This week marks the end of my three week series on 5 things that I feel 4-H nurtures. I truly feel that 4-H gives youth an edge in their adult lives, and the experiences they gain and unique compared to many other youth organizations (not better, not worse, unique). As a self-proclaimed 4-H nerd I can also tell you that there is a science-based exploratory side to my nature. I love to explore why things happen. 4-H gives youth the chance to gather information (qualitative, or quantitative) about a certain topic, and then make a suggestion or hypothesis based upon that information.
At the beginning of a project youth are given information to build a base, and then work to learn more about a topic through hands on learning experiences or modules in their workbook. They answer the questions, record their findings, and build their data as they progress through their book. Once the book is completed youth have the information they are given, plus the information they investigated, and experienced to base their knowledge on. Instead of just being told that something is, they get to explore why it is, and make that happen.
While not all the projects are deeply scientific experiments or thesis – I do strongly believe that they go hand in hand with today’s flipped classrooms, and help youth to build their own self-regulatory systems to motivate themselves to constantly improve. 4-H projects do not simply complete themselves, and youth who do not experience the learning cannot successfully complete an interview with a judge. Youth must be willing to gather information, and work through the problems put in front of them in a book.
Much can also be said for the informal data collection and problem solving that can go on in a meeting or board setting also. Youth on the Jr. Fair Board must be willing to collect data (information and/or opinions) and then base them with what they know to solve a problem, or make a decision. While adults are there to guide their experiences, the idea is that youth become able to confidently make their own decisions.
4-H is more than hogs, rockets, camp, and line dancing (those are a few of my favorite things)! There is so much someone can learn about specific topics, and the ability to then take those experiences into the workplace as an adult can make 4-H an experience that gives back for a lifetime.
