Youth Development (Socorro County)

Earth Day: The City of Socorro hosted an Earth Day festival at the plaza for members of the community. Socorro County 4-H was asked to provide the youth activities for the event. The Socorro County Extension Agents and 4-H members discussed how plants affect the earth. We discussed what plants need to live such as soil, water, sun and carbon dioxide. We discussed how plants help us by producing oxygen that we need to breathe and we produce carbon dioxide that plants need to breathe. Each child was allowed to make a dirt baby to take home and care for. Over 100 dirt babies were made at the event.

HEAD: Thinking
• Decision Making – Youth had to decide how they were going to decorate their dirt baby.
HANDS: Giving
• Responsible Citizenship – Youth learn to be responsible by caring for their dirt baby at home; they have to make sure it has plenty of food and water or it will die.
• Community Service Volunteer – By participating in Earth Day activities youth learn the importance of caring for their community and make their community look beautiful for other to look at.

City of Socorro After school Program: In August the City of Socorro started back up their after school program at Finley Gym, the city’s youth center. The program sees roughly 50-60 youth per day ranging in age from 5 years old to 12 years old. Youth are brought to the center after school by the school bus and pick up by parents between 5:00 and 5:30. Upon entering the program, youth are given a nutritious snack and are provided time to complete any homework they have. Youth then spend 30 minutes in each rotation (arts & crafts, game room, outdoor recreation, & library). The Socorro County 4-H Agent makes bi-weekly visits on Tuesday’s, Wednesday’s and school half days in which a 4-H rotation is added in their daily rotation schedule; on the 4-H days we substituted 4-H for the library. Information and project ideas are taken from the 4-H project list and adapted to fit a variety of themes ranging from seasonal lessons to cultural exploration. Programs performed during this reporting period included:
• 4-H Beef and Arts & Crafts: In August we spent time talking about the Socorro County Fair. Many of the youth that attend the after school program are city kids that are not around animals and don’t realize where their food comes from. We played Beef-O Bingo and talked about what meat and by-products we get from beef. The Agent wanted them to have some knowledge about the animals that they see at the fair and what it takes to raise such an animal. We also completed some arts and craft projects that were then entered into the county fair. Youth took home more than 25 ribbons from projects that they made at the after school program.
• Uniquely NM: During the month of September, many things are happening in NM such as the NM State Fair and the annual Balloon Fiesta. So during the month of September we talked a lot about what makes NM unique from other states. We drew pictures that represented NM and displayed them throughout the building. As a hands-on project we made hot air balloons out of paper mache and hung them from the ceiling.
• Clothing: In October the Agents had this great idea to make our own Halloween costumes using newspaper and material. Since most of the youth who attend the program are from lower income homes the Agent figured that if we made our own costumes we could help the parents out. The youth spent several hours planning out what they wanted to be and designing it out on paper first. Some of them made a pattern using newspaper others just began cutting the material. After all the costumes were made we had a costume contest on Halloween day to see who had made the best costume. We then took the kids “trick or treating” to several businesses downtown. Unfortunately some of the costumes fell apart; so the kids were unable to use them in the evening. However, the kids did learn that they could make their own costume using things that they have at home rather than going out and buying one.
• In November we talked a lot about Caring. Because it was the month of Thanksgiving, we spent time reflecting on the things we have to be thankful for. As a hands-on project we made Turkey and on each feather we put something that we were thankful for. We also made pine cone turkeys as a gift to their parents for Thanksgiving.
• In December we focused on the Christmas season. We talked about the how Christmas is not just about receiving gifts but more importantly about giving gifts. The kids brainstormed about different ways that we could give back to our community and their parents. We decided to make Christmas ornaments for the residents at Good Sams and hung them on their Christmas tree. During one of the half days of school, we invited Santa Clause to our program and each kid took a picture with Santa; each kid made a picture frame to put the picture in and gave it their parents as a Christmas present.
• Wildlife Management: During the month of January we talked about helping wildlife live through the winter months. We talked about the importance of being able stay alive when it snowed and how they have a harder time finding food during this time. We spent time learning to identify different types of wildlife and the essentials they need to stay alive. As a hands-on activity we made pine cone bird feeders that the kids could hang on the porches to help feed the birds during the winter.
• Flower Gardening: During the month of March, we learned a lot about flower gardening; how to select the plants, how to sow the seeds, how to arrange the plants in the garden, garden care, and how to identifying leaves and flowers from different types of annuals and perennials. As a hands-on activity youth planted flowers by seed in cups and were required to care for them daily. After the seeds had sprouted and the plants were ready to be transplanted we planted them in large containers that the youth had decorated and placed in front of the center to make the front entrance of the center look nice for the community.
• Vegetable Gardening: The kids loved the flower gardening so much that in April we decided to do some vegetable gardening. We learned how to prepare the soil by tiling and fertilizing it, how to identify different vegetables, and how to determine what we wanted to plant. As a hands-on activity we tiled and fertilized the soil then we made “Gardens in a glove” where we placed lettuce, tomatoes, onions, carrots, and cucumber seeds into a plastic glove and taped it to the window. After the seeds sprouted the kids planted them in a garden area in the side yard. The kids are required to water, pull weeds, and harvest the vegetables when they are ready.
• Throughout the month of May, Socorro youth were being faced with school closures due to the Swine Flu. The agent spent time talking about germ detection and prevention of spreading germs to each other. We talked about hygiene and how important it is to take care of our bodies every day so that we can stay healthy.
• For Mother’s Day, we made our mother’s a flower vase by decorated vegetable cans using masking tape and shoe polish and placed flowers inside the can. This idea was taken from the Housing and Interior Design project.
• At the end of the year party, we made homemade ice cream in a bag. The kids had a great time making their own ice cream and eating it.
• Every Monday during the month of June, the youth in the summer program have participated in Nutrition Education Classes. The 4-H Agent and the ICAN (Ideas for Cooking and Nutrition) Nutrition Educator have coordinated to provide an hour long nutrition class once a week. The youth get a 5 week in-depth look into their nutrition and ways to improve it. At the end of the 6th week they will receive a certificate of completion.

