Parents and Kids – An Educational Opportunity!

Parents and Kids – An Educational Opportunity!

Brooker Creek Preserve is proud to announce they are looking for youth members to join their 4-H Forest Ecology Team and Brooker Creek Explorers Club. Youth joining the Forest Ecology Team will work towards competing in an annual 4-H Forest Ecology Contest held in April. This contest quizzes students on their plant and animal identification skills, compass and map skills, and ecological knowledge. Both the Team and the Club are fun ways to learn, get outdoors, and be involved in your community. Activities for the forest ecology team will be led by Lara Miller, Natural Resource Extension Agent for Pinellas County, and the Brooker Creek Explorers club will be led by Brooker Creek Preserve volunteers. If you are interested in joining either opportunity or both please contact Lara Miller at lmiller@pinellascounty.org. You may also join us at the 4-H Open House hosted at Brooker Creek Preserve on Saturday, October 13^th from 1:00-3:00pm. Families will have the opportunity to inquire more about the 4-H clubs and teams being offered as well as participate in a variety of fun, hands-on activities such as:

Activity 1:  Leaf and Bark rubbing

Activity 2:  Identification of the leaf that was rubbed

Activity 3:  Age of several Tree Cookies

Activity 4:  Drawing Your Own Life as a Tree Cookie

Free registration for the Open House is available here. We look forward to seeing you there!

Dealing with Sibling Rivalry for Siblings and their Parents

Keri Hannukainen, 4-H Youth Mentor
Jean Rogalsky, 4-H Youth Development Agent

Although many siblings end up best friends, that road can be a rocky one with sibling rivalries. Sibling rivalry offers opportunities in youth development by helping children learn to share, be competitive, and manage anger issues. Instances of conflict are an opportunity for parents to express their equal and unconditional love to their children.

Parents should realize that children need to be loved for themselves and their own individual talents. If children feel they are receiving positive attention from their parents, they are less apt to start a conflict. Also remember that children are learning social and communication skills. A child may pick a fight to get attention.

Parents need to step back and let the children resolve their issues. Establishing rules that include no hitting or biting. Teach children to express anger with words. Introduce techniques of problem solving, such as walking away or counting. If you need to step in, ask the children to define the problem and come up with a list of solutions. If you think the children are capable of solving the issue, then don’t intervene. Lastly, don’t let your children fight in front of you. Show confidence they can solve the problem without you involved.

The suggestions below are for the children in the family written by Keri Hannukainen (who has a sister):

If you have brothers or sisters, you know what sibling rivalry is. But do you know why you fight? While some 4-H’ers may be lucky enough to be best friends with their siblings, others are not as fortunate. Sibling rivalry stems from a variety of factors, but in most cases, jealousy is the main cause. So, how can you end all arguments with your siblings and have a happier and less stressful life? Try out the following suggestions and find out!

First, identify why you are fighting. Is it because you are jealous of the amount of attention that a younger sibling receives from your parents? Is it because you feel neglected when your sibling is praised for his or her success in 4-H or sporting competitions? Or is because you are simply bored and wish for your sibling to interact with you?

If you fight because you feel neglected, tell your parents. They should comfort and reassure you that they love you all equally. If you feel unloved because your parents compare you to your siblings, explain to your parents how this makes you feel and ask them to stop. Comparisons between siblings only damage relationships and make someone feel hurt.

If you fight with your siblings because you are bored and want them to play with you, consider another approach. There are healthier ways to engage your siblings. Simply ask them to play with you. You should also consider a hobby if you find yourself bored enough to pick a fight with your siblings.

The desire to fight might also stem from your developing needs. As a child, you have a strong sense of fairness and equality. When you see that your younger sibling is getting more attention or is being treated differently, you may resent your sibling for this. As a teenager, your growing sense of individuality and independence may cause you to resent having to spend time with family members. These different needs may cause you to fight with your siblings.

When you fight with your siblings, do not involve your parents unless the fight is becoming physical. If you involve your parents, you will not learn how to resolve conflicts on your own. In addition, when a parent solves a conflict, they may inadvertently make it appear that one child is always being “protected.” This may further breed resentment among you and your siblings. Furthermore, the “rescued” child may feel like they can get away with more as a result of this intervention.

To resolve your conflict, understand that it takes two people to have an argument. You cannot blame your sibling as the cause for starting the argument. Since you are both responsible, you should both be involved in the process of resolving it. In order to resolve a conflict, you must first identify why you are fighting. Then, list all of the possible solutions and agree on the best option; the best solutions have positive results for both parties. If you cannot resolve your conflict due to your anger, walk away so that you can cool down. Arguments are much more easily solved when neither party is blinded by their anger.

If territorial problems are the source of your arguments, you should create times and places where you can do your own thing without having to share with your siblings. Ask your parents to help you create a schedule where you can play with toys, hang with friends, or even just relax without interference from your siblings. In addition, if you and your siblings have separate rooms, avoid going into each other’s rooms. Your rooms are your zones where you can relax without your siblings and should be kept this way.

If the fight becomes physical, get help from your parents immediately. If you are being hit, bit, scratched, shoved, or even tickled excessively, these are signs of sibling abuse. You must tell your parent about the abuse so that your parent can properly deal with the situation.

Sibling rivalry, while a common occurrence in most households, does not have to damage relationships or create stress. Using these suggestions, you should be able to build your relationships with your siblings, have a more relaxed life, and develop social and anger management skills.

For more information for 4-H’ers or other youth, please click on the link:
http://kidshealth.org/parent/positive/family/sibling_rivalry.html

For more information for parents, please click on the link:
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/HE/HE11000.pdf

Keeping Holidays Happy

Jean Rogalsky, 4-H Youth Development Agent

Holidays are a wonderful happy time, but they can also be very stressful for families, especially children, because of the changes; the increase of social events, less time with parents, changes in schedule, and the tons of sweets and holiday treats. As the holiday season approaches, here are some tips on holiday spending and stress to ensure that you and your family have a happy holiday season.

