# Presentation: 027703

## 4-H Club Study

- Does participation make a difference in the lives of youth?

- Cathann A. Kress, Ph.D.
- Black Hills Seminars 2001
- Rapid City, South Dakota

## What difference does 4-H Club participation make?

-  Two year study
- To what extent and in what ways do
-    4-H Clubs influence and contribute to the “context” for positive youth development?

**Notes:**
This two-year study focused on understanding the difference 4-H Club participation makes in a young person’s life and the ways in which 4-H Clubs influence and contribute to positive youth development in New York State. 

## Youth Development defined...	

- In this study, youth development was understood as a process of growing up and developing one’s capacities in positive ways
- -Walker & Dunham, 1994

- Is success related to active participation and involvement in public demonstrations, community service projects, and events?
- Is success due to the relationships developed and the long-term membership?

## Study Design

- Focus Groups
- Profile of 4-H Clubs
- Electronic Survey of 4-H Staff
- 4-H Members Only Survey
- Secondary Analysis of Search Institute Profiles

## Study Design

- Compared with

## Findings – Focus Groups	

- Participants were 4-H members, program leaders, volunteers, and parents of 4-H members.
- Themes:
- Emphasis in 4-H is on life skills
- Key elements include relationships with other adults, active participation in program efforts, and community service.
- Success of 4-H is attributed to dedication of leaders who are “youth-centered”

## Findings – 4-H Club Profiles	

- 4-H Club Profiles
- Nearly half (27 counties) have 26-50 active clubs.
- Over half  (31 counties) have a total club enrollment between 251-550 members.

## Findings – Staff Electronic Survey

*4-H as a transformative experience *
-      Story themes:
- Acceptance and belonging
- Safe place to take risks and increase self-esteem; how life skills learned gave 4-H members a “leg up”
- How 4-H members channeled negative attitudes into positive action and transferred leadership skills to other settings
- learning the value of helping others and the meaning of service.

## Findings- Members Only Survey

- 4-H Club youth in New York scored higher than both the Search Institute’s youth with club participation and without club participation on all developmental assets tested.
- The type of club was not important.
- There was a difference for youth who remain in 4-H for one year or more.

## Findings- Members Only Survey

- What do you feel you have gained?
- 4-H changes lives
- Fun & Friendships
- Teamwork
- Opportunities for Leadership
- Multiple Skills
- The Value of Community Service

## 4-H experiences become TRANSFORMATIONAL when we provide opportunities for young people to 

*Belong*
*Master Skills*
*Lead*
*Learn the meaning of service*

*I feel that the experience I’ve gained from being a 4-H member puts me “a notch above the rest.” *

## Results?

- The results show that the process of youth development is positively influenced in multiple ways by 4-H Club membership.
*When* membership includes some key essential elements...

## Places where youth belong...

## Opportunities to influence events and other people...

## Opportunities to learn skills

- Meaningful ways to contribute...

## 4-H makes life better for youth.