HANDS: Giving
• Community Service – Youth learned the importance of giving back to the community by providing Christmas ornaments to Good Sams.
HEALTH: Living
• Healthy Lifestyle Choices- Youth must participate in a physical activity every day, ways they can participate are through kick ball, basketball, soccer, and elbow tag.
HEART: Relating
• Cooperation- Youth cooperate with each other as well as with the Agent to complete task. Youth must be patient by waiting for their turn to speak as well as waiting in line to gather their supplies.
Caring
• Concern for Others- Youth at Finley Gym are expected to follow certain rules, they can not touch each other, fight or call each other names. They are expected to respect each other, the staff, and things that don’t belong to them.
• Nurturing Relationships- Youth learned to appreciate things like their parents during our discussion on what we were thankful for during Thanksgiving.
HEAD: Managing
• Wise Use of Resources- The Agent brings the supplies for the activities and the youth need to be creative in designing their end product. They are also expected to not waste materials.
HANDS: Giving
• Responsible Citizenship – Youth learn responsibility by caring for the flower and vegetable plants that they planted. They also learn the importance of making their center beautiful for the rest of the community by planting flowers in front of the building.

During National 4-H Week, the Socorro County 4-H Council Officers presented a workshop to the youth at Finley Gym educating them on projects they can participate in, life skills you learn in 4-H and way to become a leader in 4-H. Flyers were sent home with all the parents explaining to them what 4-H is and how they can join a club in their community.

HANDS: & HEART: Working & Relating
• Teamwork & Communication- Youth played different activities that taught them teamwork and communication.

In December, the Socorro County Extension Agents worked with the State Land Office to obtain a permit to cut down 2 Christmas trees for Finley Gym. Youth made homemade Christmas ornaments and garland to be placed on the trees, everything but the lights had to be homemade. We also participated in the Christmas Light Parade, the youth stuffed napkins in chicken wire for two weeks straight to get the trailer ready; but all their hard work paid off when we won 1st place. Each kid was allowed to take home the plaque for a night to show their family.

15 4-H members attended a Record book Training. Youth received hands on training related to record book content matter such as tips on writing your 4-H story, filling out the NM Report form, filling out record sheets, and compiling all the information into one document. 85% of youth reported an increase in knowledge related to understanding profits and losses, how to set goals, and methods of organizing documentation throughout the year. 90% of youth reported an increase in mastery skills such as creative writing skills, accountability skills, planning and organizing, self-motivation and goal setting skills. 10% increases in the number of record books were turned in this year due to the record book training.

Youth work with adult partners to solicit donations and sponsorships for 4-H programming, scholarships and county fair needs as well conducting fundraisers. The County conducted a variety of fundraisers to send youth on trips; provide for countywide trainings and socials; and maintain funds for general operations. Fundraisers included: enchilada dinner, posole/tamale sales, cake auction, and dances. The county raised over $5,500 toward providing quality programs. Youth gained knowledge and skills in organizing fundraisers and managing money as well as constructive youth/adult partnerships.

2 youth serve on the Extension Advisory Committee to assist agents in setting annual program calendars, choosing subject matter topics for workshops and clinics and planning events.