The CEC has identified “things for our young people to do” as an important issue for the Butler County Extension Service.  As we emerge from the Pandemic getting kids engaged is more important than ever.  Extension staff formed The Butler County Performing Arts club in response to this need.  This program gives teenagers that are interested in music and its performance an opportunity to learn to work together and get along as a band. This program provides Teens with an experiential Learning opportunity like no other.  Being part of a Band teaches belonging, mastery of multiple skills, team work, conflict resolution, responsibility, Communications skills, organization, goal setting and goal completion.  In order to participate members committed to attending practice and performances, and to participate in 4-H a speech and demonstration contest.   Kids practiced every other week immediately following teen club beginning in October 2022.  Several 4-Hers attended practices.  8 formed the club.  All 8 participated in the 4-H speech contest during spring of 2023.  For 5 of them it was their first 4-H speech.  The agents and program assistant worked with the kids during practices.  Their first performance was in March of 2023.  The members and staff sold a limited number of tickets.  Their concert raised $2,700 in ticket sales, donations, and silent auction.  The money will be used to support the club and their activities.  Since the concert several adults have offered to help with the club.   Staff took them to Nashville for a Leadership experience trip, to see different performance-based businesses and the available opportunities.  Comments from the members about what they learned were positive.  One singer in the group would not even go in the room with the other singers when we started sang a song solo at the concert just 5 months later.   She told me this:  “I learned to have more confidence in my voice and my ability to go on stage.”  Another of the groups singers said about the Nashville trip, “I learned about the rich and diverse culture of Nashville and the varying lifestyles and backgrounds that are all there to experience the city and all that it offers.”  The performing arts club will be ongoing.   The members will be helping recruit new members, and we will add a couple of spots for young people that are interested in learning to run sound equipment.  The oldest of these 4-H Teens has participated in the State 4-H performing Arts Troupe for 4 years and will be attending Belmont University in Nashville this fall majoring in music production.