Growing NYS 4-H Champions
Celebrating our PYD Champions in NYS who participated in PYD Academy experiences and expanding our NYS PYD Champions. Celina Bartz, Ryan Kincaid, Kait McNamee, Paige Podgorski, and Cathy Sweet participated in the Foundations of Positive Youth Development (PYD) Academy for Early Career 4-H Professionals provided educators with a comprehensive introduction to the science and practice of positive youth development in 4-H in their first three years of their 4-H career.
“The PYD Academy provided me with an opportunity to learn more about the 4-H Youth Thriving Model, as well as the research and data behind it. During the multi-week course, we took a deeper dive into what youth development is all about, and how we as 4-H educators/staff could help our programs to have a positive, long-lasting impact on local youths. I appreciated how the organizers presented information in a variety of formats (podcasts, articles, diagrams, group sessions...), and am finding the Learning Circles helpful to think through how to put what we've learned into practice. This is a good PD opportunity for those who are curious about the direction that 4-H is heading and those who want to move their program forward."
-Ryan Kincaid, Youth Development Team Leader in Wayne County
The Program Planning and Evaluation for Positive Youth Development (PYD) Impact prepares educators to intentionally plan and evaluate PYD programming as defined by the 4-H Thriving Model for 4-H professionals with a minimum of 3 years of 4-H career with interest in program evaluation related to positive youth development and the 4-H Thriving Model.
“The 4-H Thriving Model is a theory of change and illustrates the process of positive youth development in 4-H programs by connecting high quality program settings to the promotion of youth thriving. There are multiple ways to learn and promote the 4-H Thriving Model with staff and volunteers.
The NYS 4-H office has offered both in-person trainings and webinars on the Thriving Model and I have participated in recent on-line trainings offered by National 4-H on planning, implementing, and evaluating 4-H programs designed to help youth thrive including creating safe spaces and supporting volunteers using the Thriving Model. To educate and support our volunteers on the Thriving Model, CCE Washington County has promoted the “Volunteer Connections Series” offered by the Northeast Region Volunteer team. While any volunteer can participate at home via Zoom, we have invited volunteers to join us for “watch parties” where we serve dinner and then watch and discuss the webinars together to encourage participation. While not a 4-H professional myself, participating in these opportunities was well worth my time as we work together to build a local 4-H program where staff and volunteers understand theories and methods behind a successful 4-H experience and program, that then lead to long-term positive outcomes.”
-Brian Gilchrist, Executive Director of Washington and Fulton-Montgomery
Thriving Success Story Highlight
Opportunities for youth and families to learn and grow together: CCE Yates 4-H Art Workshops
The CCE Yates partnership with The Art Studio @ 126 Main has allowed 4-H youth and families to immerse themselves in the arts, learn new artistic skills, experiment with various forms of art, and develop positive youth/adult relationships. Increased opportunities for youth and families to learn and grow together. Adult partners were encouraged to take part alongside youth participants. One parent said, “It means a lot to me to have these exciting, local, hands-on opportunities to learn from and get to know local artists and learn about new art forms the kids were unfamiliar with. I am also very appreciative of the fact that 4-H funding makes these workshops affordable. I don't think we otherwise would have been able to participate. We look forward to having the kids exposed to even more mediums for creativity in the future.”
CCE Yates collaborated with The Art Studio @ 126 Main to offer art workshops for youth and families covering topics including a variety of clay workshops (snowmen, cats, gnomes, turtles, and clay play), mosaics, needle felting, and wire and bead work. Youth received hands on instruction from local artists, were able to develop artistic skills, ask questions to increase understanding, be creative in a safe setting, develop positive youth/adult relationships with their instructors, and meet and interact with youth they wouldn’t otherwise encounter. One 4-Her said, “Those art classes are so much fun! My favorite was the mosaics class where I made my favorite lake and gave it to my Mom for a present. She has it right by her bed and tells me all the time how much she loves it!”
A volunteer program leader said, “I love when I see the kids and they are eager to show me what’ve they’ve created at home. We can chat about their process and I can answer questions they may have had. I look forward to teaching them new techniques and introducing new tools to expand their knowledge. It’s nice to be connected to the local community kids in this way. We hope to inspire all the future artists that come our way.”
To read the full CCE Yates Success Story and explore more 4-H Thriving Stories, check out the CCE Program Development and Reporting tool section on Success Stories.
