Extension
It Starts With Us
Building life skills through youth programming
Building Life Skills
Allen, Bryant Popham, Pruneda, Tucker
4-H Family and Consumer Science Core Curriculum
4-H Communications and Expressive Arts Core Curriculum
4-H Science, Engineering, and Technology Core Curriculum
Nurturing Parenting
How we live life is ever-changing but learning basic life skills is still as important as ever. Results from a local needs assessment with Extension and non-Extension clientele identified the need for youth to learn life skills to be responsible, problem solving, leaders who are college and career ready. In particular, life skills related to family and consumer sciences, communications, and SET (Science, Engineering, and Technology)were identified to prepare youth for a competitive job market in the future. Learning to practice healthy habits, create and live within a budget, prepare nutritious meals safely, nurture children, create a safe and pleasant home environment, practice common courtesies, form relationships with others, communicate effectively, and develop SET skills are basic to everyday life in our global society.
4-H programs significantly increase these life skills in youth through a variety of activities and delivery modes (e.g. camp, project clubs, independent projects, school programs, etc.). In a study by Olson, Croymans and Ji (2014), 4-Hers reported that participating in 1 or 2 educational opportunities influenced the development of critical thinking and decision making skills, and participating in 6 to 8 opportunities significantly increased the program’s influence by adding development of life skills in leadership, planning/organization, wise use of resources, useful/marketable skills and accepting differences.
The Kentucky Board of Education has identified a growing trend of high school graduates who lack basic life skills and are not college and career ready. There is also a decrease over the years in Arts programs and a growing need for SET related professionals. Kentucky 4-H Youth Development has an opportunity to fill these voids, prepare future consumers, and inspire future artists, scientists, and other successful professionals across the Commonwealth through programs developing life skills.
Youth will be responsible and contributing individuals and family members. Youth will gain and maintain employment through life skill development. Youth will contribute to a safe, pleasant and productive home and family. Youth become more comfortable sharing their thoughts with others. Youth develop into competent, capable, contributing adults as a result of their participation in 4-H Programs.
Youth will utilize the scientific method to solve problems in their daily life and make decisions. Youth will choose a career path in science, engineering or technology subject matter.
Youth will utilize and practice life skills in projects and life situations.
Youth will project a positive image and self-confidence. Youth will practice responsible consumer and financial decision-making. Youth will adopt habits and skills that contribute toward employability in the future. Youth present before their family, a group of their peers (such as at a 4-H club meeting), a school or county qualifying event. Youth demonstrate an increased level of confidence when presenting in front of groups. Youth use their communication skills to assume a leadership role in 4-H or other organizations. Youth will use and apply the skills gained from 4-H science, engineering and technology.
Youth will gain knowledge and develop skills in Family & Consumer Sciences projects and programs. Youth will understand the decision-making process.
Youth will gain skills in setting a goal and developing a plan of action.
Youth will research a presentation topic prior to developing a speech or demonstration and complete an outline. Youth will increase interest and engagement in 4-H science, engineering and technology. Youth will learn new skills in 4-H science, engineering and technology programs. Youth will be introduced to careers in science, engineering, and technology.
Initial Outcome: Increased awareness, knowledge and skills relating to family consumer sciences, communications, arts, science, engineering, and technology
Indicator: Increased attendance and participation in FCS, Communications and Expressive Arts, and Science, Engineering, and Technology programming
Method: Curriculum and program evaluation tools
Timeline: At time of program implementation
Intermediate Outcome: Positive development of life skills related to communication, FCS, and SET
Indicator: Participants demonstrating improved communication skills, utilizing technologies, and setting goals and developing action plans
Method: Follow-up surveys, personal interviews and observations
Timeline: 1 -3 month follow-up to program implementation
Long-term Outcome: Youth will gain and maintain employment through life skill development. Youth will contribute to a safe, pleasant and productive home and family. Youth become more comfortable sharing their thoughts with others. Youth develop into competent, capable, contributing adults as a result of programming.
Indicator: Participants following the scientific method to solve problems, contributing to their family and community in service and leadership roles, and successfully obtaining and maintaining employment
Method: Follow-up surveys, personal interviews and observations
Timeline: 6 months - 1 year follow-up to program implementation
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: Kindergarten Strong event
Content Curriculum: Keys to parenting, Early Childhood Council school readiness guide
Inputs: Kentucky cooperative Extension Service staff and facilities, extension volunteers, community partners,
Early childhood Council grant, school supplies
Date: Summer 2019
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: 4-H Summer Camp
Content or Curriculum: Annual camp program based on the Kentucky 4-H Camping program and policies
Inputs: Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (CES) staff and facility, public schools, community action, family resource and youth service centers, volunteer leadership, curriculum and program resources, local organizations and business sponsorship
Date: Summer 2019 and Summer 2020
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: 4-H Teen Conference
Content or Curriculum: Annual Leadership Conference for High School Youth
Inputs: Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (CES) staff and facility, public schools, community action, family resource and youth service centers, volunteer leadership, curriculum and program resources, local organizations and business sponsorship
Date: Spring 2020
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: 4-H Teen Summit
Content or Curriculum: Annual Leadership Conference for Middle School Youth
Inputs: Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (CES) staff and facility, public schools, community action, family resource and youth service centers, volunteer leadership, curriculum and program resources, local organizations and business sponsorship
Date: Spring 2020
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: 4-H Career Club
Content or Curriculum: Kentucky 4-H approved core curriculum (Building Your Future, Picking up the Pieces, etc.)
