Highly engaged 4-H members become well-informed citizens who are actively engaged in their communities and the world. Adults leading 4-H programming can encourage higher engagement by taking specific actions to increase youth engagement.
Create opportunities for youth to engage in your project in multiple ways (for example: community service projects, presentations, etc.)
Create youth leadership opportunities and empower youth to participate in them
Empower youth to engage in additional types of 4-H programming at the state and national level
Create opportunities for young people to reflect on their experiences using multiple reflection strategies
Listen to youth feedback and make changes based on the youth feedback.
4-H reflection activities Nine reflection activities
Engaging the next generation of youth on the UMN Extension Youth Development Insight blog
Jeremy Freeman, volunteer systems director, jeremyf@umn.edu, 612-624-6807