Americana Blossoms!    

Last year, while working with an environmental science club: “the green team”. I noticed many of our kiddos were a bit rude, talkative, and needing constant redirection. I often wondered if this had anything to do with comprehension or learning disabilities but after speaking with KSU volunteer Jennifer and A.C.C. Director Lauren, we determined that this was a cultural boundary. Not only because of where they come from but because of different family dynamics and roles family members play in the home. Some of our kiddos are the mom when mom is at work, or dad when bills need to be paid, or the interpreter when engaging with people in the community. 

In response, we decided to select an age group that would #1 be the most influential as far as encouraging them to take ownership of their 4-H club and participate in traditional as well as non-traditional 4-H activities on a county/state level #2 would have less behavior problems and #3 could grow to model what they are learning to the younger participants.

As a result, we were able to form a citizenship/leadership group of middle school students, from 6^th-8^th grade. I was a bit nervous about the middle school age group because last year they were…a challenge to say the least but I guess the saying is true “with age comes maturity!”. I was very impressed after our first meeting because this group was genuinely interested in being a part of a 4-H club and was more than willing to participate in club activities, especially after they were told about open officer positions and elections! We do have some language barriers as well as confidence barriers but while learning the 4-H pledge I was so pleased to see our kiddos making an effort to learn the pledge as well as the hand motions. After learning a little about what it means to be a 4-H club member, roles and responsibilities. I know we are blossoming and beginning to “make the better best”. 

In the picture below 4-H participants are working on a "understanding self" collage featured in Activity 1 of the Leadership Roadtrip 4-H curriculum.