June 1, 2006
Volume 1, Issue 14
Welcome to the 4-H Afterschool Newsletter, the national online news source for 4-H Afterschool!
We welcome any story ideas -- share your successes, methods and exciting news by e-mailing us here.
JCPenney Afterschool Fund - is the national presenting sponsor of 4-H Afterschool
4-H Afterschool News:
Last Issue of the 4-H Afterschool Newsletter
Meet the Rest of the 4-H Afterschool Opens Doors Winners
Report from the Road: Ron Drum Visits NFL/JCPenney Afterschool Fund Grantees in Kentucky
Report from the Road: Eddie Locklear Finds Some 4-H Afterschool Teamwork in New Jersey
Report from the Road: Tennessee Shows Eddie Locklear How 4-H WORKS
Watch Don Floyd's Speech From the National AfterSchool Association's 2006 Conference
Ohio 4-H Afterschool Program Now Included in National Out-of-School Time Evaluation Database
Resources and Opportunities:
Know an Exceptional 4-H Youth? Tell Us!
GLOW Crazy with 4-H Afterschool Wristband
NetAid Global Citizen Corps – 2006-2007 Application Now Open!
4-H AFTERSCHOOL NEWS
Last Issue of the 4-H Afterschool Newsletter
This is the last official issue of the 4-H Afterschool Newsletter. In order to get you the most up-to-date and timely 4-H Afterschool information, we’ve decided to integrate more news into the monthly national 4-H online newsletter, Clover Corner News. You will still have plenty of access to great 4-H Afterschool information—and also to other helpful 4-H news and opportunities. If you are not yet a subscriber to Clover Corner News, click here and enter your information to subscribe! If you are, look out in upcoming issues to get all of your 4-H Afterschool news. Also, visit the 4-H Afterschool website at www.4hafterschool.org.
Thanks for your ideas, feedback and support! We look forward to sharing more information with you through Clover Corner News.
Meet the Rest of the 4-H Afterschool Opens Doors Winners
This month, we want to introduce you to the rest of the fantastic 4-H Afterschool Opens Doors winners. This $500 award recognizes outstanding 4-H volunteers involved in 4-H Afterschool programming, and is made possible by support from the JCPenney Afterschool Fund.
In this issue, we are sharing the stories of awardees from Delaware, Maryland, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Virginia, Florida, Massachusetts, New Jersey, South Dakota, and West Virginia, Idaho, Michigan, New York, Tennessee and Wisconsin.
Sara Busker and Jennifer Crouse, Harrington, DE
In 2003, Sara and Jennifer wanted to expand their leadership experiences working with elementary youth, so they formed the first 4-H Afterschool club in their area. The teens shared their project and leadership skills by delivering 4-H educational activities in the after-school hours. Other teens in Kent County learned of this and wanted to try it in their community, expanding the effort to three school districts. Each site is led by 4-H teens and adult volunteers. The teens determine the topics, develop the lessons, share resources between sites and work to actively involve the participants. These efforts have been successful in recruiting youth from these sites into local community 4-H clubs as well as county and state 4-H events.
The Kent County 4-H Aftershool Club is a great example of youth-adult partnerships and using the experiential learning model to share educational opportunities with elementary school aged youth. The program participants have enjoyed such diverse educational experiences as cooking and learning about the food pyramid, carding a lamb, learning animal science, and making a dish garden while learning about plants and soils. All activities are fun as everyone interacts together while learning through the hand-on experiences.
Georganna S. Cottman, Westover, MD
Mrs. Georganna Cottman has served as a 4-H volunteer for more than fifty years. She provides opportunities for at-risk youth to engage in a safe, productive, and caring after-school program that offers activities based on the 4-H youth development model. Mrs. Cottman takes the participants on trips, teaches them public speaking skills, and nurtures their cognitive development.
Mrs. Cottman has a caring and nurturing disposition. Over the years she has touched the lives of many individuals, many of whom had no one else to care for them. The youth at her after-school program have become nurses, lawyers, managers, teachers, skilled carpenters, automobile mechanics, doctors, accountants, and many other highly skilled professionals. Several of these individuals have stated that if it was not for 4-H and the skills they had learned they would never have had the confidence to be successful.
