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Enrollment Information
The structure of the 4-H program may take one of several forms:
- Community or Project Club
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In this format 4-H material is taught to youth organized into groups (clubs) that function for several months or throughout the year. This method is the “traditional” 4-H delivery method.
- School Enrichment
- In this format 4-H Curriculum is utilized in the classroom during regular school hours. The classroom teacher or another resource person teaches the subject matter.
- Short-term/Special Interest
- 4-H curriculum can also be taught over a specified amount of time (e.g., 1 week, 6 weeks, 2 months) and outside regular school hours. After-school programs, special interest group programs, cooperative programs with other agencies and organizations, and school-age child care programs are examples of this delivery method.
If you are interested in participating in a 4-H program, please contact your
Enrollment in 4-H projects generally occurs in the fall of each year.
Who Can Participate in the Oregon 4-H Program?
Because the Oregon 4-H program has specific policies regarding 4-H membership and participation, this information is provided to youth and parents in order to avoid any misunderstanding regarding participation and membership in the 4-H program.
The 4-H Youth Development Program focuses its efforts on providing life skills, opportunities to apply life skills, and opportunities for youth to be involved in decisions that affect them. In doing so, 4-H has developed the following policies and definitions that support the positive development of youth and their involvement in the 4-H Youth Development Program.
4-H is open to all without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, economic status, or geographic location. Marriage or pregnancy does not disqualify youth from 4-H membership or participation.
Youth may participate through 4-H Adventures Program (K-3), project and community clubs, school enrichment programs, school-age child care programs, special-interest groups, short-term programs including day camps and overnight camping programs, individual learning, mentoring, family learning programs, or instructional television programs.
Youth may be involved in 4-H as either 4-H participants or 4-H members.
4-H Participants
4-H participants are youth in grades K–12 who take part in educational programs provided by Oregon 4-H, but who are not enrolled as members. In most cases, this includes nonmember youth participating in educational programs provided by the Extension Service or other programs that may not actually use the 4-H name and emblem with the participants. Youth participating in these programs should be aware that they are involved in a program sponsored by OSU Extension Service, even if the programs are not labeled as 4-H.
4-H Members
Youth who have completed enrollment in an organized, ongoing local 4-H unit and are aware of their involvement in 4-H are designated as 4-H members. They include, but are not limited to, members of the 4-H Adventures Program, or members of 4-H project or community clubs.
For youth to be considered Oregon 4-H members, they must satisfy three criteria:
1. Be enrolled in grades K–12
Youth are considered to be in the grade in which they are currently enrolled, or in the grade they have just completed. For example, a youth who has completed 4th grade is defined as a 4th grader until he or she starts 5th grade.
Youth who start school at a later-than-normal age will not be eligible for 4-H membership until they enroll in kindergarten or a higher grade. All youth, including those who repeat a grade, may continue membership through the 12th grade, even though this may mean they will have an “extra” year (or years) of 4-H involvement.
Persons who are developmentally challenged are enrolled in a nongraded category. They become eligible for membership when their age peers enter kindergarten and are allowed to remain in the program as long as it is beneficial to them, up to chronological age 21. They may complete the 4-H year in which they turn 21.
Youth in nongraded or split grades are eligible for appropriate membership when they are included in the grade equivalents for K–12 as defined by Oregon statutes (description follows).
Youth in home schools are eligible for 4-H membership when they are included in the grade equivalents for Grades K–12 as defined by Oregon statutes. These are:
- Age 5–6 Kindergarten
- Age 6–7 First Grade
- Age 7–8 Second Grade
- Age 8–9 Third Grade
- Age 9–10 Fourth Grade
- Age 10–11 Fifth Grade
- Age 11–12 Sixth Grade
- Age 12–13 Seventh Grade
- Age 13–14 Eighth Grade
- Age 14–15 Ninth Grade
- Age 15–16 Tenth Grade
- Age 16–17 Eleventh Grade
- Age 17–18 Twelfth Grade
The statute requires that children be tested annually at the appropriate grade level. The grade level of home-schooled children is determined by the highest grade at which they have been tested.
