Youth DevelopmentPlan of Work

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McCreary County CES

Title:
Youth Development
MAP:
Development Responsible Youth
Agents Involved:
Whitis, Fugate
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
4-H Youth Development Programming
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Leadership 4-H Core Curriculum
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Health 4-H Core Curriculum
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Natural Resources 4-H Core Curriculum
Situation:

McCreary County is a rural community with few activities targeting youth. Currently 52.6% of McCreary county youth live in poverty. With tough economic times and limited resources, it is important to provide youth with opportunities to develop essential life skills. In McCreary County. Twenty three percent of teens are high school dropouts. The teen pregnancy rate has increased over the last ten years to 34 compared to a state rate of 31. School lunches are free for everyone child. Programming is designed to engage young people and provide educational opportunities that develop decision-making skills, independence, and personal responsibility.

Long-Term Outcomes:

To develop youth with confidence and strong communication skills.

To develop youth that will possess critical thinking skills, independence, personal responsibility, and life skills that enable them to become productive citizens and competitive members of the future workforce.

To develop youth that has an appreciation for the natural resources and environment.

Intermediate Outcomes:

Youth will practice communicating clearly and confidently.

Youth will demonstrate basic money management skills.

Youth will practice problem solving skills.

Youth will demonstrate acceptance of personal responsibility.

Initial Outcomes:

Youth will recognize the importance of strong communication skills.

Youth will practice communicating clearly and confidently.

Youth will recognize importance of money management skills.

Youth will become more aware of the importance of the natural resources and environment they live in.

Evaluation:

Outcome: Increased life skills

Indicator: Numbers of youth attending camp and skills gained

Method: Agent and leader observations, camper surveys

Timeline: July -June


Outcome: Increased leadership Skills

Indicator: Numbers of youth participating in the Youth Leadership Program,

Method: Agent and leader observations, participant surveys

Timeline: September – May


Outcome: Increased awareness about the Environment

Indicator: Number of youth participating

Method: Participant Surveys

Timeline: May



Learning Opportunities:

LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES:

Audience: High School Youth, Gifted and Talented in Leadership

Project or Activity: Youth Leadership Program

Content or Curriculum: Topics selected by committee members

Inputs: Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (CES) agents, specialists, EKU Personnel, Community Leaders

Date: September -May


Audience: McCreary County Youth

Project or Activity: 4-H Bee Club

Content or Curriculum: KSU & UT Curriculum

Inputs: Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (CES) agents, program assistants,

Date: July - June


Audience: Pine Knot Elementary Garden Sprouts 4-H Club

Project or Activity: School Garden

Content or Curriculum: Extension & School based

Inputs: Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (CES) agents, program assistants, specialists, school personnel

Date: August -June


Audience: 4-H club youth ages 9-18

Project or Activity: 4-H Projects/Project Week

Content or Curriculum: Project Books

Inputs: Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (CES) agents, program assistants, specialists, and volunteers. Kentucky CES publications and resources.

Date: July



Audience: High School Juniors

Project or Activity: American Private Enterprise Seminar/Kentucky Youth Seminar

Content or Curriculum: APES curriculum

Inputs: Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (CES) agents, program assistants, specialists, and volunteers. Kentucky CES publications and resources.

Date: November



Audience: 4-H club youth ages 9-18

Project or Activity: Pine Knot Elementary and Whitley City Elementary

Content or Curriculum: Consumer Education Project materials and supplemental materials.

Inputs: Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (CES) agents, program assistants, specialists, and volunteers. Kentucky CES publications and resources.

Date: August -June


Audience: 4-H club youth ages 9-18

Project or Activity: 4-H Cooking Club

Content or Curriculum: 4-H/UK based curriculum

Inputs: 4-H Program Assistant & SNAP-Ed Program Assistant

Date: August –June


Audience: Youth/Adults

Project or Activity: Construct Blue Bird houses

Content or Curriculum: Blue bird habitat lesson, how to construct and care for the house. Teachers will be given a follow up sheet where participants must measure and complete math problems pertaining to their house.

Inputs: Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (CES) agents, program assistants, and volunteers. Kentucky CES publications and resources. Family resource centers, PRIDE, and other community partners.

Date: September/October


Audience: Youth/Adults

Project or Activity: Environmental Camp

Content or Curriculum: A three day program teaching environmental topics selected by the committee.

Inputs: Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (CES) agents, program assistants, specialists, and volunteers. Kentucky CES publications and resources. Family resource centers, PRIDE, and other community partners.

Date: May


Audience: Youth/Adults

Project or Activity: Helping Hands Sewing Group

Content or Curriculum: Teens will participate in the Helping Hands adult group monthly making items for the American Cancer Society.  They will earn Community Service Hours as a result and learn life skills. Under the direction of Helping Hands Club Volunteers.

Inputs: Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (CES) agents, program assistants, and volunteers.  

Date: September - April 


Audience: Youth/Adults

Project or Activity: 4-H Camp

Content or Curriculum: 4-H Curriculum;  Research-based methods and programming; Local, state, and national partners

Inputs: Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (CES) Agents, 4-H Program Assistant, Counselors in Training (CIT), Teen Leaders, and volunteers.

Date: June 



Success Stories

Environmental Education Camp 2019

Author: Gregory Whitis

Major Program: Specialty Camps (overnight camps that take place outdoors)

Environmental Education Camp 2019Importance: McCreary County seventh grade Science teachers identified the need for environmental education of youth.  Educational Program: The program presented was a three day, two night program held at the Feltner 4-H Camp. There were a total of ten day time programs and 3 night programs that each child participated in.  Youth also visited a Landfill and a Recycling Center.Role of Extension:     The Extension Agent recruited leaders, in

Full Story

Youth Leadership 2018/19

Author: Gregory Whitis

Major Program: Leadership 4-H Core Curriculum

High School 9th & 10th Grade Leadership ProgramImportance: Our youth are not just leaders for tomorrow they are leaders for today. It is our responsibility to train foster and promote their leadership skills today. Twenty four youth were enrolled in the McCreary Central High School Gifted and Talented Leadership Program.  The program was a collaborative effort between the Girted and Talented program and the Cooperative Extension Service.Educational Program: Extension coordinated with th

Full Story
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