In 1959, a time when Maryland’s Eastern Shore was racially divided, Mrs. Cottman led one of the only interracial 4-H clubs in the state of Maryland. The first African American child to compete in Maryland’s Eastern Shore’s 4-H Communications Contest was a member of her 4-H club, a fact of which she is very proud. She continues to promote a positive environment where youth learn to appreciate and cherish racial diversity. She believes that all youth and adults should work together and support one another.
Mrs. Cottman has dedicated her life to working with children. She has contributed to the Maryland 4-H youth development program in numerous ways and has made the world a better place because she makes a difference in the lives of our children.
Sue Mcduff, Laconia, NH
Sue Mcduff brought 4-H Afterschool to Alton, N.H., a rural town of just under 5,000 that sits south of Lake Winnipesaukee. For more than 10 years, every attempt to organize an after-school program in Alton failed. With Sue’s help, UNH Cooperative Extension brought community partners, school officials, parents and youth together under the 4-H Afterschool banner and developed an after-school program to fit the needs of the community.
One of the first projects the participants took on was a school beautification project. The townspeople developed much interest in this effort and generously donated flowers to the project. The project’s progress was tracked in the newspapers with stories and photos of the children working together featured on a regular basis. When the project was finished, the Principal posted a message on the school’s front sign reading, “THANK YOU to 4-H Members and Volunteers.” That was the first of many successes sure to come in this program’s bright future.
Lisa Fields, Clemson, SC
Lisa Fields is the Executive Director of the Oconee County Communities in the Schools and Child Abuse Prevention Program (CIS/PCA). A recipient of South Carolina’s Engaging Youth, Serving Community 1 funds, Lisa started three 4-H Afterschool club programs in the current CIS after-school program. More than 100 youth have been a part of the after-school program since that time. They have initiated a number of community projects including a “Christmas Wishes” service project.
Presently, the Oconee County CIS/PCA program serves 45 youth in three separate school sites. Five staff members have been trained in the South Carolina Extension Youth and Adults Working Together curriculum, and a library of 4-H curriculum has been purchased to serve as resources for the continuing program. Youth served are low income to middle income Caucasian, African American and Hispanic youth. Objectives are to increase participation and initiate at least one new 4-H Club during 2006.
Beverly Holmberg, North, VA
Beverly Holmberg is the leader of the Bug Brainiacs, a 4-H Afterschool club that takes work that has been accomplished in school into the after-school hours. Building on the science lessons learned during the day, Beverly’s 4-H Club members are building a water garden/experiment station near the school. This garden, when finished, will serve as a laboratory for the 4-H Club’s activities and an educational beautification project for the community. The 4-H members plan to use their garden to study the growth of insects, the interrelationships of insects and vegetation, and pond life ecology – specifically the life-cycles of mosquitoes and dragonflies.
Judy Sloane, Ft. Myers, FL
Judy Sloane put her fluent Spanish speaking skills to good use when she collaborated with Lee County 4-H agent Mel Markward, the Tice Elementary School and the Family Learning Center to bring 4-H Afterschool to youth in the small Florida town of Tice.
In order to introduce parents to what students could enjoy in the 4-H Afterschool Environmental Club, the school and the 4-H agent worked to share materials with parents in Spanish and helped them to encourage their children to participate in a program that would help foster self-confidence through discovery and provide opportunities to develop life skills such as decision-making, problem solving and teamwork through the 4-H experience. Judy met the parents on the first day and encouraged them to speak with her since she was fluent in Spanish. The club engaged in both indoor and outdoor experiments and activities in ecology, science, nature and technology. Judy consistently motivated the youth by calling them “detectives” and encouraging them to ask questions. The program consisted of numerous hands-on environmental education activities that were both educational and enjoyable. At the end of the six-week program each member received a creative and colorful certificate during a special recognition ceremony.
Laurie Baker, Centerville, MA
Over the last two years, Barnstable County Youth Development/4-H has come to rely on a great program assistant/volunteer—Laurie Baker. Supported by a strong relationship with University of Massachusetts/Amherst, Barnstable County has been able to offer quality after-school programs in several locations, reaching about 700 youth during the last school year. Many schools have approached Barnstable County for ideas, curricula, training, staff and programs or all of the above.
