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

MAJOR PROGRAM 2:

Leadership

MAJOR PROGRAM 3:

Civic Engagement

MAJOR PROGRAM 4:

Health

Situation:

Preparing youth with diverse skills enhances their academic offerings and creates youth who are better prepared to be leaders, entrepreneurs, and contributors to a better community.  According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, 2017 STEM Jobs Update, Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) workers help drive our nation’s innovation and competitiveness by generating new ideas and new companies.  Employers look for leadership skills in future employees.  Developing leadership in the youth and adults who are involved in the 4-H program is a priority.  With these pressures upon the youth, many youths struggle with obesity, addiction, and self-esteem. 25% of youth report some form of emotional or behavioral condition and suicide rates are at a record high (KY suicides per 100,000 people: 15.3, 10th highest in the nation). By working closely with schools and communities, Kentucky 4-H Programs can provide experiential, real-world opportunities for 4-H Members, participants, and families to explore and pursue their future options while building their self-esteem and personal confidence.  

Long-Term Outcomes:

• Youth will increase STEM literacy in the general population.
• Communities are equipped with competent, effective leaders. 
• Successful completion of secondary programs, entry into careers of choice, and acceptance into college programs.  
• Youth will develop into competent, capable, contributing adults as important developmental assets are met through their participation in 4-H programs.
• Increased number of youth maintaining positive health habits.

Intermediate Outcomes:

• Youth will and use new methods or improved technology.
• Youth will volunteer and participate in community service and civic engagement opportunities.  
• Youth will make high school planning decisions based upon lifestyle choices and their understanding of cost of living and lifestyle choices.  
• Youth will increase adoption and mastery of healthy behaviors that lead to a healthy lifestyle that includes making healthy lifestyle choices, not engaging in risky behavior, and handling stress.

Initial Outcomes:

• Youth will develop valuable life-skills, including critical thinking, problem-solving, effective communications, and leadership.
• Youth increase knowledge of effective leadership skills.
• Youth will be participants in College and Career Educational Programs.
• Youth will have an improved awareness of health concerns for youth.
• Youth will learn how to raise a garden and grow their own vegetables.
  
  

Evaluation:

• Initial Outcome: Youth plan and implement a Science, Engineering and Technology project (e.g., Aerospace, Electricity, Robotic etc.)
  Indicator: Number of youth who indicated they are interested in learning more about science, engineering, or technology projects? (KOSA)
  Method: 4-H Common Core Survey
  Timeline:   September and June
  
  
• Intermediate Outcome: Youth become more engaged as a leader in their community (planning a service project, serving as a mentor, increasing participation in local/state/national levels).
  Indicator: Youth serve in a volunteer, leadership role.
  Method: 4-H Common Core Survey
  Timeline: April, May
  
  
• Initial 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
  
  
• Initial Outcome: Number of youth who indicated they made healthy lifestyle choices as a result of what they learned through 4-H programming.
  Indicator: Youth will make healthy lifestyle choices.
  Method: 4-H Common Core Survey
  Timeline: September and May
  
  
• Intermediate Outcome: Number of youth who indicated they can used healthy life skills to make positive changes in their life.
  Indicator: Youth will use skills acquired through 4-H to make positive healthy lifestyle choices.
  Method:  4-H Common Core Survey
  Timeline:  September and May

Learning Opportunities:

• Audience: Youth in grades Pre-School and Third Grade
  Project or Activity: Ag Safety Day
  Content or Curriculum: Acres of Adventure, KY Farm 2 School, Home Alone, First Aid in Action, SPARK
  Inputs: Agents, Volunteers, Community Leaders, Schools
  Date: September
  
  
• Audience: 4th-8th grades
  Project or Activity: Project Days
  Content or Curriculum: Computer Science, Energy, Robotics,
  Inputs: Agent, Schools, Parks, project materials
  Date: August, September, March, May
  
  
• 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: February
  
  
• 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
  
  
• Audience: Youth 4th-12th grades
  Project or Activity: Global Education
  Content or Curriculum: Empowering Students to Improve the World in Sixty Lessons (Version 1), 4-H Backpack to Adventure: Youth Leaders in a Global World, WeConnect: A Global Youth Citizenship Curriculum
  Inputs: Agents, Volunteers, Local Businesses
  Date: October, November, January, February
  
  
• Audience: Youth K-12th grades
  Project or Activity: Garden Project
  Content or Curriculum: 4-H Agricultural Core Curriculum
  Inputs: Agents, Volunteers, Farms, Local Businesses
  Date: March, April, May, June, July, August, September

Success Stories

Club Leaders Spark Member Engagement

Author: Tyrone Gentry

Major Program: Leadership

Young adults can provide many skills in creating successful community programs. Some of their greatest contributions are an abundance of energy, able to view problems in new lights, their ability to relate to younger 4-H members, and an intense desire to contribute back to their community. Green County 4-H sought ways to increase leadership opportunities for high school 4-H members as a way for them to reconnect to their communities and expand the Cooperative Extension Service’s reach in o

Full Story

4-H Shooting Sports Partners with Archery in the Schools

Author: Tyrone Gentry

Major Program: Natural Resources

Green County Cooperative Extension partners with Archery in the SchoolTeaching youth ethical and safe handling of archery equipment is critical to protecting our youth and empowering them as adults to be positive influencers of future generations.  Green County Cooperative Extension partners with Archery in Schools to offer safety and practice sessions where youth can gain confidence and practice in making and demonstrating their skills.  For the past eight years, over fifty youth annu

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Window Sill Garden Exposes Youth to Gardening

Author: Tyrone Gentry

Major Program: Agriculture

Window Sill Garden Exposes Youth to GardeningAdults have the opportunity to learn responsibility from many sources:  family, work, hobbies, etc.  Youth often have fewer options and those options may be dictated by adults giving the youth an opportunity to gain them.  Not every youth has the means to raise a show animal and travel to county fairs.  Green County 4-H wanted to offer a program allowing younger youth to gain responsibility and to learn the value of being appreciat

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International Club Exposes Youth to Global Possibilities

Author: Tyrone Gentry

Major Program: Leadership

International Club Exposes Youth to Global PossibilitiesOur world is increasingly coming closer to rural community's back porch.  Families have experienced this with shortages of products that unbeknown to us are actually imported from around the world.  Kentucky's rural hometowns are products of a global society.  4-H seeks to expose our youth to these often "hidden" connections and increase their awareness of how to be successful in this interconnected world th

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Advanced Ag Class Continue

Author: Ricky Arnett

Major Program: Economic Development and Workforce Preparation - ANR

Over the past few years of working with the youth in our county and being an adviser to the Ag Alumni Association I came to realize the youth of Green County feels there is nothing for them here after High School. 95% of our Junior and Seniors in Agriculture are looking to support there families outside of Green County and a large portion of those students will live somewhere else as well. I realize Green County don’t have everything the larger city’s have but we still have opportuni

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Youth Learn 21st Century Computer Skills Through 4-H

Author: Tyrone Gentry

Major Program: Science, Engineering, and Technology

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% which 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 offered youth an afterschool computer science club.  The twenty-seven youth collaborated

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