Co-sponsored by Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service’s (CSREES) National 4 H Headquarters at USDA, its private partner National 4 H Council and the Cooperative Extension System, the National 4 H Curriculum Summit was called to strengthen and revitalize the oldest youth development organization’s curriculum process. During the Summit, 4-H youth and volunteers and land-grant university leaders from across the country examined strategies to successfully develop high-quality, forward-looking curricula that speaks to the interests and needs of 21st century youth. Information collected during the course of the Summit will be posted at www.4-hcurriculum.org shortly.

David Hardesty, president of West Virginia University—one of the nation’s 106 land-grant universities that serve as the research and curriculum development foundation of 4-H—addressed attendees about the “importance and timeliness of charting a new course in providing research-based, university-developed curriculum that excites and engages today’s young people and prepares them for the challenges they and our nation will face tomorrow.”

Ron Ottinger, president of Noyce Foundation—established by Intel founder Bob Noyce and a major supporter of 4-H Science, Engineering & Technology (4-H SET) programming—challenged participants to “not stand pat in your historical success, but rather to boldly move forward in preparing the nation’s next generation of leaders in science, engineering and technology.”

North Carolina 4-H Member Lacey Martin attributed her plans to pursue biological science to her participation in 4-H. Using personal examples of growing up using 4-H curriculum, including her latest work with the 4-H Electricity project, Lacey encouraged Summit participants to “meet the ongoing challenge of the changing times and apply them to the 4 H curriculum.”

The Summit is the first step toward reshaping the nation’s oldest youth development organization’s curriculum and programming for youth. Next steps include gathering a small workgroup to address the jury review process—identified as a high priority by participants—as well as outlining the national priorities for developing future curriculum which will continue to reach youth through a variety of delivery modes including 4-H camps, 4-H Afterschool and within 4-H community clubs.

“This moment is historic for 4-H,” said Jan Seitz, associate dean and director of University of Delaware’s Cooperative Extension and National 4-H Council trustee. “We’ve come together to make a prodigious difference in young people’s lives. The Summit wasn’t the ending, but rather the jump start to our commitment to strengthening and moving forward the 4-H movement.”

4-H is a community of more than 6.5 million young people across America who are learning leadership, citizenship and life skills. 4-H is led by CSREES’ National 4 H Headquarters at USDA, the nation’s 106 land-grant universities and colleges and National 4-H Council. To learn more about the Summit, visit www.fourhcouncil.edu or click here to view clips of the Summit taken by 4 H Network News.

North Carolina 4-H Member Lacey Martin speaks to the National 4-H Curriculum Summit attendees about her 4-H experiences.