Youth Leadership Academies Outline
Indiana 4-H Congress Presentation
November 16, 2013
Supplies for the session
· 1 ball of yarn for each group
· Scissors
· Pillow (or similar item)
· Flip chart paper
· Markers
· Apples per group or person
· Box
· Knife to cut apples
· Paper per person
· Pencil or Pen per person
Session Outline
10 min Spider Web Activity- See Handout
Ask the group to introduce themselves and give an example of a leadership skill. Then, still holding onto the yarn, throw the yarn underhand to a person not standing by you. This will create a web connecting each person. Once they have created a web, place a pillow on the web to symbolize a youth organization in which they may be a member. What are some things that might compromise the organization? Examples: not following through with a task, not coming prepared to a meeting, etc. Every couple of statements snip a line until the pillow falls down. Discuss how we need to take an active role in our organization so that the organization does not fall.
10 min Apple activity- See Handout
This activity is to help participants understand that we all have something to offer an organization.
· Similarities and differences
· Star inside every apple
Youth and Adult Partnerships activity- Need flip chart paper and markers
Ask group to brainstorm on two categories-What do youth/adults bring to the organization? Discuss the strengths that a program with youth and adult partnerships has.
10 min Youth Leadership Academies examples:
· A Chance to Serve Youth Leadership program video on Youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NqHM7HvZAhc
· How to start up program in your community- See handout
10 min Examples in your community
15 min Why We Do 4-H- The Importance of Youth/Adult Partnerships
5 min Closing thoughts
Research on Community Youth Leadership Programs
Leadership is important as today’s youth become tomorrow’s business and government decision-makers (Dobosz & Beaty, 1999). Leadership skills are essential for young people to feel satisfaction and contribute to society (Scheer, 1997).
Community Youth Development- “Purposely creating environments that provide constructive, affirmative, and encouraging relationships that are sustained over time with adults and peers, while concurrently providing an array of opportunities that enable youth to build their competencies, and become engaged as partners in their own development as well as the development of their communities” (Perkins & Borden, quoted in Mincemoyer & Perkins, 2001, 4).
Reasons for involving youth in community projects include: (a) increasing young people’s understanding of their community, (b) developing their sense of empowerment, (c) encouraging their future participation in community affairs, (d) enhancing school-community relations, and (e) helping community leaders and citizens address local needs by recognizing and guiding youthful enthusiasm and energy (Israel & Ilvento, 1992).
Resources
Dobosz, R.P., Beaty, L.A. (1999). The relationship between athletic participation and high school students’ leadership
ability. Adolescence, 34(133), 215-220.
Israel, G. D. & Ilvento, T.W. (1992). Building a foundation for community leadership: Involving youth in
community development project. Unpublished handbook.
Mincemoyer, C. & Perkins, D. (2001). Building your youth development toolkit: a
community youth development orientation for Pennsylvania 4-H/Youth programs.
Journal of Extension, 39(4). Retrieved December 8, 2001, from http://www.joe.org/org/2001august/a7.html
Scheer, S.D. (1997). Youth leadership and community service: A perfect combination. Leadership Link. (Winter, 1997).
Columbus, OH: The Ohio State University Leadership Center.
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