Stimulates youth to learn through discovery and draw meaning from the experience. Helper and participant learn together in a cooperative way, rather than in a teacher-student relationship. Youth work together, share information, provide explanations and evaluate themselves and others. Youth take responsibility for their own learning. Selecting the Life Skill to be Practiced One of the primary goals of the 4-H program is to help youth develop important life skills that they can use everyday.
Life skills help youth become competent, capable and contributing individuals.
When the 4-H program began, the purpose was primarily to teach youth project skills such as how to raise corn, livestock and vegetables as well as how to cook a meal. Today the primary goal of 4-H is youth development. Projects are used as a way for youth to practice and learn life skills. Strong project experiences are essential. For example to teach decision making skills youth actually practice decision-making skills and discuss how they used them.