Happy Halloween Week!

This week is frightening a bit, and not because it's Halloween, but because I have presented a formal proposal to the leaders of the 4-H Extension office on creating a new science themed club. Its a 4-H meets city kids idea. I hope it goes through! Here's the lowdown:

4-H Club: Urban Interface

1          Science

The University of Idaho’s Natural and Environment Science Program is expanding to include interface within the traditional and proven successful 4-H youth development model. An AmeriCorps Facilitation Coach is assigned per region in Idaho to serve the program development and growth expectations set forth.  Assessing needs beginning in Kootenai County we aim to create a first ever “Urban Interface” club in the city limits. The scope is natural science related expandable into many science related categories will meet multiple University of Idaho goals as a land grant college and 4-H goals of recruiting new members and leaders. A typically underserved population of youth in 4-H, urban rather than rural, would be included (but not exclusive of) in the traditional 4-H model. The urban model, as well as science clubs, are currently adopted throughout the Nation and curriculum (www.4-hmall.org) and experts are readily available.

Below are goals, objectives, and evaluation of the Urban Interface project.

 

GOAL: Youth will participate in 4-H with a Natural and Environmental Science theme

OBJECTIVE: Youth will follow the traditional 4-H model of club meetings, projects and presentations, record books, service learning, and finally county fair participation.

OUTCOMES: Youth will apply traditional 4-H mission to reach the Head, Heart, Hands, and Health objectives while creating their own specific project goals related to the Natural and Environmental Science Curriculum. Youth will have a greater understanding of the natural environment, what a scientist does, and will complete a project to be entered and judged in the North Idaho Fair.  This program will be replicable in the 5 Northern Counties and can include a much wider set of curriculum and levels of learning.  Urban Interface will recruit more 4-H members and leaders within urban areas. Urban Interface will explore the natural world located in their backyard and beyond accessing experts in the field to learn from.  Within the traditional fair the club will display personal projects and a final club project under rubrics from the fair. The programming introduced youth to the science in their backyard, the nature in the outlying areas, and the land use practices that area farmers and forestry are employing today. 

EVALUATION: How many youth have participated in the program? How many youth completed oral presentations and record books? How many youth entered a project into the North Idaho Fair? How many local natural resource areas have been visited? How many youth were presented the opportunity to sign up for 4-H through recruitment activities in after school programs, from school demonstrations, or summer camp? How many in the community have been reached through other marketing of Urban Interface such as newspaper or social media platforms? What county ribbons have been awarded? How many different experts have presented to the youth and in which field?  Will they return to 4-H, if so which other activities? Does “inner city” sign up for 4-H increase in the area? Does overall 4-H recruitment increase, by how much percentage? Does leader recruitment increase? Does community presence increase (youth need 4-H shirts of area field trips)? Did the youth learn and have fun?!

 

Step 1. Present Urban Interface to 4-H Extension Leaders.

Step 2: Americorps member Jennifer Bokma will take a 4-H leader training in order to facilitate in a traditional model as both a parent, educator, and AmeriCorps member. Jennifer through the County Extension will assist in recruitment of leaders interested in Urban Interface or Natural Sciences.

Step 3: November 11^th add the Urban Interface Club to the list of possibilities youth can choose on sign up day, as well as leading up to the fair.  Display recruitment materials and continue marketing.

Step 4: Organize the group preparing for a first meeting

 

2        Urban Interface: Backyard & Beyond-Timeline

 

