By Nicole Kudrle I recently completed the county 4-H showcase, a 5-day event that is focused around youth development and showcases youth’s sparks. This event consists of long hot days, jam-packed schedules, lots of volunteer help, and loads of fun and laughter! This year was no exception, however I was also provided with lots of unanticipated challenges throughout the week. During the first evening we encountered a very large storm that incorporated wind, dirt/sand, rain, and even hail. I am happy to say no injuries were reported. As someone who works in youth development, my first instinct was to make sure everyone was okay, help clean up after the storm, and then immediately start to think on what could be done to improve the situation for next time. As I was leaving that evening, a 4-H volunteer stopped me and asked, "What was the best part of my day". I was stumped, my mind had been so focused on how to address the unforeseen event and how to improve things, that ...
Our youth development educators bridge research and practice. In this blog, they offer their views on what's happening in the field of youth development, with an eye to evidence-based research written by themselves and others in our field. We welcome your comments.