4-H programs are grounded in a perspective of human development called positive youth development (PYD). PYD is a framework followed by youth-serving professionals that envisions youths as capable individuals who can explore their world, enhance their life skills, and contribute to society (Eccles & Gootman, 2002; Larson, 2000; Lerner, 2004) through high-quality youth programs (Roth & Brooks-Gunn, 2016) such as 4-H.  

June 2021 a Boyd County Middle School teacher contacted the Boyd County 4-H Youth Development agent to begin a life skills school club with her mix of 7^th and 8^th grade students.  Due to the past school year of virtual classes and many canceled activities because of Covid19 restrictions, Miss Holbrook wanted a focus on gratitude to improve students’ apathy.  Each club meeting begins with every member expressing gratitude for anything and recording that in their gratitude journal.  Lessons ranged from healthy snacks to keep you feeling good to choosing a staff or faculty person to say “Thank you!”  The club meets once a month for eight months. 

The December club meeting each student made a wreath.  They could choose to keep the wreath, donate it to a nursing home resident, or give the wreath as a gift.  One student decided to give his wreath as a gift to his mother. Miss Holbrook was shocked at the generosity of this particular student.  She remarked that she had noticed a much more positive attitude from him since the club meetings.  The student told her that he never really thought about getting his mom a gift, but that he always asked her for gifts. The student said that thinking about gratefulness made him think about his mom.

Cooperative Extension has had success in creating educational environments that foster transformative learning, the mechanism by which people change their perspectives so that they make better decisions in their lives (Franz, 2003; Franz, Garst, Baughman, Smith, & Peters, 2009; Garst, Franz, Baughman, Smith, & Peters, 2009).   While the Boyd County Middle School 4-H Life Skills class may be just a few months going, giving students opportunities to explore their world, enhance their life skills and contribute to society have been successful through this 4-H Life Skills club. The teacher and agent are excited to see other successes and changed perspectives throughout this year.