Meetings:	7 meetings per traditional 4-H model
1. December	·         General organization and get to know meeting of members and group goals and objectives. (30 mn) ·         Expert: Sharla Wilson o   What is 4-H? Traditional model presentation including record books, NI Fair participation, and leader and youth development opportunities through 4H. (30 mn) ·         Sign up for club volunteer host of each meeting ·         Schedule next meeting
2. January Head	·         Digging in: Backyard and Beyond ·         Expert: Carol Randall Entomology (30 mn) ·         “Lessons in a Box” delivered by Jennifer and parent volunteers from 4-H Curriculum Backyards & Beyond leader guide. (1 hour)
3. February Hands	·         Club activity ·         Expert: Jim Ekins Field trip to University of Idaho Science Laboratory (1 hour)
4. March	·         Choosing individual projects to display in the NI Fair- can be related to Natural or Environmental Science, i.e.; butterfly experiment, rain water collection, bug collecting, nature collection, etc. Will have curriculum guides to draw from, as well as fair theme. ·         More Backyard & Beyond lessons (30 mn, 3 stations) ·         Expert: Gizmo Founder- conceptualizing projects to completion
5. April Heart	·         Service Learning- stewards of land use, clean up or restoration activity (Blackwell Island?) ·         Expert: Coeur d’ Alene Tribe, DEQ, KEA
6. May Health	·         Field Trip- nature trail hike and picnic (@Mineral Ridge) ·         Expert- Idaho National Forest, 4-HHealthy Eating
7. June (2 meetings)	·         Observe traditional 4-H presentations by area clubs to see the demonstration model in progress (@area farm site) ·         Present work in progress projects to the club (@ Master Gardner space) ·         Expert- Master Gardener
8. July	·         Present record books to the club (@Fernan) ·         Final check of NI Fair and 4-H required components ·         Expert- Fish and Game
9.  August	·         North Idaho Fair and wrap up meeting/party
10.September	·         Collecting materials and receiving ribbon

 

3        Sustainability

 

The program will be replicable for the 5 Northern Counties and for the State of Idaho. Clubs can be broken up by age, years participated (experience with the curriculum), and broke out into the many categories of natural science with urban and community interest.  The goal and scope of the science related curriculum can change per club and county.

Water Potato Harvest with the Coeur d' Alene Tribe

150 4th grade students went through 11 stations covering natural resources, Coeur d' Alene Tribe history, and spiritual practices. The opening prayer and song shared freely with the students and staff "I give love to each and every one of you people.". The song shared with the students loosely  says "I am doing well. Do not worry. Thank you teachers.", which honors all teachers, parents, and ancestors. 150 4th graders sat silent for the lengthy and touching opening by a tribal leader. The children did scream and run, and otherwise got very stuck in the mud digging for water potatoes. At one station the youth took part in Powwow Sweat a new initiative to get kids moving. What a privilege it was to take part in  this as an AmeriCorps member from the University of Idaho Natural Resource division. Here's a link the press: http://www.cdapress.com/news

Powwow Sweat Video!

In the Field

 

Jim Ekins, area water expert and scientist with the University of Idaho will be leading a 4th grade science field trip and I will be assisting as a volunteer. A perfect fit as site supervisor for this new program working toward community growth and youth development out of PCEI. The other bonus is it's my daughters 4th grade class! It just reminds me as I work on a professional development power point on lesson planning, that we do not live in a bubble as learning intersects with fun and the world around us and must to create meaning in those lesson plans, or what else what is the point?  I hope everyone has some fresh air this week.

Jen

Bridges Aren't Built in a Day

 

 

 

There's a lot of players at work. AmeriCorps' effort is to bridge communities and organizations for youth development, among other things. Accomplishing the bridging task can be compared to throwing cargo on a moving train whose boxcar is already full. Tonight, as a new AmeriCorps member under the above agencies, I will attempt to merely show up with a friendly face at an annual 4-H Family Fun Night. One thing I've learned as a three time AmeriCorps member (and in my professional career) showing up time and time again, becoming familiar, and being genuine has created relationships with individuals that have lead to successful organization partnerships. Parts of the job are daunting (see the sheer number of above bosses), but most of it very fun. Having a good attitude makes all the difference, which is of course of lesson for life. I hope everyone has a fun night and finds joy everywhere. Wish me luck!

Jennifer

 

 

UPDATE: Learned valuable information about positions, realized I knew more people than I thought, said hello to the organization leaders, and ate some yummy homemade potluck. Followed up with email the very next Monday.