Embryology is the most popular school enrichment program utilized by educators. Pike County had thirteen classes with a total of two-hundred fifty-five students enrolled in this project.

The Embryology curriculum is designed to help youths obtain a better understanding of life and the processes of embryonic development.

This project should:

As a result of this project, students displayed an increase in knowledge of:

Rocketry

This project introduces students to Newton’s law, the effects of forces of gravity, and the basics of rocketry through a variety of hands-on experiments. Students explore the science of rocketry and apply what they learn as they design, build, and launch their own rockets. This is a great project to stimulate interest in math, engineering, aerospace, and physics.

Pike County had one hundred-two students in a total of five classes utilizing and completing this project. No formal evaluation was administered.

Mini-Society® uses an experience-based approach to teach economics and entrepreneurship concepts to children ages 8 to 13.

By developing their own society, complete with its own name, flag, and currency, children come to understand entrepreneurship through experiences, role-playing, and careful instruction. They identify tasks that will earn money, bringing currency into their society. From there, they independently create businesses to meet market opportunities they identify, providing products and services to their fellow citizens.

The Mini-Society curriculum helps youth internalize their ideas and concepts because they have direct experiences that relate to what they learn.

Eighty-four fourth grade students participated in Mini-Society.

As a result of their participation in Mini-Society, 55 businesses were created by students who identified market opportunities within their society. Market opportunities were identified via a market survey. By plotting their evaluation results, students then created a market demand curve.

In addition to the above mentioned curriculum Babysitting, Electricity, Forestry, Geology, and Wildlife projects were also used in a classroom setting.

In order to increase the number of youth served by 4-H programs, this program was designed to assist in marketing 4-H and cooperative extension by familiarizing participants with programs and project books. This program was promoted through the schools. Teachers in all the area school districts were invited to attend.

Teachers were presented with a sampling of 4-H project books. Demonstrations of some of the more popular school enrichment projects were given and hands-on activities were available for the teachers to do.

Sixteen of the seventeen participants completed an evaluation. Evaluations completed indicated:

• 75% of the participants strongly agreed;
• 19% of the participants agreed;
• 6% of the participants slightly agreed.

• 69% of the participants strongly agreed;
• 25% of the participants agreed;
• 6% of the participants slightly agreed.

When asked how teachers planned to use the materials presented, 50% indicated that they would incorporate 4-H/Cooperative Extension materials in the classroom.

When asked what the most important thing learned as a result of the workshop, 75% indicated the many services and materials available through 4-H/Cooperative Extension.

One participant can be quoted as saying “Great Resources Available!” Another participant stated “4-H is much more than I realized.”

Teen Training

Throughout the year a variety of trainings are offered to Pike County teens. Those trainings include:

These programs encourage character development and group interaction. In addition, the programs were designed to provide teens with an opportunity to develop and enhance leadership skills and strategies for critical thinking and problem solving.

Training(s) components include:

Based on agent(s) observations, participants in teen training(s) displayed an increase in self-esteem and self-confidence.

Teens participating in these programs can count their experiences towards the twenty-four hours of camp related training that potential camp counselors must acquire, under the American Camping Association standards to be a camp counselor.

The objective of having Kidz Kamp is to make 4-H programming available to youth in an area typically underrepresented in Monroe and Pike Counties.

This program was a three and a half day, hands on program, relating to the theatre arts, for youth ages 8 – 13 years.

As a result of Kidz Kamp, pre vs. post tests indicate:

Camp Shehaqua**

This program provides youth ages 8 – 18 with an opportunity to further enhance their life skills and leadership development through a multi-faceted leisure education program. Camp provides youth with an opportunity to develop life skills outside the club or school setting.

Components include:

• Crafts, shooting sports, challenge course, trust building, cooperative game activities, interaction challenges, entrepreneurship and economics.
  
  
• Hands-on Matter workshop conducted by an employee of NASA’s National Space Camp, in Alabama.

John Marsh holding a
project made at camp.

One hundred thirty two adults, counselors and campers participated in our week long camp. Pike County specifically had two adults, twenty-three campers, two counselors and one counselor in training attend camp. Written evaluations indicated that from their camping experience, campers learned to be more responsible for themselves, how to work more effectively in groups and gained leadership skills that they did not have before coming to camp.

Of the evaluations returned for camp:

• 70% indicated that they learned how to effectively work and get along with others in a group.
  
  
• 53% indicated that they had gained leadership skills that they did not have before coming to camp.
  
  
• 63% indicated an increase in their organizational skills.
  
  
• 58% felt more capable of making decision for themselves.

**Camp Shehaqua is an American Camping Associated accredited facility.