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: 4-H Youth Development Programming
This was the second year after my completion of AVAA I worked with my District to plan and implement a training for our 4-H volunteers to earn education, answer questions and Livestock and Horse leaders to gain recertification hours. The committee that worked to make this event happen was Kim Ragland, Alison Johnson, Kristen Kirkland, and myself. This event had 35 volunteers, instructors and specialists from District 4 in attendance. We held 6 workshops ranging from Horse, Livestock, Working wit
Author: Leslie Bullock
Major Program: 4-H Youth Development Programming
Volunteers that clearly understand their service role and their relationship to the organization they are serving are more effective than those who do not. It is difficult for volunteers to develop an understanding of the program they are delivering, their relationship to the organization and the University of Kentucky without an informative, educational orientation program. While orientation has long been required for all Extension volunteers, few actually receive the orientation necessary for
Author: Adam Leonberger
Major Program: Master Gardener
Master Gardeners are individuals who have earned and maintained certification through training conducted by Kentucky Extension specialists and agents. They serve their communities by conducting educational programs for youth and adults and community service projects. Continuing education and leadership development are important components of the Master Gardener Program to maintain their certification. In 2017, the Horticulture Agents of District Four (Central Kentucky) hosted th
Author: Leslie Bullock
Major Program: Natural Resources 4-H Core Curriculum
4-H Camp provides the opportunity for youth to experience time away from home, meet new people, and learn life skills. The youth attending 4-H Camp participate in activities that focus on teamwork, physical activity, and personal development.In Franklin County, due to a low household income, a large percentage of students qualify for free or reduce lunch. This can make it extremely difficult for families to pay for their children to attend 4-H Camp. As the Franklin County 4-H program grows, so d
Author: Krista Perry
Major Program: Communications and Expressive Arts 4-H Core Curriculum
As technology continues to advance, the easier it is for youth to communicate non-verbally using text, email and social media rather than verbally. In their future, this will present a challenge when it is time to interview for scholarships, careers, and even talking with others. Seeing communication being a strong need in the community for youth, the Franklin County 4-H Program conducted a Communications Lesson to over 400 4th and 5th grade students.The Communications Lesson consisted
Author: Krista Perry
Major Program: Science, Engineering and Technology 4-H Core Curriculum
As Science, Engineering and Technology (SET) continues to rapidly advance, more career opportunities are being recognized and teachers are having to constantly change their lesson plans to engage their students. As a need to increase the Science, Engineering, and Technology test scores in Franklin County, the Extension Agent for 4-H Youth Development was contacted by the Vice Principal at the Second Street School about collaborating on a new school schedule, providing 4th-8th grade students
Author: Krista Perry
Major Program: Natural Resources 4-H Core Curriculum
What are macroinvertebrates and why are they important? How do decomposers help us? These are a couple of the questions 4th grade students should be able to answer, but you would be surprised the number of them who cannot. This was a concern of the 4th grade teachers at Hearn Elementary School. Therefore, the Extension Agent for 4-H Youth Development Agent collaborated with the State Specialist, Sustainable Systems/Manager, Environmental Education and Research Center at Kentu
Author: Adam Leonberger
Major Program: Master Gardener
Many services and events in the community wouldn’t be possible without the assistance from community members giving freely of their time. However, only 24.2% of Kentucky residents volunteer their time according to the Corporation for National and Community Service. Franklin County Cooperative Extension Services’ Master Gardener volunteer association, the Capital Area Master Gardener (CAMG) association, is one of the most active associations in the area. This past year the association
Author: Tamera Magee
Major Program: Food Preparation
Look at any infomercial and you will see marketing for small appliances that make meal preparation quick and easy for today's' busy families. One such appliance that is currently trending is the electric pressure cooker/multicooker. The Franklin Co. Extension Service responded to a request from the local library to partner. Forty-four people registered for the class. The participants were given handouts, recipes and sampled food prepared during the class. The topics cov
Author: Tamera Magee
Major Program: Securing Financial Stability (general)
The Franklin Co. FCS program hosted an entrepreneurial brunch, presentation, and panel discussion to provide women with a format to find out what it takes to see their business idea grow from start-up to flourishing. In addition to the brunch, women were able to network with other women, gain educational knowledge from local women and outside of the county. The program included a very timely and inspiring portrayal of Kentucky's own Nancy Green entitled: Being Aunt Jemima, the Pa