Holiday Spending
Overspending finds you in debt afterwards. During tough economic times it is more important than ever to stick to a budget. You don't have to spend lots of money to have holiday spirit. Many people overspend because they feel trapped by holiday traditions and expectations. So make it your goal this year to not get trapped. Just because you have always done something one way, does not mean you cannot make changes. Have an honest talk with family members that you need to reduce spending this year. Let your children know what the holidays are really about and that gifts are something extra. Consider the following to cut down on holiday costs:

• Set a limit on an amount to spend on each other and make sure the amount is something all can afford.
• Draw names so each person only needs to purchase one gift.
• Exchange gifts of service. Give someone with kids 4 hours of babysitting. A handyman can offer to make a number of repairs. You may have a skill you could pass on to someone else with lessons.
• Be creative and make something versus buying something. A gift with your personal touch has more meaning.
• Let children know that they cannot get everything they want, and help them prioritize their wishes.
• Have potluck holiday parties. Don’t take on all the time and the expense.

Holiday Stress
Prepare yourself and your children for the emotions and stress that come before, during, and after the holiday. We get so busy with all that needs to be done and sometimes forget that our stress causes children’s stress.

• Limit the number of social gatherings and events. While we hate to disappoint anyone, remember that too much change in a child’s schedule can cause behavioral issues.
• Have the whole family get involved in preparing for the holidays. Make a list together and delegate tasks. Kids feel a part of the holiday when involved, and it lessens the stress on the parents.
• Make decorations as a family. A child’s handiwork on display is a great source of pride.
• Volunteer as a family to help another family in need or visit. Helping others in need puts the holidays in perspective.
• Traditions are important to kids because it emphasizes the family. Everyone looks forward to traditions because it gives them a sense of security. It is never too late to start a new tradition in your home.

Here is a bit of research to keep in mind as you plan for the holidays. When elementary and middle school students were surveyed about their best holiday memory, the vast majority of the responses had to do with family time rather than gifts.

Have You Ordered Your 4-H Apples and Pecans?

Jean Rogalsky, 4-H Youth Development Agent

Time is running out to order your 4-H apples and pecans. The last day to order is October 4.

This fund raiser of the Pinellas County 4-H Foundation benefits those who purchase the apples and pecans as well as the Pinellas County 4-H program. The buyers of the delicious apples receive a nutritious product fresh from the tree. The pecan buyers receive a versatile nutritious product guaranteed to be this year's crop. Did you know that store pecans are sometimes stored from the year before?

Benefiting from the purchase of the apples and pecans are the 4-H members. Each year $6,000.00 is allocated to assist 4-H members to attend Camp Ocala, 4-H Congress, weekend leadership workshops, compete at regional and national level, and other educational opportunities. As one 4-H member wrote, "At camp I made the best new friends and learned how important communication and respect is. Without the scholarship, my parents couldn't afford to send me and I wouldn't have had these great friends or learned so much!"

There are two kinds of apples offered in full or half bushels. A bushel of apples, in case you've forgotten, is approximately 40-42 pounds.

EMPIRE - This is a cross between a Red Delicious and McIntosh. They are medium sized fruit with dark red skin with a sweet tangy flavor that resembles McIntosh though with better color, flavor and keeping ability.

CRISPIN/MUTSU- This apple is a cross between Golden Delicious and Indo made in 1930 in Japan and introduced in 1948. It was renamed Crispin in England, a name that still persists in the US. The large to extra-large fruit has a yellow green skin with flesh similar to Golden Delicious though, slightly coarser in texture and tarter in flavor. This is an excellent all-purpose apple (baking, freezing, apple jelly/apple butter) that keeps well.

Whichever type of apple you buy, you will be purchasing one of the most nutritious fundraising items. While an apple a day may not keep the doctor away, apples are one of the best snack choices to make.

A medium sized apple contains 81 calories and zero grams of fat. Eating one apple will supply you with 3 grams of dietary fiber (12% of Daily Value) and surprisingly, 13% of the Daily Value of vitamin C. (National Dairy Council)
A full bushel of apples sells for $34.00 and half bushel for $20.00.
The plain Georgia pecans are sold in 16 ounce bags in halves or pieces. They sell for $10.00 a bag.

The chocolate covered, cinnamon glazed, and cluster pecans come in a decorative 12 ounce bag. They also sell for $10.00.

A one-ounce serving of plain pecans (approximately 20 halves) contains 196 calories, 20.4 grams total fat (1.8 saturated fat), 0 mg cholesterol, 2.7 grams dietary fiber and over 19 vitamins and minerals including vitamin A, vitamin E, calcium, potassium and zinc. One ounce of pecans provides 10 percent of the recommended Daily Value for fiber. Pecans are also a natural, high-quality source of protein. Pecans are also naturally sodium-free.

The apples and pecans are due to arrive the last week of October. Pickup dates for the apples and pecans are Oct. 26, 27, 28 and 29th at the Chester Ochs 4-H Educational Center better known as the Ochs 4-H Garden located at 14644 113th Ave. N. Largo. The parking lot is located off of 146th Street (Hamlin).

What better way to start your holiday shopping than to order plain pecans for holiday recipes and beautiful bags of covered pecans for gifts?
For more information on the apples and pecans, and to order, click here.

Developing Good Habits in 4-H

By Eric Yuan, 4-H Youth Mentor

It is important for every individual to develop healthy habits within their lifestyle. People are full of habits, both good and bad. However, it is important that the good habits outnumber the bad habits and that the bad habits do not have an adverse effect on one’s life. The article “Tips for Breaking Bad Habits and Developing Good Habits” by Scott Young, points out that most of life is habitual, and that people always tend to repeat things that they have previously done or patterns of behavior that they have expressed before. Bad habits can often be hard to break and it always seems that good habits need to be forced. In 4-H, however, opportunities are readily available to develop good habits in strategic and subtle ways. The article by Scott Young emphasizes the fact that habits must be sufficiently conditioned over an extended period of time before it becomes a natural behavior for someone. Youth not only have the opportunity to develop good habits through participation in 4-H Clubs, they also learn valuable life skills. Youth who participate in 4-H Clubs are continuously conditioned in a variety of areas that instill healthy habits. 4-H youth master these habits and then apply what was learned to other aspects of their lives.

Youth who participate in 4-H will develop invaluable habits that will benefit them later in life. One of those experiences is the peer-to-peer interaction participants are exposed to. 4-H youth learn to work as a team with their club members, discussion ideas and opinions, and listen to others within the group. Positive habits developed through the peer-to-peer interaction will certainly benefit these youth in many future endeavors including school, socially, and especially in their future careers.

