Cultivating community leadership, engagement and pride through educational and experiential learning.Plan of Work

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Christian County CES

Title:
Cultivating community leadership, engagement and pride through educational and experiential learning.
MAP:
Empowering Community Leadership Engagement and Pride
Agents Involved:
Tiffany Bolinger, Matt Futrell, Kelly Jackson, Jeremiah Johnson, Mary Anne Garnett
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Family and Consumer Science
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Master Gardener
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Facilitation Training
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Civic Engagement
Situation:

According to the United States Department of Labor- Bureau of Labor Statistics, the volunteer rates declined by 0.4 percentage point to 24.9 percent for the year ending in September 2015. Approximately 62.6 million people volunteered through or for an organization at least once between September 2014 and September 2015 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, "Volunteering in the United States, 2015"). There is an increasing need for educated volunteers to assist agents to address local needs. Volunteers provide nonprofit institutions the opportunity to provide additional programs and services. Persons that volunteer need to be educated to be able to accept volunteer and leadership opportunities and understand the importance of volunteering as a contribution to the community. By providing education and resources to those volunteers, the foundation has been laid to empower them as community leaders and ignite success in the programs offered by extension.

Long-Term Outcomes:

* Youth will serve as teen and adult leaders in their communities, community organizations, and as mentors for younger youth.

* Youth will demonstrate the understanding of diversity, inclusivity and multiculturalism in their daily life.

* Youth will identify and address critical issues that impact the community

* Youth will be productive, contributing adults in the future.

* Youth will use leadership and communications skills needed to be successful in the workplace on a daily basis.

* Christian County citizens will be volunteering on a regular basis to the extent that volunteerism is recognized as a valuable resource in the community.

* Extending the outreach of the Cooperative Extension Service by improving knowledge and communication skills of Master Gardeners, Extension Volunteers, 4-H Leaders and Volunteers, Extension Homemakers thus creating a pool of volunteers with the abilities and willingness to apply their many skills in leading and educating the public through community education projects and activities.

Intermediate Outcomes:

* Youth will demonstrate leadership, teamwork and communication skills in their day to day lives.

* Youth will utilize leadership skills learned during their time in 4-H in clubs, activities and other venues with 4-H and other community organizations.

* Senior 4-H members will become leaders or co-leaders of a 4-H project club, day camp or other project based group of younger 4-H members.

* Youth will indicate increased awareness of diversity issues in their community and personal lives.

* Youth will engage in community based service projects selected to address identified needs.

* The Christian County population will volunteer more hours or will take on additional leadership roles.

* Number of hours reported by extension volunteers.

Initial Outcomes:

* Youth will learn the communication, leadership and procedural skills that will allow them to run a meeting.

* Youth will increase their knowledge about leadership and how to be an effective leader, team player and communicator.

* Youth will learn about leadership styles and will be able to identify positive and negative leadership characteristics.

* Youth will learn about diversity and will demonstrate inclusivity.

* Youth will acquire decision making skills and gain an appreciation for civic engagement.

* Youth will learn how to set appropriate, attainable goals.

* Youth will listen to people who have different ideas from them.

* Clientele will become more aware of the needs of their community.

* Clientele will become more educated in specific subject matter areas to teach, lead and train others.

* Number of volunteers participating in Master Gardener classes.

Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: Stronger, more cohesive, productive 4-H Council

Indicator: Completed goals, committee work

Method: Workshops, education programs and incentives

Timeline: Program year 2021-2022


Initial Outcome: Extension Boards and Councils will have increased diversity and numbers of members attending.

Indicator: Increased participation and attendance in council and committee meetings, functioning committees, and regular rotation of leadership roles.

Method: post test evaluations of programs

Timeline: at the conclusion of program


Intermediate Outcome: Youth leaders exhibit improved leadership skills.

Indicator: Youth assume leadership roles in clubs, councils and committees, and develop community service projects.

Method: Observation through increases programs and teen involvement

Timeline: Program year 2022-2023


Intermediate Outcome: Increased number of Master Gardener volunteer hours reported by active members.

Indicator: A minimum of 25 Master Gardeners will repay volunteer hours, resulting in 375 volunteer total hours.

Method: Master Gardener volunteer hours recording form.

