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Impact Report

For plan Youth Development (Valencia County)
Date October 31, 2011, 3:44 am
For Objective Short-term Show short-term objectives
Impact Report 4-H BAKING WORKSHOPS Twenty three Valencia County 4-H youth participated in baking workshops where they had an opportunity to make cookies, brownies, muffins and biscuits. Each workshop held provided participants with training and experience in measuring, mixing ingredients, food safety, kitchen tools, reading recipes, ingredient substitution and tips in how to judge a quality baked item. Furthermore, youth gained skills in following directions, teamwork, communication and organization. After each workshop participants were asked to identify something they had learned in the baking workshop. Responses included: “light colored cookie sheets are better to bake on then dark colored ones”, “reading the recipe is VERY important! Our first batch of cookies didn’t turn out at all but our second batch was delicious”, “I never knew how to use measuring cups. Now I know the difference between liquid and dry cups”, “This was fun! I can teach my little sister how to do this”, “Cookies made with butter taste better than cookies made with shortening”. All youth participating stated that they would like to attend more baking/cooking workshops in the future. YOUTH AT-RISK AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS The home economist has continued to partner with a local agency providing 9 workshops to 53 at-risk middle school age children participating in two after-school programs geared to encouraging youth to stay in school and graduate. Workshop topics included goal-setting, self-awareness/character building, food safety, nutrition and creative cooking. The interactive workshops provided the youth with opportunity to further develop skills in communication, leadership, responsibility, team-work, budgeting, following directions, listening, cooking, creativity and independence. HOME EC SCHOOL The home economist created and provided a workshop which involved 40 youth attending Home Ec School held at Valencia High. The service project involved creating napkin rings using recycled items (bathroom tissue & paper towel rolls, wrapping paper, beads, broken jewelry pieces, etc.). Over 300 napkin rings were created by the youth to be donated to Valencia County area senior and community centers. YOUNG PARENT PROGRAM During the past reporting year the home economist has worked with a young parenting program at an area high school. A total of 23 youth have participated. Subject areas provided have included job seeking skills (resume writing, application completion) and financial management (identifying wants vs. needs, budgeting, saving, credit card use, setting SMART financial goals, living on your own, comparing prices, and shopping on a budget). At the end of the job seeking skills program, youth had an opportunity to participate in a mock interview. At the end of the financial management class series, youth participated in a comparison shopping activity at local grocery stores followed by purchasing ingredients and preparing a meal at the extension office. Program evaluations indicate that 90% of youth had learned things they felt would make job seeking much easier, 85% reported they felt more knowledgeable about interviewing. In addition, 87% reported they would make more of an effort to compare prices when shopping now and/or in the future. CITIZENSHIP WASHINGTON FOCUS This summer the home economist had an opportunity to serve as a chaperone for Citizenship Washington Focus in Washington, DC. The HE accompanied the New Mexico delegate (from Valencia County) during the seven day citizenship/leadership program where delegates had an opportunity to explore, develop, and refine their community and civic engagement skills to be outstanding leaders in their communities. In addition there were hands-on educational workshops, sightseeing tours and opportunities to learn of the history of our nation, leaders who have shaped it and how to apply the skills developed during CWF in their own communities. The New Mexico delegate reported that she enjoyed learning how to write a bill, developed a greater understanding of our former leaders, enjoyed meeting and making friends with youth from all over the United States, and had gained leadership skills which she planned on using in her 4-H club. GARDEN CLUB PROJECT Sixty-four 3rd grade students have participated in activities geared to teaching youth about how plants grow, the importance of eating vegetables and the overall importance of agriculture in their everyday lives. The home ecnomist along with volunteers from a local garden club have presented the program to the youth. Fifty percent of students participating have been exposed to a vegetable of which they had not previously tasted.