4-H’s Positive Development Featured in International Press
Courtesy of the Dallas Co Extension Office
Children and youth learn best when they learn through experience. This positive youth development is the essence of 4-H and is featured in the international research journal Reclaiming Children and Youth.
Iowa State University Vice President for Extension and Outreach Cathann Kress served as guest editor of the fall 2014 issue, which focuses on young people as resources to be developed, rather than risks that must be managed. It’s available online and in print from Reclaiming Youth International.
This issue of the journal also commemorates the 100th anniversary of the federal Smith-Lever Act, which formally established Cooperative Extension in land-grant universities in the United States. 4-H Youth Development is the part of this transformational education system that reaches the nation’s youngest citizens in their communities.
“When children and youth can learn by doing, they will lead by example. They will become the early adopters who will change their communities as a result of their access to education,” Kress said.
“Early pioneers in 4-H at Iowa State University and other land-grant universities across the country created this model, and it is the reason that people all across the world are interested in 4-H programs. It’s not because of clubs in which youth come together and keep busy; rather, it’s about building for the future with a vision of access to better education, better lives and empowering youth,” Kress said.
Dallas County ISU Extension Office
28059 Fairground Road
Adel, Iowa 50003
Phone: (515) 993-4281
Fax: (515) 993-1027
Website: www.extension.iastate.edu/dallas
