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
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/area/state 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-July
Outcome: Renewable Resources are chosen over non-renewable resources
Indicator: youth can recognize renewable resources vs. Nonrenewable resources
Method: observation; post-program evaluation
Timeline: Winter 2023
Audience: Youth
Activity/Project: 4-H Shooting Sports
Content/Curriculum: state 4-H shooting sports guidelines
Inputs: volunteer leaders; practice facility
Date: February-September
Activity/Project: electricity and energy education
Content/Curriculum: state and national 4-H curricula
Inputs: volunteers; curricula; Snap Circuits
Date: spring 2024
Activity/Project: 4-H Camp
Content/Curriculum: camp schedule
Inputs: attendees; volunteers; financial donations
Date: summer 2024
Activity/Project: Fine 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: fall/winter
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: 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
Activity/Project: activity on renewable resources
Content/Curriculum: National Ag in the Classroom matrix
Inputs: volunteers; meeting space; youth; demonstration supplies
Date: Winter 2024
Author: Christina A. Martin
Major Program: Natural Resources
The Russell County 4-H Shooting Sports program provides young people with a safe environment to explore their passion for target shooting, a place where they feel they belong, and opportunities to form relationships with caring adult mentors. The program includes comprehensive firearms education, recreational pursuits, and healthy competition. Through this young people develop life skills like teamwork, self-confidence, personal discipline, responsibility, and decision-making. Russell County 4-H
Author: Christina A. Martin
Major Program: Master Clothing Volunteer
The Russell County 4-H program has collaborated with the University of Kentucky Master Volunteer for Clothing program for over seven years to offer hand and machine sewing opportunities to young people across the county. In 2018, Russell County had two 4-H volunteers graduate from the Master Volunteer for Clothing program through the University of Kentucky. Since 2016, these volunteers have taught several tweens and teens these basic life skills. In the summer of 2024, the MVC’
Author: Christina A. Martin
Major Program: Natural Resources
As monarch butterflies grow/mature, they feed on milkweed. Over the past few decades, the milkweed plant has been removed from much of the habitat in our area. Russell Co. 4-H members worked on a project in September and October to help restore monarch habitat in places where milkweed could grow but not be planted on farmland. Over 200 youth in 4th grade learned about insect anatomy, insect diversity, and incomplete and complete metamorphosis. During the activity, they wer
Author: Christina A. Martin
Major Program: Family and Consumer Science
Life skill development is a benchmark for the 4-H program. Cooking is one of those needed life skills. Russell Co. 4-H offered a series of cooking classes to youth ages 9-13 in the fall of 2024. The youth learned basic cooking skills such as reading recipes, measuring wet and dry ingredients, proper mixing techniques, proper use of kitchen utensils, correct use of a stove top and oven, as well as kitchen safety. Teaching youth to cook not only instills basic skills for living,
