Youth Development

Youth Development

Los Alamos County 4-H Club enrollment increased 192% with the establishment of two new clubs. There were 22 new members (63%), 6 members who have been in 4-H for 2-3 years (17%), and 7 members who have been in 4-H for a least 4 years (20%) for a total enrollment of 35 members.

Objective # 1 – Camps, Workshops, Clinics & Trainings:
• Three 4-H members and one 4-H leader participated in Home Economics School. 100% of youth reported an increase in knowledge in food preservation skills as well as an improving life skills related to decision making, cooperation, teamwork and wise use of resources.
• Home Economics Skill-a-thon Contest training – Five 4-H members and five 4-H leaders participated in a training session. The goal of the training was to introduce members to the contest, thus increase participation at county and district competitions.
Objective # 2 – Competitive Events
• Four 4-H members submitted end of year record books. Record books provide 4-H members with an avenue to report on the life skills they have mastered as well as demonstrate their level of belonging, generosity and independence throughout the 4-H program year.
• Los Alamos County Fair. Sixteen 4-H members exhibited 16 indoor exhibits. 46% of County 4-H youth showed an increase in knowledge and skills related to home economics, creative arts, horticulture and personal development as evidenced by quality baking products, , products exhibited, and ribbons awarded.
• New Mexico State Fair -- Five 4-H members exhibited five exhibits. 80% of the county exhibits received first, place awards. The Junior Master Gardeners set up a Los Alamos County 4-H Booth – which highlighted their vegetable gardening project.
Objective # 3 -- Awards & Recognition
• An Annual 4-H Awards Program for the 2009-2010 year was held January 8th at White Rock Town Hall. The purpose of the program was to recognize 4-H members who completed 4-H record books and to recognize 4-H members and leaders for the number of years they’ve been involved in the program. Outstanding 4-H youth and volunteers were also recognized. Twelve (12) 4-H’ers and seven 4-H leaders received awards. Bruch, provided by the 4-H families in attendance, was a new offering at this Saturday morning program. Twenty one members, leaders and parents were in attendance.
Objective # 4 – Community Service
• 100% of local club members participate in service projects at the county level.
• A County Community Service Project was the creation of “4-H Scarecrow” for the Los Alamos Scarecrow contest. The scarecrow contest is sponsored by the Los Alamos Arts Council and is open to any community organization. The Council was awarded the Sleepy Hollow Award consisting of a certificate and cash award. Youth increased knowledge and skills relate to generosity and service learning, contributions to group efforts and responsible citizenship as evidenced by willingness to serve, appreciation of service opportunities and youth assuming leadership roles related to service. Results were reported by club leaders and in member record books.
• A second community service project -- Family Festival – Decorating 4-H Cookies – Nine 4-H youth and ten adult volunteers provided leadership to this annual event geared towards young families. One hundred forty (140) youngsters participated in the “Decorating 4-H Cookies” activity. Children decorated four leaf clover cookies, made by 4-H members, with a variety of decorating toppings. The activity was coordinated by the home economist. The Family Festival is sponsored by Family Strengths Network



Adult Volunteer Leadership Development

Seven new adult volunteer leaders completed the screening process and enrolled as leaders in Los Alamos County. Eight adult volunteer leaders reenrolled for a total enrollment of 15 leaders in the county.

Time was dedicated to work on Home Economics Skill-a-thon Contest rules and regulations for the Northeast 4-H District. This was a new contest to the northeast district and the home economist served as superintendent of the Home Economics Skill-a-thon contest for the Northeast District 4-H Contests held June 21-23 in Raton. Sixteen 4-H’ers participated in the contest.

Just Be It! Healthy and Fit 4-H Leader’s Guide was adapted from the Just Be It! Healthy and Fit healthy lifestyles curriculum the home economists from Los Alamos, Rio Arriba and Santa Fe counties wrote. The objective of the leader’s guide is help 4-H leaders put movement and fun into 4-H meetings! Through a variety of games and activities the guide provides leaders with ways to teach youth to move, play and interact positively at 4-H meetings. Leaders also learned quick and easy recipes for nutritious snacks kids will love! This guide was presented at the New Mexico 4-H Leader’s Forum where nine 4-H leaders participated and at the New Mexico 4-H Conversation were approximately 65 4-H Agents attended.

A 4-H leader recruitment brochure is being created for use by Extension offices throughout New Mexico. The 4-H agents are serving on the Volunteer Recruitment committee and were tasked to create this brochure. Target date for completion is Fall 2011.

