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Contact Information

Craig Wood, Ph.D
Acting Associate Dean & Director
UK Cooperative Extension Service

S-107 Ag. Science Center North Lexington, KY 40546-0091

+1 (859) 257-4302

craig.wood@uky.edu

Impacts

Contact Information

Craig Wood, Ph.D
Acting Associate Dean & Director
UK Cooperative Extension Service

S-107 Ag. Science Center North Lexington, KY 40546-0091

+1 (859) 257-4302

craig.wood@uky.edu




Fiscal Year:
Jul 1, 2024 - Jun 30, 2025


Success StoryC3-C4 Middle School Retreat



C3-C4 Middle School Retreat

Author: Kimberly Ragland

Planning Unit: Boyle County CES

Major Program: Leadership

Plan of Work: Leaders Develop and Expand Leadership Skills

Outcome: Intermediate Outcome

According to Adolescent Health: Think, Act, Grow Research Review: Opportunities for Teens to Engage as Learners, Leaders, Team Members, and Workers, “Adolescents…benefit from opportunities to shape programs and activities, which can improve the programs, provide valuable leadership skills and build confidence.” Area 4-H Youth Development Agents, to fulfill the need for providing leadership development experiences and working in partnership with the Central 3 / Central 4 Area 4-H Teen Council, designed, developed, implemented, and evaluated a two-day, overnight middle school event. The C3/C4 Area 4-H Middle School Retreat would focus on teen-led workshops and funshops, a targeted leadership session, and a community service opportunity for the group. The Area Teen Council provided instruction during each of the sessions to engage participants in peer-driven learning, served as cabin counselors, and managed group gatherings. Nineteen high school students, 13 adults, and 73 middle school youth attended the event held at a regional camping facility. Boyle County had 21 youth participants and one adult volunteer attending.  Seven teens taught classes and provided leadership for the program, including the Area Council President.  Following the event, evaluations were distributed and completed onsite.

Based on post-evaluations, 79.05% of participants would rate the workshops Above Average or Excellent. Workshop offerings at the 4-H Area Middle School included public speaking, team building, cooking, and fire building. Funshops evaluated by the youth participants showed 83.5% of attendees rated them as Above Average or Excellent. Funshops offered during the event were line dancing, games, leather printing, and a camouflage session. 52.3% of the middle school participants evaluated the leadership workshop as Above Average and Excellent. Continued development of the teen instructors to provide consistent curriculum-based lessons is a focus for future meetings between 4-H Youth Development Agents and the C3/C4 Area 4-H Teen Council. Additional questions were about the experience, soft skill growth, and continued involvement in 4-H Youth Develop programs from this experience. 94.3% of attendees understand there are different leadership styles following the Retreat. Finally, 98.5% stated they will participate in future 4-H activities. The C3/C4 Area 4-H Middle School Retreat demonstrated the appropriate balance in recreation and education and provided a unique circumstance to learn, develop, and look to the future as a 4-H member and potential community leader.






Stories by Kimberly Ragland


Boyle County Teens Participate in 2025 Teen Conference

about 2 days ago by Kimberly Ragland

The 2025 Kentucky 4-H Teen Conference was held at the University of Kentucky from June 10th to 13th,... Read More


Boyle County youth participate in Kentucky 4-H Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences Academy

about 7 days ago by Kimberly Ragland

The Kentucky 4-H Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences Academy (NRESci) empowers youth across... Read More


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about 1 months ago by Alethea Price

Boyle county is a growing community in terms of population and industries. From 2020 to 2025 Boyle C... Read More


Leadership Boyle County

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about 1 months ago by Kaitlin Farlee

Boyle county is a growing community in terms of population and industries. From 2020 to 2025 Boyle C... Read More


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From Fashion to SET: McCracken County Youth Make Their Mark at 4-H Teen Conference

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yesterday by Heather Hunter

From Fashion to SET: McCracken County Youth Make Their Mark at 4-H Teen ConferenceThe 2025 Kentucky ... Read More


Lyon County 4-H Seniors: Ready for Life Beyond High School

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about 8 days ago by Mary Beth Riley

A recent study shows that youth involved in 4-H feel that out-of-school programs are 77% more likely... Read More