University Of Florida

THE MISSION OF 4-H IS TO PROVIDE MEANINGFUL OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL YOUTH AND ADULTS TO WORK TOGETHER TO CREATE SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY CHANGE. THIS IS ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP, HEALTHY LIVING, AND SCIENCE. A VARIETY OF POSITIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT EXPERIENCES ARE OFFERED FOR ORANGE COUNTY 4-H YOUTH. PROGRAMS DESCRIBED FOCUS ON STEM, HEALTHY LIFESTYLES AND CITIZENSHIP/LEADERSHIP. THROUGH PARTICIPATION, YOUTH GAIN SUBJECT MATTER COMPETENCIES AS WELL AS WORKFORCE READINESS SKILLS BASED ON THE TARGETED LIFE SKILLS MODEL AND NATIONAL 4-H COUNCIL APPROVED CURRICULUM. TARGETED LIFE SKILLS INCLUDE EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION, SERVICE LEARNING, TEAMWORK, RECORD KEEPING AND MAKING POSITIVE CHOICES BY ENCOURAGING RESPONSIBILITY, CRITICAL THINKING, PROBLEM SOLVING, GOAL-SETTING AND COOPERATION. STUDIES HAVE FOUND THAT YOUTH WHO PARTICIPATE IN 4-H ARE LESS LIKELY TO ENGAGE IN AT-RISK BEHAVIORS (SUCH AS SMOKING, DRINKING, BULLYING, ETC.), CONTRIBUTE MORE TO THEIR FAMILY AND COMMUNITY, AND STATE THEY ARE MORE LIKELY TO ATTEND COLLEGE (LERNER ET AL, 2012). CONNELL, GAMBONE AND SMITH (2000) CITE THAT DEVELOPING MARKETABLE SKILLS FOR WORK AND FAMILY LIFE IS AN IMPACT OF POSITIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM SUCH AS 4-H. THESE SKILLS ASSIST YOUTH TRANSITIONING TO ADULTHOOD. YOUTH WHO HAVE EXPERIENCE IN LEADERSHIP POSITIONS AS YOUTH ARE MORE LIKELY TO FEEL CONFIDENT ASSUMING THOSE ROLES AS ADULTS. ORANGE COUNTY 4-H YOUTH ARE PREPARING FOR CAREERS IN STEM THROUGH CLUB WORK, CAMPS AND SPECIAL EVENTS. ORANGE COUNTY YOUTH ARE LEARNING TO MAKE HEALTHY LIFESTYLE CHOICES. ORANGE COUNTY 4-H AFTER-SCHOOL GARDEN CLUBS, CAMPS AND PROJECT WORK ARE FOCUSED ON ENCOURAGING HEALTHY LIFESTYLE CHOICES FOR STUDENTS TO CARRY INTO ADULTHOOD. TRAINING IN POSITIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT (PYD) PRACTICES INCREASES THE NUMBER OF 4-H VOLUNTEERS EFFECTIVELY APPLYING THESE RESEARCH-PROVEN METHODS. PROVIDING YOUTH WITH A SAFE AND SECURE ENVIRONMENT AS EVIDENCED BY COMPLIANCE WITH THE UF/IFAS YOUTH PROTECTION POLICY ALLOWS FOR MORE ACTIVE PARTICIPATION IN QUALITY 4-H EXPERIENCES. THIS INCREASED CAPACITY BY OUR ORANGE COUNTY 4-H VOLUNTEERS INCREASES THE NUMBER EXPERIENCES FOR OUR YOUTH LEADING TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF LIFE SKILLS, INCREASED KNOWLEDGE AND LEADERSHIP ABILITIES. THESE QUALITIES EMPOWER YOUTH TO POSITIVELY INFLUENCE THEIR COMMUNITIES AND BECOME CONTRIBUTING MEMBERS OF SOCIETY. THERE WERE 263 YOUTH PARTICIPATING IN ORGANIZED 4H COMMUNITY CLUBS. THERE WERE 119 YOUTH PARTICIPATING IN SPECIAL INTEREST OR SHORT TERM PROGRAMS. THERE WERE 39 YOUTH PARTICIPATING IN 4H DAY CAMP PROGRAMS. THERE WERE 9742 YOUTH PARTICIPATING IN SCHOOL ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS. THERE WERE 151 YOUTH PARTICIPATING IN AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS USING 4H CURRICULA.