Senior Management, Junior Leader, and Self Determined projects By Selma Babiker
Meet the 4-H members who are making a difference through their Senior Management, Junior Leader, and Self Determined projects!
Have you ever wanted to take control of your own 4-H project, designing it around your unique interests and schedule? With Senior Management, Junior Leader, and Self-Determined projects, you’re in the driver’s seat. These opportunities empower you to develop new skills, explore your passions, and make a meaningful impact in your community—all on your own terms.
What are Senior Management, Junior Leader, and Self-Determined Projects?
Senior Management projects offer senior 4-H members the chance to deepen their expertise and master advanced skills in their chosen project area. Designed for those who have already honed the basics, these self-directed projects allow members to take on more complex challenges. Spanning 10-12 months, these projects not only provide an opportunity for personal growth but can also be a stepping stone toward earning external high school credits.
The Junior Leader project gives senior 4-H members the chance to build essential skills like leadership, teaching, organization, and self-confidence. Over the course of 4-6 months, members independently choose, plan, execute, and evaluate a project that benefits their 4-H club while showcasing their abilities. Open to members aged 13 and older who have earned the Junior Proficiency Certificate, this project not only fosters personal growth but can also help members earn external high school credits.
A Self-Determined, or “4 U,” project allows members to take full control over choosing, planning, executing, and evaluating a project on a topic of their choice. The possibilities for a Self-Determined project are limitless, with options ranging from leisure activities and social services to arts, culture, history, travel, and more. There are three types of Self-Determined projects:
Junior Self-Determined – An individual project that is 4-6 months
Group Self-Determined – A collaborative project involving two or more 4-H members of any age, spanning 4-6 months.
Senior Self-Determined – A project option for senior members who hold a Junior Proficiency Certificate. This project lasts 10-12 months, and if a member achieves a score of 75% or higher, it can count toward external high school credits.
We’re thrilled to spotlight three inspiring 4-H members who are making a difference through their senior projects. Let’s explore their stories to see the impact they’re creating—and discover how you can do the same!
Jessabelle T’s Senior Management Project: Research in Soil Health and Forage Production
Jessabelle T is a senior in high school and a 4-H ambassador from Williams Lake. She’s currently in her 7th year of 4-H, where in the past she has worked on Beef, small engines, and swine projects. This year, she decided to take on a senior management project as part of the Beef project, where she is working alongside UBC and the Ministry of Agriculture to improve soil health in low-producing hay fields. Her goal was to use recycled wood ash mixed with general fertilizer to find a possible way to increase biodiversity, soil health, forage production, and carbon storage at a low cost.
“I took this opportunity because it’s applicable to 4-H, I wanted to get hands on experience with academic research, and because I’m very interested in nutrition with my animals.” Jessabelle said when asked why she took on this project. During this project, Jesabelle has gotten a chance to take soil samples, send them to the lab, and also annotate academic papers. “A large reason why this project is happening is because there’s holes in research. It’s my job to find similar research projects to help us better understand what is happening with our fields.” Jessabelle said. When asked about the skills she’s developed through her Senior Management project, Jessabelle highlighted patience, effective communication with large groups, the practical application of research, and the cultivation of essential hands-on skills. She also mentioned how important her leaders, family, and friends have been when helping her with this project. “My mentor has been amazing and super willing to spend time with me and explain what is happening throughout the research. I’m also super thankful to have a team to provide me space to do research.” Jessabelle said. When reflecting on her favorite part of the project, Jessabelle shared, "Seeing visible results has definitely been the most rewarding aspect. It’s been amazing to learn new skills and embrace new opportunities." Jessabelle aspires to become a large animal veterinarian in the future. Alternatively, she is passionate about exploring nutrition from the feed production level down to the molecular level.
Cohen B’s Junior Leader Project: Photography
Cohen B, a Vancouver native and dedicated 4-H member for the past eight years, is currently leading a Junior Leadership project centered around photography. Photography has been a cherished family hobby, and Cohen’s passion for it was inspired by his father. Currently, Cohen is teaching members aged 11-16 essential camera skills, including exposure, focusing techniques, and the use of various shooting modes.
When asked what inspired him to choose this project, Cohen said, "I took a photography class at school and learned a lot. I wanted to do this project to share that knowledge with others and have fun along the way." To run this project, Cohen plans monthly activities. He takes his group to a local park or community center, brings any extra equipment they might need, demonstrates how to take photos, and then lets them practice on their own. “I think the biggest challenge of doing a junior leadership project is working with everyone’s busy schedules, and my group members getting distracted sometimes,” Cohen said. “But using communication and taking little breaks have helped me solve these problems.” Through his challenges, Cohen has learned new skills such as leadership and organization but has also improved his own photography skills. With guidance from his leader on lesson planning and gathering teaching materials, Cohen has grown in ways he never anticipated, making this project a true learning experience on multiple levels. When asked if he would do anything differently next time, Cohen emphasized the importance of improved planning, and making sure everyone is on the same page. Reflecting on his favourite part of the project, Cohen shared, "Seeing my members gain confidence in photography and learn how to use the camera effectively was one of the key outcomes I hoped to achieve. It’s been great seeing their growth.”
Maya S’s Self-Determined Project: Cookbook
Maya S, a 4-H member from the Richmond/Delta district, wanted to explore a passion beyond the traditional 4-H offerings. She decided to embark on a self-determined project, allowing her to blend her two favorite passions: creative writing and cooking.
"I'm heading to university next year to study sciences, and with all the science courses I'm taking, I wanted this project to tap into my creative side while also creating something I could use in the future." Maya said. Maya’s cookbook is a collection of all her favourite recipes, each with its own special meaning. As part of her project, she’s writing stories that capture the sentimental memories and connections behind each dish. “I went into the project with just a notebook,” Maya said when asked about the steps she took to organize the project. “However, that wasn’t working, so I had to make a planner of all the recipes I wanted to make, and what stories needed to go with them.” Maya discovered the importance of having a clear plan when undertaking a self-determined project. While there were many recipes she aspired to create, some proved to be beyond her current abilities. Through this experience, she learned the value of adapting and working within her limitations to achieve her goals. Along the way, Maya also honed her skills in organization and time management, and even ventured into bookbinding! “I could not have done this project without my family, friends, and leaders.” Maya said when asked about who has helped her with her project. She added, “My leaders fostered discussions for improving my cookbook, my family helped me with editing the book and book binding, and my friends gave me lots of advice that helped me when I got stuck with my project.” Reflecting on the key outcomes of her project, Maya said, "I completed the project, and now I have something that I can share with my friends and family. But also, I am one of the first people in my club to do a self-determined project, so I hope I can inspire others to pursue their passions in the same way." The self-determined project has allowed Maya to bond with friends in the kitchen, share her recipes with eager taste testers, and even spark a newfound obsession with her cookies. “It was so satisfying to see something through to the end—it really motivated me to complete the project,” Maya reflects. Her journey not only sharpened her culinary skills but also showed her the joy of creating something that brings people together.
Conclusion
Jessabelle, Cohen, and Maya exemplify the diverse range of 4-H projects that are possible through Senior Management, Junior Leadership, and Self-Determined project streams. These projects empower you to explore your interests, develop valuable skills, and make a positive impact. Whether you're conducting research, teaching others new skills, or creating something entirely new, these opportunities enable you to achieve accomplishments you can truly be proud of.
To do Senior Management, Junior Leadership, or Self-Determined Project, talk to your 4-H leader and check out the 4-H BC website project section to learn more: https://www.4hbc.ca/projects