Helping Cloverbuds Explore Nature with Ohio 4-H Cloverbud Resources

The temperature outside is warming up, trees are greening, flowers are blooming – it must be spring! This is the perfect time to think about getting our Cloverbuds outside and exploring nature! At this age youth learn through exploration and direct experience. Our natural world is the perfect setting for this exploration and learning to take place.

You might ask yourself why it is important to expose young children to nature. A study done by experts at Stanford University looked at articles and studies about the benefits of environmental education. These studies show that environmental education improves knowledge in science, mathematics, reading and writing as well as 21st century skills like critical thinking, problem solving and communication. Environmental education also improves emotional and social skills like self-esteem.

Another article from the University of Florida Extension talks specifically about connecting youth to nature during early childhood. The article talks about benefits to physical health like increased likelihood for physical activity and improved gross motor skills. The article also talks about cognitive development. It says that exposure to nature can decrease stress levels, promote longer attention spans and foster creativity.

Allowing children to explore nature can also build empathy for living beings and foster environmental stewardship. Children learn about the delicate balance of nature and are inspired to protect our planet. Research shows that children involved in environmental education participate in environmentally friendly behaviors such as recycling, reducing water use and participating in community cleanups.

Being outside with friends and family helps promote relationships and creates lifelong memories. Some of my favorite childhood memories are of tractor rides with my sister and cousins in my grandparents’ woods. My grandpa would stop the tractor and let us explore. We would swing on vines, climb on fallen trees and enjoy the time together.

There are many ways to get outside with your Cloverbuds. The Ohio 4-H Cloverud Program provides a variety of resources to help you. The Big Book of Cloverbud Activities which can be purchased through Ohio Extension offices or from Extension Publications is full of activities related around the natural world. The section about animals and environmental and earth sciences are a perfect place to start. The ant antics activity where Cloverbuds learn about ant body parts and make an ant from marshmallows and pipe cleaners is a fun activity.

This Cloverbud Connections blog is another place to search for fun activities. A quick search with the word nature resulted in several helpful articles. One by Extension Specialist, Theresa Ferrari gives several ideas for scavenger hunts. Lindsey VanGundy, 4-H Educator and Cloverbud Design Team member gives ideas for fall fun in her article, “Fall Fun with Cloverbuds”. Rebecca Supinger, who is also a 4-H Educator and leader of the Cloverbud Design Team, describes outdoor activities for Cloverbuds in her article, “Getting Outside with Cloverbuds”. Aubrey Fowler, 4-H Educator, also gives great ideas in her article “Time to Get Outdoors”

Another great resource for activities are Ohio 4-H Cloverbud Click and Do Activities. One we recently highlighted is called Nature Color Match written by Bruce Zimmer who also serves on the Ohio 4-H Cloverbud Design Team. This activity lets Cloverbuds see all the different shade of a particular color in nature by using paint color chips to match colors. The sky has been in the news recently with the eclipse in April and the aurora borealis in May. It is the perfect time to use the Find the North Star activity to explore the night sky.

Reading to Cloverbuds is another great way to connect to nature and build literacy skills. Ohio 4-H Reading Adventures connect books with activities to enhance the learning. Several reading adventures feature books that relate to nature. Jan Brett’s book, The Umbrella, takes readers to a cloud forest. Activities for this book guide Cloverbuds and making a cloud in a jar and fun nature themes snacks. The reading adventure for the book, Diary of a Worm, by Dorine Cronin, feature an activity where youth measure gummy worms. This fun activity promotes math skills.

No matter what you choose to do with your Cloverbuds outside you are providing many benefits. Take a minute to explore all the resources Ohio 4-H has to help you.

 

Reviewing Your 4-H Cloverbud Programming

Portrait Of Excited Elementary School Pupils On Playing Field At Break Time

As 4-H Cloverbud volunteers and educators, we are always focused on planning for the next big event. Many times, we don’t take time to review our programs. The Ohio 4-H Clovebud program several resources that help with program delivery, curriculum, goals, and tools to help with evaluation. As your 4-H season comes to an end for the year, build in time to take a closer look at your Cloverbud program. Spend time with other club volunteers discussing their activities and events. Sometimes we get so busy throughout the season, we plan activities for the “wow” factor instead of selecting the best hands-on educational activities for our Cloverbud members. Not that we can’t bring in fun age-appropriate activities, but we need to provide and teach the Ohio 4-H Cloverbud program curriculum to our Cloverbud 4-H members.

So where do you start? As you reflect on your 4-H club season, think about each one of your meetings and activities. The Cloverbud program should explore areas of healthy lifestyle, earth/environment, citizenship, plants and animals, consumerism and family science, science and technology, personal development, and community expressive arts. The primary goal of the Cloverbud program is to promote children’s healthy development—mentally, physically, socially, and emotionally. The program should be fun and positive, leader-directed, activity-based, noncompetitive, success-oriented, and group-centered for youth aged 5 and in kindergarten until they reach age 8 and in the third grade. Did the programs that you provided follow the goals of the Ohio 4-H program and did your programming create an environment for Cloverbud members to develop self-understanding (self-esteem), social interaction skills (getting along with others), decision-making skills, learning skills (learning how to learn), and mastering physical skills?

