The Boone County Cooperative Extension Service provided the 4-H Music & Movement day camp with three main goals in mind for youth participants:

• Explore fundamental elements of music and dance
• Participate in education that fosters self-expression and life skill development 
• Explore the arts for areas of interest

A need was discovered due to limited arts education in the community that allowed students to explore different areas of the arts in a non-traditional setting outside of the school environment. Parents of 4-H’ers expressed interest in an arts program through discussions at the local county fair. Communications & Expressive Arts programs were also noted in the county plan of work. 

There are a number of added benefits for youth participation in non-traditional arts education. Research shows that youth who receive music and arts education demonstrate lower rates of substance use, increased academic performance, enhanced executive functioning, and improved conduct (e.g., Devroop, 2012; Hallam, 2010; Sachs, Kaplan, Der Sarkissian, & Habibi, 2017). 

In partnership with a music education student and member of Morehead State University’s Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia music fraternity, the Agent for 4-H Youth Development Education utilized the approved 4-H curriculum, KET Education Arts Toolkits to provide 6 sessions of music and dance education to 25 4-H’ers aging in range from nine years to fourteen years of age. 

A verbal and written evaluation was completed with youth attendees. The results showed: 

• 100%…learned to express themselves through music and dance
• 98%…report feeling comfortable sharing their thoughts with others
• 90%…tried something new for the first time
• 85%…interested in pursuing a career in music or dance

Some participants shared, “I can’t wait to join marching band”, “I’m asking for a drum set for my birthday”, “Please call my mom when we’re dancing again”, and “I really thought I wouldn’t like it but I loved getting to make up my own song”.