According to the U.S. Department of Education (2017), “globalization has led to environmental, economic, social and political challenges requiring youth to be aware of differences among cultures, open to diverse perspectives, and appreciative of insight from cultural exchange.” Cultural exploration develops life skills in youth, including critical thinking and creativity, allowing youth to understand cultures and “work effectively in cross-cultural settings to address society, environmental, and entrepreneurial challenges.” In 2018, the Breckinridge County 4-H Council initiated a 4-H Cultural Club to provide local youth an opportunity to develop an understanding and respect for cultures across the globe, while developing life-skills to successfully work cross-culturally in the future. The 4-H Cultural Club is a project club with bimonthly, hands-on, educational meetings led by 4-H volunteers. Lessons from curriculum including 4-H Backpack to Adventures and KET Art Toolkits, allow youth to explore the culture of a different country every other week. Each club meeting begins with an officer led business meeting, before adjourning for the cultural food and arts lessons. The club provides 34 hours of cultural exploration, centering on an individual country’s culture at each meeting. Youth prepare at least one new dish together, taste-test the dish, and complete an art project highlighting a unique aspect of the country’s history, traditions, visual arts, holidays, architecture, etc. Each club meeting ends with reflection, reviewing the knowledge and skills learned, as well as, the similarities and differences of this culture with our own. The club reiterates the rule - a culture is not right or wrong, every culture has similarities and differences.

The following examples provide a glimpse into the 4-H Cultural Club experiences:

• During the exploration of South Korea, the 4-H International Exchange student instructed the club on writing their own names in Korean script and pronouncing common words, such as days of the week, months, and more, before the club taste tested a traditional noodle dish.
• In December, the club explored Norway, taste testing dishes while learning about holidays in Norway and completing woven heart ornaments, a traditional ornament on Norwegian Christmas trees.
• During the Exploration of Japan, the club taste tested sushi and rice dishes, while completing origami projects.
• Exploration of Thailand allowed the club to watch Thai street puppet shows before performing with their own, hand-made shadow puppets.
• Greek exploration included taste-testing different hummus dishes, reading and illustrating famous Greek myths associated with constellations, and constructing constellation wheels to help club members identify the Greek mythological figures in the night sky.
• Exploration of India allowed youth to taste-test naan, rice, and chicken dishes before sculpting their own pottery.

Formal evaluations in the form of Kentucky 4-H Standard post-tests, have indicated that 100% of 4-H Cultural Club members have increased their knowledge of other cultures, prepared and taste-tested a new dish, and can demonstrate an art form from another culture and share the role that artwork plays in history, language, or traditions. Youth also felt they gained respect for other cultures (100%) and greater than 75% replicated recipes or projects from 4-H Cultural Club with their families at home. Informal evaluations included feedback from youth, families, and volunteers. The club has expressed how much they have enjoyed the cultural adventure together and are making plans for next year. One parent stated, “I am so surprised and happy at how much he (club president) has grown. The business meetings have improved his reading skills and he loves coming and learning about other countries.” Another parents shared, “Our kids need this program. I’ve learned so much from being a part of the club and I know the kids have.” Each club meeting is a new cultural exploration, providing a global experience for youth in rural Kentucky.