4-H Chaperone OrientationUniversity of Arizona, Cooperative Extension

4-H Youth Development

Developed by:Kimberly Gressley, 4-H Youth Development Agent, Pinal CountyLani Hall, 4-H Youth Development Agent, Gila CountyAmy Parrott, 4-H Youth Development Agent, Yuma County

az1494 • May 2009

Describe a 4-H Chaperone?

Someone who…• ..enjoys working with youth.• ..provides for a safe environment.• ..believes in the mission of Arizona 4-H youth

development.• ..is a good communicator with people of all ages.• ..is responsible, caring and dedicated to the 4-H

program.

Basic Qualifications to be a 4-H Chaperone

• Minimum of 21 years of age.• Willing to work with people from different

backgrounds and abilities.• Appropriate knowledge and skills related to

project areas, 4-H events and activities.• Valid drivers license and Arizona auto

insurance.• Demonstrate dependable and reliable traits

that will ensure 4-H faculty that you are the person for the assignment.

Basic Qualifications to be a 4-H Chaperone (cont.)

• Be a certified Arizona 4-H volunteer leader in good standing in your county.

• Believe in the importance of positive youth development.

• Support University policies, code of conduct and ethical behaviors.

• Ability to communicate and understand ages and stages of youth in 4-H.

• Have a current AZ Behavioral Guidelines form on file.

• Aware of event/activity policies and rules.

How are FinalSelections Made?

• Chaperones will be selected on the basis of having the ability to provide a safe and healthy environment for youth during an event/activity.

• The 4-H Youth Development Agent will evaluate recommendation letters, when required, and make final decisions for each event.

• Agents will recommend certified volunteers for different events/activities.

Basic Arizona 4-H Paperwork on File in Your County

• Be a current certified 4-H Volunteer

• Submit a current Health Form• Submit a current Behavioral

Guidelines Form

Ages and Stages of Youth Grades 3 – 8 (ages 9-13)

Characteristics Implications for 4-H LeadersPhysical

DevelopmentMoving all the time.Growth spurts.Females maturing before males.

Provide active learningVariety of activitiesBe prepared for “firsts” to occur.

Social Development Joining clubs is popularDon’t always understand other people’s point of viewMay be moodyJustice and equality importantStrive to please adultsBullying behavior will peak

Use group learningEncourage using teen mentorsDon’t compare youth to each otherModel and teach positive problem solving skills

Cognitive Development

Think concretely until age 11At 11, thinking becomes more abstractBecome immersed in subjects of interestWant to find their own answers

Use simple, short directionsOffer wide range of activitiesUse the experiential learning model

Ages and Stages of YouthGrades 9 – 12 (ages 14-18)

Characteristics Implications for 4-H LeadersPhysical

DevelopmentBoys are still growingMost females reach maximum height by 14 and males by 16

Avoid critiques or comments about physical statureVary activities

Social Development Self-centered but capable of feeling empathyAcceptance by opposite sex is importantWants to belong to clubsSpends more time working and going to schoolWants to be autonomous from parents

Let teens plan their programsEstablish environment good for peer supportEmphasize personal developmentLet teens assume responsibility & expect follow-throughHelp with individual skill development

Cognitive Development

Learning to make decisionsConsequences portion of the brain is still developingMastering abstract thinkingConsidering future roles

Provide real life problem solvingLet teens make decisions and evaluate outcomesPositive risk takingEncourage service and career

4-H Chaperone Expectations

• Participate in an individual or group orientation/training before or during the event (depending upon the event).

• Be familiar with the event, rules, policies, 4-H behavioral expectations, emergency and disciplinary procedures.

• Be available to the group, 24/7.• Provide direct supervision of youth participants,

while being their mentor and helper.• Know the event/activity schedule of events.

4-H Chaperone Expectations

• Conduct pre-event conference calls or orientation with event participants to know who you will be responsible for during the event/activity.

• Attend any and all adult briefings for or during the event and share information from the meeting with youth participants.

• Be present to supervise and assist 4-H members during activities.

• Know the whereabouts of 4-Her’s at all times.• Be near lodging areas and conduct bed checks.• Assist with the event as requested by event

personnel.

What are Some Behaviors or Situations You May Encounter?

• Bullying

• Hazing

• Sexually Appropriate/Inappropriate Behaviors

What is Bullying?"When will our consciences grow so tenderthat we will act to prevent human misery

rather than avenge it?”-Eleanor Roosevelt

Identifying Bullying• Playground observation research found:

– one incident of bullying every seven minutes. – adult intervention in 4% of incidents – peer intervention in 11% of incidents

www.stopbullyingnow.com

Bullying Continued….It includes:

• Physical bullying: hitting, kicking, pushing, choking, punching

• Verbal bullying: threatening, taunting, teasing, starting rumors, hate speech.

• Mental abuse from bullying: scared, alone, afraid, become withdrawn, thoughts of suicide, not wanting to leave home.

• Exclusion from activities: This does not mean that a child should not have the right to choose to play, or not to play, with another child; it does mean that children should not be allowed to systematically exclude others: "No one play with Mary!”, "No one wants to play with him” or "Don't be her friend."

More on Bullying….Bullying is like spousal abuse or sexual

harassment in that it is:

• Done by someone with  more power or social support to someone with less power or social support.

