College of Maine Cooperative Extension 4-H lately obtained two nationwide awards for excellence in programming and for analysis and analysis from the Nationwide Affiliation of Extension 4-H Youth Improvement Professionals (NAE4HYDP).
In early 2021, UMaine Extension 4-H partnered with Greenheart Change to launch “4-H Passport Across the World,” a digital particular curiosity membership whose function was to attach Maine teenagers with teenagers from throughout the globe to foster relationships and spark curiosity in a wide range of cultures.
Over eight months, Extension 4-H skilled Sara King and former Extension 4-H skilled Sara Conant developed three, six-week classes for youth ages 9–18. Every session included a presentation from a Greenheart alternate pupil, a hands-on exercise associated to their tradition, and a question-and-answer dialogue session. A few of the international locations visited embrace Bangladesh, Georgia, Ghana, Indonesia, Kosovo and Ukraine. Their work is the nationwide winner of the NAE4HYDP Excellence in World Citizenship Programming award.
Extension 4-H professor Kristy Ouellette gained the Susan Barkman Analysis and Analysis Award for her 2021 case examine, “Understanding the Views of First Era 4-H Members.” Ouellette’s examine concerned 12 first-generation Maine 4-H members, ages 14–19, whose demographics had been much like state 4-H enrollment figures.
Outcomes of the examine recommend that the 4-H program mannequin supplies connections and alternatives for younger folks that they’d in any other case not usually entry. As well as, as a result of 4-H employees and volunteers play important roles in creating connections and relationships with younger folks, adults should come to know every particular person and recommend experiences that help every younger particular person’s targets and potential.
Ouellette’s examine promotes together with 4-H and different constructive youth improvement frameworks in influencing coverage to foster social and emotional studying expertise, stating “policymakers in any respect ranges ought to look to type stronger youth-adult partnerships when creating coverage.”
Lisa Phelps, Extension 4-H program administrator, stated, “Dr. Kristy Ouellette’s analysis is critical and the outcomes of her analysis will assist strengthen the Maine 4-H program. This award is effectively deserved and she or he needs to be recommended for this scholarly analysis.”
Recipients will obtain their awards on the NAE4HYDP nationwide convention in October. Extra details about the Maine 4-H program is out there on the Extension 4-H web site or by contacting 207-581-3877 or 800-287-0274 (in Maine).
