTS:

• High School Age only 

• Field Trip Permission form must be signed

• Limited spots

This monthly club that stands for Future Leadership Experience is open to teens in Dinwiddie County. Many teens also serve as counselors or CITs for 4-H Junior Camp. This is a great way to expand your leadership experience and stay on top of the upoming events. There is also lots of opportunity for socialization and meeting other teens in the program. Teens serve on committees to determine what goals and objectives they want to accomplish for the year. It is a completely optional program, but the more active you are, the more likely you are to be a successful counselor or CIT.

The Airfield Teen Leadership Council is a group of young leaders (ages 14-18) that aspire to develop both leadership and teamwork skills while promoting opportunities for individual growth for teens across the Southeast District. The Airfield Teen Leadership Council (TLC) plans to have 3 in-person and 5 virtual meetings per year.  We plan on developing a fundraiser, completing a community service project and participating in a TLC weekend leadership camp. The TLC is a great way for teens to get to know other 4-Hers in their district while serving in a leadership position. Applications are due by October 11th. Interviews will be held the week of October 14th. In our first meeting, we will be voting to identify who would be the best fit for our TLC Officer positions. Officer positions include President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Reporter/Historian, and the Airfield 4-H Board Liaison.

4-H All Stars is an honor/service organization. Membership in 4-H All Stars is the highest recognition that a Virginia 4-H'er can achieve. Virginia 4-H All Stars is service oriented, and volunteer operated.

The All Star's goal is to contribute to positive youth development through "service" to the 4-H program of which they are a part. The 4-H program becomes the springboard from which an All Star jumps to other areas of service to people throughout his/her lifetime. The 4-H All Star organization strives for a cooperative effort with the 4-H program in all areas.

Application are due in late October each year for youth turning 15 by Jan 1 of the following year. Applications and details can be found here: https://ext.vt.edu/4h-youth/all-stars.html 

Do you set goals for yourself, or do others set them for you? How do you feel when you accomplish something? Does what you accomplish make a difference to you? How can you plan and work to do a better job toward your goals? Does your goal include winning over someone else, or just improving on what you have done before? When you reach a goal, and feel some satisfaction in reaching that goal, does this help you set new goals? What if you are not quite satisfied with your accomplishments? How can you get the most out of 4-H and receive adequate recognition and satisfaction for your efforts?

The 4-H Achievement Plan will help you with some of these concerns. It will help in these ways:

1. Setting your goals and making plans to reach them.

2. Enriching your 4-H Program as you grow into young adulthood.

3. Evaluating your own efforts and accomplishments. Taking a look with your leader as to

how well you have met your goals.

4. Reaching more of your goals.

5. Setting new goals that will help you grow and develop your skills and personality.

To be successful, your plan will require loyalty to your 4-H Club, your county, state, nation and world. Service to others is very important. Creativity, responsibility and leadership will be required. The satisfaction you feel for your job well done will make it all worthwhile.

Achievement Plans are open to all Dinwiddie 4-H Members are should be submitted each year. Achievement pins are awarded as 4-Hers complete the different levels.

Cloverbud Pins

Cloverbud Ruby Achievement Award (ages 5-6)

Cloverbud Sapphire Achievement Award (ages 7-8)

Junior/Senior Pins (to be completed in order)

Step I. Green Clover Achievement Certificate

Step II. Bronze Achievement Certificate

Step III. Silver Achievement Certificate

Step IV. Gold Achievement Certificate

Step V. Achievement Medal

Achievement Plans are located online here: https://forms.gle/R72qARXYXXXDxpkw9 

Teen Summit is an event planned for teens by teens focused on youth empowerment and social equity issues. Teens that have interest in social equity to can apply to be a part of this planning team.

Find out what it takes and hear from other teens why they have remained involved with the 4-H program. Learn what is expected of teens and the many ways to get involved. Training hour requirements are explained thoroughly at this event.

MANDATORY for ALL teens. A parent/guardian should plan to attend if it is the teens first year as a CIT or Counselor.

