Author: Patrick Allen
Planning Unit: 4-H Central Operations
Major Program: 4-H Agriculture Core Curriculum AND Natural Resources
Plan of Work: Basic Life Skills for Youth and Adults in Scott County
Outcome: Initial Outcome
I wanted a way to bring something I am passionate about to my 4-H program. I introduced day camps that focused on woodworking a couple of years ago. These were short term, single project focused day camps. They were well attended each time and asked about more and more. I decided that I wanted to make this a regular program that students could attend more regularly. A program that would be a building block for youth and give them more options. This program will be set so that youth can take different classes as they complete the previous class. I also wanted to introduce youth to more carpentry and woodworking practices in the real world. There is a deficit with the woodworking industry and youth attending trade related schools after high school. I wanted youth to see the importance of these trades and hopefully see an increase in their interest in attending these types of career paths. Due to the pandemic this in person program was put on hold. However, I have adapted this to a virtual experience with a series of videos. There has been a total of four videos posted and a total of 260 views. Even though the pandemic keeps us from meeting face to face it also provides us with more time to work on projects and build confidence with woodworking skills. “According to Jennifer Weber, EVP of human resources for Lowe's, the home improvement retailer conducted a survey which found that only five percent of parents in the U.S. expect their high school-aged students to pursue a career in the skilled trades. She also points out that the number of people showing an interest in a skilled trade is dwindling as more high schools have pulled back on offering construction-based shop classes. At the same time, 3 million skilled trades positions are predicted to be open by 2028.” (Desmarais, C., & Web, J. (2019, 11 14). Inc.com. Retrieved from Inc.com: https://www.inc.com/christina-desmarais/heres-why-your-kid-should-go-into-trades.html). The hope is that these types of programs will increase interest and ultimately encourage youth to pursue careers in the trade industry.
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