Transcript Sharing Successful 4-H Programs Final - Indiana 4-H

4-H Lunch ‘n Learn
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Judy Hauser, [email protected], 765-494-9516;
Steve McKinley, [email protected], 765-494-8435
OMK County-Sponsored Events

 Available to any Extension-sponsored group
interested in supporting activities or events that
benefit children from military families in Indiana
 Up to $500 available per event
 Funds available on a cost-reimbursement basis
through August 1
 Application and information letter available at:
http://www.fourh.purdue.edu/omk/countyevents.html
Examples of funded activities

OMK Victory Garden, Shelby County
Family Readiness Group Christmas Party,
Scott County
Hero Pack assembly, multiple
counties
Examples of funded activities

Family Readiness Group Picnic,
Boone County
Military Family Fun Day, Morgan County
Military Day at the Fair, Vigo
County
Stephanie DeCamp – [email protected],
765-296-3511
4-H Cloverbuds

Youth in grades K and 1
Meet for 5 (1.5 hour) sessions
Year 1 – Animal Lesson Plans
Year 2 – Science Lesson Plans
4-H Cloverbuds

Learning in the group setting is the primary
method for involving this age group,
individual projects are not displayed. We
encourage dual participation of child and
parent/guardian in this program.
Developed as a feeder program, and in one
year we have 32 youth who have continued
on to Mini 4-H.
Jim Becker – [email protected], 317-275-9305
Stephanie DeCamp – [email protected], 765-296-3511
Patty Keating – [email protected], 219-324-9407
Jeff Pell – [email protected], 765-569-3176
Lee Stanish – [email protected], 765-496-3585
Global Challenge

Participants explored environmental and
hunger related issues through globally
themed team-building initiatives.
The group built communication, critical
thinking and group cooperation skills while
discovering that they have the power to
change the world.
Global Village

Youth from Clinton, Parke, LaPorte, and Marion
Counties participated in the experience.
Youth were randomly assigned by lottery to
experience what it would be like to spend the
night in a home in Guatemala, Zambia,
Thailand, Appalachia, Tibet, an urban slum or a
refugee camp.
Resources, just like in the “real world,” were not
divided equally.
Global Village

Participants had to trade labor, barter food
and figure out other ways to get a full meal
for the evening.
Working together everyone could have been
fed - but if groups found themselves at odds,
some members went to bed hungry.
Claudia B. E. Guerin
[email protected]
Applying the Extension framework
in at-risk urban communities

Program Components:
Development of Social and Academic skills
Focus on STEM careers
Addressing specific assets/needs of preteens
Development of 4-H leaders and parents
Innovative 4-H/school/community partnerships
Problem-solving and
critical thinking are key to
academic success and to
become educated and
responsible citizens.
Development of
Social and Academic
skills and Focus on
STEM careers
The program is currently in its
second year.
Year 1: 5th and 6th grade club
Year 2: 5th and 6th grade club
7th grade club
Year 3: 5th and 6th grade club
7th grade club
8th grade club
Years 4 to 5: 5th and 6th grade club
7th grade club
8th grade club
Individual projects for 9-12
Community Service
develops belonging
and promotes club
name recognition
Addressing specific
assets/needs of
preteens
• 45 youth participate every week
in the 2-hr meetings during the
school year.
• 55 youth attend at least 4
hrs/month.
• All 5th to 7th grade students are
invited to participate in eight
4-H educational field trips per
year.
Team building
for acceptance
and strong
friendships
Sharing your
ideas and
feelings with the
world
“The kids have a great sense of
pride that they belong to this club.
It makes them feel important and
a part of something, which is
exactly what they need.” 5th grade
teacher
Working with 4-H leaders

 Two paid 4-H teachers are integral part
4-H teachers and
parents work together
to find ways to keep
youth engaged in 4-H.
of planning, delivery and evaluation.
 Two non-paid 4-H teachers collaborate
with some projects.
 Other volunteers help with snacks and
assisting special needs members.
 4-H leaders become effective youth
workers by regularly planning and
reflecting with the 4-H educator, and
by attending workshops at the CYFAR
and Kids Count conferences.
Working with 4-H
parents/grandparents/guardians

