Cloverbuds are our youngest 4-H youth who are age 5-7 as of October 1st of the current 4-H year. With the support of adult helpers and club leaders, these youth participate in a number of age-appropriate projects that allow them to explore their interests while laying the foundation for their development as young leaders.
Youth must be 8 by October 1st of the current 4-H year to be eligible for:
- Competitive situations, such as livestock shows or sales
- Enrollment in large animal projects, including Beef, Dairy, Goat, Horse, Sheep, Alpaca/Llama, and Swine
- Enrollment in shooting sports projects
- Enrollment in projects using motorized vehicles
- Enrollment in food preservation projects
While these areas aren’t available to Cloverbuds, that doesn’t mean there isn’t room for them in 4-H! There are dozens of opportunities for this age group and they are encouraged to follow their interests. There are many activity books available through National 4-H and club leaders, as well as county staff, will be happy to help families of Cloverbuds get started in 4-H!
Objectives
Youth will:
- Engage with 4-H projects in an age-appropriate manner
- Connect with other youth in their age group and older for cross-age learning experiences
- Form positive, healthy relationships with caring adults
- Discover their interests and share them with others
- Begin developing their leadership skills, sense of belonging, and understanding of how to be engaged members of their communities
4-H Cloverbuds Curriculum
For youth members
Exploring 4-H Cloverbud Activity Booklet
Exploring 4-H is an 8-page activity booklet discovering the wonders of the 4-H program made especially for the Cloverbud age range (ages 5-8)!
Exploring 4-H includes three (3) simple introductory activities for our youngest 4-H members. Youth gain an understanding of 4-H and the types of projects they can do as a 4-H member. This activity is designed to be completed with the assistance of a caring adult. While this activity is perfect for groups, we recommend that each youth have his or her own activity booklet.
This fun book is a great way for Cloverbuds to learn the basics of 4-H and keep track of their activities and events. Completion of this book is optional, and can be done with or without the help of an adult leader. It can be repeated each year a child is a Cloverbud member, and is especially appropriate for older Cloverbud members as they prepare to transition to regular membership.
All About Pets is an 8-page activity booklet exploring pets made especially for the Cloverbud age range (ages 5-8)!
All About Pets includes four (4) simple introductory activities for our youngest 4-H members. Youth learn about different types of pets, how to choose a pet, and how to care for a pet. This activity is designed to be completed with the assistance of a caring adult. While this activity is perfect for groups, we recommend that each youth have his or her own activity booklet.
All About Insects is a 4-page activity booklet exploring insects made especially for the Cloverbud age range (ages 5-8)!
All About Insects includes three (3) simple introductory activities for our youngest 4-H members. Youth learn the basics of insects and then search for insect clues and insects outside. This activity is designed to be completed with the assistance of a caring adult. While this activity is perfect for groups, we recommend that each youth have his or her own activity booklet.
For adult helpers and club leaders
The Big Book of 4-H Cloverbud Activities
This revised classic includes updated versions of hundreds of activities for 4-H Cloverbuds (ages 5-8; grades K-2) in the following topics areas: science and technology, communications/expressive arts, healthy lifestyle, environmental/earth science, personal development, citizenship/civic education, consumerism and family science, and plants and animals. Redesigned in an easier-to-manage, spiral-bound book.
That’s 4-H Cloverbud Activity Book
From the University of Illinois Extension, “That’s 4-H Cloverbud Activity Book” provides an overview of so many projects 4-H has to offer! This engaging activity book provides youth fun activities to show all the different projects 4-H members can do! From helping a sheep navigate back to its pen, to designing your own robot, matching crops with their use, to creating your own theater stage set, “That’s 4-H Cloverbud Activity Book” allows youth to explore 4-H in a fun and engaging manner!
Mindful Me: A 4-H Primary Mindfulness Curriculum
Mindful Me: A 4-H Primary Mindfulness Curriculum, introduces cloverbud youth members to basic concepts in mindfulness practices. The program promotes mindful practices that lead to improvements in managing one’s own goals, developing a sense of self, time management, stress management, emotional regulation, and mindful eating practices. Specific outcomes from youth participation in the curriculum include short-term (skill development and knowledge gain), mid-term (increased stress management, mindful eating, etc.), and long-term (improved physical, emotional, and social health) benefits.
Cloverbud Curriculum Starter Pack
Our Cloverbud Curriculum Starter Pack is a Volunteer and Extension Professional’s new best friend. This budget-friendly starter pack provides an introduction to several different Cloverbud projects all at once. Group facilitators learn more about potential project areas and curriculum offerings before committing to purchasing an entire set by exploring the facilitator guide or introductory level through this starter pack. Included in the Cloverbud Curriculum Starter Pack are the following books:
Helpful Resources
Activity Ideas
Coming soon!
Washington Specific Reference Material
Coming soon!
Other Reference Material
From 4-H Programs
Arrival Activities for K-2 – University of Minnesota Extension
A one-page guide for facilitators to prepare low-risk activities for young children to do while waiting for an event to begin.
Attention-Getters for K-2 – University of Minnesota Extension
A one-page guide for facilitators to teach attention-getting signals to youth in grades K-2.
From Higher Education Institutions
From Related Organizations, Journals, and Professionals
Explore hundreds of games by group size, available space and equipment, appropriate ages, and developmental skills. Our games are designed to keep all kids playing. You will see lots of games where everyone is “it”, ground-rules that keep games manageable for recess supervisors, skill-building variations on students’ favorite sports, and other adaptations that make games fun and inclusive for everyone.
- Kits, Projects, and Activities from National 4-H
National 4-H Cloverbud Curriculum Collection
Create Your Own Marshmallow Rocket
Create Your Own Marshmallow Rocket includes four introductory activities for our Cloverbud 4-H members (ages 5-8) in an 8-page activity booklet.
Youth learn the basics of rockets, astronauts, and space exploration, and will even build a model rocket out of marshmallows (marshmallows not included).
This activity is designed to be completed with the assistance of a caring adult. These guides are perfect for group completion, but we recommend each youth has his or her own activity book.
This coloring book for youth ages 3 and up contains 20 illustrations by nine 4-H youth artists, covering 4-H experiences and subject areas like camp, fair, animals, fashion and computer science.
This Cloverbud coloring book is the result of a Cloverbud product development challenge within the 4-H Mall Trend Spotters entrepreneurial program. Its creation was led by three Trend Spotters and it features nine 4-H youth artists!
Cloverbud Holiday Coloring Book
Illustrated by Chicago 4-H’ers Jessica Zhou and Lana Liu, this holiday-themed coloring book introduces youth to the wonders of 4-H through a story about a lonely snowman. This 18-page book has fun illustrations and activities to explore and add your own creative flair to every scene.