Success StoryDeveloping Teen Leaders



Developing Teen Leaders

Author: Mary S Averbeck

Planning Unit: Kenton County CES

Major Program: Leadership

Plan of Work: 2021 Adult & Youth Leadership Development

Outcome: Intermediate Outcome

When the COVID-19 pandemic shut down programming in March 2020 youth, families, and communities experienced long-term isolation and alteration of their typical lives related to in and out of school activities. Youth out-of-school time programs, such as 4-H, are essential ecological assets and their disruption during the pandemic may have a major impact on youth’s development according to Ettekal & Aganas, 2020. For many youth COVID-19 will be the defining issue of their lives and affect them in ways that will mark the course of their life-long development according to Bartlett & Virette, 2020. As society emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic, it is imperative that programs, communities, and families that are involved in the lives of youth make a diligent effort to restore and rebuild opportunities that provide experiences to develop interpersonal life-skills. Hosting the Kentucky 4-H Teen Conference in June 2021 was an attempt to provide a typical cumulative experience for senior-level 4-H members. Due to COVID-19 capacity restrictions the conference was open to only those senior-level youth who participated throughout the program year in a Kentucky 4-H leadership board or the Kentucky 4-H Achievement Program.  Kenton County Agents working together on the achievement program and teen conference had six youth attend the conference for the first time.  All six youth were achievement winners and were able to attend through their achievement scholarships and 4-H council Support.  The Kenton youth reported back to 4-H council they learned new leadership and life skills and enjoyed their time at teen conference.






Stories by Mary S Averbeck


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2020 Kentucky Volunteer Forum

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Volunteers play integral roles in 4-H programs, performing a variety of duties, functions, and tasks... Read More


Stories by Kenton County CES


12 years of Surveys reflect importance of Natural Resource Education for 4-H members

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about 4 years ago by Diane Kelley

Kenton County Cooperative Extension 4-H Youth Development Agent – Kelley; surveyed teachers in 3 Ken... Read More


Kenton CES responds to youth needs during 2020 pandemic

Kenton CES responds to youth needs during 2020 pandemic

about 4 years ago by Diane Kelley

The international pandemic of 2020 provided new opportunities for Kenton Cooperative Extension to ed... Read More