Laurie is a pre-school teacher who knows many of the youth at Hyannis East Elementary School, one of twelve 4-H Afterschool locations in the Cape Cod area. Laurie is an enthusiastic and energetic leader who has offered numerous programs including “Mad Scientist” and 4-H Babysitting, as well as leading a traditional 4-H club with 18 members. You know you’re on to something wonderful when the children jump out of their seats and scream, “You’re here today? Why didn’t anyone tell us? Hooray! Hooray!” Hooray for Laurie Baker, too.
Kimberly Switzgable, Pennington, NJ
When it comes to children, Kimberly Switzgable does not horse around. For Kimberly, the success of her Horses and Youth (H.A.Y.) 4-H Afterschool program is most evident in the smiles of the children and the progress they make from the first day to the last. Kimberly, a compassionate individual with a great love for horses and children, was very excited when she learned that Mercer County 4-H was working with the county’s equestrian center to bring inner city youth the opportunity to work with horses. Kimberly works with children on lessons and takes time to learn about each one of them and their interests. She truly enjoys watching each child’s progress, and the youth respond so well to her because of her enthusiasm, patience, and understanding nature. Her sincere interest in each child is extremely evident, and Kimberly’s positive nature helps each child feel encouraged and excited about their activities in the HAY program.
Amanda Lacher, Mina, SD
Amanda became involved with 4-H Afterschool in the Ipswich, SD School District, when her junior leader organization thought it would be a great chance to share knowledge with younger kids and recruit them to join a 4-H community club. She began working with the Ipswich Tiger Post, an out-of-school time program that serves the students in grades K-6 of the Ipswich School District. With the help of the Extension Educator, the junior leaders developed a list of after-school club topics and allowed youth in the program to pick which topics they wanted to learn more about. They picked aerospace and rockets, whales, foods and nutrition, spiders, dogs and community service. Through these programs, the 4-H junior leaders have reached all 74 of the students that attend the Tiger Post at one time or another. Some of the students have even joined a community 4-H club, while others participate in 4 H as independent members in special interest projects such as shooting sports and dog obedience. Amanda, along with the other junior and adult leaders, learned how to cater activities and projects to the particular age group. They also honed their organization skills and their ability to be prepared both for the expected and the unexpected. But most importantly, they learned that they can be good role models and teachers for the youth in our community.
Diana Welty, Monongah, WV
When it comes to running a 4-H club in an after-school setting, Diana Welty is a pro. She has been the leader for the Monongah 4-H Club of Monongah, West Virginia for almost three years now. Her club is part of the Monongah 4-H & CloverBud program, created to provide a noncompetitive atmosphere of learning for students in grades one through four who needed a place to go after school. The program is designed to deliver the basics of the 4-H program, with each month focusing on a different 4-H theme: Head, Heart, Hands, Health, My Club, My Community, My Country and My World. Diana works hard to provide an atmosphere in which every student is encouraged to try new things, and feels comfortable enough to do so. The town of Monongah has always been an avid sponsor of the 4-H program, and its residents have extended this support to the after-school program. Town residents and members of local organizations are also interested in the advancement of the club members. Every month, club activities are featured in the Monongah News section of the local newspaper, the Times West Virginian, so it is easy for club supporters to keep track of how the club is progressing, thanks to Diana’s great leadership.
Margaret Stevens, Payette, ID
When Margaret Stevens is involved, 4-H Afterschool flourishes year-round. Since October 2004, when the partnership with the schools began, the after-school program at the Payette Primary and West Side Elementary Schools has reached nearly 90 youth in total. After-school volunteers were introduced and encouraged to use the experiential learning model while interacting with the youth. Youth participated in Afterschool activities based on 4-H project curriculum, improved communication, decision-making, teamwork and other life skills. 4-H Afterschool volunteers like Margaret helped to make day camps available during the school vacation. Four local instructors volunteered their talents of painting, cooking and scrapbooking to teach the youth at the day camps. Five 4-H teens volunteered to help younger youth with the instructions during day camps. The parents of Payette children used to worry about their children when school left out. With great 4-H Afterschool volunteers like Margaret, they don’t worry anymore!