As a youth continues their 4-H experience, other opportunities are offered that allows for healthy habits to be developed. They are responsible for completing project books, attending club meetings, and participating in other club activities. The repetition of these ongoing experiences helps to form habits of time management, follow through, commitment, and giving back to the community.

The habits developed undoubtedly carry over from youth into adulthood. According to a study conducted by ServiceLeader.org, youth who volunteer are more likely to continue to volunteer as adults and are more likely to donate a portion of their annual income to charities. Furthermore, The RGK Center for Philanthropy and Community Service at The University of Texas at Austin performed a noteworthy survey in 2001 and 2002 about college students' volunteer experiences. Included in the study were both volunteer habits and motivations. Out of the 1,514 university students, 76 percent who volunteered during high school continued to volunteer during college in the year of the survey. (RGK, 2002) Referring to the ideological motivators, 80 percent of the total number of students that volunteered in the previous year did so because they felt it was their "civic duty."

Clearly the good habits that youth develop during their time in 4-H can influence their future. 4-H not only helps youth acquire good habits that will build character and increase independence, but it also molds youth into responsible and able adults that will continue to have a beneficial impact on their community.

Resources:
http://www.cns.gov/

http://www.serviceleader.org/new/managers/2004/06/000242print.php#3c

http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/strategies-for-breaking-bad-habits-and-cultivating-good-ones/

Healthy Competition in 4-H

By Richard Livingstone, 4-H Youth Mentor

Competition in 4-H is about as American as apple pie. In a society surrounded by competition it is important to emphasize the need for healthy competition and foster an environment in which to do so. Adults face competition in the workplace every day when finding and keeping jobs. However youth face competition at school, in academics, during extracurricular activities, and sports. Competition – where someone wins and others lose – as referenced in the Journal of Extension, is a significant part of American culture according to Robert J. Fetsch; Professor and Extension Specialist at Colorado State University and Raymond K. Yang; Professor at Colorado State University.

In that same publication proponents of competition claim that it contributes to learned democratic values, combats juvenile delinquency, and promotes physical fitness and learning. Opponents argue that competition decreases self-esteem and fosters individualism rather than cooperation—“the increasing complexity of social conditions in our local communities, states, nation, and world demand that we learn to live cooperatively.”

In an additional article titled “Competition and Cooperation: Helping Youth Strike a Balance” Karen L. Hinton sites “striving to achieve a goal is a productive form of competition where success is measured in growth and not by a ribbon or trophy. Individual differences are allowed for and individuals can build on their personal abilities, knowledge, and skills.” Karen bullets a few items in which competition becomes more effective if:

• Winning is not stressed
  
• Anxiety levels are low and the competition is used as an energy release or just for fun
  
• It is used to increase performance or retention in simple drills or speed-related tasks for personal improvement
  
• All participants believe they have a reasonable chance to win
  
• Clear, specific rules are given and answers are available


• Participants can monitor their own progress and grow through the experience
  
• Guided by caring, sensitive, and informed adults
  
• Results are not over-generalized and winning or losing does not make you a better or worse person

As referenced in the above bulleted list, competition only becomes negative when winning is the overriding goal. In many studies youth, however, rarely cite winning as a reason for participating. More often learning new skills or physical competence, being with friends in a group, fun and excitement, or staying in shape are reasons for their involvement.

In a study of the Attitudes of 4-H Participants About 4-H Competitive Events in the Journal of Extension conclusions and recommendations indicate that 4-H participants have positive attitudes about 4-H competitive events, as evidenced by strong agreement for statements that were positive and disagreement for statements that were negative. A closer examination of each statement suggests that 4-H participants believe that 4-H competitive events have benefits. Those youth who participated in 4-H events tended to place high value on competition compared to non-participants.

Volume 40 Number 3 of the Journal of Extension titled “The Effect of Competitive and Cooperative Learning Preferences on Children’s Self-Perceptions: A comparison on 4-H and Non 4-H Members” lists recommendations about what would a 4-H agent want to know about valuing competition, team learning, and cooperation and they include:

• All programming and competitive events should be revisited and modified to correspond with current findings in research, especially related to competition and cooperation
  
• Grade 3-5 4-H Club members (especially boys) should be provided more cooperative learning experiences and fewer competitive learning experiences
  
• Parents of 4-H members are urged to continue to provide their unconditional parental support to their children—whether their projects place 1st or 4th. If they are supported either way, they grow in self-competence and self-worth

Much like in an article written by Caroline Payne and Kate Fogarty graduate student and associate professor, Department of Family, Youth and Community Science, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, IFAS, University of Florida titled The Importance of Youth Involvement in Sports, competition is essential in culminating a youth’s experience and growth in team sports activities just like 4-H competitive events. 4-H competitive events provide numerous opportunities for children and teenagers to grow socially, emotionally, and physically. Furthermore, they also allow youth to learn and practice in a competitive environment. While 4-H events may increase children’s positive social interaction with adults and one another, they can also create stressful environments for children. For example, adults may place unrealistic pressure on their children to perform. Parents and children must find a balance in regards to how many extracurricular activities children participate in. 4-H event participation can be an amazing tool that helps children grow and succeed in their everyday lives and in the future.


References:
http://www.joe.org/joe/2002june/a5.html
http://www.unce.unr.edu/publications/files/cy/other/fs9386.pdf
http://www.joe.org/joe/2006december/rb3p.shtml
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/FY/FY100100.pdf

A Parent’s Guide through the Teen Years

By Vestina F. Crayton, Pinellas County Extension, Educational Instructor

Transitioning into the teen years is an exciting but challenging time for teens and their parents. This is a time when many changes occur. Some are subtle while others are more obvious. Many times parents and teens have to deal with the results of these changes without warning or preparation. What are some of these changes? Extensive research has been done to identify the following four developmental phases that most teens experience: physical, cognitive, social, and moral.

Physical
To adequately examine this phase, two age categories will be discussed:
early adolescence – ages 10 to 14 and late adolescence 15-18.

Early Adolescence- Generally speaking, for both boys and girls, physical changes takes place around age 11. Girls put on weight, grow taller, and typically enter puberty two years earlier than boys. Boys experience a height or growth spurt at age 14. This activity explains the awkwardness that many early adolescences exhibit. Such as the lower extremities of the body (hands, legs, feet) out grow the torso which creates a seemingly disproportionate body. Girls have broader hips while boys develop broader shoulders. This differentiation is attributed to the affect of sex hormones on skeletal expansion.

