2008 National 4-H Conference
About | Date and Location | Theme | Agenda | Pre-Conference Preparation | Workshops | Capitol Hill DayDelegate Information | Chaperone Information | Travel Information | Planning CommitteeCollegiate 4-H Facilitators | "News You Can Use" | Post-Conference 

Chaperone Information

Chaperones are valuable participants in National 4-H Conference.  Adult partners are essential to a successful conference—from their time and effort preparing delegations to attend the conference, their involvement in all planned activities throughout conference, through their ensuring the safe return of delegations after conference. Because of their time and dedication, youth and adults from around the nation have the opportunity to participate in the “Secretary’s Conference”.

Requirements

Adult Chaperones consist of extension staff professionals and/or adult volunteers that have been selected by their respective State/Institution 4-H Program Office and meet their state’s requirements for chaperones.

Responsibilities

Adult Chaperones assume a myriad of responsibilities in conjunction with National 4-H Conference.  Some of them include:

In general:

• Ensure the health and safety of their state delegates, as well as, all conference delegates.
• Be informed about any delegates’ special needs and communicate special needs as appropriate.
• Serve as the "adult voice" and provide guidance to all youth delegates at all times.

Before the Conference:

• Assist delegates with conference pre-work which includes assembling their state's conference platform and preparing for Capitol Hill Day visits.
• Review the Delegate Handbook and conference program/schedule with delegates.
• Prepare detailed itineraries (with cell phone numbers) of all off-site activities and ensure itineraries are submitted to Conference Headquarters.  (Off-site activities include any events or circumstances, planned or unplanned, that is located off of the conference site.  This is application to activities involving the entire delegation or individual delegates.)
• Assist with coordinating delegates' travel to and from Conference.

During Conference:

• Attend all conference events as a full-time conference delegate, including special events.
• Manage registration and check-in/check-out for their delegation.
• Participate in the Chaperone meeting on the evening of March 29.
• Volunteer for tasks/committees (e.g., nightly curfew walks, bus captains, assisting with assemblies,etc.).
• Check (or designate a youth delegate to check) delegation mailboxes in the Conference Headquarters Office each day.
• Facilitate state/delegation meetings as part of the conference program, including reviewing the next day’s program.
• Escort delegates to appropriate bus/transportation loading areas and follow procedures for boarding delegations, as necessary.
• Report emergencies to Conference staff as needed.
• Enforce the dress code.
• Address Code of Conduct violations and be prepared to send delegates home early if necessary.
• If ill, arrange for another adult chaperone to supervise your youth delegates and report this to Conference staff.

If you have any questions regarding Chaperone requirements and responsiblities, please feel free to contact Lisa Hampton, National 4-H Conference Coordinator, at natl4hconf@csrees.usda.gov or 202-401-5165.