Timeline: Forms are to be completed quarterly, totals reported by December each year.

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Youth and volunteers

Project or Activity: Empowering youth and adult volunteers to become community leaders

Content or Curriculum: Civic engagement, Citizenship, Service Learning, My Leadership Workbook, Character Counts, Extension council trainings

Inputs: Program administration, Staff & Support Staff Time, Volunteer Support and time, Volunteer & youth development research based information, funding, travel, printed and online resources, communications & networking, commitment to inclusivity, partnerships with community & state organizations, facilities, local, county, district, state, and national network.

Date: Program year 2022-2023


Audience: County & Military Youth

Project or Activity: Jr. Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences (Jr. MANRRS)

Content or Curriculum: Civic engagement, Citizenship, Service Learning, My Leadership Workbook, Character Counts, Leaders in Me

Inputs: Extension Agents, community partners, University administration and departments, Colleigiate MANRRS, travel, local, state, and national conferences to include workshop presenters, career/opportunity fair exhibitors and agriculture industry sponsors and partners

Date: Program year 2022-2023


Audience: General Public

Project or Activity: Kentucky Master Gardener Training

Content or Curriculum: State MG Curriculum

Input: Agents; specialists, volunteers, local gardeners

Date: Fall 2023


Audience: Homemaker Members

Project or Activity: Officer Training; Leader Lessons

Content or Curriculum: Officer Training on Responsibilities/Roles; Monthly lessons, volunteer opportunities

Inputs: agent, facilities, curriculum, extension resources

Date: year round



Success Stories

Hopkins County 4-H Kickoff

Author: Katie Mills

Major Program: Volunteer Development

After spending time brainstorming on how to get one of the best kept secrets out, 4-H, we decided to host a 4-H Kickoff. This was the perfect opportunity to show the community all the clubs and projects that Hopkins County 4-H has to offer. For the event, we rented bounce houses, had Hopkins County Adult Livestock Club provide hotdogs, and a volunteer from each club or project host a table. We hosted this event right before the 4-H season kicked off in the late summer and schools were just start

Full Story

Southern Region Teen Leadership Conference 2022 Round 2

Author: Jeremiah Johnson

Major Program: Leadership

The Southern Region Teen Leadership Conference is a multi-state leadership conference that was created to bring together youth from across the southern region. (https://4-h.ca.uky.edu/SRTLC)  Due to scheduling on the previous year SRTLC in February, we held the second one for 2022 in September.  Kentucky had 57 youth participants attend the conference. Of survey respondents, 76% of youth indicated this was their first time attending the Southern Regional Teen Leadership Conference

Full Story

Joy Closet Family Farm Night

Author: Mary Anne Garnett

Major Program: Agriculture

In Christian County there are about 196 youth in foster or kinship placement. Joy Closet, a local organization helps create a community closet for foster families within the East Lakes Region, to get clothing, shoes, car seats, and other necessities free of charge when a child is placed a new foster family. On January 20, 2023, at the Christian County Ag Exposition Center, the Christian County Extension Office partnered with Joy Closet to host a “Connecting Family Event.” This allowe

Full Story

4-H Outdoor Cooking

Author: Katie Mills

Major Program: Natural Resources

4-H Outdoor Cooking

Youth in every county are always looking for more activities to do outside so what better way then offering a program during spring break for “Outdoor Cooking”. This was a partnership between one of the Christian County 4-H Youth Development Agents and the Agricultural Natural Resource Agent. We wanted to create a program for youth in Christian County to learn the safety of cooking outdoors, how to start and put out a fire, lighting charcoal, outdoor handwashing skills, cooler packin

Full Story

Capitol Experience 2023

Author: Jeremiah Johnson

Major Program: Civic Engagement

In a 2016 survey by the Annenberg Public Policy Center, one in four youth were unable to name the three branches of government. In addition, in July 2018 the Kentucky Revised Statute (KRS) 158.141 stated a student must pass a civics test at a rate of 60% or higher, composed of 100 questions to graduate from a public high school with a regular diploma. To address this need, Kentucky 4-H Capitol Experience was established with the objectives of: Developing a positive relationship be

