4-H AT HOME IS A DYNAMIC RESOURCE DESIGNED TO EVOLVE TO MEET GROWING NEEDS FOR VIRTUAL AND NON-VIRTUAL EDUCATION RESOURCES THAT CAN BE RAPIDLY ADOPTED AT HOME OR BY VARIOUS EDUCATORS AND EXTENSION SPECIALISTS TO ENSURE:1) THE EFFECTIVE FORMAL AND NON-FORMAL EDUCATION OF K-12 STUDENTS INCLUDING TARGETED OUTREACH TO UNDERSERVED YOUTH, ENGAGING RURAL YOUTH AND YOUTH OF COLOR, AND 2) POSITIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT THROUGH AN ASSETS BUILDING APPROACH PROVIDING TRANSFORMATIVE LEARNING BEYOND THE INITIAL CONTACT AND CONTENT.AS THE DIGITAL POSITIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PLATFORM OF THE COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SYSTEM, IT IS INTENDED TO LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD AND ADDRESS THE WIDENING OPPORTUNITY GAP FOR YOUTH AS A RESULT OF THE PANDEMIC BY PROVIDING UNIVERSAL ACCESS TO SUPPLEMENTAL AT-HOME CURRICULUM, ENGAGING LEARNING PROJECTS AND SUPPLIES, AND A VIRTUAL COMMUNITY OF PEERS AND POSITIVE ADULT MENTORS VIA:AN IMMERSIVE ONLINE AND MOBILE EXPERIENCE WHERE EXTENSION EDUCATORS AND FAMILIES CAN INSTANTLY ACCESS 4-H'S RESEARCH-BACKED, DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE, HANDS-ON K-12 LEARNING.A CONNECTION POINT TO A NATIONWIDE NETWORK OF YOUTH PEERS AND CARING ADULT MENTORS.UNPLUGGED, DOWNLOADABLE AND MOBILE ACCESSIBLE ACTIVITIES.AVAILABILITY OF OFFLINE OR PHYSICAL CURRICULUM, KIT OR OTHER PROJECT RESOURCES THAT CAN BE ACCESSED THROUGH SHOP4-H.THIS PROJECT WILL MEET THE IMMEDIATE DEMAND FOR VIRTUAL, MOBILE AND NON-DIGITAL POSITIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT AND WORKFORCE AND LIFE SKILLS PROGRAMMING THAT COVID-19 HAS CREATED AND LESSEN ITS IMPACTS ON THE OPPORTUNITY GAP FACING UNDERSERVED YOUTH, INCLUDING RURAL YOUTH AND YOUTH OF COLOR. THE INCLUSION OF PHYSICAL CURRICULUM AND MOBILE ACCESSIBILITY PARTICULARLY IS ESSENTIAL FOR MEETING UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS. SCALING 4-H AT HOME WILL ENABLE EXTENSION'S 4-H EDUCATORS TO MORE EFFECTIVELY UTILIZE TECHNOLOGY AND CREATE NEW DIGITAL LEARNING RESOURCES BUILDING TOWARD POSITIVE OUTCOMES IN WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND LIFE SKILLS-DRIVEN STEM, AG, HEALTHY LIVING AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT/COMMUNITY LEARNING, WHILE SUPPORTING 4-H'S POSITIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT OUTCOMES LIKE CONNECTION AND ENGAGEMENT.
$2,627,801FY2021National Institute of Food and AgricultureUSDA
National 4-H Council, Chevy Chase MD