Projects that develop social and behavioral skills without necessarily creating a tangible object for review at the end of the project year are attracting more and more interest from 4-H members. Weekend natural resource camps such as the Inland Empire Natural Resources camp in northern Idaho provide unique opportunities for young people to come together for a short amount of time to learn a specific subject matter while interacting with peers and adults. Camps focusing on fun while encouraging learning offer opportunities for future involvement by stimulating the interest of the participants. Projects taken from beginning to completion in one day or even one afternoon can also allow learning to be tucked into the busy schedules of today's young people. While the lines of responsibility continue to shift as society changes, this shift provides Extension educators with an excellent opportunity to meet with young people living in their local communities, to work with them, and to develop their values through program development.
Extension is well situated to fill the potential void in youth education in today's society.
References Charles Stewart Mott Foundation. Nationwide poll of support for after-school programs. Fight Crime Invest in Kids. The new 4-H. San Francisco Chronicle, pp A13, 20. Idaho Kids Count.