Puberty plays a significant role in the normal physical development of an early adolescent. Girls will grow pubic and underarm hair; start menstruating and budding of the breast will become visible. Boys will grow hair on their face and body, the male reproductive organ will enlarge and the voice will deepen.

Late Adolescence-
At this stage of development, most of the rapid growth occurrences are nearly complete. At age 16 and 17 the height of girls and boys, respectively, have reached its end. Boys display larger skeletal muscle while having larger lung and heart capacity. This allows more transport of oxygen from the lungs to the muscle which would explain the difference in muscle between boys and girls.

How do I handle this phase?
Communication is important. But more importantly, is how you communicate. Being compassionate, understanding, and respectful will help your teen cope with this awkward and possibly uncomfortable phase. Explaining that everyone goes through this and that you will be there every step of the way will alleviate some of the stress your teen may feel and open the lines of communication.

Cognitive
In this developmental phase, youth began to mentally process abstract concepts. They begin to think and start asking questions that are not answered by a simple yes or no. They begin self-evaluating by asking questions like ‘what is my purpose?, and ‘what do others think of me?’ This is a critical time because youth been to start categorizing themselves with others. They begin to define who they are. Because the teen is in the process of developing their cognitive ability, analyzing information can become warped and distorted. Research has identified this phenomenon in two ways – imaginary audience and personal fable.

Imaginary audience is when the teen thinks that everyone is looking at and examining them. This causes the teen to be self-conscious. Personal fable is created in conjunction with the imaginary audience. Because the teen thinks everyone is looking at them, an over-inflated sense of self emerges. The teen may start declaring that they are invincible. If left unmonitored, this mode of thinking may cause the teen to take unnecessary risks such as driving recklessly or engaging in unprotected sex.

How do I handle this phase?
Be patient. Be aware. This is a brand new way of thinking for your teen. Take comfort in knowing that this is normal development for learning to process information.

Social
Self identity begins to take form in this stage of development. Teens evaluate themselves through their social interactions with parents, peers, and friends. Research has found that as adolescents transition into the teen years, the time spent with family decreases and the time spent with peers and friends increases. In addition, time spent alone grows. A study revealed that on average youth ages 13-16 years old spend 28 minutes a day with parents and 103 minutes with friends and peers (Buhrmester & Carbery, 1992).

It’s during this time that teens seek support from not only their parents but also their peers and friends. Teens will share their thoughts and feelings about school and different career options with parents; however, teens will bond with other teens when it comes to their emotional trials and triumphs.

How do I handle this phase?
Even though it may appear that your teen does not need you as much as when they were an adolescent, don’t panic. This is a time of exploration and discovery for your teen. Take advantage of the time to guide and provide your teen with invaluable input that will help build a solid foundation to make better decisions that will have a significant impact on the their future .

Moral
The ability to think about others takes shape during this stage. Teens begin to consider the consequences of their actions. More attention is given to how their values and principles compare and/or contrast with society.

How do I handle this phase?
Celebrate and embrace this level of maturity that your teen has achieved. This is a time that you can witness the values that you have instilled in your teen through their behavior and response to the world. Or, revisit some areas that may need some attention.

To learn more about these four stages of development, Pinellas County 4-H Youth Development offers a 4-H Family Teening-Up program. This program is a two-day, 6-hour interactive workshop designed especially for parents and their teens. Through hands-on learning activities, participants will receive tips and implementation strategies on how to respond to these various stages of development. Having this information and using these tips will help you and your teen move through this exciting time more easily. For more information about this valuable program, contact 4-H Youth Development at (727) 582-2450.

References

Helping Teens Answer the Question "Who Am I?" Physical Development in Adolescents: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fy770

Helping Teens Answer the Question "Who Am I?": Cognitive Development in Adolescents: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/FY769

Helping Teens Answer the Question "Who Am I?": Social Development in Adolescents: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/FY768

Middle Childhood and Adolescent Development: http://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/html/ec/ec1527/

University of Minnesota, Extension, A Parent's Guide to Teens:

http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/familydevelopment/DE7607.html

4-H Family Teening-Up program: http://pinellas.ifas.ufl.edu/4-H/family.shtml

Searching for the Perfect Volunteer Opportunity

By Eric Yuan, 4-H Youth Mentor
Pinellas County Extension, University of Florida/IFAS

Perhaps the hardest part of volunteering is not taking the time to give back and help others. The hardest part may just be finding a volunteering opportunity that fits you. In an article written by Nemours Foundation, “Volunteering Isn’t Like School”, it states that one of the first things that you must ask yourself when searching for the perfect place to volunteer is knowing what interests you. If you are interested in working with youth, there are plenty of organizations out there such as Big Brother or a Big Sister or R-Club after school. If you are interested in animals, you can ask a local animal shelter if they are interested in any volunteers. Or if you enjoy helping out the community directly, you can volunteer at a park clean up or a homeless shelter. The point is that there are opportunities to volunteer to suit almost any interest that you may have.

To read the complete article “Volunteering” from the Nemours Foundation visit: http://www.kidshealth.org/teen/school_jobs/jobs/volunteering.html.

It is also important to know who you want to work with when volunteering. If you enjoy working with a group of peers then it would behoove you to volunteer at a location focused on youth development. If you want to work alone then perhaps being a tutor or a mentor to younger children would suit you better. Maybe even more important than knowing who you want to work with is figuring out when you are available to volunteer. You must always make sure that your volunteer opportunity will not conflict with other existing activities such as a job, sports, or clubs. Furthermore, you must know how much time you will need to commit as a volunteer. For example, will the activity be everyday after school or only on weekends?

After you have a decided on a few possible choices, the next step is to call the organization and see if they are a perfect fit for you. Ask them if they have previously worked with teen volunteers and if they have a volunteer-friendly atmosphere. Another important aspect to inquire about is whether their volunteer program promotes youth development. Volunteering should be an opportunity for you to mature and learn valuable life skills while helping your community.

To help you get started in your search for the perfect volunteer opportunity you can visit http://www.fastweb.com/fastweb/resources/articles/index/110700

or visit http://www.serviceleader.org/new/volunteers/articles/2003/04/000047.php to find some ideas that will help you narrow your search.

