Changing and adapting to provide youth development in a changed environment.

2020 has been the year of virtual learning, social distancing, and adapting our everyday life to meet the recommendations. Youth are attending school from their homes through the use of a computer and webcam, while parents and guardians are turning in assignment packets on a designated day of the week. In-person 4-H clubs have come to a halt and agents have scrambled to modify their programs to ensure that our youth are still receiving quality youth development programming in ways that interest them. Grab bags, Zoom meetings, and individual study are a few examples of how the Christian County 4-H program has adapted to meet the needs of our youth, keep the programs relevant, in the public eye, and recruit new members to the program. 

The 4-H program is multi-faceted with seven core curriculum areas that encompass multiple project areas within each core area. In the traditional 4-H program where members are meeting face-to-face a member may be limited to the number of clubs and projects that they can participate in due to time, other commitments, resources, lack of volunteer leaders, or other restrictions. As a result of the transitioning the 4-H program to a virtual format using online platforms to conduct meetings, and utilizing project kits, the Christian County 4-H program has been able to diversify in order to offer new project areas. New 4-H Clubs and/or projects that have been offered are 4-H Bug Club, 4-H Art Club, and PACHEK 4-H Club with others planned for the Spring term.

The 4-H Bug Club was offered as an individual study club in which the members where given the materials needed to complete a bug collection. In partnership with the Christian County Horticulture Agent, video lessons were sent to each member so that they could complete the activities on their own time. Members will turn in a completed first year bug collection at the Western Ky State Fair next summer. Eight youth participated in the club with seven of those youth being first time 4-H members. 

The 4-H Art Club met on a monthly basis and covered topics within the Portfolio Pathways Curriculum. Members were given a kit each month with the supplies to complete the assigned activities that will be entered in the Western Ky State Fair next summer. Eight youth enrolled in the club with four of the youth being new to 4-H. 

The PACHEK 4-H Club was formed in partnership with the Pennyrile Area Christian Homeschool Educators of Kentucky to provide a 4-H club solely for the youth of PACHEK. The club meets on a monthly basis and each month covers a different core curriculum area within the 4-H program. Members are provided a kit of supplies needed to complete the months activities with at least one of the activities being eligible for entry in the Western Ky State Fair. The club has twenty-three youth enrolled with nineteen of the youth being first time 4-H members. 

Along with new clubs, 4-H grab bags have continued to be a popular offering for the Christian County 4-H program participants. While the number of bags has been scaled back from what was offered in the summer, grab bags are available when school is out of session. For example, a Thanksgiving themed bag was available to families prior to the Thanksgiving holiday with 49 youth enrolled. To date, nearly 50% of youth enrolled in the Christian County 4-H program are new to 4-H and are involved in at least one club. 

            While the use of social media as a tool in marketing the 4-H program has been around for quite some time, the increased awareness and traffic to the Christian County 4-H Facebook page has been significant. Prior to programs moving to a virtual format and the first grab bag being assembled, the Christian County 4-H Facebook had 1,125 followers as of March 15, 2020. On December 11^th, 2020 the Christian County 4-H Facebook page has increased in followers by 77% with the total number of followers at 1,454. 

            With more programs planned to start in early 2021, the 4-H Team anticipates the number of youth participating to increase along with the awareness of the 4-H program. In the future, many of the tools that are currently being used to deliver the 4-H program to youth will remain allowing 4-H to be accessible to more youth.