Extension
It Starts With Us
Developing Life Skills Among Youth and Families
Youth and Families
Sigmon, Williams
Family and Consumer Science
Agriculture
Leadership
Communications and Expressive Arts
How we live life is ever-changing but learning basic life skills is still as important as ever. Learning to practice healthy habits, select clothing to emphasize one’s best appearance, create and live within a budget, prepare nutritious meals safely, nurture children, create a safe and pleasant home environment, practice common courtesies, and form relationships with others—all of these skills are basic to everyday life. Reality is that today’s youth and adults are busier than ever. Many of these basic life skills are not consistently taught or are learned at home or school. Extension projects equip adults and youth with these skills. As with any other Cooperative Extension program area, when it comes to the development of life skills, a strong case can be made for the need to go beyond the mere transfer of knowledge to giving people the opportunity for a variety of supportive, related learning experiences to significantly increase the program’s influence. Extension programs often offer basic learning activities on a specific topic of interest but the addition of activities that support that interest (such as fair exhibits, related subject matter workshops, camps, field trips, and decision-making judging contests) significantly increase the development of life skills. In a study by Olson, Croymans, and Ji (2014), participants 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, the wise use of resources, useful/marketable skills and accepting differences.
Participants will:
- Be responsible and contributing individuals and family members.
- Gain and maintain employment through life skill development.
- Contribute to a safe, pleasant, and productive home and family.
Participants will:
- Utilize and practice life skills in projects and life situations
- Project a positive image and self-confidence
- Practice responsible consumer and financial decision-making
- Practice healthy eating choices
- Make choices that lead to responsible and beneficial results
- Adopt habits and skills that contribute toward employability in the future
Participants will:
- Gain knowledge and develop life skills through projects and programs
- Understand the decision-making process
- Gain skills in setting a goal and developing a plan of action
- Learn to read and follow instructions
Initial Outcome: Participants will gain knowledge of life skills and seek to practice them.
Indicator: Participants will attend and participate in Extension programs and practice life skill activities
Method: observation, judging rubics and surveys
Timeline: July - June
Intermediate Outcome: Participants will be capable of communicating, cooperating, resolving conflict, producing economic activity and making wise economic decisions to support a healthy lifestyle
Indicator: Observation and demonstrated abilities
Method: surveys, observation, pre-post test evaluations
Timeline: July-June
Long-term Outcome: Youth and Families will be strengthened through mastery of life skills gained through Extension programs
Indicator: Participants will exhibit behaviors conducive to those of competent and contributing citizens
Method: observation, surveys and pre-post test evaluations
Timeline: July - June
Audience: Adults, youth and families
Project or Activity: 4-H Expressive Arts (music, drama, visual and dance)
Content or Curriculum: KET Arts curriculum, variety show competitions
Inputs: extension agents, volunteers, local schools
Date: September -August
Audience: 4-H Youth
Project or Activity: 4-H Communications (Speeches and Demonstrations)
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Speak Up, Building Bridges, UK publications
Inputs: extension agents, volunteers, local schools
Date: August -April
Audience: 4-H youth
Project or Activity: 4-H School Clubs
Content or Curriculum: 4-H curriculum
Inputs: 4-H agents, 4-H assistant, volunteers, local schools and staff
Date: weekly (August -May)
Audience: 4-H Youth
Project or Activity: 4-H Community Clubs
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Curriculum
Inputs: 4-H agents, volunteers
Date: monthly
Audience: 4-H Youth
Project or Activity: 4-H Summer Camp
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Curriculum
Inputs: extension agents, Camp Staff, 4-H volunteers (adult & teen)
Date: yearly: summer
Audience: 4-H cloverbud age
Project or Activity: 4-H cloverbud Camp
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Cloverbud curriculum, camp resources
Inputs: adult & teen volunteers, camp staff, extension agents
Date: Summer
Audience: Preschool children
Project or Activity: Preschool Garden
Content or Curriculum: Early sprouts, Sowing Seeds of Wonder, Master Gardeners
Inputs: Extension program assistants, local preschools, master gardeners
Date: May-June
Audience: general public
Project or Activity: C.L.A.S.S. (Continuous Learning Assures a Successful Society)
