Locals attend Youth Voice in Action! 4-H Summit held at Upper Iowa
Youth Voice in Action! Summit ... A total of 75 youth from 11 area schools located in nine northeast Iowa counties attended the Youth Voice in Action! 4-H Youth Summit held at Upper Iowa University in Fayette September 20. The youth, a majority of whom are pictured above, included students from Allamakee, Bremer, Buchanan, Butler, Clayton, Fayette, Howard and Winneshiek Counties. Submitted photo.
Exercise in biosecurity ... Waukon Middle School student Kara Helgerson (left) works with her partner to learn more about the importance of biosecurity at the September 20 Youth Voice in Action! Summit held at Upper Iowa University in Fayette. Submitted photo.
Discussing the “5 Why’s” ... Youth from Eastern Allamakee Community School District work together on the “5 Why’s” activity, their goal of establishing a more supportive student body, and presenting to the large group. The group took part in the Youth Voice in Action! Summit at Upper Iowa University in Fayette September 20. Submitted photo.
Youth attended a day-long 4-H summit at Upper Iowa University in Fayette led by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach county and state youth outreach staff September 20. During the event, 75 youth from 11 area schools learned about using their voice for leadership and making an action plan for change in their community, and they also heard from ISU Extension and Outreach specialists on a variety of workshop topics. Schools attended from the following counties: Allamakee, Bremer, Buchanan, Butler, Clayton, Chickasaw, Fayette, Howard and Winneshiek.
Learning to work with others based on leadership style was one part of the overall process for developing a community action plan. To determine their leadership style, youth took a short survey to determine if they were more like a buffalo, eagle, mouse or beaver.
This humorous activity grouped like youth together based on their leadership style. They reviewed their strengths and shared pointers others should know about working with their leadership style. Youth reported they feel confident in being able to treat others fairly and equally when they are in charge of a group.
As a school team, youth used a “5 Why’s” activity to define an issue in their school or community. Some topics identified included how to better welcome new students to their school, increase classroom involvement and increasing youth service projects and community involvement. Led by a caring adult from their school, youth began writing the first steps towards solving the issue.
To better equip youth with the tools needed to address community issues, five ISU Extension and Outreach specialists and county staff led workshops related to animal science, financial literacy, communication, arts and mindfulness. One workshop with Lori Dietezenbach, K-12 Outreach Coordinator for Buchanan County, walked youth through a practical financial literacy activity to learn the importance of budgeting and how their education and profession will align with their spending. Youth reported they achieved an increased awareness of wants vs. needs when it comes to money.
Another workshop led by Nicole Reynolds-Thimmesch, County Youth Coordinator for Bremer County, walked youth through a mindfulness activity to stress the importance of focusing on mental health. One student commented, “This activity helped me see how I can calm my anxiety during stressful times.”
After leaving the event, youth will use their voice and leadership to implement their community action plan by the end of the current school year. A county ISU Extension and Outreach staff will follow up with their schools with an additional leadership activity and other engaging leadership opportunities.
This event was made possible with funding from Iowa 4-H Foundation, local county extension and outreach offices, and facilities support from Upper Iowa University.
The annual Youth Voice in Action! Summit has helped grow young leaders in local communities, connected ISU Extension and Outreach to schools for further learning, and opened the door for youth to discover how powerful their voices in action can really be. For more information on the Iowa 4-H Youth Development program, contact the local county ISU Extension and Outreach office or visit the Iowa 4-H website at www.extension.iastate.edu/4h.
