Record keeping. Why? The obvious reason is awards and rewards. But the most valuable lessons are not so obvious. Monitoring your growth is the real reason for completing 4-H records. Keeping track of skills learned, knowledge and activities makes your progress more visible. Completing 4-H records helps you learn to organize information. Keeping records can serve as a motivation towards excellence.

The Nebraska 4-H Career Portfolio is the new record of a member’s 4-H career. Uses of the Portfolio include: documenting 4-H experiences, award applications, scholarship applications, college entry, building resumes, applying for jobs. The Career Portfolio “grandfather” clause states, “By January 1, 2008 all 4-H youth must be using the Career Portfolio.” The Nebraska State 4-H website contains complete information: www.4h.unl.edu. Each Extension Office has received a master CD which can be copied. The Career Portfolio is compatible with Word and Open Office Software. Download Open Office Software from http://openoffice.org  free of charge, or from the CD. The Career Portfolio should be printed in True Type Font, Times New Roman, 12 point, landscape format.

AWARD WINNING APPLICATIONS!

Instructions and examples are on the pre-printed tab dividers (4-H 9000, $2.00 from CIT) or the 4-H Career Portfolio CD. If not using the Portfolio tabs, add your own tab dividers. 

Think in terms of the eight curriculum areas. 

Have a list of the areas with you while working on the Portfolio.

Enter data in chronological order, past year's) to current year Items should be entered only one time in the Portfolio.

It might help to pencil in your project information under the correct curriculum areas on a separate sheet of paper. Transfer information to Section 1. Then pencil in your activities, community service, leadership, etc. under the appropriate area.

Transfer information to Section 2. For example, if you took part in Bake & Take Days, the information would be entered in the Healthy Lifestyles area. If your community service involved planting flowers at the senior center, enter the information in the Plant Science area. If your activity had no project focus, enter in the Leadership & Citizenship area.

Make copies! If typing or writing the Portfolio, make a file copy. If using the computer, save the file on your hard drive and/or disk, and print a file copy.

Don't list ribbon color you earned.  Example:  1 Ribbon, Holt County Fair, Livestock Judging.

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NATIONAL 4-H OPPORTUNITIES

About Citizenship Washington Focus (CWF)

Citizenship Washington Focus (CWF) is a 4-H leadership program for high school youth from across the country. Every summer thousands of young people stay at the National 4-H Conference Center, near Washington, D.C., to participate in this week-long program. For 37 years, CWF has enriched young people's lives by providing opportunities for them to:

• Broaden appreciation and practice respect for themselves and others in their world.
• Increase individual commitment to citizen involvement.
• Understand the importance of civic and social responsibilities as they relate to the development of better citizens and leaders.
• Practice fitness and have fun!

  Participants in Citizenship Washington Focus will have unique, exciting experiences that will lead to becoming "Better Citizens Today. Better Leaders Tomorrow". For more information, contact Deanna Karmazin.

The National 4-H Youth Congress is an award program which provides recognition to 4-H youth for their outstanding performances and achievements in 4-H. The late November event is conducted by a committee of 4-H staff and teens from several states across the country, with support from
national and state donors.