Content or Curriculum: UK publications
Inputs: Extension Agent, Extension program assistants, volunteers
Date: Fall and Winter semesters
Audience: 4-H Youth
Project or Activity: 4-H Photography Clubs and Workshops
Content or Curriculum: National 4-H Project books
Inputs: extension 4-H agent, local schools (teachers and staff), 4-H volunteers, community speakers
Date: July - August
Audience: 4-H Youth
Project or Activity: SPIN (Special Interest) Clubs
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Materials and workbooks
Inputs: community volunteers, 4-H volunteers, 4-H agents, parents
Date: ongoing
Audience: Community Youth
Project or Activity: SPARK clubs (spark an interest in 4-H)
Content or Curriculum: 4-H materials, online resources, community resources
Inputs: community resource volunteers, extension agents, parents
Date: ongoing
Audience: adults
Project or Activity: Jabez Quilt Seminar (Statewide)
Content or Curriculum: FCS materials
Inputs: Extension Agents, Master Clothing Volunteers, volunteers, state specialists, and quilting experts
Date: Winter 2021
Audience: General Public
Project or Activity: Positive Employability
Content or Curriculum: Positive Employability
Inputs: FCS Agent and State FCS specialists
Date: Fall
Audience: Adults
Activity: Gardeners Toolbox Workshop Series
Content or curriculum: UK publications and specialists
Inputs: Extension Agents, staff, Extension Office, community garden, Extension specialists,
Date: monthly
Audience: Farmers
Activity: Farm Record book Workshop
Content or curriculum: UK publications
Inputs: Extension Agent and staff, farm record books and CD's, Volunteers, CPA,
Extension Office
Date: Winter
Author: Lora Davidson
Major Program: Food Preparation and Preservation
During the COVID-19 Pandemic it was evident that a renewed interest in food preservation has been sparked. The Laurel County Extension office, Family & Consumer Sciences Agent, gave the community the chance to come and experience a hands-on approach to educational sources on how to safely and correctly preserve their produce they harvested for the year. Classes were offered every Tuesday and Thursday evening for four weeks. Topics discussed each week was pressure canning, w
Author: Victor Williams
Major Program: Community Vitality and Leadership – 4-H Youth Development
Shooting Sports is the largest and fastest growing 4-H Club in Laurel County. For several years, the Laurel County Sharpshooters utilized the Laurel County Fish and Game Club shooting range as their instruction and practice area. As the Game Club membership diminished, its facility began to run down and was in an increasing state of disrepair until it eventually closed in 2018. Unless a new practice range could be arranged, the Sharpshooters program would be unable to continue.
Author: Elizabeth Easley
Major Program: Leadership
Importance of ProgramVoting is an indicator of community and civic engagement. According to the US Census Bureau, 77.1% of Kentuckians 18 to 24 did not vote during the 2018 presidential election. Low turnout amongst the youngest voter demographic, suggests the need for 4-H to provide experiences to increase youth leadership skills, social responsibility, and community awareness with the purpose of developing active future community leaders. ResponseA robust leadership program, targeting fif
Author: Elizabeth Easley
Major Program: Science, Engineering, and Technology
Importance of ProgramAccording to the Kentucky Department of Education, in 2019 on average, 59.1% of elementary students tested at below expectations in science in most Laurel County elementary schools. Whereas some schools such as Colony and Camp Ground Elementaries only had 21.9% and 24.5% of their students test at proficient or higher in science. Today's youth need Science, Engineering, and Technology (SET) exposure and experiences to help youth build critical thinking skills and begin to
Author: Elizabeth Easley
Major Program: Leadership
Laurel County Youth attend the 2022 Kentucky 4-H Teen Conference The 98th Annual Kentucky 4-H Teen Conference was held at the University of Kentucky June 14-17, 2022. The objectives of Kentucky 4-H Teen Conference are: develop leadership and teamwork skills, improve communication skills, foster civic engagement, expand knowledge and skills related to 4-H core content areas, gain club, county and state 4-H program skills, have fun, create a sense of belonging, expand social skills through ne
Author: Lora Davidson
Major Program: Family Development General
Over the past five years (2015-2020), Kentucky has reported that only 52% of children attending kindergarten (48.4% in Laurel County) are actually prepared and equipped to succeed. In many Kentucky counties, limited resources or the environment may serve as barriers for healthy lifestyle choices related to early childhood development and physical activity. As an innovative strategy to improve early childhood development skills and increase kindergarten readiness with Laurel County residents
