Extension
It Starts With Us
Building Stronger Families
Developing Youth & Nurturing Families
Christy Ramey, Catherine Webster, Jason Phillips
Communications and Expressive Arts 4-H Core Curriculum
Science, Engineering and Technology 4-H Core Curriculum
Nurturing Families (general)
Nurturing Parenting
How we live life is ever changing but learning basic life skills is still as important as ever. Whether we are creating a pleasant home environment for our family, nurturing children, practicing common courtesies, or forming relationships with others – these skills are all basic to everyday life. Many schools no longer teach FCS classes and families today are busier than ever before. Which means, basic life skills for positive youth development and nurturing families are not consistently being taught in schools or in our homes. Hands-on extension programming equip youth and families with these much necessary life skills! Nurturing homes are built around the science of caring & respectful relationships.
4-H offers basic learning activities in seven core areas of interest to youth, however it’s the unlimited addition of 4-H activities where members report the influence 4-H has on their life. Most youth report that participating in one or two educational opportunities influenced their critical thinking and decision making skills. However for those 4-H members that participate in six-eight they say the program influenced them by adding the development of life skills in leadership, organization, wise use of resources, useful/marketable skills, and accepting differences.
Long-term Outcomes:
-Be responsible and contributing individuals and family members
-Contribute to a safe, pleasant and productive home and family
-Gain and maintain employment through life skill development
-Youth develop into competent, capable, contributing adults as a result of their participation in 4-H Communications, Science/Engineering/Technology, Camp, etc.
Intermediate Outcomes:
-Youth write and deliver a speech with a clear introduction, body, and closing
-Demonstrate an increased level of confidence when presenting in front of a group
-Use communication skills to assume a leadership role in 4-H & other organizations
-Project a positive image and self-confidence
-Make choices that lead to responsible and beneficial results within the home, family, and workplace
-Apply & practice the skills gained from Extension and share new abilities with others
Initial Outcome:
-Youth research a presentation topic, write an outline, and create/present a formal presentation
-Understand decision-making process
-Gain skills in setting a goal and developing a plan of action
-Report an increase in routine use of life skills learned through Extension & 4-H programs like Love & Logic, Homemakers, Communications, SET, & Camp
Evaluation:
Outcome: Be responsible and contributing individuals and family members that contribute to a safe, pleasant and productive home & family. Individuals maintain employment through life skill development. Youth develop into competent, capable, contributing adults as a result of their participation in 4-H.
Indicator: Youth document improving their communication skills and have confidence speaking in front of a group. Parents report a change in family & home dynamics after participation in Extension programs.
Method: Written evaluation given to program participants, following program as well as up to one year later.
Timeline: July 2016-May 2017
Learning Opportunities (repeat as needed):
Audience: School Children and Families
Activity: Back to School Bash
Curriculum: Nutrition and Family Health
Inputs: Community partners, Agents, Staff, donations from businesses, volunteers
Date: July 2017
Audience: Parents
Activity: Parenting Classes
Curriculum: Parenting with Love and Logic
Inputs: Community Ed, Extension Homemakers, agent taught, volunteers, churches
Date: Fall 2017
Audience: Childcare providers and agencies
Activity: Community Early Childhood Council
Curriculum: community strategic planning
Inputs: Parents of preschoolers, daycare providers, child agencies, head start, schools, Family Resource Centers, FCS agent
Date: All year (if funded)
Audience: Extension Homemakers
Activity:Holidays on a Budget
Curriculum: Extension resources
Inputs: Agent led, train-the-trainer, computers, internet access
Date: September-October 2017
Audience: 4-H Members
Project or Activity: Sewing, Foods, Shooting Sports, Photography Clubs
Content or Curriculum: State & National 4-H Curriculum
Inputs: Club Leaders, School District, Homemakers, Extension Office, City of Franklin Police Range, F.S. Community Park, Masonic Lodge
Date: July 2017-June 2018
Audience: Ages 9-18
Project or Activity: 4-H Talk Meet & Demonstrations
Content or Curriculum: Building Bridges
Inputs: Community Volunteers, School District, Extension Office
Date: February – April 2018
Audience: Ages 5-15
Project or Activity: 4-H Camp & Cloverbud Camp
Content or Curriculum: Camp Classes, Vary by Year
Inputs: Volunteer Leaders as chaperones, West KY 4-H Camp, School District Bus, Community Donors for scholarships, 4-H Volunteers to fundraise, Piggly Wiggly
Date: June-July 2017
Audience: 6th Grade
Project or Activity: Lego Robotics
Content or Curriculum: Lego Educational Kits & Lesson plans written by School District
Inputs: School District
Date: November 2017-April 2018
Audience: 8th-12th Grades
Project or Activity: Teen Conference and Exchange Trip
Content or Curriculum: Leadership
Inputs: 4-H Volunteers as chaperones & to fundraiser, Community to support fundraisers, Kingman County Kansas,
Date: July 2017 & June 2018
Audience: 4-H Families
Project or Activity: 4-H Banquet
Content or Curriculum: Simpson County 4-H Award Guidelines, KY 4-H Achievement Applications
Inputs: Community donors (silent auction, meal & award sponsors), 4-H Volunteers, Members & Parents, Trophy Shop & National 4-H Supply
Date: October-November 2017
Author: Catherine Webster
Major Program: Leadership 4-H Core Curriculum
Seven youth and two chaperones from Kent County Delaware traveled to Kentucky to stay with 4-H host families for a week in July 2017. This was the seventh interstate exchange trip for Simpson County 4-H. Over the years our 4-H families have also hosted & traveled to Wisconsin, Montana, Minnesota, New York, Kansas, and Wyoming. Interstate exchange trips are the longest running teen leadership program in Simpson County, spanning over fifteen years. Feedback from the vis
Author: Christy Ramey
Major Program: Nurturing Families (general)
Due to the overwhelming response of the first Back to School Bash the Family Resource Center in Simpson County and other community partners requested that the Simpson County FCS Agent take the lead in planning a second annual event. With the participation of five more organizations, businesses and churches serving on the committee, we were able to make the Bash bigger and better in 2017. Increases from the previous year included: double the monetary donations ($4000), double the atte
Author: Catherine Webster
Major Program: Science, Engineering and Technology 4-H Core Curriculum
The Simpson County 4-H Agent partnered with the Simpson County Schools Community Education Director to host a Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) Camp for 4th-6th grades during Spring Break. Eighteen youth participated in the two day camp that involved six community partners including the Simpson County Jail, Simpson County Sheriff's Department, Franklin Police Department, Simpson County Coroner's Office, Circuit Court Clerk, and Circuit Court Judge. Camp activities included a police d
Author: Christy Ramey
Major Program: Nurturing Families (general)
As and active member of the Allen, Logan and Simpson Early Childhood Council, this Family and consumer Sciences Agent has helped write grants that are designed to build strong families. This most recent grant was designated to promote Kindergarten Readiness in the area of physical activity and nutrition. This year Simpson County received $5000 to hold family friendly events that teach parents what children should know and accomplish before they enter kindergarten. Given the str
Author: Catherine Webster
Major Program: Leadership 4-H Core Curriculum
According to a Chapman University study done in 2017, America’s biggest phobia is “public speaking”. Providing youth with the ability to enhance and develop communication skills is of great importance in Kentucky 4-H. The development of communications skills is one of the preeminent skills necessary to grow as an individual, a community member, and a leader. If young people can learn to public speak at an early age through 4-H, one can only imagine the leaders