The home economist served as judge for the Rio Arriba County Fair held August 4-6 in Abiquiu. She judged the baked foods.



4-H Enrichment Expansion Efforts

The home economist continues to meet with home economists from Santa Fe and Rio Arriba Counties to work on Just Be It – Healthy and Fit, a regional nutrition related school enrichment program being offered to fifth graders from the three counties. Time was dedicated to the components of the program: nutrition and fitness field trip, in-depth education program and parent education component. A total of 232 fifth grade students from all of Alamos Elementary schools participated in the in-depth classroom education program scheduled for twice a month during the 2010-2011 school year. Two hundred forty six (246) students from 11 classrooms in five elementary schools and 11 teachers participated in the 2011 Field Trip. For detail description of the program and results refer to Children, Youth, and Families at Risk-Sustainable Community Grant Project: Just Be It! Healthy and Fit plan of work.

• Los Alamos Middle School Lunch Hour Fun Fair – students visually learned about adverse consequences and the extent of energy drink consumption among children and adolescents. “A Risky Kick” provided information on how energy drinks, frequently containing high and unregulated amounts of caffeine, have been reported in association with serious adverse effects, especially in children, adolescents, and young adults with seizures, diabetes, cardiac abnormalities, or mood and behavioral disorders or those who take certain medications. Approximately 125 students participated. Goals for the display were to have students learn that energy drinks have no therapeutic benefit, and many ingredients are understudied and not regulated. The known and unknown pharmacology of agents included in such drinks, combined with reports of toxicity, raises concern for potentially serious adverse effects in association with energy-drink use.

• Energy Drinks – A Risky Kick –display was also used at the Chamisa Elementary School Science Night. Students and parents visually learned about adverse consequences and the extent of energy drink consumption among children and adolescents. Approximately forty students and their parents participated.


• The home economist was asked by the Pojoaque Intermediate School to participate in their annual Career Fair. She utilized the Eat Smart, Play Hard display along with a Spin-Smart Nutrition Game she developed to illustrate the types of education home economists provide in the community. Twenty eight families with approximately students and their parents participated. Students played the nutrition game and were provided with animated nutrition worksheets to complete. Parents were provided with a BeWell booklet.

The Just Be It! Healthy and Fit Healthy Lifestyles Program for Youth and Their Families Curriculum was completed and printed. This researched based curriculum was written by home economists from Los Alamos, Rio Arriba and Santa Fe Counties. It will be distributed to extension home economists in New Mexico as well as being available to other extension professionals across the country. The curriculum contains: proven teaching strategies, field trip workshops, eleven classroom activity chapters for the classroom, informative worksheets and charts, videos, snack preparation activities and recipes, best practices food safety, comprehensive nutritional guidelines and preventative health information. In addition, parent newsletters and take home reinforcement materials are also included. The curriculum is correlated to the New Mexico Public Education Department Standards and Benchmarks. It is available in printed and DVD format.

Children and Families
Child Care Provider training; An ongoing goal and effort of the Home Economist is to train staffs who work in child care settings both in early care and the afterschool field. The goal of this training effort is to encourage state licensure by the Children Youth and Family Department of New Mexico and to provide professional and research based training for child care providers in Bernalillo County. Multiple trainings for child care providers have been provided throughout the year in; age appropriate practices, behavior management, positive youth development and nutrition related topics. The Home Economist also serves on the board of Choices for Families; a non-profit nutrition agency serving home based child care providers and Children’s Choice; a non-profit afterschool program serving over 500 APS students in 10 elementary schools.
This year the Home Economist did five trainings for Foster Parents in the Albuquerque area. The topics for these trainings included “Feeding your family healthy on a budget”, Handling challenging behavior issues in children, Positive Discipline and Dealing with Picky eaters. Classes for Catholic Charities on nutrition and child care topics were offered by the Home Economist four times this year.

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.

Rodeo Playdays: The Agents along with members of the Tumbleweed 4-H club hosted Rodeo Playday’s throughout the months of October- February. Rodeo has been a huge request from members in Socorro County, so our plan was to start out small to determine how much interest was really out there. Roughly 45 member per month participated in Barrels, Poles, Flags and Goat Tying. At the first one, very few members participated in the Goat tying event because they didn’t know how, so Deekota Chavez, Tumbleweed 4-H member gave a demonstration on goat tying to increase the participation in that event. This was a great event because it allowed the beginners a chance to compete without feeling intimidated. Youth showing an increase in cooperation, social skills, goal setting and self-motivation through their participation in these playdays. This was evident by their willingness to cheer each other on, teach each other what they know and having their times get better as the months went on.