Meg Fraser, Traverse City, MI
Teenagers need support after school, too. That’s why Meg helped organize and serve as a mentor for the Kingsley 4-H Teen Club. The Kingsley 4-H Teen Club’s vision is that all children and youth are in a safe, healthy, and enriching environment when they are away from their parents. Meg began by surveying young people to determine what projects, ideas and activities to pursue. Working with the newly elected youth officers, she helped the club set goals and implement activities. Meg also became familiar with the State Educational Standards and worked to align 4-H Afterschool learning outcomes with these standards, specifically around public speaking and communication. The members were introduced to the Michigan 4-H Guiding Principles and given the responsibility of creating the club. This included developing ground rules, electing officers and assigning tasks. The 4-Hers quickly took charge, and now these 4-Hers are skilled at making plans and last minute changes, as well as knowing when to ask for help and how to care for and respect themselves as individuals. Meg also reported noticing that the young people have improved thinking skills, shown positive character and pro-social behavior and created strong ties to their school and community.
Abbie Juett, Enfield, NY
Abbie Juett was nominated for this award because she established a 4-H club for 5th graders in a small, rural school-based after-school program in Tompkins County, New York. Abbie convinced the director of the program of the benefits of 4-H Afterschool, and consequently given the go-ahead to bring 4-H to the Enfield After-school program. She sent letters to parents, informing them of the new Enfield Pre-teens 4-H Club. Every student went on to complete the optional enrollment process. The club met once every week and focused on interior design as a project. Students studied the elements of line, design and color. Each maintained a portfolio to represent their activities, progress and learning. 4-H curricula were used to support the learning and activities. Other aspects of the program included understanding and working with floor plans — working in scale and with a grid; measuring and creating a floor plan of their current bedroom, and designing their “dream” bedroom on paper. A trip to a craft store allowed the students to purchase all the items needed to make their paper design become a reality by building a bedroom in a 12" square glass-topped box. An additional enrichment activity was a guest visit from a professional interior designer to talk about her work and career opportunities. Since the club enrolled all 5th grade after-school participants, the club was co-ed – and boys and girls alike enjoyed designing their own spaces.
It was one of the county’s first, and certainly the most successful, 4-H clubs organized as part of an established after-school program. Many of the key elements of a traditional 4-H club were successfully incorporated in the program. All students maintained portfolios documenting their project work, building many life skills, and enhancing writing skills. These portfolios also qualified the students for our county level awards. Next year, Abbie plans to offer more projects. She is also going to offer the club two times each week – that’s double the time and opportunities Enfield children will enjoy!
Ginger Bates, Hohenwald, TN
If you are going to participate in the Lewis County Schools After-School Program, Ginger Bates is going to make sure you live a healthy lifestyle. She wants to increase student awareness and knowledge about food, nutrition, and life-time wellness for the children while also increasing parental awareness and knowledge concerning the importance of childhood nutrition, preparing healthy snacks, and risks of childhood obesity. Ginger plans to accomplish this by increasing the amount of curricula used in the after-school program providing information to parents concerning the importance of nutrition and appropriate snacking for young children. She plans to organize a student health fair that offers after-school program students giving presentations and providing samples of healthy snacks, 4-H volunteers providing information to parents concerning healthy snack options, and high school students taking blood pressures and providing information about childhood obesity health risks. The after-school teachers will provide educational opportunities for children to learn about nutrition, making good food choices, and provide opportunities and materials to have a poster contest for childhood nutrition. Ginger’s plans include Public Services Announcements encouraging nutritional snacking choices for young children; prepared by the students involved in the after-school program. The Health Fair will be conducted after school from 3:30 until 6:00 PM. This will enable 100% participation of all parents and students—all of whom will enjoy a healthy way to spend their after-school hours.
Nicole Mohsin, West Allis, WI
Nicole Mohsin helps bridge an important gap in her Wisconsin 4-H Afterschool program. As an aspiring teen leader, Nichole assists 4-H leader Tomas Medina to effectively communicate with Latino/Latina students and their families. Approximately 130 Latino/Latina Vieau School students, ranging from third to eighth grade, are reached by these 4-H Afterschool efforts. Not only does Nicole assist Tomas with implementation of the 4-H Afterschool Community Service initiative weekly, but she also translates the bi-monthly 4-H in Action newsletter into Spanish, which has been distributed to parents of youth involved in 4-H. It is estimated that a minimum of 130 families have received and read the 4-H newsletter. In conjunction with the 4-H office, Nicole continues to translate 4-H materials, flyers and brochures with the interest of involving more Spanish speaking parents in 4 H. Nicole’s assistance has been invaluable to the growth of the Wisconsin 4-H Afterschool program, especially into Hispanic audiences.
