Success StoryTodd County Tweens, 4-H Summit, Area Teens and Leadership
Todd County Tweens, 4-H Summit, Area Teens and Leadership
Author: Lee Ann McCuiston
Planning Unit: Todd County CES
Major Program: Leadership
Plan of Work: Enhance Life Skills and Build Consumer Awareness
Outcome: Initial Outcome
Middle school age youth often times struggle with social interaction and personal growth in a supportive environment. Todd County 4-H provided multiple opportunities for middle school youth this year including 4-H Summit, Area 4-H Teen Council and Area 4-H Teen Retreat. These opportunities are designed for middle school youth, providing them with opportunities for social interaction, hands-on learning, and personal growth in a supportive environment. The events foster essential skills such as leadership, critical thinking, and civic engagement, aligning with the National 4-H Beyond Ready Initiative. These events play a key role in youth development by promoting resilience, confidence, and community engagement, ensuring that participants are well-equipped for future academic, professional, and civic responsibilities.
Area Teen Retreat, the Area Teen Council and the 4-H Summit engaged middle school youth through a variety of structured activities, including interactive workshops, leadership training and community service projects. The following outcomes yielded results from end of meeting surveys:
* Social Activities: Encouraging youth to build social and emotional skills, with 57% of attendees motivated by meeting new people and 51% enjoying time with friends.
* Hands-on Learning: Workshops were a key highlight, with 61% of participants selecting them as the most enjoyable part of the Summit. The Leadership Workshop, attended by 39% of participants, helped develop essential leadership skills.
* Civic Engagement: Activities such as writing positive notes to assisted living facility residents helped youth cultivate a sense of responsibility and community service.
* Skill Development: Workshops focused on practical life skills, from car maintenance to kitchen safety, preparing youth for future independence.
Each program was aligned with the 4-H Youth Development Thriving Model, ensuring that participants benefited from a high-quality, structured learning environment with the support of caring mentors.
The Todd County 4-H Middle School programs successfully engaged:
* 26 middle school youth from Todd County.
* 6 adults who provided mentorship and support.
The impact of the 4-H Summit, teen retreat and area teen programming was evident in both participant feedback and survey results.
* Social and Emotional Growth: A strong sense of belonging was fostered, which is essential for healthy youth development.
* Workshop Effectiveness: 79% of attendees reported workshops as the most educational component. Specific highlights included:
Leadership Workshop (39%) ; Service Project (30%)
Continued Engagement: Participants showed enthusiasm for ongoing involvement in 4-H activities because of these opportunities and are:
* 3.7 times more likely to participate in 4-H Achievement.
* 3.11 times more likely to seek a leadership board position.
* 2.7 times more likely to pursue a 4-H officer candidate position.
* 3.09 times more likely to seek an officer position at the county or area level.
Participant Retention and Enthusiasm: When asked if they would attend again if the age range were extended, 4.45 out of 5 participants indicated they would return.
4-H Middle school programming continues to meet a need for these youth who often fall through the cracks. The programming equips young people with the skills, confidence, and experiences necessary for future success.
© 2024 University of Kentucky, Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment