Youth who participate in leadership development opportunities are exposed to a variety of opportunities for personal development. Leadership activities help youth:
- Develop confidence in their leadership potential and their own sense of identity.
- Improve their self-esteem.
- Enhance their communication skill is sharing, reflecting and discussion.
- Understand the importance of diversity and improves their ability to relate to others.
- Learn effective decision-making methods and experience problem-solving situations.
- Learn group social skills.
(Unlock Your Leadership Potential: A Leadership Project Guide, University of Florida, IFAS Extension, October 2009)

Six Western Kentucky county 4-H agents – Webster, Union, Daviess, Henderson, Ohio and Hancock – joined forces to meet a need that presented across all county borders. Middle school students lacked opportunities to expand leadership potential and how to work together as a team. Under the direction of the county 4-H agents, five delegates were selected to create a team for each county to participate in the Team Challenge Camp held at West KY 4-H Camp. 

The Team Challenge Day Camp was created to be very similar to the TV Reality Show “The Amazing Race” where participants were given clues to find the locations of each challenge. Once they reached their destination, they were given directions for a specific task that they must complete as a team. Once the task was completed, teams would race to the next team challenge station. 

A total of 30 Middle School members were divided into county teams and had to work together to complete 8 different challenges.  Challenges were created using the 7 core curriculum areas (Agriculture, Science Engineering and Technology, Family and Consumer Science, Health, Communications, Leadership and Natural Resources), however each task did challenge participants both physically and mentally. Each team was assigned a Teen Leader to help them if they ran into any problems and help ensure participant safety. Challenges were also facilitated by Teen Volunteers.

Throughout the course of the camp, participants wore pedometers to track the level of activity. On average, 4-H members walked approximately 10,000 during the Team Challenge, which is the recommended amount of steps per day. Following the event, both participants and leaders completed surveys. Two of the most common answers for the most valuable lesson learned during the event were the value of both verbal and non-verbal communications skills and teamwork. Many of the participants found that at first it was difficult to work with people that they did not know, but quickly realized how important it was to overcome that bearer in order to be successful as a team. Participants also commented on the amount of physical activity that was involved with the event and noted that they realized how much physical activity they were lacking in their daily routines.

91%-Felt confident speaking in front of others

100%-Used information to make decisions, set and accomplished goals

100%-Plan to pursue additional 4-H Leadership opportunities

100%-Leadership skills improved

100%-Worked as a team member to solve problems