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Teen Leadership Program Offered to 4-Hers
| Name | Margie Sippel | | Situation | “Becoming a world leader in developing youth to become productive citizens and a catalyst for positive change to meet the needs of a diverse and changing society” is the vision of 4-H. York County 4-H is challenged to provide opportunities for 4-Hers to develop their leadership skills so they will be the productive citizens of tomorrow. In addition, there is a need in our community to offer opportunities for teens to socialize with their peers in a safe positive environment. | | Response | Extension offers 4-H clubs, special interest activities, and leadership opportunities for youth to develop leadership skills throughout the year. Helping youth develop their leadership skills is one of the goals of the 4-H program that is common across project areas. The 4-H State Staff is very supportive of this goal and offered an opportunity for agents across the state to be trained to implement a new program to empower youth to set goals and inspire them to work to reach them. The program uses the “7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens,” a book by Stephen Covey, as the foundation for this program.4-H agents in York, Chester, Lancaster, and Union Counties were trained and worked together to offer this leadership experience to youth.
| | Impact | An overnight retreat was held for teens in York, Chester, Lancaster, and Union Counties on November 2003. Fifty-nine youth attended and completed the workshop. The workshop was successful on several levels. First of all, the teens had a positive weekend experience to meet and socialize with a group of their peers. By completing the program, the youth gained tools to help them set their own goals and work to reach them. The teens had fun as they learned about teamwork, setting goals, taking responsibility for choices, managing time and setting priorities. This program also introduced some youth to 4-H that had never participated in 4-H before.
It is now April, and I am still in regular contact with some of the youth that attended the workshop. I have overheard several of them reference one of the “7 habits” in their conversation with one another. This speaks well of the program, that after five months the subject material is still part of their conversation.
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Last update7/9/2008
This website is maintained by Cheryl Clary.
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