• Often includes the abuser blaming the target for the abuse.

• Often leads to the target blaming himself or herself for the abuse.

What Would You Do?Terrance was thrilled to be accepted to attend the National 4-H Congress program and represent Arizona 4-H. He is a shy, short and quiet 15 year old. Upon arriving to the airport he sees that everyone has friends and family there to say good-bye. Terrance is alone. No one talks to him. Soon he sees them pointing their fingers at him, laughing and telling everyone not to sit with him on the plane. Now, the excitement is gone and Terrance wants to be back home.

•What should you do as a chaperone? •What kind of abuse is this?

What is Hazing?“Hazing” refers to any activity expected of someone joining a group (or to maintain full status in a group) that humiliates, degrades or risks emotional and/or physical harm, regardless of the person's willingness to participate. It isn’t about the activity, it’s about someone having power over another person. 

Examples of Hazing• Hazing is physically abusive, hazardous, and/or

sexually violating.  The specific behaviors or activities within these categories vary widely among participants, groups and settings. 

• Examples of typical hazing practices include: personal servitude; sleep deprivation and restrictions on personal hygiene; yelling, swearing and insulting new members/rookies; being forced to wear embarrassing or humiliating attire in public; physical beatings.

www.StopHazing.com

Eliminating Hazing • House Bill 2476 created the state policy

stating “no student shall feel threatened” and that Arizona will provide a “safe, orderly, civil and positive learning environment.” http://www.stophazing.org/laws/az_law.htm

• 95% of high school students believe that they shouldn’t report hazing behavior; therefore, chaperones need to be alert to evidence of hazing and inform participants that hazing will not be tolerated. http://www.hazingprevention.org

What Would You Do?The Green Tree 4-H Camp looked like a perfect camp in the mountains. Youth were always excited to go. At the beginning of the week, the adults laid out the rules for the camp. One morning, the adults woke to see two female campers pulling down their undergarments from the flag pole. The other campers were laughing at them and talking about the size of their clothing items. When you approached the area the other campers fled and the two girls told you it was OK because now they were in the popular group at camp.

•As the adult in charge of camp, what would you do as the chaperone?•Why is this an act of hazing?

What are Sexually Appropriate Behaviors?

Sexual harassment is defined as unwelcome sexual advances, unwelcome requests for sexual favors, and other unwelcome verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature. These behaviors constitute sexual harassment. The conduct may be made either explicitly or implicitly as a term or condition of an individual's employment, education, or participation in a University sponsored activity.

http://w3fp.arizona.edu/affirm/shpolicy.htm

Sexually Appropriate Behaviors

• Males and females rooms/bunks and bathrooms are off limits to the opposite sex.

• No public displays of affection (hand holding, kissing, sitting on laps, etc.).

• Dancing should be appropriate with no “grinding” or inappropriate moves on or off the dance floor.

• Appropriate clothing is expected. Check specific event guidelines.

What Would You Do?Sally and Trevor have been friends in 4-H most of their lives. This year, they have been chosen to travel to Citizenship Washington Focus. As the week progressed, Sally started sitting on Trevor’s lap, they held hands, constantly hugged each other and then kissed. When approached by the chaperone they said they were “just friends” and had a boyfriend/girlfriend at home.

•How should the chaperone handle this situation?•Why is this a problem?

Chaperone Advice for 4-H Events

• Set expectations early in the program.

• Watch out for warning signs ~ be attentive.

• Stay in a leadership role ~ don’t buddy with the kids so much you lose your adult role.

• Don’t be alone with one child.

• Remind them of ground rules in the beginning of the event and throughout, if necessary.

• Be happy and optimistic.• If a problem arises, talk

until you find the cause of the situation so you can resolve the conflict.

• Always think win-win!

National, State and County 4-H Events Requiring Chaperones

• Citizenship Washington Focus

• National 4-H Congress• National 4-H Conference• JOLT• Road Trips• International Exchanges

• LEAP Camp• Summer Residential

4-H Camps• Field Trips• All Day and

Overnight Trips/Events

• Interstate Exchanges

How Long is Your Chaperone Orientation Valid?

The Arizona 4-H Chaperone training is valid for 3 years.

Your ability to serve as a 4-H chaperone is contingent upon remaining in good standing

at the county level.

After Chaperone Training hasBeen Completed?

• Look at opportunities to chaperone and talk with your County Extension Agent.

• Apply to chaperone one or more events/activities.

• Gain an understanding of the goals and objectives of the event.

• Await an approval to serve!

CONGRATULATIONS!!_______________________________

Volunteer Leader’s Name and Club

_______________________________Date of Completion

I hereby acknowledge that I have read, understood and will strive to uphold the standards taught in this orientation in

conjunction with the mission of the Arizona 4-H Youth Development program.

Please print this slide, including your name, club and date of completion. Then, send or hand deliver this to your county office for Agent

approval. Notification of completion needs to be given to your local Arizona Cooperative Extension Office.

References• Slide 7: Seibold, Sheri (2006) University of Illinois.• Slide 8: Seibold, Sheri (2006) University of Illinois.• Slide 11: www.stopbullyingnow.com • Slide 16: www.StopHazing.com • Slide 18:

http://www.stophazing.org/laws/az_law.htm• Slide 20:

http://w3fp.arizona.edu/affirm/shpolicy.htm