Extension
It Starts With Us
Skills Development through Youth Development
Skills Development through Youth Development
4-H agent and assistant(s)
Agriculture
Science, Engineering, and Technology
21st Century Skills (Career & Workplace Development)
Natural Resources
Youth desire a chance to develop their skills in areas that interest them (mastery) while at the same time experiencing belonging, and developing meaningful relationships with caring adults. Youth development through 4-H and other youth-serving programs bring positive self-worth to individuals over their lifetime. They are able to set goals and develop and action plan to achieve. They are more likely to have confidence in their abilities, engage in community issues, be civic focused, and make positive choices that lead to a more stable life. They are more likely to return volunteer time to their organization as adults so they can mentor and provide positive youth development opportunities.
- Volunteer-led programming increases over time with new opportunities added to the 4-H Youth Development county program.
- 4-H camp is volunteer-led by former camp-age participants.
- Participants gain mastery of skills in their chosen field(s) of study.
- Experienced youth in a program area mentor new youth in the program.
- Youth display their project work at fairs or other types of county/district showcases.
- Youth utilize scientific method to solve everyday problems.
- Youth will increase STEAM knowledge in the general population and/or pursue careers in sciences and arts.
- Youth pursue careers in STEAM-related fields due to skills gained through 4-H.
- Youth make choices that protect the environment and natural resources.
- Youth produce entrepreneurial products for sale.
- Youth will create and apply skills learned from STEAM-programming.
- Youth adopt practices that make a positive impact on the environment, natural resources, and resources in the community.
- Youth practice skills learned through project work.
- Youth continue to attend 4-H camp year-after-year and gain leadership skills to be camp volunteers.
- Youth demonstrate the use of developed life skills in everyday situations.
- Youth acquire knowledge in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math).
- Youth acquire skills in STEM and arts and/or develop an improved attitude toward STEAM-related subjects
- Youth acquire knowledge of careers in arts and sciences.
- Youth acquire knowledge of the interrelationship and interdependence of ecosystems and identify how natural resources are used in their home and community.
- Youth develop life skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, etc.
- Youth enroll to attend 4-H camp while in elementary school.
Outcome: Youth learn and implement natural resource conservation practices.
Indicator: 25% of participants encourage recycling at home
Method: post-program evaluation; youth participate in a recycling program through 4-H
Timeline: spring
Outcome: Youth learn electricity concepts and construct circuits.
Indicator: 50% of youth can follow a pattern to complete a circuit
Method: observation
Timeline: winter
Outcome: Youth produce art and/or SET projects that can be entered into fairs.
Indicator: 1/3 of youth produce a quality final project
Method: observation and scoresheets
Timeline: conclusion of program
Outcome: County meets or exceeds state 4-H camp attendance expectations
Indicator: camp attendance
Method: final count of camp attendees
Timeline: summer
Outcome: sewing and needlework projects completed
Indicator: ½ of participants advance their knowledge and skills in sewing and needlework
Method: scoresheets from county and state fairs
Timeline: conclusion of project and fairs
Outcome: Food and Nutrition programs
Indicator: youth gain knowledge and skills to prepare food and make healthy food choices
Method: observation; post-program evaluation
Timeline: September-February
Audience: Youth
Activity/Project: 4-H Shooting Sports
Content/Curriculum: state 4-H shooting sports guidelines
Inputs: volunteer leaders; practice facility
Date: year-round
Activity/Project: electricity and energy education
Content/Curriculum: state and national 4-H curricula
Inputs: volunteers; curricula; Snap Circuits
Date: school year
Activity/Project: 4-H Camp
Content/Curriculum: camp schedule
Inputs: attendees; volunteers; financial donations
Date: summer
Activity/Project: Arts projects (including visual, music, theater, photography, etc.)
Content/Curriculum: 4-H curricula
Inputs: volunteers; financial support for arts resources; cameras
Date: September - August
Activity/Project: science, engineering, and technology programs
Content/Curriculum: resources on KY 4-H SET website
Inputs: volunteers; hands-on kits; off-site location if needed
Date: throughout year
Activity/Project: sewing day camps
Content/Curriculum: state and national 4-H sewing resources
Inputs: volunteers: meeting space: sewing machines, fabric, and notions
Date: summer
Activity/Project: needlework programs
Content/Curriculum: 4-H needlework handbook
Inputs: volunteers; meeting space; yarn, fabric, threads, needles, etc.
Date: winter/spring
Activity/Project: cooking program
Content/Curriculum: national 4-H curricula; Super Star Chef curricula
Inputs: volunteers; meeting space; cooking utensils and ingredients
Date: September-March; summer day camps
Author: Christina A. Martin
Major Program: Communications and Expressive Arts
The Russell Co. 4-H agent collaborated with the Russell Co. Jaycees to conduct youth programs and the Floral Hall exhibits for the 2020 COVID19 edition of the Russell County Fair. To ensure the fair was able to provide an avenue for residents to showcase their projects and to allow for youth livestock shows to continue, a three-day fair was held in late July. The 4-H agent was contacted by the fair manager in late June to begin working on providing these opportunities to youth and ad
Author: Christina A. Martin
Major Program: Natural Resources
The Russell County 4-H program collaborated with the Russell County School System to continue science programming during the COVID pandemic. A series of videos were created to share with the students by their science teachers during virtual learning. These videos explored several aspects of entomology. The first video explored the main characteristics that insects share such as body segments, leg numbers and wing attachment; additionally the youth learned which arthropods were
Author: Christina A. Martin
Major Program: Family and Consumer Science
The Russell County 4-H program offered a hand sewing program over a two month period. Hand sewing is a heritage sewing skill that children have been learning for decades. This skill helps youth develop fine motor skills and improves hand-eye coordination. Also developing hand sewing skills is an inexpensive way to sew because no machine is required, preserves vintage sewing techniques, is relaxing, is a gateway to learn other creative stitching techniques, and improves focus be
Author: Christina A. Martin
Major Program: Science, Engineering, and Technology
During the COVID19 pandemic when schools were shut down to in-person learning, Russell County 4-H provided opportunities for youth to explore different science concepts through the “Science in a Box” program. Science is loved by many youth because it offers a hands-on method of exploring sometimes complex scientific concepts. Over the course of six months, six kits of learning materials on various topics were provided to 19 4-H youth. The youth received learni