If you are looking for a place to volunteer, why not simply take a look at the great volunteer opportunities available at 4-H Extension? 4-H Youth Development is a youth oriented volunteer experience that not only allows for youth to volunteer but also gives them a chance to learn valuable life skills. Youth volunteering opportunities at 4-H can be found both during the school year and in the summer. 4-H has adult volunteering as well. Adult volunteers are greatly appreciated in their year round effort to making 4-H a better place. If you are interested in either youth or adult volunteering feel free to contact the Pinellas County Extension for more information.

Visit the 4-H Extension website to learn more about volunteer opportunities: http://pinellas.ifas.ufl.edu/4-H/volunteering.shtml

The Extension office is located at 12520 Ulmerton Road, Largo, FL 33774

Phone number (727) 582-2100

I scream, you scream, we all scream for 4-H ice cream!

By Beth Tobias, 4-H Agent
Pinellas County Extension

Wouldn’t it feel pretty special to have an ice cream flavor created just for you? Well, Blue Bell Creameries http://www.bluebell.com/ recently partnered with National 4-H Council http://www.fourhcouncil.edu/ to recognize the excellent work in youth development by 4-H over the past 100 years. To celebrate the 4-H Centennial, Blue Bell created this one of a kind and quite tasty ice cream flavor just for 4-H! 4-H Centennial Cupcake is cupcake flavored ice cream with chocolate frosting swirls and clover sprinkles. The packaging for the ice cream includes the 4-H logo and kids in 4-H t-shirts, making it an excellent marketing opportunity. National 4-H hopes that local 4-H communities will gain recognition from this national promotion. Here in Pinellas County, 4-H has been around since the 1920’s but we still hear from people that they did not know we are in this area so we are excited about the publicity.

The product is available in more than 15 states and has been spotted locally in a variety of grocers, so get out there and try it. If you can not find the 4-H flavor on the self, just ask for it and most stores will order it or you can go on line and order it directly from Blue Bell. A portion of the proceeds from sales of the ice cream will be going to curriculum development, volunteer and professional training, and other 4-H programs. I can not think of a better way to celebrate than with ice cream, so please join Pinellas County 4-H in the celebration.

I Call this Meeting to Order

By Margaret Deller, 4-H Clubs Educational Instructor
Pinellas County/University of Florida IFAS Extension

If you have ever attended a meeting that had an agenda, allowed all members an equal chance to speak, and every idea was given equal attention, then you have attended a meeting that was run with parliamentary procedure.

Fundamentally, parliamentary procedure defines how groups of self governing people, no matter how formal or informal, can most effectively meet and make decisions in a fair, consistent manner—making good use of everyone's time. Even a basic background in parliamentary principles can help you and your organization hold more efficient meetings.

In order to learn and implement parliamentary procedure in your organization you will need to do some research. The most widely used authority on parliamentary procedure is Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised. This book originally titled A Pocket Manual of Rules of Order for Deliberative Assemblies was written in 1876 by General Henry M. Robert. General Robert was an engineering officer in the regular Army. Without warning, he was asked to preside over a church meeting and realized that he did not know how. He tried anyway and his embarrassment was supreme. This event left him determined never to attend another meeting until he knew something of parliamentary law.

He discovered and studied the few books that were available on the subject. From time to time, because of his military duties, he was transferred to various areas of the United States, where he discovered everyone had a different idea of what was correct. Using his experiences he wrote his own book on the subject. The most recent edition of Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised is the 10th. Each new edition issued since the death of Henry Robert, has been prepared by people who knew Henry Robert, worked with him or are directly connected to those people by professional association.

The first time you try to read Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised it can be a little scary. First, it is 700 pages long and is full of words you know being used in ways you have never imagined. But there are many resources out there to make it easier. First, you can visit the official website http://www.robertsrules.com/ where you can learn how your organization can adopt Robert’s Rules in your organization and get answers to frequently asked questions. Next, you can contact your local 4-H office or club; because they use Parliamentary Procedure with all of their meetings. Yes, even youth can use Robert’s Rules. In fact, there are even games to teach you how http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/who/inside.html. Here in Pinellas County we even have a small how-to booklet, created by Hernando County 4-H Agent Nancy Moores, called Parliamentary Procedure Made Easy for Everyday Use.

Next time you are at a meeting that is called to order and an item for discussion is moved, seconded, and passed by majority vote; remember to thank General Henry M. Robert for giving you a voice.

Other Resources:
http://parliamentarians.org/procedure.php

Free Grant Money Available!

By Richard Livingstone
4-H Youth Mentor, Pinellas County Extension

What is a 4-H Community Service Grant you ask? Well, it is a monetary award for youth led service projects and 4-H has been awarding them for the past 10 years. Did you know that any Pinellas County youth or youth-led group is invited to apply for a grant to complete a project that addresses a community need during the summer of 2008? Well now you do!

The 4-H Community Service Grants Board is holding its final funding cycle of the year during the month of June. 4-H is “taking the responsibility to create change” by encouraging youth or youth-led groups in summer school programs, camps, and recreational activities to apply for a community service grant and benefit from the many life skills developed during the process.

In a publication written by Marilyn Norman, Associate Professor in Family, Youth and Community Sciences and state 4-H Program Leader as well as Joy Jordan, Associate Professor in Family, Youth and Community Sciences, a life skill is “a learned ability and competency that assists people in functioning well in the environments in which they live.” Using the four H’s and eight subcategories of the 4-H Targeting Life Skills Model (right) youth development programs can identify the skills within the five targeted competency areas that are appropriate for the ages they serve and offer 4-H experiences to teach these skills.

To view the full report visit http://florida4h.org/clubs/files/101.9_Targeting_Life_Skills.pdf

Applying for a 4-H Community Service Grant is a great way for youth to gain needed life skills including youth/adult partnerships, presentation & public speaking skills, as well as earning service hours. In an impact report published by Florida 4-H surveying 628 Florida 4-Hers, results showed that youth involved in 4-H indicated greater life skills gained from 4-H experiences particularly in the areas of communications, relationships, leadership, and decision making. To view the full impact report visit http://florida4h.org/news/files/4-H_Impact_in_Florida%20.pdf.

Pinellas County 4-H is working to increase civic engagement in the community using its 4-H Community Service Grants Board. Please visit our website at http://www.pinellasteeninfo.com/ to download a grant application and take a look at other projects being done in your community. For more information on applying for a 4-H Community Service Grant please contact Richard Livingstone at (727)-582-2103 or rlivingstone@pinellascounty.org.