Youth who drop out of school or graduate from the 12th grade may continue 4-H membership until their age peers (former classmates) graduate from high school. At the time for normal 12th-grade graduation, youth may continue membership activities through December 31 of the year they graduate.
2. Be enrolled in an appropriate 4-H program
Youth in grades K–3 are eligible for membership only in the 4-H Adventures Program or other specially designated programs. These may include EFNP youth clubs, spcial outreach groups, or others as approved by the State 4-H Office. Experiences provided to youth in this category are expected to be cooperative and group centered. Youth in K–3 should not participate in competitive activities. Youth in 4th through 12th grades are eligible for membership when enrolled in appropriate projects or activity clubs.
3. Have their enrollment data recorded on the current 4-H data management system in the county Extension office.
Grade Divisions
4-H membership is often further defined using four categories relating to the developmental stages of youth. These are:
- 4-H Adventures
- Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd graders
- Juniors
- 4th, 5th, 6th graders
- Intermediates
- 7th, 8th, 9th graders
- Seniors
- 10th, 11th, and 12th graders
- Place of Membership
Exceptions: With written approval of the primary and secondary counties, a member may participate in 4-H programs in another county if there are sound educational reasons for doing so. Reasons for requesting membership outside the primary county may include location of the school outside the primary county, living with both parents or different guardians at different times of the year, opportunities to participate in programs not available in primary county, or as otherwise deemed appropriate by the county agent(s).
In cases of split membership, all counties where the member plans to participate at any time during the year must be involved in developing a written plan for split or joint membership. This written plan should be developed at the beginning of the membership year and be endorsed by all involved agents. The plan should include the projects being taken in each county, whether any project will be carried in more than one county (such as animal projects housed in different places during the year), where recognition and awards will be received, and any other condition required by the participating counties.
It is up to the county Extension agent to determine what is appropriate with regard to this membership question. The county Extension agent may accept a member for all membership privileges in his/her own county, regardless of primary residence.
Note: This policy is intended to make it easier for the 4-H Program to serve youth from a single-parent or split family. It is NOT intended to allow for “double dipping” on awards, for youth to move for a month to a more lucrative show or sale, or for some other competitive advantage.
Transfer of Membership
4-H members transferring from one county or state to another should be accepted by that county or state and given full credit for their past 4-H work or achievements. Transfers are accepted at any time. Documentation of enrollment or ownership of livestock in the originating county or state may be needed for participation in certain activities.
Individual Membership (grades 4–12 only)
A major benefit of 4-H membership is the experience gained in meeting and working with others. In some cases, however, participation in an organized group may not be practical or particularly meaningful. Examples include youth who are geographically isolated, or older youth whose only access is to clubs focusing on the needs of younger members. In such cases, individual membership may be warranted as long as the youth involved is provided with opportunities for guidance and direction from a responsible adult.
In any case, the member’s enrollment in each project carried needs to be documented in the current 4-H management system.
High-risk Programs
There are some activities that inherently pose hazards for youth. The activities planned for youth in grades K–3 should not place children in direct contact with large animals (beef, horse, dairy, sheep, swine, dairy goats, pygmy goats, llamas); involve them in riding motorcycles, motor bikes, and all-terrain vehicles; nor engage them in shooting sports.
The activities conducted in the Oregon 4-H Horse Program are considered high risk. 4-H youth participating in all horse activities must wear a properly fitted equestrian helmet that meets the minimum performance standards associated with the ASTM-SEI certified helmet. Such headgear must be secured with the harness engaged and be properly fastened when mounted on an equine or in a vehicle (cart, wagon, buggy, etc.) being pulled by one or more equine.
All youth, regardless of age, are not to participate in rodeos, nor in horse or vehicle races of any type.
Loss of Membership Privileges
Membership in 4-H and participation in 4-H Programs, including activities, contests, and events, is a privilege. Youth who wish to continue membership and/or participation must follow the policies and procedures outlined for state and county programs. Faculty agents who conduct county or state 4-H programs have the authority to suspend or cancel membership and participation privileges if youth fail to abide by the policies and procedures of the 4-H organization as set out in “codes of conduct” or other printed policies.