Inputs: Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (CES) staff and facility, public schools,family resource and youth service centers, volunteer leadership, curriculum and program resources, local organizations and business sponsorship
Date: 2019-2020 program year
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: 4-H School Clubs and Afterschool Programs
Content or Curriculum: Kentucky 4-H approved core curriculum (Project WET, Project WILD, Citizenship - Public Adventures, Civic Engagement - Afterschool Activities for Citizenship, Leadership, and Service, etc.)
Inputs: Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (CES) staff and facility, public schools,family resource and youth service centers, volunteer leadership, curriculum and program resources, local organizations and business leaders
Date: 2019-2020 program year
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: 4-H Culinary Program
Content or Curriculum: Super Start Chef, Teen Cuisine, Cupcake Wars, Culinary Challenge
Inputs: Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (CES) agents, program assistants, specialists and volunteers
Kentucky CES publications and resources
Date: 2019-2020 program year
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: Teen Cuisine
Content or Curriculum: Teen Cuisine curriculum
Inputs: Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (CES) agents, program assistants, specialists and volunteers
Kentucky CES publications and resources
Date: 2019-2020 program year
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: 4-H Cultural Program (e.g. Exchange Program, Cultural Project Club, School Enrichment)
Content or Curriculum: KY 4-H Approved Curriculum (e.g. Backpack to Adventure curriculum)
Inputs: Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (CES) agents, program assistants, specialists and volunteers
Kentucky CES publications and resources
Date: 2019-2020 program year
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: 4-H It's Your Reality Program and Dollars and Sense
Content or Curriculum: Kentucky 4-H It's Your Reality and Dollars and Sense curriculum
Inputs: Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (CES) staff and facility, public schools,family resource and youth service centers, volunteer leadership, curriculum and program resources, local organizations and business leaders
Date: 2019-2020 program year
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: 4-H Hissing Cockroach Programs (e.g. BCMS STEM Program)
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Hissing Cockroach curriculum, Kentucky 4-H approved curriculum
Inputs: Extension staff and facility, public schools, family resource and youth service centers, volunteer leadership, curriculum and program resources, local organizations and business leadership
Date: 2019-2020 program year
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: 4-H Communications Program
Content or Curriculum: Picking up the Pieces curriculum
Inputs: Extension staff and facility, public schools, family resource and youth service centers, volunteer leadership, curriculum and program resources, local organizations and business leadership
Date: 2019-2020 program year
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: 4-H Robotics Club
Content or Curriculum: Robotics with EV3 curriculum
Inputs: Extension staff and facility, public schools, family resource and youth service centers, volunteer leadership, curriculum and program resources, local organizations and business leadership
Date: 2019-2020 program year
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: 4-H Photography Club
Content or Curriculum: Focus on Photography curriculum and other Kentucky 4-H approved photography curriculum
Inputs: Extension staff and facility, public schools, family resource and youth service centers, volunteer leadership, curriculum and program resources, local organizations and business leadership
Date: 2019-2020 program year
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: 4-H Adventurers Club
Content or Curriculum: Kentucky 4-H approved core curriculum (Outdoor Adventures, Exploring Your Environment, Amphibians, Science Discovery, etc.)
Inputs: Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (CES) staff and facility, public schools,family resource and youth service centers, volunteer leadership, curriculum and program resources, local organizations and business sponsorship
Date: 2019-2020 program year
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: 4-H Cloverbud Programs
Content or Curriculum: KET Toolkit and other Kentucky 4-H approved curriculum for Cloverbuds and 4-H Exploration
Inputs: Extension staff and facility, public schools, family resource and youth service centers, volunteer leadership, curriculum and program resources
Date: 2019-2020 program year
Audience: New mothers and fathers
Project or Activity: Community Baby Shower
Content and Curriculum: Home is Where the Health Is, NEP, Keys to Great Parenting
Inputs: Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (CES) agents, program assistants, and volunteers
Kentucky CES publications and resources
Community partners and resources
Date: April 2020
Audience: Young children
Project or Activity: School Readiness event
Content Curriculum: Youth development and parenting activities
Input: Extension staff and volunteers, community agencies, Extension parenting materials
Date: Spring 2020
Author: Alexandria Bryant
Major Program: 4-H Agriculture Core Curriculum AND Natural Resources
The need for nutrition education is great in Kentucky, as it is a relatively poor state with a heavy burden of chronic disease related to poor nutrition practices. The Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Survey provides data on overweight Kentucky youth and reveals that our youth rank 15.6% compared to the nationwide 12.7%. From a dietary standpoint less than 20% of high school students meet the dietary recommendation for fruit and vegetable consumption. In 2019, the 4-H Mini Master Gardener
Author: Alexandria Bryant
Major Program: 4-H Health Core Curriculum
COVID-19 is a public health crisis for both physical and mental well-being. According to David Weisenhorn, UK Senior Specialist for Parenting and Child Development, “the uncertainty around COVID-19 is even harder for children.” Breckinridge County 4-H aimed to support mental health among youth during this crisis while following CDC and social distancing guidelines. The goal of the 4-H program was to provide hands-on programming for youth, using digital and non-digital opportunities.
Author: Lynnette Allen
Major Program: Nurturing Parenting
In Kentucky the need for early childhood development and school readiness continues to be identified. When looking at the 2019 Kentucky Center for Statistics, Breckinridge County was listed with only 48.4% of its youth being kindergarten ready. With this, 44.3% of the youth possessed satisfactory self-help skills and 42.3% met recommendations for well-being. With only 400 slots in licensed and certified childcare facilities, local young children are not in structured learning environments to