Report from the Road: Ron Drum Visits NFL/JCPenney Afterschool Fund Grantees in Kentucky
-- submitted by Ron Drum, national coordinator, 4-H Afterschool
It was the coolest thing.
I was in Kentucky the week of February 20 for two reasons: to meet with our Kentucky 4-H Works: Teens Teaching Youth Workforce Preparation Skills grantees—one of ten recipients of the Teens Teaching Youth Workforce Preparation Skills 4-H Afterschool Grants, made possible through support from the JCPenney Afterschool Fund and NFL Charities, and to attend the National AfterSchool Association’s annual conference.
Due to the differing locations of these two events, I ended up having to drive the over 200 miles between Louisville and Paducah—and back the next day. My rental car had one of those GPS directional devices, which claim that you can never be lost with them. I still managed to go the wrong way a few times, however, but my little computer friend would chastise me with, “Please return to the highlighted route,” making sure to keep me on the right track. I mention all of this because, in a way, my experience mirrors the experiences of these grantees. They too began with a plan well mapped out but, as we shall see, not everything has gone according to plan.
I arrived at the McCracken County Extension Office in Paducah, Kentucky, the road still ringing in my ears. There to greet me was Danielle Rudolph, Grant PI and McCracken County 4-H Youth Development Agent; Ginny Harper, Calloway County 4-H Youth Development Agent; and Wendy Stivers, State Extension Specialist for 4-H Youth Development. We immediately sat down and began talking JCP/NFL grant business – time, as always, being the enemy.
Danielle indicated they have six counties participating in the project with each at different stages of implementation, but all making progress. It was then that the first “sidetrack” appeared. Danielle indicated that many of the agents working on this project are finding it more difficult to recruit the numbers of middle school aged youth and keep them returning that the grant requires. Sites that were expected to provide hundreds of youth are only providing 40 or 50 – far less then expected.
Has this development caused these agents to give up? Nope—just the opposite! They have vowed to work that much harder seeking ways to make their programs more enticing to the youth. They indicated that it will not be long before they will be back on the “highlighted route.”
A second sidetrack appeared in the discussion of the evaluation process prescribed by the grant. Participant perceptions and University policies have combined to hamper this grant element as well. Once again the agents had arrived at a place where they might have given up, but instead they rose to the occasion. By adapting and changing they have found a way to again move forward.
All this talk, however, took us far past the noon hour, and we set off for historic downtown Paducah and the C.C. Cohen restaurant for lunch. There, we met up with Cindy McDonald, a 4 H volunteer who works with the Reidland Middle School grant site in McCracken County. Cindy had nothing but good things to say about Danielle and the project. I had nothing but good things to eat enjoying a Kentucky “Hot Brown”—a delicious sandwich I highly recommend.
All too soon it was time to move again – this time heading southeast toward Christian County, the most diverse county in Kentucky and home to the Army’s Fort Campbell (one of the grant sites) for a meeting with Christian County 4-H Youth Development Agent Toni Riley at her beautiful Hopkinsville office.
Toni gave me a good picture of her county and her many programs. Then she reviewed her successes and challenges concerning this grant. That evening Toni made sure I had a good meal by taking me to a new restaurant in Hopkinsville. Joining us were her two daughters Elizabeth and Catherine Riley and McCracken County 4-H Youth Development Agent Robert Tashjian. Catherine and Robert had been participants in the Grantee Conference held in Dallas, Texas in June, 2005. Between catching up and eating some great food, we added in some discussion about the grant.
True to form, yet another sidetrack emerged. Part of the concept Robert had planned for his sites involved participant transportation. However, the sudden increase in transportation costs resulted in a downsizing of this aspect of the plan. On the plus side, however, some of the fifteen teens he involved in his program enjoyed working with the students so much they asked if they could organize 4-H clubs of their own resulting in 3-4 new 4-H Afterschool 4-H clubs being formed – each run by some of his teens.
