October 2012 Meeting
From your perspective, what are the challenges facing youth in the next 2-5 years?
- Bullying – cyber bullying, Facebook, technology
- Role Models/Mentoring – ‘true examples,’ youth are ‘hungry’ for older partnerships, adult partnerships
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Activities vs. Time – competition between venues
- Life skill development – time management, prioritization, exploring true interests, skill evaluation and creating career interest
- Over-parenting or over-protection
- Focus decision – underprivileged?
- Logistical – getting kids to activities
- Youth adult partnerships that not ALL kids get a chance to interact – on behalf of communities and to get connected within community
- More tolerance is needed for diversity and understanding
How can SDSU Extension address these challenges?
- Trainings to include parent/youth partnerships
- Training adults to facilitate, not run (guide)
- Leaders’ Association?
- “Learn by doing”
- Youth actually do it!
- Embrace local youth programs
- School partnerships – (Boys and Girls Club, etc.)
- Teach them leadership, etc. to better the “child”
- Teach parenting through 4-H involvement as a group
- Venues to develop young people into adults
From your perspective, what are the opportunities facing youth in the next 2-5 years?
- Technology – variety and quick access
- Physical movement opportunities to ‘go and see’
- Intellectual knowledge base doubling every 18 months
-
World view with community – connectivity wherever you are
- International is mainstream
- Everything’s a partnership – opportunities are out there
How can SDSU Extension support those opportunities?
- Expand the inclusion of technology in programs
- Get COOL adult leaders involved in a cool youth program
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One central place for resources in 4-H – “clearing house”
- (i.e. business signup for volunteers on iGrow, regional center sign-up)
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iGrow HAS to be ‘cutting edge’ / better than competitive resources
- QUICK access and clicks
- SpIn Clubs – focused and career prep
- 4-H opportunity to promote/integrate standards into 4-H projects/learning
- Promotion of fact
- “To Make the Best Better” – promote MORE, inform MORE, etc.
- Promote internal success stories
- Blend In school with OST time and vice versa
- New ‘Teens As Teachers’ as role models in a new 4-H capacity
- Scholarships – tangible attainments through successful experience
- Promotion and recognition
What does success for South Dakota’s future look like?
- Get a successful education and career in South Dakota
- Brain arrival, stayers versus former thinking of brain drain
- Strong education and equipped youth for facing challenges and making decisions
- South Dakota HAS a strong and skilled workforce to attract more businesses/orgs
- Greater tolerance for diversity and difference for SD’s future success
- Engaged workforce without a feeling of implied ‘entitlement’
- Foster a culture of ‘pay your dues’ ( do this subtlety) ‘entry level’ moving up is okay
- Responsible future – various ways, different paths
How can SDSU Extension partner with others to help insure realization of this future?
- Book read possibility – “Generation iY” by Tim Elmore – blog and resources
- Everyone – message on all 4-H promotes message of work ethic
- Partnership with other state educational institutions for broader impact
- SDSU partners with all institutions
What role should SDSU Extension play in significant societal issues that impact youth?
- Resource driven to promote awareness and answer driven results
- Securing professionals to tackle issues
- Strategic partnerships/clearing house of information/identification of ‘experts’
- Better understanding ‘in house’ of youth development w/in the SDSU institution
- Broader understanding of ‘ages and stages’ in SDSU Extension culture
- Youthaudienceis4-HYouthDevelopmentpriorityinSDSUExtension
- Health & obesity – don’t just teach...model, train, follow up, constant focus
- Push experiential learning for critical & complex thinking/problem solving
- Inclusion strategies
What societal issues are of critical importance?
- Health & obesity
- Parent education
- Critical & complex thinking/problem solving
- Workforce prep/career readiness
- Feeding 9 billion people by 2050
- Educated consumers – “know where your food comes from”
- Racial Issues into tolerance – creating opportunities for partnerships/ pushing the envelope