Author: Patrick Allen
Planning Unit: 4-H Central Operations
Major Program: 4-H Youth Development Programming
Plan of Work: Promoting Physical Activity
Outcome: Initial Outcome
During the pandemic it has become increasingly more important to reach our youth audiences. They are stuck at home and need to stay busy for their mental and physical health. We have created an opportunity for youth to still be active 4-H members at home though projects they can complete at home. Each week we have prepared a project kit that can be safely picked up at the extension office and completed at home. We have tried to make all kits match a project that is eligible to be entered in the county or state fair. Projects are relatively simple and can be completed by all ages within the 4-H program age groups. We have put out about 400 kits, with 365 picked up. We have seen through social media posts that youth are enjoying the projects and completing them. We have received positive feedback from parents who are thankful that there is something for them to keep their children busy with. Each project involves one of the seven core content areas within the 4-H curriculum as well as teaches the youth different skills. There have been sever that deal with nature or natural resources, for example tree identification. This project has the youth completing a leaf collection. This accomplishes several things, first the youth are being physically active by getting out and collecting the leaves. Secondly, it is teaching youth about the trees in their area, and finally It is allowing them to focus on something positive and not the current negative, improving mental health.
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