Although I’m sure it was my imagination, the sun seemed to rise earlier then normal on Wednesday and it was time for me to begin my trip back to Louisville and the NAA Conference. As the beauty of the Kentucky countryside rushed past me, my thoughts returned to our grant discussions. Suddenly, as my little computer friend announced an approaching turn, I began to see parallels between my experiences with it and those of the grantees with their work. Unlike me and my trip across Kentucky, Danielle, Robert, Toni and the others did not have an electronic voice telling them to “return to the highlighted route” when they moved off course. Their instinct and dedication took them on a different path and helped them to find their way back. My guess is that they will continue to do so.
And when you see it happen, it truly is the coolest thing.
Report from the Road: Eddie Locklear Finds Some 4-H Afterschool Teamwork in New Jersey
-- submitted by Eddie Locklear, national director, 4-H Afterschool
In February 2006, I had a great opportunity to visit Chad Ripberger, the county 4-H agent in Trenton, New Jersey. Although the weather was cold, both days of the visit were sunny and beautiful. My timing for the visit proved to be perfect, as I managed to miss a major snowstorm in the Northeast by just a few days!
The primary purpose of the site visit was to learn more about the progress of the NFL/JCP Workforce Preparation program. The program, funded by NFL Charities and the JCPenney Afterschool Fund, is designed to train high school youth to teach middle school youth job preparation skills. After the visit, I can happily report that the New Jersey program is doing an outstanding job.
There are 17 after-school programs in New Jersey involved with the grant, located in Trenton, Picatinny Arsenal (a military site), Atlantic City and Middlesex County. The Trenton site had some programming last fall while most of the sites will offer programming this spring and early summer.
When I visited the two programs in the Trenton area, I discovered they were great models of the eight essential elements of youth development in action. Youth were engaged in learning knowledge and skills under the direction of caring adults, with positive and supportive interaction between them. The high school youth involved with the program were providing service to others while having a wonderful time in an inclusive environment with lots of opportunities to be active and engaged learners. The youth found connections and applications for their future through interactive activities in workforce preparation content.
Probably the best part of the visit was a chance to interact with middle school youth, teens, and staff members. The middle school youth especially reminded me why I love being a part of 4-H, as they shared with me how they have learned to work together as a team—a consistent theme I found through my trip. One young lady told me she didn’t realize “how easy it is to do things together.” She enjoyed participating with the other youth in the program as they learned how to work together, problem-solve and deal with disagreements in positive way.
The teens were excited about the program as well. One 18-year old said the training provided by 4-H was so great that he would definitely recommend it to his friends. I also observed a very active 9th grader involved with the group activities, giving directions and answering their questions. I was so impressed and even more so when I had the chance to speak with him. He shared with me that he likes to work with youth to figure out what they are doing right and what they could be doing better, and how to help them. He even set his own personal goal: to get better at what he does for the youth.
The after-school staff members echoed the positive comments of the youth, citing teamwork, exciting and engaging activities and quality programming as great factors in their 4-H Afterschool experiences. One staff member said she loved the kinds of exercises provided in the workforce preparation curriculum, while another staff member observed that the mixed-aged groups—high school and middle school youth—seem to work even better together. While she found it was a challenge to get teens involved, once they worked with middle school youth, they were more active and willing to participate. She also noted that everyone had fun with the activities.
Another positive outcome of the program was that the middle school youth learned how to interact with older youth and learn from them. Even when faced with a challenging activity, one staff member noted that the youth took many tries to accomplish it, and she was “amazed that they did not give up.” The middle school and high school students certainly showed this, as they were constantly discussing ways to improve their action plan.
The New Jersey program is off to a great start. The middle school and high school youth are developing skills and knowledge that will prepare them for the world of work. Congratulations to Chad and the other 4-H professionals in New Jersey who are doing an outstanding job with the workforce preparation project.
Report from the Road: Tennessee Shows Eddie Locklear How 4-H WORKS
-- submitted by Eddie Locklear, national director, 4-H Afterschool
Recently I had the great pleasure to travel to Nashville, Tennessee to observe the outstanding workforce preparation program being conducted there. The program is sponsored by NFL Charities and the JCPenney Afterschool Fund. Justin Crowe, Extension Agent, 4-H Youth Development, is the principal investigator and is providing overall leadership for the program, with assistance from Glenda Booker, a retired 4-H agent. She joined Justin to design and implement the 4-H WORKS Afterschool Program.
