Number and Description of Participants / Target Audience:
During the summer of 2025, over 450 youth across Jefferson County participated in hands-on 4-H programming offered at six local community sites: Greater Galilee, Sowing Seeds with Faith, Earth & Spirit Center, Cyril Algier, California Community Center, and Southwick Community Center. The target audience included primarily elementary and middle school youth, many from under-resourced neighborhoods, who gained access to enriching summer learning opportunities through partnerships with schools, churches, and community organizations.

Program Description:
The programs focused on real-world, skill-building activities that aligned with 4-H’s core curricula:

• Hand-Sewing Projects at Greater Galilee and Sowing Seeds with Faith built creativity, patience, and fine motor skills while allowing participants to make personalized keepsakes.
• Gardening Programs at Earth & Spirit Center and Cyril Algier taught youth about plant science, composting, and harvesting, along with lessons in sustainability and nutrition.
• Cooking Classes at California Community Center emphasized food safety, recipe reading, and healthy eating habits through hands-on meal preparation.
• Agriculture in the Classroom at Southwick Community Center helped youth explore how food is grown, harvested, and processed, providing a foundational understanding of agriculture’s role in everyday life.

Statement of Outcomes / Program Impact:
Evaluation data collected from post-program surveys, instructor observations, and informal participant feedback indicate measurable growth in knowledge, confidence, and practical skills:

• 91% of youth participants reported learning at least one new skill they had never tried before.
• 85% of sewing participants indicated an improvement in patience and attention to detail, with nearly all expressing pride in completing a finished product.
• 88% of gardening participants demonstrated increased knowledge of plant lifecycles, composting, and healthy food choices, with several youth expressing a desire to start home gardens.
• 93% of youth in the cooking program showed growth in their ability to read and follow a recipe, with 78% reporting they had cooked or helped cook at home following the class.
• 100% of youth in the Agriculture in the Classroom program could explain one way food moves from farm to table after the session, up from just 32% prior to participation.

In addition to these academic and practical gains, site facilitators and community partners noted observable improvements in youth confidence, communication, and collaboration. Parents also shared that their children were more engaged at home, asking to help with cooking, gardening, and sewing.

Conclusion:
This summer, 4-H programs across Jefferson County transformed local community spaces into vibrant learning environments where youth grew practical life skills and leadership capacity. By meeting kids where they are—with tools in hand and curiosity in their hearts—4-H proved once again that when young people are supported and empowered, they thrive. These experiences not only sparked immediate interest and joy, but also planted seeds for long-term growth and engagement in positive youth development.