4-H YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

Brocke Laws, 4-H Youth Specialist

 

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4-H…creating environments where young people are valued, contributing members of their community.

 

Learning life skills enable youth to become self-directing and productive, lead satisfying lives, contribute to society and function effectively in a changing world.

 

Young people between the ages of 8 and 19, participate in individual and group learning experiences to learn skills for living.  Five-to seven-year-olds learn life skills through Clover Kids group activities.

 

It is said, "It is better to build a child than to mend an adult."  This, in a nutshell, is the main objective of the   4-H program. The 4-H program was established around the model of "learning to do by doing."

 

Today, new phrases like experiential learning or authentic learning are used to describe that model.  People learn best by being involved in the learning process. 

 

The "doing" method is usually more successful than "showing" or "telling".  Of primary importance in this learn-by-doing approach is the 4-H project.  A project is a set of activities centered on a specific subject. 

 

Each member or group selects one or more projects according to their interest and ability.  Each project requires the member or group to establish goals, work toward those goals and evaluate their progress.

 

Experiential learning occurs when youths participate in an activity, look back to reflect on the activity, draw conclusions or observations from the experience and relate the experience to other or future experiences in their lives. 

 

Through the experiential learning process, young people develop basic, transferable life skills useful today and in the future. 

 

Life skills may be categorized as three types:

·         Competency — developing skills and knowledge; strengthening and using decision-making skills; communicating with and relating to other people.

·         Coping — responding to life situations; developing a positive self-concept; establishing priorities consistent with one's values.

·         Contributory — sharing with others; developing leadership skills; responding to the needs of others and of the community.

 

Participation Summary

In 2008, 1 out of 7 youth in Cole County ages 5 - 18 (based on the 2000 Census) participated in at least 6 hours of 4-H supported educational programming.  Over 3,000 youths total were involved in some aspect of the 4-H program.  Nearly 21% of the minority audience potential in this age group was also reached by these same 4-H programs.

 

“Classic" 4-H Club Program

In 2008, 238 youth ages 8 - 19 were involved in the traditional 4-H community clubs.  Clover Kids, the 4-H program for youth ages 5 to 7 had 28 members.  One- hundred-thirty-one adult volunteers served as club, project and county level leaders, an increase of 58%. 

 

National statistics indicate that the average 4-H volunteer contributes 220 hours per year towards the education of our community’s youth.  In Cole County that amounts to over $330,000 in volunteer time.

 

Cole County was well represented at county, state and national events in 2008.  This representation included thirteen delegates and chaperones for the Interstate Teen Cultural Exchange.   These youth and chaperones spent a week with 4-H families in the state of Washington. 

 

Fifty-one attended 4-H Camp, not including nine camp counselors. Five went to Clover Kids Camp and 8 to Family Camp. Thirty-two practiced their decision making skills at Achievement Night with seven being selected to give demonstrations at the Missouri State Fair.  Twenty-one showcased their fashion skills at Fashion Revue and 81 learned more about their role as club leaders at Officer Training.

 

A camp counselor wrote, “While being a counselor I have learned major leadership skills”.  Another commented, “I learned how to help kids have fun and keep them safe at the same time”.

 

The 4H LIFE Program

The 4-H LIFE Program provides a unique opportunity for incarcerated parents and their children.  In most cases, family programming is extremely limited in correctional centers.  Research suggests that children of incarcerated parents tend to feel isolated and lack the necessary resources to build healthy relationships with their incarcerated parents. 

 

Along with parenting and planning classes that the offender takes to prepare for an enhanced visit, the 4-H LIFE Program helps bridge the gap between the incarcerated parent and child, provides educational, recreational, and parenting programming for the entire family, and supports social networking with other families of incarcerated parents that may help reduce the feelings of isolation.

 

Starting in 2006, the 4-H Life program is now offered at the Women's Eastern Reception and Diagnostic Correctional Center in Vandalia, the Algoa Correctional Center in Jefferson City; and the Farmington Correctional Center.  The 4-H LIFE Program is funded through the Children, Youth, and Families At Risk (CYFAR) Sustainable Communities Program grant, 2006-2011.

 

The Algoa Correctional Center members of the 4-H LIFE program chose the name "The Algoa Leafers" for their club.  The 4-H LIFE Algoa Leafers have come a long way since their first meeting in January 2007.  With more and more families joining the club each month, the father’s of Algoa Correctional Center that plan the monthly meetings have impressive ideas for activities, snacks and crafts.