4-H WORKS (Workforce Opportunities Relating Knowledge and Skills) is having a positive impact in the lives of middle school and high school youth at 15 locations in Davidson County, the home of Nashville. Through partnerships with YMCA, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, schools, and community-based after-school programs, youth are gaining valuable 21st century skills that are preparing them for the world of work—they’re not only learning about themselves but also work-related themes such as job applications, resumes, interviewing techniques, teamwork and financial management. These topics are designed to ensure youth have the basic skills to find and keep a job. The feedback I received from youth, teens, and adults clearly indicates that this program is reaching its goals.
One of the adult volunteers of the program explained how she worked with 5th and 6th graders. At first, she thought she had made a mistake signing up as a 4-H volunteer. The youth were hard to manage, and keeping their attention proved to be a real challenge. But once the youth became engaged in the hands-on learning, the behavior problems and lack of attention disappeared. They became very interested in learning, asking lots of questions and becoming engrossed in the budget simulation activities, which helped them focus on cost of living and budgeting their money to meet basic needs.
The volunteer also liked the program design because it allowed youth to make decisions and help determine the program format. The job application and interview activities prompted lots of questions and helped them find creative ways to improve their skills in important job seeking areas. The young adult volunteer shares that she is “cool with 4-H because it helps youth learn.” In addition to helping this college student find a job, her 4 H experience has also prompted her to change her major. She is now interested in becoming a teacher because of the wonderful connection she made with the 4-H members.
4-H WORKS is supported by the local JCPenney Afterschool coach. The coach has been very involved from the beginning, when she helped Justin learn about the grant. The coach is very impressed with the program as she believes that every young person needs the skills the program offers—especially as these are the skills that appeal to employers. She thinks the graduates of 4-H WORKS will be the “cream of the crop,” with the life skills that will make them strong contenders for new jobs with J. C. Penney and other employers. The coach pledged her support through the completion of the program and to 4-H Afterschool on an on-going basis. Thanks to J.C. Penney for the tremendous support to 4-H Afterschool.
I also met with a 16 year-old volunteer who was pleased with her 4-H Afterschool experience for multiple reasons. Working with the youth was a challenge she discovered she could handle as she learned to modify lesson plans to fit their interests and needs. In working with the workforce preparation curriculum, she herself learned practical aspects of money and budgets and improved her job-seeking skills which will surely help her in the future. She said, “4-H is a great program because it teaches youth important knowledge and skills they don’t learn in school.
The staff members at the Martha O’Bryan Center were also happy with the program as they watched the teens and youth get excited about 4-H WORKS. The staff felt that the curriculum also aligned well with their goals and objectives, and diversity of the offerings kept things fresh and interesting. They also commented that youth simply do not get the exposure to this subject in school, and certainly not in the hands-on format that is unique to 4-H.
Some of the best input I received were from the youth in the program—two 11-year olds who had some great things to share. They were excited that they now know how to dress in a work environment as it’s never too late to get a head start! Budgeting money was also helpful as they began to consider cost of living and how to make that hard-earned money last. You can definitely credit these youth for being practical by having a back-up plan if their first-choice job doesn’t pan out, but they are surely not going to let people prevent them from achieving their goals. And what did they say about 4-H? Though it can be challenging, it's definitely a lot of fun.
The principal of the school where I met the two 11-years olds provided a great summary for my visit. He said, “4-H WORKS is an excellent program!” The curricula complement many of his school goals. He liked the variety of the activities, it is a credible program, parents gave him positive feedback about the program, and the hands-on is a positive feature of the program. He said he loved the program and gives it two thumbs up.
Congratulations Justin and Glenda for an outstanding program – it really WORKS.
Watch Don Floyd's Speech From the 2006 National AfterSchool Association Conference
National 4-H Council President and CEO Don Floyd addressed conference participants at the National AfterSchool Association's 2006 Conference just this past February. You can see his speech on the importance of after-school programming in today's world by clicking here and downloading a version of the video clip.
Don Floyd speaks at the 2006 National AfterSchool Association Conference.