The Teen Brain is Different

By Vestina F. Crayton
4-H Youth Development, Extension Educational Instructor

Quite often conversations about teens include a series of questions that begin with ‘why?’ Why do they act that way, why did they do that, why are they dressed that way and so on. Over the years, studies have been done on the teen brain to help answer some of these questions.

In 1999, by utilizing MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) technologies, some researchers were surprised to discover that just before puberty, a second wave of overproduction of gray matter (the thinking part of the teen’s brain) occurs. The teen’s gray matter changes in different functional brain areas at different times in development. For example, the gray matter growth spurt just prior to puberty is predominant in the frontal lobe where brain functions such as planning, impulse control, and reasoning take place.

One noted researcher, Dr. Yurgelun-Todd, Director of Neuropsychology and Cognitive Neuroimaging in Belmont, Mass, shared her thoughts with Frontline on what her research implied. She compared and contrasted how adults and teens process information with the frontal part and the lower (amgydala) part of the brain. Below is and excerpt from the interview.

• Frontline: In adults, how are those two parts of the brain related? What do we see there?


• Yurgulun –Todd: In an adult, this anterior or prefrontal part of the brain carries out a lot of executive functions, or what we call more thinking functions: planning, goal-directed behavior, judgment, insight. And we think that that particular part of the brain influences this more emotional or gut part of the brain. Therefore this relationship is key to understanding behavior. Teens (top image) used less of the prefrontal (upper) region than adults (bottom image) when reading emotion.


• Frontline: What does your work tell you about young teenagers?


• Yurgulun –Todd: One of the implications of this work is that the brain is responding differently to the outside world in teenagers compared to adults. And in particular, with emotional information, the teenager's brain may be responding with more of a gut reaction than an executive or more thinking kind of response. And if that's the case, then one of the things that you expect is that you'll have more of an impulsive behavioral response, instead of a necessarily thoughtful or measured kind of response.”
  Armed with this information, parents, caregivers, teachers, and other adults who question the behavior of teens, can began to understand that the teen brain is a work in progress.

For more information on teen development, contact Pinellas 4-H Youth Development at (727) 582-2450 and sign up to participate in the 4-H Family Teening -Up program. This program is an opportunity for parents and their teen to learn how to communicate and strengthen their relationship.

References:

• To read the interview with Yurgulun-Todd in its entirety, visit http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/teenbrain/interviews/todd.html
• Ackerman, Sandra. (2006). The Teen Brain: A World of Their Own. Program Three in the Public Broadcasting Series, The Secret Life of the Brain. Accessed on March 1, 2006 at www.pbs.org/brain.
• Bond, Suzanne & Bond, Dan (2004). Professional Resource Materials for Family Information Services, Minneapolis, MN.
• Wallis, Claudia. (2004, May) What Makes Teens Tick: Inside the Adolescent Brain by Claudia Wallis. Time Magazine.
• Steinberg, Laurence. (2004). The 10 Basic Principles of Good Parenting. Simon and Schuster.
• Walsh, Michael (2004) Why do they Act That Way: A Survival Guide to the Adolescent Brain for You and Your Teenager. Minneapolis, MN: Family Information Services

Many Marine Habitats

By Betty Lipe, 4-H Educational Instructor

Source: Aquatic and Marine Ecosystems a Leaders’ Activity Guide by the
Florida 4-H Youth Development Program.

Florida is a unique state. We are surrounded on three sides by water, so as members of the community we need to be especially aware some special areas.

What are wetlands? Wetlands are areas of land that are covered with water for any length of time, from a week to the entire twelve months. Some examples of wetlands are swamps, marshes, and wet prairies. Most wetlands contain freshwater, but some like salt marshes contain saltwater. There are many threatened and endangered species of plants and animals that are dependent on wetlands, such as the wood stork, Southern bald eagle, Florida black bear, and the Florida sandhill crane.

Why are wetlands important? They are the sponge in our habitat. They catch the rainwater and allow it to percolate into the Florida aquifer. They furnish habitat for the young of many species to grow and develop, and they also provide recreational areas.

Here in Tampa Bay, we are also concerned with the coastal ecosystems. We have three of Florida’s four major types of coastal ecosystems right in Pinellas County. Beach/Dune/Barrier Island Ecosystem, Estuary, and mangrove swamps. Just to our north, begin the Salt Marsh ecosystem, which continues up through the Big Bend area of Florida.

The Beach/Dune/Barrier Island ecosystem is the most dynamic of the habitats. This area changes constantly with the action of wind, tides and currents. Nature has shaped and reshaped the coastline of Florida throughout history. Recently human habitation has, in many areas, altered the cycles of sand movement, dune development, and created beach erosion to the point where beach renourishment has to be done. Luckily the West coast of Florida because of the smaller Gulf of Mexico and the shallow slope out to the continental shelf make our coast a low energy wave area. The East coast is noted for high energy waves.

Tampa Bay is one of the largest estuaries on the west coast of Florida. Estuaries are water areas where saltwater and freshwater meet. The West coast of Florida alone has approximately 2.5 million acres of estuarine habitat that includes open water, salt marshes, and mangrove swamps. Two important factors related to the biological characteristics of estuary ecosystems are the diversity of habitats and the high productivity of the associated food webs. Habitats within the estuary include sandy bottoms, sea grass beds, oyster bars, and mud flats. These habitats provide living areas for over two thirds of the commercially important fish and shellfish. High nutrient levels in estuarine waters provide a rich “soup” that nourishes plants and animals.

Tampa Bay is the northernmost range of the mangrove swamp ecosystem. This is due to sensitivity to freezing temperatures. Mangroves can reach a height of 80 feet, hence the name mangrove forest. Mangroves help to buffer the storm waves and winds and provide protection to inland areas. Mangroves also protect the estuaries they border by filtering the runoff that flows into the estuaries from upland regions. By trapping sediment, mangroves actually build land while the roots and vegetation help prevent shoreline erosion. The mangrove prop roots create a maze-like “nursery” beneath the water where young crabs, shrimp and small fish such as snook and mullet can swim, but the large fishes that prey on them cannot. The prop roots also provide a place for oysters, barnacles and anemones to attach while birds like the top of the trees as roosting sites. Today mangroves on public and private lands are a protected species because of the good they do for the ecosystem.

