Enhancing Life Skills through Youth Projects and Activities

Enhancing Life Skills through Youth Projects and ActivitiesPlan of Work

Back to the Program

Hardin County CES

Title:

Enhancing Life Skills through Youth Projects and Activities

MAP:

Developing Leadership Skills for Community and Civic Engagement

Agents Involved:

McCandless, Fentress, DeRamus

MAJOR PROGRAM 1:

Leadership

MAJOR PROGRAM 2:

Science, Engineering, and Technology

MAJOR PROGRAM 3:

Active Living and Health Promotions General

MAJOR PROGRAM 4:

Agriculture

Situation:

According to Michigan State University Extension articles published in January 2013 & August 2016, one of the most important support systems for healthy adolescent development is positive friendships and positive peer influences. These peer to peer relationships can encourage teens to care about people, meet/set higher standards and participate in constructive activities. From the 2019 Hardin County Community Assessment report it was emphasized that we need to continue and expand on "youth life skills training educational opportunities". 4-H programs offer a wide range of life skill opportunities based on an individuals interests and goals. An individuals involvement, regardless of project/program area, will enhance leadership, decision making and money management skills.

Long-Term Outcomes:

Youth will:
*Be advocates for agriculture and healthy and sustainable food systems.
*Youth will gain and maintain employment resulting from life skill development through 4-H.
*Youth will gain skills to help deal with peer pressures that lead to self-esteem issues, bullying prevention and coping strategies.

Life Skills Program - CD
Youth will seek out ways to get employment by contacting Career Agencies, Work Prep Programs, Job shadowing & Internships opportunities.
Youth will be self-sufficient and be able to balance personal finances.
Youth will be able to develop positive relationships amongst people from different backgrounds.
Youth will get involved with helping a community organization with bringing awareness to a social awareness issue and help the organization with finding some solutions to help the community.

Intermediate Outcomes:

• Youth will practice and apply skills and knowledge in the production of food and fiber in the areas
of plant sciences, horticulture and animal sciences.
• Youth will adopt and practice skills that contribute to employability.
• Youth can explain the role of agriculture in daily life to others.
• Youth will set a goal and accomplish it.
• Youth can influence the purchase of Kentucky Proud products.
• Youth can practice entrepreneurship skills related to agriculture and food systems.

Life Skills Program - CD
Intermediate Outcomes
Youth will develop positive relationships amongst people from different backgrounds.
Youth will know techniques to use to handle conflict and anger when stressful situations arise.
Youth will be prepared to complete an interview for a position with a potential employer.
Youth will be able to set some obtainable career goals and be able to make more informed decisions.
Life Skills Program - CD

Initial Outcomes:

*Youth will gain knowledge and skills in the production of food and fiber in the areas of plant
sciences, horticulture and animal sciences.
• Youth will gain an understanding of healthy and sustainable food systems.
• Youth will develop valuable life-skills, including decision-making, communications, record-keeping, leadership and service.

Life Skills Program - CD
Short Term Outcomes
Youth will develop skills in oral communication and written communication that will contribute to helping them to be in a future leadership role in a future career or profession.
Youth will be able to develop a cover letter and a resume to apply for a future position for any profession.
Youth will be able to identify their strengths and weaknesses thru skills assessments and team building activities.
Youth will have a basic understanding of how money works and how to apply basic budgeting techniques to personal income.
Youth will develop an understanding of diversity and see how it helps in establishing positive relationships with peer groups and people from a background different from their own.
Life Skills Program - CD

Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: Youth will gain knowledge and skills in the production of food and fiber in areas of plant, horticulture and/or animal sciences
Indicator: Number of youth who understands the role of agriculture in the production of food and fiber
Method: 4-H Program Agriculture Written Evaluation
Timeline: Spring, late summer and/or Fall

Intermediate Outcome: Youth will set a goal and accomplish it
Indicator: Number of youth who set a goal and accomplished it
Method: 4-H Program Agriculture Written Evaluation
Timeline: Spring, late summer and/or Fall

Long-term Outcome: Youth will be advocates for agriculture while gaining and maintaining employment as result of their participation
Indicator: Number of youth who demonstrate a skill that was learned or improved as a result of their participation in a 4-H ANR project, program, event or activity
Method: 4-H program Agriculture Written Evaluation
Timeline: Spring, late summer and/or Fall