Ohio 4-H Afterschool Program Now Included in National Out-of-School Time Evaluation Database
-- submitted by Theresa Ferrari, extension specialist, 4-H youth development, Ohio State University
Adventure Central, a 4-H Afterschool program in Dayton, Ohio, was just added to the Harvard Family Research Project’s (HFRP) Out-of-School Time (OST) Program Evaluation Database. The database currently contains 105 profiles written by HFRP of evaluations of OST programs and initiatives. It provides accessible information about evaluation work of both large and small OST programs to support the development of high quality evaluations and programs in the out-of-school time field.
Graham Cochran and Nate Arnett, the 4-H educators at Adventure Central, work with a diverse group of paid staff, volunteers, and student interns. The evaluation information about Adventure Central was obtained from the thesis research of two Ohio 4-H Youth Development Educators, Jessica Rockey (Perry County) and Cassie Turner (Meigs County). Theresa Ferrari, Extension Specialist 4-H Youth Development, and the 4-H Afterschool state contact for Ohio, served as the thesis advisor for both Jessica and Cassie.
Adventure Central, in operation since 2000, was formed as a collaboration between Ohio State University Extension, 4-H Youth Development program and Five Rivers MetroParks. The facility is located within Wesleyan MetroPark in the west part of Dayton, Ohio. The residents are primarily African-American, with a median annual income of just over $18,000 and 85% of youth qualifying for the free and reduced-price meal program.
The center serves as a hub for out-of-school time programming such as after-school activities, a youth leadership board, workforce development training and work experiences, open computer labs, clubs, overnight camps, and summer day camps for school-age youth. The center is open between 2:30 and 8:00 p.m. from Monday through Thursday, and offers expanded hours in the summer. Its mission is focused around positive youth development with an emphasis on environmental education and leadership skills. Youth spend time getting help with homework, reading with volunteers, learning through hands-on activities, and forming positive relationships with caring adults. Adventure Central is also one of two sites for Ohio’s CYFAR New Communities grant.
Click herefor the Adventure Central Profile. The entire HFRP database may be accessed here
RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES
Know an Exceptional 4-H Youth? Tell Us!
We all know why 4-H is special, but we need your help to tell everyone out there who doesn't yet know! We're looking for stories about exceptional youth who are making a difference through 4-H—outstanding leaders, unique activities and other stories that we can develop to tell the story of 4-H Afterschool across the country. For example, there’s a 4-H teen in Kentucky who raises money to outfit police dogs with bulletproof vests and a 4-H youth who makes blankets to send back to the orphanage in Russia she was adopted from.
Do you know of a story that’s interesting, inspiring or unique? You don’t have to write it, just call us and talk—we’ll do the rest. Repeat, you don’t have to write it!
A short conversation will go a long way towards promoting 4-H across the country. It helps increase awareness of the good 4-H does for our youth, and ensures continued funding for our programs. So please take a minute, think about all the great things 4-H youth and programs do, and TELL US! E-mail us at wow@fourhcouncil.edu or call Gretchen at 301-961-2829.
GLOW Crazy with 4-H Afterschool Wristband
GLOW crazy with a 4-H Afterschool wristband and show your support of after-school programs! The GLOW-IN-THE-DARK 4-H Afterschool wristbands are now available in youth and adult sizes. Check it out here.
Other available 4-H Afterschool items include:
- A white ceramic mug with emblem
- Navy blue polo shirt with emblem on left chest
- T-shirts with emblem across chest
- Green 4-H Afterschool tote bags
- 4-H Afterschool lanyard
- 4-H Afterschool pen
All of these items are available through the National 4-H Supply Service and in the 2006 4-H Source Book.
NetAid Global Citizen Corps – 2006-2007 Application Now Open!
Do you know high school students who want to make a difference in the lives of the world’s poor? Would you like to help schools get more involved in addressing global challenges like HIV/AIDS, hunger, and access to education?
Tell students to apply for the NetAid Global Citizen Corps (GCC)!
The Global Citizen Corps is a national network of high school student leaders working to educate and mobilize their peers in efforts to end global poverty.
You can learn more about the GCC and how students can apply online at www.netaid.org/go/gcc. The application is available at www.netaid.org/global_citizen_corps/
The application deadline is May 7, 2006.
Posted by jestep at 5:21 PM