4-H members through the Marine Ecology Event and the 4-H Afterschool program “Walk on the Wet Side” have a chance to learn and study about each of these important ecosystems. 4-H members also have the opportunity to participate in a state wide competition to test what they have learned through study, field trips, and meetings.

Pinellas County Marine Teams

2007 State Marine Ecology Event held in Kissimmee, Florida.

The Economic Impact of Pinellas County 4-H Youth Development

By Janet Golden, 4-H Program Leader

According to Richard Lerner from Tufts University, “Enough data has been gathered and analyzed to share statistically valid information that not only proves that 4-H youth development programs strengthen and improve communities, but also youth in 4-H are more likely to thrive and succeed than those who are not in 4-H.”

Lerner’s 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development (PYD) found that:

• 4-H youth are 41% more likely to contribute to themselves, their families and their communities, compared to youth in other activities (28 percent) or no activities at all (17 percent).


• Youth in 4-H programs are more likely to be civically engaged than other youth.


• Involvement in 4-H increases a young person’s potential of doing well.


• 4-H reduces the likelihood that young people will engage in risk behaviors, such as underage drinking, smoking, bullying, etc.

Pinellas 4-H programs target specific youth development life skills as outcomes for young people. How effective has 4-H been in helping youth develop skills? These are the five life skills integrated into almost every 4-H program or activity:


By providing youth ages 5-18 in Pinellas County opportunities to learn leadership, citizenship, and life skills through postive youth development experiences, economic benefits are significant.

• The cost of incarcerating a youth for one day is $159 (average stay 13 days). 4-H is able to provide intensive youth development programming to over 7,500 youth a year which potentially saves taxpayers $15.5 million in incarceration costs.


• The cost of underage drinking to the state of Florida is $2,383 per year for each youth in the state. 4-H potentially saves the taxpayers $18 million dollars by providing youth opportunities to develop citizenship, leadership, and life skills.


• In 2007 4-H volunteers (youth & adult) contributed 13,841 hours of service to the community with a value of $260,000 to the community.

For more information about the 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development at Tufts University : http://ase.tufts.edu/iaryd/researchPositive4H.htm

4-H is Looking for Teens!

By Beth Tobias, 4-H Extension Agent

In case you did not already know, volunteering as a young person has proven to benefit your life in a variety of ways. It not only builds valuable work skills, these experiences also offer leadership opportunities and is a great way to meet new friends. You can check out other benefits at Youth Service California, http://www.yscal.org/index.html

Now that you know all that, how can you possibly turn down this exciting invitation? 4-H has many ways to get involved beyond your club. They include being part of the Tech or Healthy Living Team, or serving on one of the various boards such as 4-H Foundation, Community Grants Board, or 4-H Advisory.

You can log onto the 4-H site for more details on any of the opportunities. So grab a friend and get involved, make a difference!

4- H website: http://pinellas.ifas.ufl.edu/4-H/index.shtml

Volunteering, It Just Might Make You a Little Healthier!

By Beth Tobias, 4-H Extension Agent

That’s the word on the street according to a study released in May of 2007 by the Corporation for National and Community Service. Research suggests that volunteering is particularly beneficial to the health of older adults and those serving 100 hours annually.

According to the report:

• A study of adults age 65 and older found that the positive effect of volunteering on physical and mental health is due to the personal sense of accomplishment an individual gains from his or her volunteer activities.


• Another study found that volunteering led to lower rates of depression in individuals 65 and older.


• A Duke study found that individuals who volunteered after experiencing heart attacks reported reductions in despair and depression – two factors that that have been linked to mortality in post-coronary artery disease patients.


• An analysis of longitudinal data found that individuals over 70 who volunteered approximately 100 hours had less of a decline in self-reported health and functioning levels, experienced lower levels of depression, and had more longevity.


• Two studies found that volunteering threshold is about 100 hours per year, or about two hours a week. Individuals who reached the threshold enjoyed significant health benefits, although there were not additional benefits beyond the 100-hour mark.
  To view the full report visit http://www.nationalservice.gov/

Although the study focused on 65 and older it is never too young to start. According to the December 2006 report by the Corporation for National and Community Service growth in volunteering is at a 30 year high with the growth being driven by three primary age groups: older teens (16-19), mid-life adults (46-64), and older adults (65 and over). By getting started as a youth, it will become part of your lifestyle as well as set the example for the younger generations.

Pinellas County Extension believes in the benefits of service and has been fostering volunteerism through the Master Gardener and 4-H Youth Development Programs for many years. Now 4-H and Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) are following the same model and have created a Master Nutrition Volunteer Program. This is the first program of its’ kind in the state and has received so much interest that the first training is full, but plans are to offer it again before the end of the year.

The program is designed to train volunteers in general health and nutrition and in return they will give back 75 hours of service to the community through assisting with 4-H and FCS programs. All of the volunteers participate in 40 hours of training where they will learn the content, activities, and techniques of facilitating programs. Extension programs will reach more people in more places, community residents will receive critical information to live a healthier life, and the Master Volunteers will be a little healthier through their contributions to the community. It’s a win, win situation! For more information about the Master Nutrition Volunteer Program please contact (727) 582-2122 or online at www.pinellascounty.org/extension.

To Buy or Not To Buy

By Margaret Deller
4-H Youth Development Educational Instructor

“Ethical consumerism may be loosely defined as the practice of purchasing products and services that actively seek to minimize social and/or environmental damage and the avoidance of products deemed to have a negative impact on society or the environment.”

According to market research:

• The average youth has two shopping experiences a week.
  
• 54% - 63 % of parents admitted that their children were active participants in shopping for cars.


• Youth between the ages of 5 and 14 have a direct buying power of more than $40 billion and influence $146 billion worth of expenditures every year. Most of the guidance they receive on how to spend this $186 billion is from marketing.

Every day the youth are bombarded with messages to buy things. The ads are on the radio, TV, billboards, and almost every website they visit. Ads make up the bulk of magazines and newspapers. Even books have an “also available from this publishing house” section in the back. These messages say your life will be better; you will look better, feel better, be cooler, be richer, be smarter, and more famous, if you just buy this item. The overwhelming amount of consumer goods available and the advertising that goes with them has made our youth very consumeristic: youth have a preoccupation with and an inclination towards the buying of consumer goods.

4-H is changing this for the next generation of adult consumers. By training youth to apply critical thinking and problem solving skills to each purchase we are helping them shop smarter. Each year the Florida 4-H office picks four products that youth purchase and creates a study guide to help the youth decide how to buy them. The youth compare product features, cost, how it is made, where it is made, applicability to a given situation, and even packaging.

