Download the September 2009 Issue of "Projects for the Picking".
Outline
Manitoba 4-H project materials are developed and funded in partnership between Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives and Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada. Click on a project below for more information or contact MAFRI.
For information on projects, specific details on leader or member manuals, record books and related resource material see the "still current" 2007 Catalogue of 4-H Supplies or contact your local MAFRI Growing Opportunities (GO) Centre or Office.
For more information about the 4-H Program in gneral, contact a 4-H leader in your community, your local MAFRI GO Centre or Office, or the Provincial 4-H Office, 1129 Queen's Avenue, Brandon MB R7A 1L9, Ph (204) 726-6613, Fax (204) 726-6260, e-mail: 4H@gov.mb.ca
4-H Animal Projects
Beef, Dairy, Equine, Small Animals
4-H Leisure Skill Projects
Crafts, Photography
4-H Life Skills Projects
Babysitting, Sewing, Foods, Looking Good and Feeling Great, Money and More, Machines, Woodworking
4-H Outdoor Projects
see the NEW Outdoor Living Projects
4-H Personal Growth Projects
See Leadership In Action and Create-A-Project.
4-H Plant & Soil Projects
See the Growing Things Projects
4-H Project Category: Exploring 4-H
Exploring 4-H is its own project for first year 4-H'ers.
Babysitting
Smart Sitter - Soon-to-be sitters discover what they need to know to become a great babysitter, and what every parent wants in a responsible babysitter. This project teaches the skills necessary to care for infants, toddlers and pre-schoolers, with a strong focus on safety and first aid basics. Members must be at least 11 years old to take the project and may not receive their certificate prior to their 12th birthday.
Beef
Beginning Beef - For eight-year-old members, this project looks at the basics of selection, health, facilities, nutrition and handling of a small calf. Members are encouraged to use a calf born between Janaury and March of the current year.
Building Beef Skills - For nine-year-old members, this project builds on the skills presented in Beginning Beef, and also looks at the basics of judging. Members may use a current year calf, or a yearling steer or heifer.
Buying into Beef - For ten-year-old members, this project includes information on reproduction, judging and carcass evaluation, as well as more detailed information on caring for, feeding and handling beef animals. Members may use a yearling heifer, steer or continuation heifer for their project animal.
Quality Beef From a Quality 4-H Project - For eleven-year-old members, this project introduces the important link between producers and consumers and a quality project.
4-H Beef Making the Grade - For twelve year-olds, this project increases knowledge of producing high quality beef. Topics include animal welfare, and environmental concerns.
"Meating" the Challenge of Raising Beef - For thirteen year-olds, this project looks at quality care, along with current beef issues, marketing and various beef operations.
"BYOB" - Bring Your Own Beef - For members who are fourteen to nineteen years of age, this project offers alot of choice. Members can choose their own topic, related to the beef industry. Topic research and development will lead to a thorough understanding of their chosen topic.
Crafts
Nature Crafts - A great project for eight to 12 year olds who are interested in making crafts from nature. Crafts will be made from wax, wool and leather; trees; seeds & grains; vegetables and fruits; stones, sand and shells; flowers and plants. A great project for members to express their creativity.
Crafts for All Seasons - A great crafts project for members and leaders. Members learn the very basics of design and finish many crafts for Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer.
Crafts Around The World - A craft project designed for crafters who want to explore crafts from different cultures. This project is in modules based on geography and members can spend their year in one module/culture or explore crafts from a number of cultures.
Adventures With Crafts - Members age nine and up make at least two crafts: one fibre/fabric craft and one extra craft. The elements of design are expanded upon.
The Craft Basket - Members ages 13 and over choose one craft or “theme” to learn and develop their skills. There are no limits to this craft project and it can be repeated as often as you want so you can work to develop new craft skills.
Create-A-Project
Create-A-Project - Do you have a topic that you want to explore but there is no 4-H project on it? No problem – you can do it through Create-A-Project. If you are at least 10 years of age, have taken at least two 4-H projects and have a project idea that is not available in the current 4-H projects offered, try Create-A-Project. This project can be taken as a group or as an individual – either way it is 100% member owned. You plan your own project, do it, keep records and evaluate how you think you have done – all on a topic of your own choosing. Check it out – it may be just the right project for you!
Dairy
Junior Dairy – Eight to eleven-year-old beginning dairy members learn about the care, selection and feeding of a calf. Members show a dairy calf.
Intermediate Dairy - Twelve- to fourteen-year-old dairy members expand on what they have learned in their previous year. Members show a dairy calf and may show a heifer or dairy cow if they wish.
Senior Dairy - More experienced dairy members explore selection, nutrition and housing of dairy animals. All aspects of dairy cow management are covered, including breeding, calving, health, milk production and facilities. Members show a dairy calf and may show a heifer or dairy cow if they wish.
