Indeed, they are often more important, depending on the age of the child and the stated goals of the program. County extension educators, once called county extension agents, also play a major teaching role, working with both adult and youth audiences. Young people in 4-H join voluntarily, and they select projects and areas of involvement based on personal interests. Working independently or in groups, young people experiment, work, demonstrate, and produce educational products in areas like rocketry, animal science, entomology, food preparation, environmental study, fishing, photography, leadership, and clothing and textiles. They also work on group programs like community service and cross-age teaching on topics such as pregnancy prevention, alcohol use, nutrition, and fitness.
Young people come to the active learning environment with different skills and abilities.
They approach new situations and ideas by exploring, engaging with others, reflecting, and questioning in order to discover answers and implications. Seminar with 4-H Faculty, St. Paul, University of Minnesota. Academy for Educational Development. A new vision promoting youth development, testimony, Washington, D.C., House Select Committee on Children, Youth and Families. Produced by Communication and Educational Technology Services, University of Minnesota Extension Service.