4-H Day at the Capitol provides an opportunity for youth to learn about governmental procedures and emphasizes the importance of citizen involvement in the governmental process. Participants visit with legislators to share their stories about 4-H experiences and learn about the role of legislators in government. They observe the legislative process in action, have opportunities to learn about the congressional aides and pages programs, and have an opportunity to tour the Capitol, museums, or other historic sites in the Richmond area.

More info can be found: https://ext.vt.edu/4h-youth/leadership/day-capitol.html 

Typically held in late January

REQUIREMENTS:

• Middle and High School age only

• Signed permission slip required (unless homeschooled)

Virginia 4-H State Congress is the premier, statewide annual 4-H event for outstanding 4-H teens and adult volunteer leaders. Its mission is to provide competitive and non-competitive educational experiences to Virginia teens and the adults who work with them, helping them to develop life skills and leadership abilities to become contributing citizens in their communities.

More info can be found: https://ext.vt.edu/4h-youth/state-congress.html 

REQUIREMENTS:

• There is generally a cost to attend (talk to Hannah about scholarship opportunities)

• Must be in good standing

• Ages 14-19 ONLY

The State 4-H Cabinet/Ambassador team is the elite 4-H teen leader group. Not only does this group play a large role in planning and conducting the Virginia State 4-H Congress, but it also has the responsibility of enhancing public understanding of 4-H. The 4-H Cabinet works to enhance the image of 4-H through effective communication about programs and activities offered throughout the year. Ambassadors are called upon to mentor 4-H teen programs in their districts and serve in advocacy roles with elected officials, as well as to make appearances at major 4-H events.

Members' applications are submitted to the State 4-H Office during late May each year. Elections are held during State 4-H Congress in June.

More info can be found: https://ext.vt.edu/4h-youth/leadership/cabinet.html 

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/civilrights/agdiscovery/how-do-i-apply?fbclid=IwAR1bhT27PH4hh02wGr-3G-b9INj3kFze4-6w1X4PvmhibpRJpt_cSy1hICY

The Virginia 4-H Program in the Dominican Republic is now accepting applications from Virginia 4-H teens and 4-H volunteers!  This program started as a grassroots, county based program, which is now in its 17th year.  It has been open to 4-H’ers statewide for a few years now.  During 2025, Christine Hodges and Carol Nansel will be taking two different 4-H teen groups to the Dominican Republic for one week each.  Applications are open to all 9th-12th grade 4-H teens in Virginia.  Since one main focus of our program in the Dominican Republic is conducting a 4-H Day Camp for Dominican children, this program may especially appeal to your 4-H Camp Counselors.  A recommendation from the 4-H delegate’s Extension Agent or Program Assistant is a required part of the application, and it is their responsibility to ask you for that recommendation and follow up to be sure it is submitted.

The youth application is here:  https://forms.gle/rrsWNABV7jVeUMpa8

The deadline to apply is February 25, 2025, but we would appreciate receiving applications sooner if possible.  Applications will be reviewed and the participants will be notified in early March if they are selected or are on a waiting list.  The program cost is $2,600, with $1,000 of that due as a deposit on March 17.  If they don’t have a passport, they should gather the needed documents now and be prepared to apply for a passport as soon as they receive notice that they are accepted for the program.  Receiving a passport is a slow, but important process.  They cannot board the plane without a passport.

We will also be able to accept a couple of Adult 4-H Volunteers for this program.  An adult application can be found here:  https://forms.gle/X1Fy86dwQjeSG7mn7   Current 4-H volunteer enrollment and three reference letters are required for adult applicants.

Every year we have 4-H’ers write a blog and share photos.  That is probably the best way to learn more about the program, so have your interested members take a look at the 2024 blogs: 

                Group 1:  https://2024virginia4hdominicanrepublic.blogspot.com/

                Group 2:  https://2024virginia4hdr.blogspot.com/

Previous years blogs are here.  Click on Dominican Republic:  https://shenandoah.ext.vt.edu/programs/4h-international.html