Equine
Beginning Horsemanship – Eight and nine-year-old members will learn the basics, including parts of a horse, housing, safety, grooming, tack, feeding, and veterinary duties. It is not necessary to own a horse to take this project.
Walk On – Nine and 10-year olds will learn about buying their first horse, tack and equipment, safety, feeding, care of the horse, beginning riding and much more.
Trot Please - Members 10 to 11-years old learn more about caring for their horse, tack and equipment, feeding, breeds of horses, riding skills and much more.
Let's Jog - Eleven and 12-year-old members learn about conformation and horse psychology, plus more on breeds, tack and equipment, feeding and care of their horse, as well the opportunity to build and improve on their basic riding skills.
Canter - For 12- to 14-year olds, this project builds on what members have learned in Let’s Jog. Includes in depth information on conformation and judging, stabling, horse psychology and how to handle your horse. You’ll learn more advanced riding skills.
Ride On - For advanced 4-H’ers with considerable horse handling experience. Includes information on anatomy and physiology, advanced conformation, facilities, horse psychology, restraints, hoof care and nutrition. Members will learn more advanced riding skills.
Creative Horsemanship - For members 14 years +, this project offers the opportunity to go beyond what is in the basic horsemanship units. The possibilities are endless with members selecting their favorite equine area to explore.
Young Horse Development Project - For the experienced rider. Members purchase a spring foal from a Manitoba Equine Ranchers Association (MERA) rancher and train it over a two-year period. Member must apply in March and be selected to participate. Member must be a minimum of 14 years of age as of January 1 of the current 4-H year.
Exploring 4-H
Exploring 4-H - New 4-H members get the opportunity to explore a variety of projects by completing six mini-projects. Members learn more about 4-H and what being a 4-H member is all about.
Foods
Chef In the Making - This project for 8 to 9 year olds teaches members how to read and follow recipes, measure correctly and to learn about the source of our food…the farm. Easy recipes that are fun help new chefs learn tricks for becoming excellent cooks.
Beginning Chefs -Trying basic recipes, packing a healthy lunch and preparing fun meals are all part of this project. Members learn about measurement techniques, food safety and table manners.
Discovering Your Food Choices - Members continue to learn about making smart food choices, as well as Manitoba food products and the importance of food buymanship.
Creative Foods - Senior members will enjoy this self-directed project where they decide what area they want to explore in food preparation and cookery. Areas of focus may include fonduing, food preservation, gourmet cooking, desserts or barbequing.
Growing Things
How Green Is Your Thumb? - An indoor gardening project that is not limited to the summer months. Exploring the many parts of a plant, the different uses for various plants, and how to make a flower press are just a few areas covered.
A Growing Experience - This project is excellent for the beginning gardener who is interested learning the basics of planting and caring for an outdoor garden.
Creative Gardening - Advanced gardeners (14 years +) can use their imagination to create a project they find interesting. Container gardens, fruits, herbs and market gardening are a few suggested topics.
Field Crops (Level 1,2,3) - Each of the Field Crops levels looks at soil, tillage, equipment, fertilizer, seed, weeds, chemicals, insects and disease, along with the harvesting and marketing of a crop.
Every member will have a chance to grow up to two hectares of a field or special crops choosing from cereals, oilseeds, pulses, forages, market garden, fruit, herbs or spices.
LEVEL 1 – Developed for members ages 9 to 11.
LEVEL 2 – Geared towards the 12 – 15 year old members.
LEVEL 3 - More challenging for members 16 and older.
Leadership In Action
Leadership in Action - A challenge for accomplished 4-H members 15 years and older. Members can practice and expand their leadership skills – teaching, program planning and coordinating, mentoring, volunteering, promoting, serving as an ambassador, leading activities – through a variety of roles that they may explore. This project encourages members to explore a broad range of leadership activities in the school, community or 4-H setting. It offers lots of flexibility and the opportunity to fit into a busy senior member’s schedule.
Looking Good and Feeling Great
If you feel great, you look good; if you look good, you feel great. That is what this project is all about! Members pick areas of interest including makeup and skin care, etiquette, lifestyle, nutrition, or accessories, wardrobe planning and much more.
This project is aimed at members that are 12 years and older.
Machines
Gears, Gizmos & Gadgets – Designed for younger 4-H members, this project is an introduction to how simple machines work and how simple machines make work easier for all of us. Lots of fun hands-on activities!
Robo Critters - A robot is a machine that gathers information and uses it to follow instructions to do work – a machine that can sense, think and act! Learn about robots and how they work. Test your abilities by creating a Junkyard Crane with Robo Critter operator.
Rocketry – Learn about the four basic forces that affect flight. Then use this knowledge to build rockets. Guaranteed to be a BLAST!
Electricity – Learn where that zap of electricity comes from, how to make it and how to use it.
