Junior Teen Council Program Overview

What is Junior Teen Council?

The Junior Teen Council is a dynamic group of 5th-7th graders dedicated to enhancing their leadership capabilities. This council aligns with the mission of 4-H, which aims to foster meaningful collaborations between youth and adults to drive sustainable changes within their communities. 4-H's mission is achieved through a focus on three key areas: citizenship, healthy living, and science, which reflect the core educational pillars of 4-H. These areas are integral to fulfilling the historic goals of Extension—community leadership, improved quality of life, and the transfer of knowledge—in today's rapidly evolving societal landscape.

When is Junior Teen Council?

Junior Teen Council runs from September-March with meetings held once or twice a month. 

Council Expectations:

• Be a registered 4-H Member 
• Have parental/guardian support and involvement
• Be respectful
• Be on time –in order to be respectful to our presenters and volunteers come on time and ready to be involved
• Be actively engaged in activities, be willing to step out of comfort zone
• Be a part of the rotating presidency
• Prepare one icebreaker activity for the group
• Prepare a resume and cover letter for the Utah 4-H Portfolio contest 
• Prepare a demonstration for the 4-H Demonstration contest
• No more than 3 unexcused absences
• Sign an application of commitment 

Application of Commitment:

To join the Junior Teen Council, interested youth must submit a commitment application by September 30th. This application is necessary to qualify for a shirt. The application opens September 1st.

Meetings:

During our meetings, we will explore topics related to these primary areas:

• Citizenship: Engaging in community service, understanding civic responsibility, and developing leadership skills.
• Healthy Living: Promoting physical health, mental well-being, and nutritional awareness.
• Science: Encouraging curiosity and critical thinking through hands-on science activities and projects.

Our focus on these topics will prepare council members to become proactive, informed, and conscientious members of their communities.

Typical Meeting Agenda:

Rotating Presidency’s Responsibilities:

• Welcome
• Pledges
• Roll
• Announcements
• Icebreaker

Leader/Volunteer Responsibilities:

• Business
• Snack
• Training/Activity 
• Reflect and Clean

What is a rotating presidency?

A rotating presidency gives each youth the opportunity to serve in each leadership position. Each month 4-H’ers will be assigned a different role for the group. Those roles and expectations are:

President:

• Welcomes everyone to the club meeting
• Welcomes any guest/speakers etc.
• Turns time over to Pledge Specialist for Pledges
• Turns time over to Secretary for roll call
• Turns time over to VP for announcements
• Turns time over to Icebreaker Leader for icebreaker.
• Introduces meeting topic and turns time over to presenter or adult club leader

Vice President:

• Makes any announcements assigned by the adult club leader/s
• Lead the group in cleaning up the room-assign youth to complete different clean up tasks that they are capable of; eg. vacuum, put supplies away, do dishes, put snacks away, etc. 
• Make sure the room is clean before leaving the meeting

Secretary:

• Take the role of those who are there. Have attendees state their name and an interest, favorite color, a superhero, a movie character, etc. For example “if you are here, call out your favorite after school snack.”
• Put report back in club folder or hand to adult club leader

Pledge Leader:

• Lead the group in The Pledge of Allegiance and 4-H Pledge
• Club leader will provide you with a flag or picture of a flag

Icebreaker Leader:

• Prepare a 5-10 minute Icebreaker for the group to participate in
• Come to the meeting with the prepared Icebreaker
• Tell the club leader in advance of any supplies you need
• Teach the group how to play/participate in your chosen Icebreaker

Each youth will have the opportunity to serve in each position for one month. 

Parental Involvement:

To ensure the success of the Junior Teen Council, we greatly value and rely on parental support. Here are a few key areas that need parental involvement:

• Snack Leader: We provide snacks at every council meeting. Help by preparing or providing snacks.
• Teaching a Lesson: Each meeting includes a 30-60 minute lesson related to our three primary content areas: citizenship, healthy living, and science. We encourage you to lead a lesson in an area of interest or a topic you are knowledgeable about.
• Service Projects: Throughout the year, the council undertakes 1-3 service projects. If you know of potential service opportunities or would like to help coordinate a project, your involvement would be invaluable.
• Tours: If you have connections to interesting places in our community that would provide valuable learning experiences for our youth, we invite you to arrange and chaperone a tour for us.
• General Assistance: Regular attendance at meetings to help with tasks such as snack preparation, classroom management, and answering questions is incredibly helpful.

During the parent meeting in August, we will organize a signup for each parent to choose a meeting or event where they can contribute. This collaborative effort is key to enriching our council’s activities and enhancing the experience for all members.

Communication:

Communication will come through the parents and discussions will take place via the GroupMe app.

Carpool:

We know our office is out of the way. We recommend working together with the other parents to set up carpools with other youth in your area to lighten the load.

Q&A:

Who can participate?
5th-7th Grade 4-H members

How frequently will Junior Teen Council meet?
One or Two times a month September to March 

What is the Dress Code?
School approved attire for our regular meetings. Green Polo with Clover for more official events.

Application of Commitment

Expectations

• Be a registered 4-H Member 
• Have parental/guardian support and involvement
• Be respectful
• Be on time –in order to be respectful to our presenters and volunteers come on time and ready to be involved
• Be actively engaged in activities, be willing to step out of comfort zone
• Be a part of the rotating presidency
• Prepare one icebreaker activity for the group
• Prepare a resume and cover letter for the Utah 4-H Portfolio contest 
• Prepare a demonstration for the 4-H Demonstration contest
• No more than 3 unexcused absence