Here are a few Ohio 4-H Cloverbud Guidelines to help make sure you are on track. One of the best ways to start evaluating the program is asking yourself, where did you get your club resources? Often volunteers search online for activities instead of using Ohio 4-H resources. The Ohio 4-H program has done the hard part for you. Visit ohio4h.org/cloverbudresources for information on the 4-H Cloverbud Volunteer Guidebook, The Big Book of 4-H Cloverbud Activities, My 4-H Cloverbud Year, activities, kits, and extra materials used to support Cloverbud programming. Check with your county Ohio State University Extension Office to see if there are free resources, books, or kits for Cloverbud volunteers. 4-H Volunteers must use the Ohio 4-H Cloverbud curriculum when working with Cloverbud members. To use any lesson other than the Cloverbud curriculum, you must submit a written lesson plan for approval to your county 4-H professional.

Did you have a minimum of two youth ages 5-8 and one officially trained Cloverbud volunteer? This can be tricky especially with 4-H clubs with only a few Cloverbud age members. Sometimes it’s hard to have at least two Cloverbuds, so effective communication and planning can help get full participation. There must be a ratio of at least one 4-H volunteer for each six Cloverbud youth.

How often did you meet? Cloverbuds meet a minimum of six times throughout the operating year. The operating year will begin October 1 and end September 31. Offering more than six meetings will help your busy members meet the state requirement.

A great resource is the 4-H Cloverbud Program Foundations available online, ohio4h.org/sites/ohio4h/files/imce/Families/4H%20Cloverbud%20Program%20Foundations%202.20.15.pdf. This tool explains the 10 foundations of the Cloverbud program. Another awesome resource is the Ohio 4-H Cloverbud Program table shown below. This reference will help you be sure each one of your activities is best matched for Cloverbud-age members. This helps separate project members versus Cloverbud members, as well as explain criteria for fair, camp, and animal activities.

 

Utilizing these helpful guidelines and tools when reviewing your 4-H Cloverbud programming will help ensure that your members are receiving curriculum designed just for them. The Ohio 4-H program has developed curriculum, tools, and resources to help you enjoy your role as an Ohio 4-H Coverbud volunteer. For more information contact your county Ohio State University Extension Office or visit ohio4h.org/cloverbudresources.

Tips for Kicking Off the 4-H Cloverbud Season and Finding the Right Resources!

This might be your first year serving as a Cloverbud 4-H Volunteer or maybe you have been volunteering for many years. No matter where you are in your Cloverbud Volunteer Service planning each season should be fun and exciting for you and the members. We know you work hard to build and maintain a strong 4-H Cloverbud program. You already have an awesome club and you know your Cloverbud members, but now what do you do to plan?

Volunteers have good intentions to plan a wonderful season of hands-on Cloverbud events, snacks, games, learning and more. However, life sometimes happens and the season is not planned because of a lack of time or volunteers could not find resources and help! Here are a few easy tips as well as Ohio 4-H Cloverbud resources to help you navigate for a successful season as a 4-H Cloverbud volunteer! The Ohio 4-H program and 4-H professionals want this journey to be fun and rewarding for you and the members. Below you will find tips to help you know your resources and plan for your 4-H Cloverbud Season.

 Tip #1-The first tip is to start at your County Extension office. Call or email your county 4-H professional to see what trainings and information are available for 4-H Cloverbud volunteers. Your county Extension office may offers kits, trainings, conference scholarships, supplies or even funding for clubs to use for Cloverbud programming.

 Tip #2-It is a great idea to pick a 4-H season theme. Ohio has so many wonderful resources for you to use designed from food to animals to stem. This might help you narrow down the resources and meet the needs of your members. For example, if you are a volunteer in a livestock 4-H club with younger members interested in taking livestock projects, one day you can tailor your lessons to meet their interests. Other ideas might be nature, outdoor fun, stem, foods and nutrition, our country and many more.

 Tip #3-Set the Cloverbud meeting structure. It might help you, your members and their families if they know what to expect during a Cloverbud meeting. Cloverbuds might start out meeting with the entire club (ages 8-18 years) and after the pledges and attendance head to their own meeting room for specialized Cloverbud programming. You design the length of the Cloverbud session, order of events and what will be included. For example, a Cloverbud meeting could include a get to know you activity, lesson, hands-on activity, game, snack and closing.

Tip #4-Ask for help at the club level. It could get costly designing and providing Cloverbud lessons so ask other volunteers in your club to bring in needed supplies. Put together a list of supplies you need for the season and see how the club members, parents and co-volunteers can help. You might also have a need for special guests or speakers and others in your club could be a resource. See if your county Extension office offers kits, supplies or even funding for clubs to use for Cloverbud programming.

 Tip #5-Talk to other Cloverbud volunteers in your county to brainstorm. Reaching out to peers in your county can give you new ideas or even a foundation to follow when getting started. Sometimes just having time to talk with other volunteers is what you need to get inspired for the season.

 Tip #6-Attend workshops to help you learn more about the program. Take advantage of any county, region or state trainings and conferences that can help you learn more about your volunteer role with Cloverbuds. This can be a great platform to learn about new resources and get new ideas.

Tip #7 -Know what resources Ohio 4-H has for you to utilize for Cloverbud members. The Ohio 4-H Cloverbud Team and staff have worked hard over the years to develop a variety of educational materials to help you in your role and the members reach their goals as  Ohio 4-H Cloverbud Members.  Visit the state site to learn and explore the various resources: https://ohio4h.org/cloverbudresources.

The Big Book of 4-H Cloverbud Activities

My 4-H Cloverbud Year

Clover Cubes

Choose and Tell Cards

4-H Cloverbud Volunteer Guidebook 

4-H Cloverbud Connect to College

Bioenergy Curriculum

Horse Curriculum Instructional Materials

Click It, Print It, Do It…Activity Pages

Hopefully these tips will help you navigate the Ohio 4-H Cloverbud resources and help you plan for your most exciting 4-H Cloverbud season yet!