Operation & Maintenance of Small Engines - Learn the basics of how 2-stroke and 4-stroke engines operate and what you need to do to maintain these engines. This project is geared to the 12+ year old member.
Rebuilding Small Engines - Why won't that engine start? What will keep it running smoothly? A hands-on project involving rebuilding a small engine.
Basics of Oxyacetylene(Gas) Welding & Cutting - Learn the basics of oxyacetylene cutting and welding. An excellent project geared to the senior member.
Shielded Metal Arc Welding - Members get the opportunity to try their hand at arc welding. Step by step instructions lead you through the basics of this practical form of welding. Designed for the senior member.
Money and More
Smart Cent$ One - This hands on project will increase members' understanding of the basics of money management and the value of a dollar. Quizzes and activities will help members age 9 to 11 learn the basics of where money comes from, how it is spent, and creative ways for keep track of their money.
Smart Cent$ Two - Members age 12 to 14 will build on knowledge from Smart Cent$ 1 with more fun activities about money. Spending plans, how advertising affects our decisions, the commandments of credit, smart saving and basic investing are explored.
Getting A Jump On Life - This project is meant for 4-H’ers 15 years and over, to help them get ready for moving out on their own. Topics include:
* You’re on your own;
* Finding a place to live;
* Sharing your space;
* Survival skills;
* Shoestring living;
* Transportation;
* Working and you;
* Protecting yourself and your belongings;
* Lifestyles.
Outdoor Living
This project series is organized under three topics: Camping and Survival Skills; Fins, Feathers and Fur; and The Outdoors -- Respect, Renew, Relate. Each topic includes multi-age activities for leaders (and members) to choose from. Find out what topics members aer interested in; and choose the project. Based on a hands-on learning approach; the focus is on the experiences, and learning.
Camping and Survival Skills (draft 2007) - ages 9+ New - A series of activities under the topics, Building a Campfire, making a Shelter, Living in Your Camp, Knots and Knives, Camping Safety and First Aid.
Fins, Feathers and Fur (draft 2007) - ages 9+ New - A series of activities under the topics, Fish and Fishing, Animals of Our Lands and Birds of a Feather.
The Outdoors - Respect, Renew, Relate (draft 2007) - ages 9+ New - A series of activities under the topics of: The Food Chain, Everything Green: Eye on the Environment, and Understanding Ourselves Through Nature.
Photography
Photography 1 - Geared to members 8 to 11 years of age. Members create clear photos of people, places and things using a "point and shoot" camera.
Photography 2 - Geared to members 10 to 12 years of age. Members safely use and store equipment; compose and make clear photos;use a flash and tripod.
Photography 3 - Members age 12 years + challenge themselves with a variety and increasing complexity of photography tasks.
Photography 4 - Members ages 14 years + choose and study a particular aspect of photography in more detail. This project may be taken repeatedly by choosing new topics.
Sewing
Three-Two-One...Sew - Members 9 to 11 years-old will learn the basics of sewing with emphasis on short, simple, machine sewn projects. Project ideas and instructions are included.
Sew On - Members 11-13 years old will learn more about sewing machine operations, zippers, buttonholes, sewing to fit, fiber content & finishes, with an optional serger section. Sewing project ideas are included with flexibility for pattern substitutions.
Sewing 3 - Basic hand sewing, as well as additional machine sewing, using knits and wovens will enhance members' sewing skills. Simplicity's Simply The Best sewing book is provided as an additional resource.
Creative Sewing - Members with advanced sewing skills can show their creative talent by drafting their own patterns, tailoring or working with new fabrics such as leather, denim or lace.
Small Animals
Small Animals 1 - This project is for the 8 to 10 year-old 4-H member. The member may choose any type of small animal to learn about and care for in this project. An action-packed manual leads members through a basic understanding of small animal ownership and responsibilities.
Small Animals 2 - This project is for 11 to 13 year-old animal owners. A more in-depth look at how animal care is done through a series of activities.
Small Animals 3 - A self directed project - members select or create a topic of small animal management, of particular interest to them, to explore. The 14+ year old small animal owner will enjoy this opportunity to research and practise small animal management.
Woodworking
Beginning Woodworking - This unit contains fun-to-make and interesting projects for the beginning woodworker. Topics include measuring and marking, cutting, putting together and finishing details.
Let's Build - This project builds on skills learned in Beginning Woodworking project. The big change is the use of more power tools. Projects will be a lot of fun to make!
Bulding On - Designed to further develop skills already learned in the first two units, this project introduces the use of new power tools. The investigation of ‘joinery’ techniques are also included. Final projects will be larger and more complex to complete.
Creative Woodworking - Advanced woodworking members use their imaginations and personal desires to set goals for this unit. Making original designs, using new methods or mastering a large woodworking project are all possible.