Full Story

Summit 2023

Author: Mary Anne Garnett

Major Program: Leadership

According to research, middle school is a time where young people find their place in this world, they are exploring where their strengths and interests align (Fagell. P.L., 2019). Therefore, it is impreative to provide positive experiences where young people may explore the world in a safe environment. Historically, there is a decline in enrollment numbers throughout the middle school years in 4-H programming, Kentucky 4-H hosts the Kentucky 4-H Summit Leadership Conference for middle schoolers

Full Story

The Value of Master Gardeners

Author: Kelly Jackson

Major Program: Master Gardener

Master Gardeners is a program run by the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service to train citizens in many areas of horticulture. Upon completion of the Master Gardener education program, participants return 30 hours of community volunteer service through organized projects within one year to earn the title Master Gardener and 15 hours annually to maintain their volunteer status. During the 2022 program year Master Gardeners volunteered:1620 hours of service in planting and maintain

Full Story

Farm Day 2023

Author: Mary Anne Garnett

Major Program: Agriculture

Farm Day 2023

Since starting in 1985, Farm Day is long standing program in Christian County 4-H that is provided to all first-grade students in the Christian County Public School System, Private Schools, and Homeschool. Luckily this year we were able to have an in-person program offered to all the schools with a great response. For the 2023 Farm Day a total of 819 students and 99 teachers and volunteers attended during one of the two days offered and represented the 8 elementary schools found in Christian Cou

Full Story

Communication Contests 2023

Author: Mary Anne Garnett

Major Program: Communications and Expressive Arts

Public speaking is an important skill that is losing to a very digital age of pre-recorded video for entertainment and knowledge. This spring 71 students from 5 local schools held a communications contest for grades 4th-12th. Two winners from each division moved on to the Christian County 4-H county level contest where a record of 21 youth participated. “I had a difficult time scoring these youth on their speeches, each worked very hard to preparing for the event and had to courage to stan

Full Story

Growing Leaders Through KEHA

Author: Tiffany Bolinger

Major Program: Kentucky Extension Homemaker Association

According to KEHA.org, the Kentucky Extension Homemakers Association (KEHA) is a volunteer organization that works to improve the quality of life for families and communities through leadership development, volunteer service, and education. The organization was developed in cooperation with the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service. Across the state, County Family & Consumer Sciences Extension Agents work closely with KEHA members and clubs to provide educational programming a

Full Story

Capitol Experience

Author: Mary Anne Garnett

Major Program: Civic Engagement

In a 2016 survey by the Annenberg Public Policy Center, one in four youth were unable to name the three branches of government. In addition, in July 2018 the Kentucky Revised Statute (KRS) 158.141 stated a student must pass a civics test at a rate of 60% or higher, composed of 100 questions to graduate from a public high school with a regular diploma. To address this need, Kentucky 4-H Capitol Experience was established with the objectives of: Developing a positive relationship between elec

Full Story

Capitol Experience

Author: Katie Mills

Major Program: Civic Engagement

In a 2016 survey by the Annenberg Public Policy Center, one in four youth were unable to name the three branches of government. In addition, in July 2018 the Kentucky Revised Statute (KRS) 158.141 stated a student must pass a civics test at a rate of 60% or higher, composed of 100 questions to graduate from a public high school with a regular diploma. To address this need, Kentucky 4-H Capitol Experience was established with the objectives of: Developing a positive relationship between

Full Story

Sewing for the Day

Author: Katie Mills

Major Program: Family and Consumer Science

Christian County has some wonderful volunteers that are always wanting to volunteer to help the youth in the county. They want to be able to share their talents with others and help them grow in a new skill. There are many youth in Christian County that want to learn how to skill and were eager to learn how to sew. Sewing is something many youth do not know how to do, but could benefit from it. Whether this includes sewing on a button, hemming pants, or making a bag, it is beneficial to have thi

Full Story

Outdoor Cooking

Author: Matthew Futrell

Major Program: Community Vitality and Leadership - ANR

Youth in every county are always looking for more activities to do outside so what better way then offering a program during spring break for “Outdoor Cooking”. This was a partnership between one of the Christian County 4-H Youth Development Agents and the Agricultural Natural Resource Agent. We wanted to create a program for youth in Christian County to learn the safety of cooking outdoors, how to start and put out a fire, lighting charcoal, outdoor handwashing skills, cooler packin

Full Story
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