Strengthening and Empowering Community Leaders, Volunteers, and YouthPlan of Work

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Casey County CES

Title:
Strengthening and Empowering Community Leaders, Volunteers, and Youth
MAP:
Volunteerism and Leadership Development
Agents Involved:
FCS, Meagan Klee, Kelsey Woodrum
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Kentucky Extension Leadership Development (KELD): Developing Core Leadership Skills
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Volunteer Development
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Master Gardener
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Kentucky Extension Homemaker Association
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 (Unlock Your Leadership Potential, University of Florida, 2017). 

Kentucky 4-H provides opportunities for youth to actively engage locally and globally to promote life skills [such as leadership] that prepare them for the global marketplace. Through 4-H youth exercise critical thinking skills, learn to appreciate diversity, practice tolerance, develop socio-emotionally, and strive to contribute to their environment (United States Department of Education International Affairs Office of International Strategy).  4-H participants rate their leadership life skills above average, have a positive view of their leadership ability, and have a positive attitude toward diversity and acceptance of others (Locke, Boyd, Fraze, and Howard, 2007).    

Building the capacity of volunteer leaders in Casey County is critical for the sustainability of the community’s infrastructures which support long term commitment to strengthen families. Through local efforts for leadership development through the Cooperative Extension Service, youth, teens, and adults will continue to gain beneficial information to be applied to leadership positions.

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

Audience: Casey County 4-H Council, Homemakers Council, FCS Council, ANR Advisory Board, County Extension Council, general public, and Chamber of Commerce Leadership Programs

Project/Activity: Leadership Development Training

Content/Curriculum: KELD, Councils 101

Input: Volunteers, Council/Board Members, Community Partners

Date: September – May


Audience: Casey County Extension Council, Homemakers Council, FCS Council, ANR Advisory Board, 4-H Council

Project/Activity: Casey County Extension Expo

Content/Curriculum: KELD

Input: Extension Council members and volunteers plan and implement community event.

Date: October


Audience: Casey County 4-Hers (6th – 12th grade)

Project/Activity: 4-H Teen Council

Content/Curriculum: 4-H Leadership Curriculum, Youth Engagement Leadership Program (YELP)

Inputs: Monthly meetings, coordinated service projects, fundraisers.

Date: July – June


Audience: 4-H Club Officers

Project/Activity: 4-H Officer Training

Content/Curriculum: 4-H Club Officer Training Manual, Parliamentary Procedure

Inputs: Training, monthly meetings

Date: August – May


Audience: 6th – 12th Graders

Project/Activity: In School 4-H Club/Enrichment

Content/Curriculum: Unlock Your Leadership Potential, Step Up to Leadership, Backpack 4-H Curriculum

Input: Extension Staff and Casey County School Staff


Audience: Casey County Community

Project/Activity: Angel Tree Service Project

Content/Curriculum: 4-H Civic Engagement Curriculum

Input: Extension Staff and 4-H Teen Council

Date: November – December


Audience: Casey County High School Youth

Project/Activity: Issues Conference

Content/Curriculum: Leadership and Community Needs Identification and Problem Solving

Input: Extension Staff, Extension Specialists, Local Volunteers

Date: November


Audience: Casey County Middle School Youth

Project/Activity: Kentucky 4-H Summit

Content/Curriculum: 4-H Leadership Curriculum

Input: Extension Staff, Extension Specialists, Local Volunteers

Date: March


Audience: 4-H Camp CITs, Teens, and Adults

Project/Activity: 4-H Camp Leader Training, 4-H Camp-a-Palooza

Content/Curriculum: 4-H Camp Leadership Curriculum

Input: Extension Staff, Extension Specialists, Local Volunteers

Date: April - May


Audience: Casey County 4-Hers (8th – 12th grade)

Project/Activity: Kentucky 4-H Teen Conference

Content/Curriculum: 4-H Leadership Curriculum

Input: Extension Staff, Extension Specialists, Local Volunteers

Date: June


Audience: Casey County Junior Cattlemen’s

Project/Activity: KJCA Leadership Camp

Content/Curriculum: KJCA

Input: KCA Staff, Specialists

Date: June – July

 

Audience: Casey County Cattlemen’s and Junior Cattlemen’s

Project/Activity: KCA Convention

Content/Curriculum: KCA Curriculum

Input: KCA Staff, Industry Leaders, Educational Speakers

Date: January


Audience: Master Gardeners

Project/Activity: Community Gardening Projects

Content/Curriculum: Master Gardeners Curriculum

Input: ANR Agent, UK Specialists

Date: February – September

 



Success Stories

4-H Camp-a-Palooza (4-H Camp Recruitment Event)

Author: Meagan Klee

Major Program: Camping

Casey County is located in south central Kentucky but is considered an eastern Kentucky County due to its limited resources and the social economic status of most families. As of 2020, the mean household income per capita in Casey County was $29,123. With limited income for our families, extracurricular activities can be difficult to pay for therefore reducing the exposure, opportunities, and development for our youth.The mission of the Kentucky 4-H Camping program is to improve people through i

Full Story

Casey County 4-H Environmental Education Day Camp

Author: Meagan Klee

Major Program: Natural Resources

A child’s behavior can suffer from an absence of the outdoors. This became an increasing issue during the coronavirus pandemic and the months following as quarantining, isolation, and virtual learning led individuals to stay indoors more often. Nature-Deficit Disorder, coined by Richard Louv in 2005, “is a nonmedical condition that attributes behavioral changes in children to less time spent outdoors”. (https://parentology.com/what-is-nature-deficit-disorder/)To provide additio

Full Story
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