Sharing Successful 4-H Programs

1. Sharing Successful 4-H Programs 4-H Lunch ‘n Learn Tuesday, April 12, 2011

2. Operation: Military Kids County-Sponsored Events Judy Hauser, jhauser@purdue.edu, 765-494-9516; Steve McKinley, mckinles@purdue.edu, 765-494-8435

3. 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.four-h.purdue.edu/omk/countyevents.html

4. Examples of funded activities • OMK Victory Garden, Shelby County • Family Readiness Group Christmas Party, Scott County • Hero Pack assembly, multiple counties

5. Examples of funded activities • Family Readiness Group Picnic, Boone County • Military Family Fun Day, Morgan County • Military Day at the Fair, Vigo County

6. Clinton County 4-H Cloverbuds Stephanie DeCamp – sdecamp@purdue.edu, 765-296-3511

7. 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

8. 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.

9. Heifer InternationalGlobal Challenge Jim Becker – beckerjw@purdue.edu, 317-275-9305 Stephanie DeCamp – sdecamp@purdue.edu, 765-296-3511 Patty Keating – pkeating@purdue.edu, 219-324-9407 Jeff Pell – jpell@purdue.edu, 765-569-3176 Lee Stanish – lstanish@purdue.edu, 765-496-3585

10. 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.

11. 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.

12. 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.

13. 4-H Cool Dogs Clubs at Fountain Square Academy Claudia B. E. Guerin claudia@purdue.edu

14. 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

15. 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: 5thand 6th grade club 7th grade club Year 3: 5thand 6th grade club 7thgrade club 8th grade club Years 4 to 5: 5th and 6th grade club 7thgrade club 8thgrade club Individual projects for 9-12

16. Community Service develops belonging and promotes club name recognition Addressing specific assets/needs of preteens Team building for acceptance and strong friendships 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. “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 Sharing your ideas and feelings with the world

17. Working with 4-H leaders • Two paid 4-H teachers are integral part 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. 4-H teachers and parents work together to find ways to keep youth engaged in 4-H.

18. Working with 4-H parents/grandparents/guardians • All parents work or look for work 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. Saturday field trips are great opportunities for parents to help with club activities and enjoy new places with their children.

19. 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.

20. 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. • Two new 4-H leaders, 5 adult helpers. • Extension has a key role in the school improvement plan and new charter in collaboration with the Mayor, teachers and neighbors. Our program is frequently visited by other youth organizations and young teachers to observe positive youth development at work.

21. If you want to find out more about us, please write to Claudia, claudia@purdue.edu, or give us a call to the Marion County Extension Office. We love visitors, so stop by the school when you are in Indy!

22. Using Technology to Promote Your Programs Renate Jobst, rjobst@purdue.edu, 812-547-7084

23. 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!

24. 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)

25. 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.

26. 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

27. 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

28. 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

29. 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.

30. 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.

31. 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.

32. 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

33. 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.

34. Ex. Tell them to join blog by entering their e-mail address and then they can receive updates via e-mail.

35. 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?)

36. Questions?

37. Communicating the Impact of 4-H to Local Stakeholders Next 4-H Lunch ‘n Learn: Tuesday, May 10, 2011, 12-1 (ET)