 All parents work or look for work
Saturday field trips are great
opportunities for parents to help
with club activities and enjoy new
places with their children.
which makes volunteering hard.
 Adults not passing a full
background check are not allowed
in the classrooms (school policy).
 Most parents have not finished
high school, so education for them
is very important.
 A program newsletter, phone calls,
and Web site keep parents
informed of field trips and current
activities.
2008 SE Neighborhood becomes Extension
Program of Excellence. Several educators work
with adult audiences
2009 4-H supports programs organized by other
youth organizations. Educator becomes member
of School Board, helps school to write grants.
Aug 2010 4-H Educator becomes chair of the
School Academic Committee and leaders
improvement plan.
Jan 2011 4-H CYFAR program starts
Community Youth
Work: 4-H
+ school
+ community
At-risk communities will
trust 4-H with their youth
only if we prove that we are
there to listen for what they
want and need, to work
side-by-side with them, to
value their culture, to think
outside the box and, most of
all, to stay for a long time.
Year 1 Outcomes

 93% of our members reported plans to finish
high school, 87% said they will attend college.
 87% of members reported, “I feel proud of
being a member.”
 15 parents attended 4-H events, 2 parents
regularly help with trips
 Two new 4-H Robotics clubs model after us.
 One 4-H teacher sits on the 4-H County
Advisory Board.
Our program is frequently
 Two new 4-H leaders, 5 adult helpers.
visited by other youth
 Extension has a key role in the school
organizations and young
improvement plan and new charter in
teachers to observe positive
collaboration with the Mayor, teachers and
youth development at work.
neighbors.
If you want to find out more about us, please write
to Claudia, [email protected], or give us a call to
the Marion County Extension Office.
We love visitors, so stop by the school
when you are in Indy!
Renate Jobst, [email protected], 812-547-7084
Useful (and Easy)
Technology Tools

County Web site
Facebook
Blogs
Newspaper, snail mail, e-mail and newsletters
(Yes, I am including these “old school”
methods!) I’ll explain why later.
NOTE: Yes, e-mail is considered “old school”
now!
County Web site

 Can be central place
to house materials,
resources and
information
 Create Web sites for
your different groups
(This can be done
under Local Links)
Great place to post
requested materials

4-H handbook, project
materials, resources, etc.
 Keep in mind you must
tell AND REMIND
people it’s on the Web
site.
 You must make it easy to
find.
 Always provide PDF
format.
County Web site

Great for posting updates (But how do you
let 4-H families know it’s been updated?)
 E-mails and Facebook are great methods
What can Facebook
do for you?

Facebook is a great social media tool. In my
experience, FB and texting seem to be the
best methods to get info out to teens
Perry County 4-H and PC 4-H Fair have a
page
With FB, you can create events
You can promote your Web site updates,
programs, send out reminders, etc.
Discussion boards can be used to plan events
Uses of pages and
groups on Facebook

 “Closed group” is for
specific groups (Ex. Jr.
Leaders)
 Jr. Leaders can create
and help maintain
groups/pages and
events
 Pages can announce
latest county Web site
updates
Facebook

Considerations:
 How many 4-H members, families, clientele, etc.
get on Facebook? If not many, it is not useful.
 If they don’t know how to use Facebook it’s
pointless to use it. (Offer trainings!)
 If they don’t check Facebook often, or have it set
up for e-mail reminders, it’s pointless.
More to think about…

 Teens often read e-mails/Facebook, but might
not respond. If you need a response, FB might
not be the method.
 Texting or phone calls seem to get quickest
responses.
 If you are wanting them to read and know
something, FB/e-mails are best.
Blogs

 A blog (a contraction of the term "web log") is a type
of Web site, usually maintained by an individual
with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of
events, or other material such as graphics or video.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blogs
 It provides a place to archive updates and
information.
How to use blogs

 Articles (such as
ones you use in
newsletters)
 Reminders
 Videos (such as
helps for projects)
 Refer user back to
county Web site
How to use “old school”
media to promote technology

Many people are comfortable with newspapers,
newsletters, “snail” mail and e-mail
Tell people that they can get more information
by going to Web site, joining FB, etc.
Use these to explain how to use technology.
Don’t just say, “Join my blog!” Give them ideas
of how to use them.

 Ex. Tell them to join blog by
entering their e-mail address
and then they can receive
updates via e-mail.
When you think you don’t
have time, you must make time

Put on your calendar times to update Web
site, FB, blog
I’ve found these technologies actually
DECREASE the number of phone call
questions and e-mails I receive!
This actually SAVES ME TIME (So do you
still think you don’t have time?)
Communicating the Impact
of 4-H to Local Stakeholders
Tuesday, May 10, 2011, 12-1 (ET)