Some of the studied items are needs; food, clothing, and shelter. But most of the items are wants; things you can live without. This year the youth will be learning about sports drinks, work-out wear, digital cameras, and bicycle helmets. The youth attend workshops on each topic and then test their knowledge in April at the Central Florida Fair 4-H Consumer Judging Contest. For the contest, the youth are given a situation and four products to choose from. They must rank those items from best to worst for that situation. Half of their score comes from a scantron recording of those answers, the other half from oral reasons. In oral reasons the youth must explain their selection to a judge. Even if their ranking is wrong the youth can score highly if their arguments are sound.

If you would like your child ages 8 - 18 to participate in this year’s workshops please contact Margaret at 727-582-2263 or mdeller@pinellascounty.org. The weekly workshops will be held in Largo starting March 10th and in St. Petersburg starting March 11th.

Sources:retailindustry.about.com, igd.com

Webster’s Dictionary

Technology – We All Need It

By Eric Yuan
4-H Youth Mentor

In today’s modern world the use of technology is simply unavoidable in our daily lives. Throughout our day we use technology in one form or another. Sometimes youth have an unhealthy obsession with technology and some have said it corrupts today’s youth with the violence in games and access to other negative influences available via the Internet. Although there are negatives of technology, positive aspects of technology are prevalent and need to be reinforced for its’ positive aspects. Sure, technology may be detrimental if used unwisely or in excess; however, technology can benefit youth in countless ways and is an integral part of their development as an individual.

Use of the Internet is not all simply for fun and games. Exploring the Internet can result in many positive benefits for today’s youth. Not only does the Internet allow youth to broaden their perspective of the world, it keeps youth informed on current events and allows for them to learn about events in our past, present, and what is possible in the future.

Online competitions, such as LifeSmarts, allow youth to not only learn and compete about technology, but also reinforce the idea of tactful consumerism and emphasize the importance of health and environmental protection. The Internet is also an invaluable tool for networking. Social networking sites such as Facebook and Elluminate make it easy to organize any event – from parties, to meetings, to national conferences. The Internet is the ultimate tool for amalgamating resources and people in order to accomplish a goal.

Youth who familiarize themselves with technology at a young age are more likely to have an advantage academically. Today, most classes use the computer or Internet at some point during the course. Furthermore, throughout middle school and high school students often use Microsoft PowerPoint for a class presentation or Excel spreadsheet for vast mathematical calculations or to compile and sort information. Even basic research predominantly relies on Internet search engines such as Google or Yahoo. To highlight the importance of technology even more, colleges utilize computers for SAT registration, marketing colleges, and the application process. It is imperative that all of today’s youth familiarize themselves with computers and the multitude of applications and resources available through the Internet because the amount of technology used in every facet of our lives will only be augmented in the future. The use of computers and the Internet are not for youth alone. Adults are also encouraged to utilize the tools provided by computers and incorporate them into their daily lives. Everyone can benefit from incorporating technology into his or her lives.

Although the Internet certainly has the ability to be a powerful tool we must all keep in mind that the Internet can contain inaccurate and unreliable information causing adverse effects on those who rely on it. These days it is possible for anyone to start their own website and post information on the web. To learn more about the uses of the Internet and Internet safety please contact the Pinellas County Extension Office (727-582-2215) or eyuan@pinellascounty.org

Four-H: A Proven Program with Positive Results

By Jean Rogalsky
4-H Extension Agent

Youth and families in Pinellas County have a myriad of options to choose from when planning educational, social, and recreational activities. We are often asked why families should choose 4-H, or how is 4-H different from other youth organizations.
At a recent 4-H volunteer leader training, the 4-H club leaders were asked the following questions: Why is 4-H important to you and your family? Why have you made the commitment to 4-H?

The responses of the volunteers were significant because not only have they embraced 4-H for their children; they have also made the commitment of their time to be a club leader. The group surveyed consisted of new and experienced volunteers. The following is a summary of their responses:

• 4-H opens up a diverse community, outside of school and home. Youth and adults are enabled to look at things globally – not just on a small scale.
• 4-H helps youth and adults build leadership skills and utilize the tools available (through 4-H).
• Youth play, learn, and have the opportunity to take an interest and expand on it.
• The opportunity for leadership development and public speaking is a wonderful aspect of 4-H.
• 4-H community clubs offer more leadership opportunities than schools. Each club has its own set of officers and committees.
• Learning to set goals and work on projects is so helpful as well as forming a sense of responsibility to the community beyond our friends and church.
• Participating in a national organization with an even wider worldview.
• Reputation, especially of those with past 4-H experiences.
• Has the resources needed, and the curriculum is diverse.
• Youth learn to think of others and build character. They are not in it just for themselves.
• The 4 H’s : We can teach children helping (hands), taking care of others (health), human and non-human (heart), thinking about how they impact others – good or bad (head).

The value the volunteers find in 4-H is supported by research. According to a national research study (Learner, Positive Youth Development Study, 2007), the more often youth are involved in youth development programs, like 4-H, the more they and their communities benefit. Youth who spend more time involved in high-quality youth development programs like 4-H are more likely to experience positive youth development than other youth. These youth also contribute to their communities and are less likely to participate in risk behaviors. High-quality youth development programs ensure an environment that encourages sustained positive relationships with adult mentors, skill-building activities and leadership.

Developing these connections results in social capital and socially sustainable communities.

A variety of studies across the country have identified life skills gained through 4-H and the general impact of the program. One example, a study of 5th, 7th , and 9th-grade students (Astroth & Hayne, 2001, Goodwin, 2005), found that 4-H youth are more likely than other youth to report that they:

• Do well in school
• Are involved as leaders in their school and the community
• Are looked up to as role models by other youth
• Help others in the community

4-H youth reported that they are less likely than others to:

• Shoplift or steal
• Use illegal drugs
• Ride in a car with someone who has been drinking
• Smoke cigarettes
• Damage property for the fun of it
• Skip school or cut classes

In summary, research indicates that 4-H youth are busy making contributions to improve the quality of life in their families, neighborhoods and communities. Four-H attracts youth from all types of families and achieves the same positive results. Florida 4-H is a powerful, proven program that makes a positive difference for all who participate.

Is 4-H for your family?