1. Reviewing the Florida Federal report (ES237)
2006 Florida 4-H Enrollment
Reviewing the Florida Federal report (ES237)
This information provides a summary of Florida 4-H Enrollment for the H Programming year. It can be most helpful to follow along with the county report and create a conversational climate for county activities.
November 2006

2. Florida Extension is the combined efforts of …
U.S. Department of Agriculture
University of Florida
Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS)
Florida A&M University
County governments
We have many partnerships through the Florida Extension Service, parent organization of the Florida 4-H Program. These include:
USDA,
UF IFAS
FAMU
County Government
Private and corporate sponsors.

3. Florida 4-H creates supportive environments for diverse youth and adults to reach their fullest potential.
Our mission is to create supportive environments for diverse youth and adults to reach their fullest potential.

4. 4-H is…
The 4- H program is community based and determined by local citizens and Extension staff.
We have our roots at the community base with local voices guiding the direction and focus of our programs.

5. Florida 4-H Facts…
23,788 in organized clubs (community, in-school, after-school, and military)
24,315 in special interest / short term
6,409 in day camps
198,548 in school enrichment
3,244 in residential camps
10,294 in school age child care
13,120 adult volunteers
This is a profile of Florida 4-H for the H year.
Total participation in 4-H organized clubs represents a decrease of 264 youth.
Day Camp participation increased from 6400 to almost 7,300.
School enrichment participation decreased 28, % Drop.
Biggest drops came from Palm Beach (8,000), Leon (4,700), Lake (4,500), Osceola (3,200), St. John (2,300), Martin (2,000), Pasco (2,000), and Pinellas (1,500)
Residential camping increased by 374.
Adult volunteers increased by 1,906

6. Florida 4-H is… Members Volunteers 49 % Male 51 % Female 20% Male
Due to a high participation rate in school enrichment, we have a very strong equal representation from both boys and girls. Our volunteer distribution is primarily female.

7. Florida 4-H is…
Florida 4-H continues to represent its rural participation rate, at 2.63 percent

8. Florida 4-H is…
In , race and ethnic characteristics were separated.
Total % participation by racial minorities is 24.35%.
Total racial and ethnic minorities is

9. Florida 4-H is… There is overlap in ethnic and racial characteristics.
Total % participation by ethnic (Hispanic only) is 13.27%, almost 32,000 Hispanic youth
Total racial and ethnic minorities is 35.47

10. Florida 4-H is…
High impact delivery systems are organized clubs and overnight camping. This youth development effort reflects 12.4 percent of the groups worked with in 4-H. Many of the other delivery systems are a youth education component of the 4-H program.

11. Florida 4-H is…
High impact delivery systems are organized clubs and overnight camping. Over 26,000 youth participate in these youth development programs.

12. Florida 4-H is…
General participation by volunteers increased in 2006; involvement of middle management volunteers in the 4-H program grew by over 150 individuals. Reporting of youth volunteers increased by over 100.

13. Mean Average of members per organized club:
Although there is no precise average, this chart shows the average size of a specific delivery method, e.g. community clubs, school enrichment, etc. Delivery system total numbers divided by 67.

14. Grade Range of Club Members
The grade level of club members, special interest, and camping programs, rises and falls on a fairly regular bell curve, with fifth grade being the high year on number of 4-H members in the Florida 4-H program. This does not include any 4-H participation reported through school enrichment or group enrollment.

15. Average number of organized clubs in each county
Although there is no average county in Florida, it is interesting to note about how many clubs are supported, on the average, across all counties. There are many variables including number of agents, number of program assistants, academic attainment, years of service, rank, volunteer management system in place, and aspirations of agent.
The actual range is from: 0 to 87 organized clubs (Escambia) (all types)
Community Clubs. (Hillsborough-36;Lake-36; Marion-42; Polk-47; Volusia-40)
In-School Clubs: (Jefferson-70; Duval-13)
After School Organized clubs: (Escambia -64), and
Military Organized clubs (Brevard-7)

16. Average number of school enrichment classrooms in Florida counties
Again, although there is not an average Florida county, it is interesting to note the mean average number of school enrichment classrooms supported in “average county” Florida. The actual range is from zero to 1252 classrooms in a single county. The drop following year 2000 is due to implementation of the FCAT. (Hillsborough – 1252; Pasco – 1224; St. Lucie – 980 classrooms each)

17. Overnight county camping programs
Overnight camping programs have generally declined over the last 14 years with a beginning recovery in 2006 (12% increase). Six counties continue to not camp at all.

