Youth Development Insight

By Jacob Halper Fall is a time of reflection and transition. In my work as a 4-H educator, the county fair is over, many youth went on to state-level showcases, and we begin planning for the new year. As we reflect on the past year, many focus on the county fair and how to improve it. The article The County Fair as Celebration and Cultural Text  captures the beauty of the chaos so simply as, "Periods of intense excitement alternate with periods of intense calm." Intensity is something I believe resonates with all youth development professionals. For many the hard part is the calm, but it is important to stop and intentionally explore the story that was told amidst that intensity. The county fair is a time of connection, reconnection, and public display. In Minnesota 4-H we often use the language of “showcase”. These youth showcases represent another concept I am familiar with: youth storytelling. Stories and storytelling come in as much variety in their definition as their ac

By Cassie Girling Did you enter the field of youth development to make a difference, were you inspired by a mentor, or simply because you enjoy connecting with young people? Many youth workers share these motivations. But like other caretaking professions, youth development can be exhausting. The commitment to mentoring and supporting youth often means leading groups, navigating challenges, and balancing the needs of others. We pour so much into helping the young people in our programs thrive—but what about you? As Savannah Aanerud asks in her article : Are you thriving? To continue pursuing our "why," we need to take care of ourselves too. In today's fast-paced world, prioritizing self-care can be a significant challenge for many individuals. In her insightful book, Onward: Cultivating Emotional Resilience in Educators , Elena Aguilar shares why she believes taking care of ourselves can be a challenge: We often lack the information we need for effective self-care. While

By Anna Rose "What is your favorite way to be creative?" That was the question I posed to the youth who attended our art day camp earlier this summer. The answers were as unique as each kid in the room; one youth member shared that their favorite way to express themselves was by eating food—specifically their mom’s cooking, and Cocoa Puffs. While that was not the answer I was expecting, I did appreciate this youth member’s out-of-the-box thinking. It was creative and authentic. Creativity and art are essential to positive youth development. There are many benefits of art education :  Art encourages youth self-expression in such a way that words are not required, welcoming youth of all abilities.  Creating and consuming art allows youth to create connections with their peers and relate to their communities in introspective ways. While creating art, youth explore the creative process; they can learn how to problem solve while expressing their individual identity.  4-H Portrait

By Sarah Devine What careers do you associate with someone who works with outer space topics? Astronaut, scientist, NASA? But what does a career connected to space really mean? As  Rebecca Meyers pointed out , career pathways can be opaque for young people, and careers linked to space endeavors are no different.  Sure, there are astronomers studying objects and processes in outer space, engineers who build the spacecraft to take astronauts to space, and the astronauts themselves. However, did you know that  58.8% of astronauts  have had a previous career in a military branch before becoming an astronaut or that 53% have experience being a pilot? So even being an astronaut is often a second career.  The skills and careers linked to astronomy don’t stop with astronauts either, but hit almost every  career sector  of the US. More countries around the globe are growing their spacefaring capabilities, as are private companies. With more activity in space, how do these nations and organizati

By  Katie Ecklund Designed by Freepik When we see frustration emerging in youth programs, our instinct may be to rush over and problem solve or try to fix it. If a solution appears simple, solving it is even more tempting. But what if frustration was not a problem to be solved? What if instead, it was an opportunity? Learning how to feel frustration and following it through to futility is the essence of adaptive learning . Yet more and more, the conveniences of modern life and our own discomfort with difficult emotions are robbing young people of this valuable learning opportunity.  Frustration is not comfortable. It sometimes overlaps with anger, and can feel like a loss of control . But feeling frustration is important. It teaches us to notice what’s working and what isn’t, where we might need to let go, and where we might try looking in a new direction. Supporting youth as they feel frustration prepares them for a world where immediate solutions aren’t always provided for them.   Yo

By Karen Beranek As we transition from one season to the next, we know taking the time to pause to reflect on our life is essential. Check out my colleague's blog on the power of self-reflection from a staff perspective. This concept of taking time to think back on our experience can be so impactful.  Equally impactful is hearing directly from youth as they reflect on their youth development journey. Live from the Redwood County Fair, the local educator led a youth panel of the graduating senior class to share their insights with their parents, community members, and 4-H youth. One question was: What advice do you have for younger youth? Try something new . 4-H has so many things to learn about - so many project areas, as well as places to lead, to serve your community, and to work with others. The youth in this panel saw this as a true asset of this youth development program. Ask questions . People really are here to help you. So much learning happens when you pause to consider w