Home Economics

Experiences in Home Economics projects are not only interesting and fun, but offer opportunities for developing skills which will be useful through a lifetime. Male and female, married or single, we all eat, wear clothing, live in some kind of dwelling and relate to other people.

Home Economics projects help prepare boys and girls for adult roles and provide a setting for enjoying the exploring, investigating, and learning experiences of youth. The projects are designed to provide opportunities for members to:

• Develop competence in decision-making
• Learn to manage individual and family resources
• Become better consumers
• Express creativity
• Acquire knowledge in home economics subject matter
• Build social skills
• Feel pride in accomplishment
  

Child Development

The Child Development project is a two-year project that focuses on skills needed to be a successful babysitter. Topics include business management, sitter responsibilities, safety, appropriate activities for children at different ages, and guiding children’s behavior.

Clothing and Textiles

Through the 4-H Clothing and Textiles project, boys and girls develop decision-making abilities, express themselves creatively, gain knowledge and skills in the area of clothing and personal appearance, and learn how to construct sewn items.

This project consists of three progressive skill levels incorporating activities in five area (planning and evaluation; individual development and outreach; management, consumerism, care and maintenance, and wardrobe-building; textiles; and construction.

Food and Nutrition

Everyone likes to eat. And most people, when they have learned how, enjoy cooking. In the Food Nutrition project, members can learn to select and prepare foods and to plan and prepare nutritious, attractive, and well-balanced meals. The major focus of the project includes food preparation, food safety and storage, nutrition/fitness, management and consumerism.

Food Preservation

The Food Preservation project provides opportunities for members to learn principles of safe food preservation; practice techniques in canning, freezing, and drying foods; and use preserved foods creatively in meals and snacks.

Home Environment

The Home Environment project is for youth of all ages. It is designed to teach basic elements and principles of design through a variety of hands-on activities. Project activities focus on understanding and improving the near environment.

The focus is on applying elements and principles of design to activities and projects that enhance the home. Organization and consumer skills are emphasized.

Knitting

In this project, members can learn knitting skills for making useful articles for themselves and others. Also included are opportunities to learn about color, design, and the care of knitted articles. The projects has seven phases and may be continued for seven or more years.