18. Individual Study
Individual study, as a delivery method within 4-H, tends to vary widely across the years. It is interesting to note that 54% of the Individual member participation comes from seven counties; 21% from three counties.

19. Number of non-integrated clubs existing in integrated communities
Affirmative Action plans rely on information about the integration of clubs in communities. We compare integrated clubs with the demographics of their respective community. The increase in the number of non-integrated clubs in integrated communities may be due to a box that is not being checked on the club registration page on the Blue Ribbon software. It is our position that all clubs who are not in compliance, MUST complete all three actions contained in All Reasonable Efforts, to achieve compliance with the Florida Affirmative Action Plan. County faculty must be more careful in drawing club boundary lines and in completing information about each club, as a part of Blue Ribbon data entry. We have a commitment to fulfill our Affirmative Action guidelines, as well as a priority on serving diverse youth.

20. Number of Adult Volunteers
This is a general downward trend that is of concern for all 4-H agents, counties, and the 4-H program in general. Increased reporting is noted in the H program year for both adult and youth volunteers at just under a 15% increase. Volunteer recruitment and training is not a routine part of 4-H programming every year. If the average tenure of a 4-H member and/or volunteer is 3 years, then the program must be recruiting at least one third of its membership and volunteers each year to just stay even, let alone grow.

21. Number of Youth Volunteers
Youth volunteers continue to play an important part of the 4-H program at the county level. 10% Increase in reporting of youth volunteers.

22. Curriculum Enrollment- Citizenship/Civic Education
We do not understand why this curriculum category is falling. In 2006, 4,579 youth enrolled in citizenship and civic education related projects. It may be due to data entry not being completed.

23. Curriculum Enrollment – Communications/Express. Arts
The high numbers in this category are generally reflective of the 4-H Tropicana Public Speaking Program (this year with over 108,000) participants). Overall, the category of communications and expressive arts enrolled 112,817 youth.

24. Curriculum Enrollment – Consumer & Family Sciences
These enrollment numbers are dependent upon the support given by Family Consumer Science and 4-H agents. In 2006, 11,398 youth were involved in consumer and family sciences; 13,238 were involved in consumer choices related activities.

25. Curriculum Enrollment – Environmental Ed/Earth Science
These declining numbers are a concern, particularly when environmental education is so important in Florida. Fin 2006, 22,174 youth were enrolled in environmental education and earth sciences projects (almost 3,000 in each of earth and water, and wildlife and fisheries).

26. Curriculum Enrollment – Healthy Lifestyles
The spike in 2001 was the last year in which FNP youth enrollments were included. Given the emphasis on healthy decision making and quality lifestyles, the decrease in 2006 is not encouraging. Over 13,553 youth were engaged in foods and nutrition education, 5,912 in seatbelt safety. Overall 32,281 youth were engaged in healthy lifestyles projects.

27. Curriculum Enrollment – Personal Develop./Leadership
In 2006, 8,169 projects were taken in the areas of personal development and leadership.

28. Curriculum Enrollment – Plants and Animals
Enrollment in animal and plant projects decreased for the first time in five years; it is generally accepted as a major part of community club efforts in Florida. A total of projects were taken by Florida 4-H members. The most popular included:
Ag in the Classroom – 15,653
Beef – 2692
Poultry – 1481
Dairy Cattle – 427
Goats (all types) – 629
Horse/Pony – 3339
Rabbits/Cavies – 1629
Small Animals (not cats/dogs)- 4247
Swine – 3459
Plants – 7264
Fruit/Vegetable Gardens – 5630
Dogs - 755

29. Curriculum Enrollment – Science and Technology
The increase is due to increased program reporting in Entomology, marine science, and embryology. A total of 30,872 projects were taken in the area of science and technology with the most popular including Entomology (8879), Marine Science (8285), and Embryology (10717).

30. Total Number Projects Taken
The average number of projects taken is an indicator of diversity within the interests of 4-H participants. We know from research that youth benefit more from 4-H with a greater diversity and number of 4-H projects studied. Even with the school enrichment tending to influence the average number of projects taken, school enrichment units could also enroll in additional projects. Sometimes 4-H members may be entered in only one project at the beginning of the year, additional projects may be left off the software, additional projects picked up later are not entered, etc. Data entry is a problem.

31. The Florida 4-H Program includes 223,057 young people across Florida learning leadership, citizenship, and lifeskills. As part of UF IFAS Extension, it is both a premier youth program and youth organization.
This presentation provides an overview of the Florida 4-H Program in 2006, with data from the H program year (academic year). 67 counties have reported; and the Seminole Tribe is not included (report not submitted).