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Contact Information

Craig Wood, Ph.D
Acting Associate Dean & Director
UK Cooperative Extension Service

S-107 Ag. Science Center North Lexington, KY 40546-0091

+1 (859) 257-4302

craig.wood@uky.edu

Impacts

Contact Information

Craig Wood, Ph.D
Acting Associate Dean & Director
UK Cooperative Extension Service

S-107 Ag. Science Center North Lexington, KY 40546-0091

+1 (859) 257-4302

craig.wood@uky.edu




Fiscal Year:
Jul 1, 2023 - Jun 30, 2024


Developing Youth Into Productive and Contributing CitizensPlan of Work

Green County CES

Title:
Developing Youth Into Productive and Contributing Citizens
MAP:
Youth Development
Agents Involved:
Tyrone Gentry
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Science, Engineering and Technology 4-H Core Curriculum
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Natural Resources 4-H Core Curriculum
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Health 4-H Core Curriculum
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
4-H Youth Development Programming
Situation:

There are skills that cannot be accessed through formalized testing like communication, soft skills and making career based skill connections. A growing number of people are losing their connection to our environment; therefore it's important that we car for and teach respect of our resources. Almost 30% of youth in the United States (or over 5.7 million) are estimated to be involved in bullying as either a bully, a target of bullying, or both. It is important for youth to learn respect for themselves an others. By achieving self respect and skills, youth have confidence and skills necessary to affect change in their current situation and future.

Long-Term Outcomes:
  • Youth will gain and maintain employment through life skill development.
  • Youth will engage in community projects related to natural resources.
  • Youth will develop into competent, capable, contributing adults as important developmental assets are met through their participation in 4-H programs.
  • Youth will choose a career path in science, engineering or technology subject matter.
Intermediate Outcomes:
  • Youth can explain the role of agriculture in daily life to others.
  • Youth will make decisions in their daily lives that positively impact natural resources.
  • Youth will increase adoption and mastery of healthy behaviors that lead to a healthy lifestyle that include making healthy lifestyle choices, not engaging in risky behavior and handling stress.
Initial Outcomes:
  • Youth will develop valuable life-skills, including decision-making, communications, record-keeping, leadership and service.
  • Youth will gain knowledge of the interrelationship and interdependence within an ecosystem.
  • Youth will identify healthy lifestyle choices.
Evaluation:
  • Initial Outcome: Youth will develop valuable life-skills, including decision-making, communications, record-keeping, leadership and service.
  • Indicator: The number of youth who learn new safety skills.
  • Method: Evaluation
  • Timeline: October and April


  • Intermediate Outcome: Youth will make decisions in their daily lives that positively impact natural resources.
  • Indicator: Number of youth making changes to better their natural resources.
  • Method: Survey
  • Timeline: March, June


  • Long-term Outcome: Youth will develop into competent, capable, contributing adults as important developmental assets are met through their participation in 4-H programs.
  • Indicator: Youth will have an increased number of positive assets.
  • Method: Survey using Search Institute Asset Approach
  • Timeline: November and March
Learning Opportunities:
  • Audience: Youth in grades K-5
  • Project or Activity: Ag Safety Day
  • Content or Curriculum: Acres of Adventure, KY Farm 2 School
  • Inputs: Agents, Volunteers, Community Leaders, Schools
  • Date: October


  • Audience: 4th-8th grades
  • Project or Activity: Project Days
  • Content or Curriculum: Entomology, Project FLP, Project Wet
  • Inputs: Agent, Schools, Parks, project materials
  • Date: August, September, March, May


  • Audience: Science Club
  • Project or Activity: Water Quality Studies
  • Content or Curriculum: Project Wet
  • Inputs: Agents, Volunteers, Mentors, Water Kits, Rivers/streams
  • Date: May-July


  • Audience: 4th-8th grades
  • Project or Activity: Cooking School
  • Content or Curriculum: Jump Into Food and Fitness, Youth Cooking Series, Super Star Chef
  • Inputs: Agents, Volunteers, Chefs, Cooks, Food, Kitchen Equipment
  • Date: February


  • Audience: 7th Graders
  • Project or Activity: Financial Management and Career Planning
  • Content or Curriculum: Reality Check, World of Work
  • Inputs: Agents, Volunteers, Schools, Businesses, Community Leaders, Banks
  • Date: November


  • Audience: Youth 4th-12th grades
  • Project or Activity: Ham Project
  • Content or Curriculum: Livestock Curriculum
  • Inputs: Agents, Volunteers, Farms, Local Businesses
  • Date: January, February, May, August




Success Stories

4-H Leadership Program Challenges Youth To See Their Future from Past Sacrifices

Author: Tyrone Gentry

Major Program: Leadership 4-H Core Curriculum

4-H has a long history of exposing youth to leadership opportunities. For many youths, their first experience with leadership may be serving as a club officer in their school, community or project club. This classic example of leadership instills foundation skills within the youth like self-sufficiency, responsibility and problem-solving. As youth mature, there are opportunities for them to develop advanced leadership skills like sensitivity to multicultural views, effectively using interpersona

Full Story

4-H Teaches Lost Skills of Food Planning and Preparation

Author: Tyrone Gentry

Major Program: Health 4-H Core Curriculum

With society and family structures becoming more complicated, youth have fewer opportunities to learn life skills that once were handed down by mothers and fathers in their home. A national survey conducted by Eckrich and ConAgra discovered that 40% of families eat three or fewer meals together and 10% never eat dinner together at all. Planning and preparing family meals may be been lost, but those skills are critical for healthy future generations. Green County 4-H recognized the importanc

Full Story

4-H Science Program Exposes Youth to New Careers

Author: Tyrone Gentry

Major Program: Science, Engineering and Technology 4-H Core Curriculum

Youth lack exposure to broad Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) activities exposing them to future careers and problem-solving skills.  The Department of Commerce reports that STEM occupations are growing at 17% that is almost twice other occupations at 9.8%. In order to provide youth exposure to STEM skills and careers, the Green County Cooperative Extension Service and 4-H program participated in a juvenile mentoring program with the National 4-H Council and the Office of Ju

Full Story

4-H Creates Resilient, Confident Youth

Author: Tyrone Gentry

Major Program: Health 4-H Core Curriculum

          Like skills are crucial for a person to adapt and deal effectively with the demands and challenges of everyday living.  The World Health Organization identifies six skills necessary in every child:   decision making and problem-solving,creative and critical thinking,communication and interpersonal skills,self-awareness and empathy,assertiveness and equanimity, andresilience and coping skills.  When youth are in the presence of an adult, fami

Full Story