Life Skills Program - CD
Outcome: Youth will be able to develop a cover letter and a resume to apply for a future position for any profession.
Indicator:
Number of youth participants demonstrating an application of specified life skills.
Method: Surveys will be administered every 3-4 months, Interviews, Testimonials, phone calls, Videos, Zoom Presentations, Botvin Life-skills Transitions Curriculum, 21st Century Life-skills curriculum, Checkbook Math (Life-skills), Practical Life Skills Series, Money Matters for Teens Workbook
Timeline: (January- June) (August-November)

Outcome: Build skills in anger management, perspective-taking, and problem-solving strategies.
Indicator:
Number of youth who become more aware of ways to attain pertinent life skills.
Method: Surveys will be administered every 3-4 months, Interviews, Testimonials, phone calls, Videos, Zoom presentations, Botvin Life-skills curriculum
Timeline: (January- June) (August-November)

Outcome: Youth will seek out ways to get employment by contacting Career Agencies, Work Prep Programs, Job shadowing & Internships opportunities.
Indicator:
Number of youth reporting self-sufficiency (developing self-confidence, obtaining employment, pursuing higher education, advocating on behalf of youth and other vulnerable populations).
Method: Surveys will be administered every 3-4 months intervals, Interviews, Testimonials, phone calls, Videos, Zoom presentations, Life-Skills Curriculum Job Search, Moving Out on Your Own, Managing Money, Transportation and Travel, Community Resources, Consumer spending, Getting Ahead at Work, and Car and Driver.
Timeline: (January- June) (August-November)

Life Skills Program - CD

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: 4-H youth 5 - 18 years of age
Project or Activity: 4-H Livestock Club
Content or Curriculum: Beef, Sheep, Swine Resource Handbook & Certified Livestock Volunteer Curriculum, Livestock Discovery CD
Inputs: Certified Leaders, Extension Agents, Community Business Leaders
Date: 4-H Program Year, September through August of following year

Audience: 4-H Youth 9 - 18 years of age
Project or Activity: Trailblazers 4-H Horse Club
Content or Curriculum: Basic Horse Safety manual, Horse Achievement Level 1-4, Kansas State Judging manual & DVDs, KY Certified Leaders manual, KY Horse Bowl and horse judging manual
Inputs: Certified Leaders, Extension Agents, Veterinarians & Parents
Date: 4-H program year, September through August

Audience: 4-H youth 5 - 18 years of age
Project or Activity: 4-H Dog Club
Content or Curriculum: Ohio State Dog Learning Lab, American Kennel Club,
Inputs: Leaders, Extension Agents & parents
Date: 4-H Program Year, September through August of following year

Audience: 4-H youth 13 - 18 years of age
Project or Activity: 4-H Teen Club
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Communications curriculum
Inputs: Leaders, Extension Agents & parents
Date: 4-H Program Year, September through August of following year

Life Skills Program - CD

Audience: Youth, (At Risk population, Limited Resource audience)
Project or Activity: CY-FAR Grant Uplift: Empowering Today’s Youth for Tomorrow’s Future
Content or Curriculum: Botvin Life-skills Transitions curriculum (High School and Middle School), 4H Content or Curriculum on Life Skills, Leadership, Jump Start Coalition, Youth Development Academy Series, What's Next? A Simulation of Adult Life Skills
Inputs: FCS Agent, 4-H Youth Specialists, UK Extension Staff & Specialists, Volunteers, Community Leaders, Community based organizations, Schools, Family Resource Centers, Extension Staff Career Centers, Military Youth Programs, Colleges, Library
Date: (January- June) (August-November)

Life Skills Program - CD

Success Stories

4-H Camp Feels Like Family

Author: Sue Ann McCandless

Major Program: Camping

A typical 5-day 4-H Camp session offers upwards of 96 hours of direct, uninterrupted contact between youth and their cabin leaders/counselors. That’s the equivalent of a family sitting down at the dinner table for 30-minutes, 196 days of the year. The interactions offered in a residential camp/group living setting are so important to youth, especially considering the isolation brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. The time we spend with youth in the camp setting offers opportunities for tho