By Nicole Kudrle Supporting youth in pursuing their passion projects is a highlight of my youth development career. Recently, I had the privilege of guiding a young person as they brought their vision to life: creating a calming corner for the county fair. This project was designed to provide a space where youth and adults could find a moment of peace amid the fair’s lively activity. I wanted to ensure the project was not only successful, but also a meaningful growth opportunity for the youth. Here are the steps that I took to guide and mentor the youth with their project: Start with their vision - When this youth shared their desire to create a calming corner, I listened carefully, asking open-ended questions to help clarify their vision. "What would this space look like? Who would it serve? What materials might you need? How can we fund this opportunity?" Asking open-ended questions helps the youth set their goals and begin making their idea a reality. Encourage ownership...
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.