Youth DevelopmentPlan of Work

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Mason County CES

Title:
Youth Development
MAP:
Youth and Families
Agents Involved:
Macy Fawns, Mary Jane Little
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Family and Consumer Science
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Leadership
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Horticulture, Consumer and Home
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Volunteer Development
Situation:

Leadership is a needed and important programming emphasis in Kentucky 4-H.  The Cooperative Extension Service provides opportunities for youth and families to help improve their leadership ability and create a positive impact on their future. Leadership opportunities for youth create a setting that reduces the access of youth to risk factors that can negatively impact their success. Basic leadership knowledge & skills are essential for success in almost any field. The skills associated with leadership are necessary when working in a group or communicating with others.   Employers look for leadership skills in future employees. Developing leadership in the youth and adults who are involved in the 4-H program is a priority. By assisting the development of leadership skills in today’s youth, we improve their ability to face the challenges of tomorrow. As we progress in to the 21st century a number of factors have gained prevalence within Family and Consumer Science driven by the increase of online and mobile shopping, the rise of video based at home tutorials, and the shifting family structures as evident by 17% of stay-at-home parents being fathers. The ever changing landscape of the family and the consumer highlights the need for a responsive and innovative FCS program while also providing the basic needs that all families have as they navigate lives many challenges. Kentucky 4-H Seeks to meet these needs through working with youth and families in a variety of situations to increase their consumer awareness, financial management, nutrition, culinary arts, textiles, housing, and human development. Providing youth with the ability to enhance and develop communication skills is of great importance in Kentucky.  The development of communications skills is one of the preeminent skills necessary to grow as an individual, a community member and a leader. Using age appropriate activities selected from the approved Kentucky 4-H Communication & Expressive Arts Curriculum, educators can maximize the ability of youth to develop their writing, reading and personal communication capacities. This in turn creates a solid foundation for positive youth development. Kentucky 4-H provides communication and expressive arts by engaging youth in hands-on educational experiences that inspire confidence and foster a love for the arts.  Programs and projects are offered in the areas of public speaking, visual arts, and performing arts.

Long-Term Outcomes:
Intermediate Outcomes:
Initial Outcomes:
Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: Gain skills in setting a goal and developing a plan of action

Indicator(s): Number of youth who indicated they are comfortable working in groups (Common Measures – UN 14), Number of youth who indicated they have respect for others’ ideas (Common Measures – UN 13)

Method: Pre & Post Evaluations

Timeline: 2021


Intermediate Outcome:   Youth will demonstrate an increased level of confidence when presenting in front of groups 

Indicator(s): Number of youth who have improved their communication skills by completing a speech, demonstration, or other public presentation

Method:  Pre & Post Evaluations

Timeline: 2021


Long-Term Outcome: Identify and address critical issues that impact the community

Indicator(s): Number of youth who can take responsibility for their actions, Number of youth serving as direct mentors to younger youth

Method:  Pre & Post Evaluations

Timeline: 2021


Initial Outcome:  Youth gain knowledge in horticulture and natural resources.   

Indicator(s): Number of youth who have gained an understanding of forest/natural resource stewardship.

Method: Observation and interviews

Timeline: Spring & fall


Intermediate Outcome:  Youth learn how to garden and submit to county fair

Indicator(s): Number of youth who plan to or have completed a 4-H forestry/natural resources education project (ex. county and state fair    projects)

Method: Observation and interviews 

Timeline: Spring & fall


Long-term Outcome: Youth Complete a community service project

Indicator(s): Number of youth who have engaged in a community project related to forestry/natural resources 

Method: Observation and surveys

Timeline: 2021

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Youth

Project or Activity: 4-H Life Skills Workshop 

Content or Curriculum: 4-H curriculum

Inputs: 4-H Agent, volunteers

Dates: Summer


Audience: Youth

Project or Activity: 4-H/EFNEP Healthy Cupcake Wars 

Content or Curriculum: UK research based information

Inputs: 4-H Agent, EFNEP assistant, volunteers

Date: Spring


Audience: Youth

Project or Activity: County Communications Contest 

Content or Curriculum: UK research based information

Inputs: 4-H Agent, parents, volunteers

Date: March/April


Audience: Youth

Project or Activity: 4-H Teen Club 

Content or Curriculum: Unlocking Your Leadership Potential, Teambuilding with Teens, My Leadership Workbook (Level 1), My Leadership Journal (Level 2), My Leadership Portfolio (Level 3), Leadership Mentor Guide 1: K-5, Leadership Mentor Guide 2: 6-12, 4-H State Teen Council and Leadership Boards, 4-H Leadership Boot Camp, 4-H Teen Conference, 4-H Southern Region Teen Leadership Conference, 4-H National Congress, 4-H Achievement Program, 4-H National Conference, 4-H Summit, 4-H Camp Counselors, Local Leadership Clubs/Events

Inputs: 4-H Agent, UK specialists, volunteers

Date: Monthly from September through May


Audience: Youth

Project or Activity: 4-H Summer Camp 

Content or Curriculum: UK research based information

Inputs: 4-H Agent, volunteers, UK specialists, camp staff

Date: Summer


Audience: Youth

Project or Activity: Farm Lesson 

Content or Curriculum: Agriculture in the Classroom

Inputs: Horticulture Agent, volunteers, teachers

Date: Monthly during school year



Success Stories

Learn Grow Eat Go

Author: Mary Jane Little

Major Program: Agriculture

In order to attain experiences that aid in positive development, it is important for youth to be engagedlearners. Researchers and practitioners have identified core competencies for quality programming(Eccles & Gootman, 2002; National 4-H Impact Assessment, 2001; Search Institute, 2004). Inaddition, Experiential Learning Theory has been applied to a variety of contexts. Although a number ofmodels exist, the common foundational theme is that the human experience aids significantly in thelearn

Full Story

Pumpkin Palooza

Author: Mary Jane Little

Major Program: Natural Resources

Pumpkin Palooza was offered during the month of October at the Extension office. 4-H, Horticulture, and EFNEP partnered to provide this program to all youth and families in the community. Each Friday we released a follow-along video and a pickup bag full of pumpkin related activities, recipes, information, and crafts. We offered pumpkins to participants to carve and return for a carving contest. We gave out 100 pumpkins and carving kits, along with over 200 bags. The bags also included trick or

Full Story

Pumpkin Palooza

Author: Lorin Fawns

Major Program: Horticulture, Consumer and Home

Pumpkin Palooza was offered during the month of October at the Extension office. 4-H, Horticulture, and EFNEP partnered to provide this program to all youth and families in the community. Each Friday we released a follow-along video and a pickup bag full of pumpkin-related activities, recipes, how to grow a pumpkin, seeds, information about pumpkin farms, and crafts. We offered pumpkins to participants to carve and return for a carving contest. We gave out 100 pumpkins and carving kits, along wi

Full Story

Equine Mini Series

Author: Mary Jane Little

Major Program: Agriculture

"Sense of belonging is an essential element of a high-quality 4-H program. However, little research exists quantifying sense of belonging among 4-H club members...parental involvement, 4-H events, and interactions with friends were factors important to participants' continued enrollment. Interaction with a caring adult was the factor most strongly positively correlated with perceived sense of belonging, suggesting the importance to retention of providing a framework that allows a new 4-

Full Story
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