Extension
It Starts With Us
Developing leadership skills for youth and adults
Recruiting, Retaining and Empowering Community Leaders
K.Perry, T. Thomas, L. Bullock, K. Bishop, A. Leonberger
Leadership 4-H Core Curriculum
Empowering Community Leaders (general)
Master Gardener
Kentucky Extension Leadership Development (KELD)
Building the capacity of volunteer leaders is critical for the sustainability of communities. Strong community leaders are committed to investigating issues, making responsible decisions, and taking ownership of solutions.
Leadership opportunities for youth reduce risk factors that can negatively impact their success. The development of life skills, like as leadership, allows youth to cope with their environment by making responsible decisions, having a better understanding of their values, and being better able to communicate and get along with others. (Boyd, Herring & Briers, 1992, Journal of Extension).
Basic leadership knowledge and skills are essential for success across age groups and 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 the persons they hire. Developing leadership in the youth and adults is a priority.
• Youth and adults will serve as leaders in their communities, community organizations, and as mentors for younger children.
• Youth and adults will identify and address critical issues that impact the community.
• Youth and adults will use leadership skills needed to be successful in the workplace on a daily basis.
• Community members are equipped with effective leadership skills to motivate others to initiate projects.
• Youth and adults will demonstrate leadership, teamwork and communication skills in their day to day lives.
• Youth and adults will engage in community based service projects selected to address identified needs.
• Citizens put skills into practice by becoming more engaged in the community, taking on leadership roles.
• Youth and adults will learn the leadership and procedural skills that will allow them to run a meeting.
• Youth and adults will increase their knowledge about leadership and how to be an effective leader and team player.
• Youth and adults will learn about leadership styles and will be able to identify positive and negative leadership characteristics.
• Youth and adults will acquire decision making skills and gain an appreciation for civic engagement.
Outcome: Youth and adults will serve as leaders in their communities, community organizations, and as mentors
Indicator: Increase in youth and adults serving as leaders and mentors with Extension and other community organizations
Method: Observation and records
Timeline: After training and programs
Outcome: Citizens put skills into practice by becoming more engaged in the community, taking on leadership roles.
Indicator: Increase in youth and adults serving as leaders and mentors with Extension and other community organizations.
Method: Observation and records
Timeline: After training and programs
Outcome: Youth and adults will learn about leadership styles and will be able to identify positive and negative leadership characteristics
Indicator: Youth and adults successfully identify positive and negative leadership characteristics in post-survey
Method: Pre- and post-survey/tests
Timeline: Before and after programs
Audience: Adults & Youth
Project or Activity: 4-H Advisory Council
Content or Curriculum: Essential Elements of 4-H Youth Development Program, The Power of Experiential Learning, Mentor Training Toolkit
Inputs: CES Agents, state specialist, volunteers, facilities,
Date: September – August
Audience: Adults
Project or Activity: Horse and Livestock Volunteer
Content or Curriculum: Essential Elements of 4-H Youth Development Program, The Power of Experiential Learning Mentor Training Toolkit, Continuing education hours for certification
Inputs: CES agents, state specialist, volunteers, facilities
Date: September - August
Audience: Adults
Project or Activity: Camp Counselors & Teachers
Content or Curriculum: Essential Elements of 4-H Youth Development Program, The Power of Experiential Learning Mentor Training Toolkit
Inputs: Paid staff, state specialist, volunteers, facilities
Date: September - August
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: School Clubs/ School Club Officers
Content or Curriculum: After School Agriculture, Essential Elements of 4-H Youth Development Program, The Power of Experiential Learning Mentor Training Toolkit
Inputs: CES Agents, state specialist, volunteers, facilities
Date: Summer 2016
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: Issues Conference, District Teens, Teen Summit & Teen Conference, STC
Content or Curriculum: Essential Elements of 4-H Youth Development Program, The Power of Experiential Learning, Mentor Training Toolkit
Inputs: CES Agents, state specialist, volunteers, facilities
Date: September - August
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: Community Clubs/Community Club Officers
Content or Curriculum: After School Agriculture, Essential Elements of 4-H Youth Development Program, The Power of Experiential Learning Mentor Training Toolkit, Continuing education hours for certification
Inputs: CES Agents, volunteers, facilities
Date: September – August
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: 4-H Communications
Content or Curriculum: Essential Elements of 4-H Youth Development Program, The Power of Experiential Learning Mentor Training Toolkit
Inputs: CES Agent, State Specialist, volunteers, facilities
Date: September – August
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: Camp
Content or Curriculum: Essential Elements of 4-H Youth Development Program, The Power of Experiential Learning, Mentor Training Toolkit
Inputs: CES Agents, Camp staff, volunteers, facilities
Date: June - July
Author: Leslie Bullock
Major Program: Leadership 4-H Core Curriculum
Workforce preparation is a major concern in our global economy. Employers are reporting that young workers lack communication, leadership, teamwork, and problem solving skills necessary in today’s workplace. The Franklin County Cooperative Extension Service has addressed these concerns by providing intentional workforce preparation experiences including education, experience and reflection. In the 2018-2019 program year, youth in 6th through 12th grades participated in a variety of 4-H car
Author: Krista Perry
Major Program: Communications and Expressive Arts 4-H Core Curriculum
As technology continues to advance, young people’s written and verbal communication skills continue to lack, which are important life skills they need to acquire; therefore, the Franklin County 4-H program promotes the 4-H Country Ham Project where youth gain these life skills. The 4-H Country Ham Project also teaches 4-H members about food preservation and the time honored tradition and history of curing country hams.The 4-H Country Ham project began in January when each participant
Author: Krista Perry
Major Program: Summer Residential Camps
During the summer in Franklin County, youth get excited about heading to 4-H Summer Camp! Teachers in the county have shared with the Franklin County 4-H program the excitement and benefits they notice with the youth who attended 4-H Camp when they return to school in August. Each summer, the Franklin County 4-H Program offers a week long Summer Camp for youth to learn new skills, experience new activities, and develop social skills. The Kentucky 4-H Camp objectives for 4-H cam
Author: Krista Perry
Major Program: Leadership 4-H Core Curriculum
To increase the need of teens in the Franklin County 4-H program, Teen Conference was promoted through multiple Medias. The objectives of Kentucky 4-H Teen Conference are to develop leadership and teamwork skills, improve communication skills, foster civic engagement, and to expand knowledge and skills related to 4-H core content areas. To gain club, county and state 4-H program skills, have fun, create a sense of belonging, expand social skills through networking, develop youth
Author: Krista Perry
Major Program: Natural Resources 4-H Core Curriculum
The Franklin County Schools realized last school year there was a need to supplement the 4th grade science curriculum while allowing students to experience hands on activities in an outdoor environment; therefore, the Franklin County 4-H Program offered the environmental program. The program reached to over 300-4th grade students in Franklin County in an overnight camp. The overnight camp consisted of classes including water quality, soils, fishing, forestry, entomology, KY wildlife, arche