 

The 4-H LIFE program at Algoa Correctional center had some special guests at the April meeting.  The MU 4-H collegiate team came to visit and do some activities with the 7 families that were able to attend.  They used foam pool noodles to do these activities and had a great time.

 

The theme for April was “Changes in the weather”. The children in the 4-H LIFE program had a chance to write a short story on the worst storm they had ever been in, and then the kids and their fathers stood up and shared with the group.  They made rain sticks (using paper towel rolls and beans); rainbow colored trail mix and pantomimed different storms.

 

Algoa club members have stated;

·   “I feel the class has and had a strong impact on my life. I can’t wait to put all the new things I’ve learned to practice.”

·   “This is the best class I have been in since I have been doing time. It is a real class that talks about real things and the teachers are the best!”

·   “Classes like this are necessary to help inmates become productive people. This was a great learning experience. Thanks!”

 

School Enrichment Programs

2008 saw 3,052 youths received in-school supplemental instruction in Incubation and Embryology - Biology Supplement.  This is an increase of 9%.  A teacher remarked, “I liked having the ability to show my students how chicks hatch and how to care for them”.  Another wrote “We talked about how thermostats work; Expansion of Matter; Animal Adaptation (bird beaks, feeding, etc.), Life cycles; and classification.”

 

Show Me Character

Show Me Character is Cole County’s 4‑H character education initiative partnering with the National Character Counts Coalition.  The program emphasizes the Six Pillars of Character:

 

The Six Pillars of Character were also used in 4‑H newsletters, camp activities, at the fair and judging classes. A 4-H participant commented “Every year I get a little more confidence.”

 

Work Force Preparation

Young people need certain life skills and competencies to become effective workers in the future.  4‑H projects in Beef, Swine, Sheep, Horses, Rabbits and Poultry emphasize work skills such as managing resources, record keeping and decision-making.  4‑H members learn about agribusiness through these projects. 

 

The Cole County Fair gives 4‑H youth a chance to exhibit their projects and provides opportunities for young people to apply the knowledge and skills they’ve developed.  The Cole County Fair was a huge success.

 

A first year livestock project member that attended a fitting workshop commented “I was very encouraged…..Thanks!!!!  We need more things like this and sharing ideas.  I think this will help my son for life.”

 

Leadership Skills

Young people developing skills include:

·     Evan Kempker from Eager Elves 4-H Club received the Fred Oehring Scholarship

 

Community Service

Service to others is a key part of the 4‑H.  Cole County clubs reported a wide variety of service activities.  Weighted blankets were made and donated to the Special Learning Center.  Adopt a Highway, donating toys to the fire department, donating money to Kids Helping Kids, donating money, clothing, and toys to families in need were some of the other service projects completed this year.  Clubs also made food baskets for the needy and for senior citizens.  Many clubs worked on recycling projects.  Cole clubs donated items to the Special Learning Center, the Rape and Abuse Crisis Center, Homemaker Health Care and the JC Day Care Center.

 

A 4-H member commented, “It really feels good to know you are helping someone else”.

 

Leadership RAP

As part of 4-H regional responsibilities, Brocke Laws, Youth Specialist is one of the instructors for the Leadership RAP (Ready and Proud) program conducted at the Juvenile Justice Center (JJC) in Boone County.  The purpose of the program is to positively influence participant behavior by presenting alternative paradigms and developing leadership skills.

 

Since December 31, 2004, participants of the program are 48% more likely not to return to the center for post-release violations when compared to an equal number of non-participants. 

 

Four Leadership RAP programs are presented at the Juvenile Justice Center each year.  Each program is spread over a five-day period.  Leadership RAP uses a wide range of videos, games, exercises, and discussion formats to help the offenders.  Emphasis is placed on participant involvement. 

 

JCC staff comments;

·         “The instructors are extremely enthusiastic about the program and I think they are very involved.” 

·         “Its exciting and introducing activities to the kids can keep their interest and they really participate.”

·         “It challenges the kids more than other programs.  It really sets them into problem solving skills that they don’t get.”

 

Resource Development for Youth Programs

The many local sponsors that help make the educational opportunities available for area youth need to be recognized. 

 

In 2008 over $3,500 private dollars were contributed to help defray the costs of the various youth activities.  The United Way provided $8,000 in program support for the Cole and Osage County 4-H Youth Development programs.  The Jefferson City Jaycee’s donated $12,000 to the fair and 4-H gave out a record $9,130 in premiums.