Increasing Diverse 4-H Participation with Project Butterfly WINGS

Introduction and objectives: As suburban and urban areas grow in Osceola County, Florida, there is a need to promote 4-H project areas that can include youth who do not own farm animals. It is also important to create opportunities for youth in urban environments to connect with nature and agriculture. Increased study of science and nature has proven beneficial for cognitive functioning, reduced symptoms of attention-deficit disorder, and increased self-discipline and emotional well-being, helping to contribute to “better living” for youth (http://www.childrenandnature.org/downloads/CNNMovement2009.pdf).

In response to these issues, the County 4-H Agent and Landscaping Agent designed a pilot project around 4-H Butterfly Wings to extend 4-H to more diverse Extension clientele. The objectives of this project were to 1) diversify and expand 4-H volunteer and youth participation in Osceola County and 2) provide youth with opportunities to participate in environmental and outdoor activities.

Methods and Activities: A grant of $2,376 was awarded for the Project Butterfly WINGS trainings. Twenty-six adult volunteers were trained at three 4-H Project Butterfly WINGS workshops. The six-hour trainings utilized experiential learning with hands-on activities from the curriculum. Indoor and outdoor activities employed visual aids like flashcards, field guides, and live butterflies, as well as worksheets from the curriculum. A Butterfly WINGS field day was offered outdoors at a nature park to teach thirteen adult volunteers and youth about butterflies. An Agricultural Awareness field day was implemented in which 444 children rotated through seventeen educational learning stations, including a butterfly learning station taught by the agents. Large posters and models of the butterfly life cycle, field guides, and an insect collection were used as visual aids. Children were able to see and touch live caterpillars and chrysalises. Three Grab -n- Go Project Butterfly WINGS Activity Kits were created to loan to WINGS volunteers, classroom teachers were created. Activity Kits include teaching materials including butterfly field guides, posters, sample activity plans, magnifying glasses, and butterfly cages.

Results:

· 26 adults were trained as volunteer project leaders.

· Before the trainings, 2 youth were enrolled in Project Butterfly WINGS. As a result of the Butterfly WINGS trainings, 9 volunteer project leaders actively implemented the curriculum and enrolled 36 youth in the project.

· 10 new youth joined 4-H as a result of the Butterfly WINGS trainings.

· A new Project Butterfly WINGS 4-H club was formed, led by one of the newly trained 4-H project leaders.

· 3 new Butterfly WINGS project leaders not previously involved as 4-H volunteers became active as volunteers.

· All Butterfly WINGS project leaders attended additional 4-H volunteer leader trainings, including 4 volunteers who were not previously attending volunteer development trainings.

· Since the Project Butterfly WINGS trainings, volunteer project leaders completing a follow-up survey reported teaching 15 sessions from Project Butterfly WINGS, reaching 505 youth.

· Project leaders also reported that multiple Project Butterfly WINGS activities have been implemented outdoors in natural settings, and have included a trip to a butterfly farm and 5 butterfly gardens were created.

· According to enrollment data, 4-H enrollment has increased in urban areas as a result of Project Butterfly WINGS expansion in the county.

· 28% (n=10) of youth participating in Project Butterfly WINGS are minorities, compared to 12% (n=58) minority participation in overall 4-H youth enrollment.

Conclusions: The results of this pilot project indicate that the Project Butterfly WINGS outreach efforts increased the number of urban and minority youth participating in 4-H in Osceola County, and can continue to do so as this initiative expands. Project Butterfly WINGS also met the goal of introducing youth to outdoor and nature-based experiences.

Files

project butterfly wings photos

project butterfly wings photos

sullivan photo

sullivan photo

sullivan resume

sullivan resume