Growing Where You’re Stationed: 4-H and Military Youth

Military families are constantly moving. New town, new school, new friends-it can be intimidating for military youth as they try to navigate the next chapter of their lives. Parents may feel that extracurricular activities or clubs are difficult for their youth to enroll in due to the unknown of when they might move again. However, through the 4-H Military Partnership, youth are provided with opportunities and programs in their communities or near military installations that help nurture a sense of belonging and community. With 4-H being America’s largest youth development organization, military connected youth and children can continue to practice and share what they have learned through different 4-H programs regardless of where they call home.

The 4-H Military Partnership is a collaboration between the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), National Institute of Food and Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Defense, Military Community and Family Policy, Army Child, Youth and School Services, Air Force Child and Youth Programs, Navy Child and Youth Programs, Coast Guard, and National Guard Bureau. Land Grant University Extensions such as Cornell Cooperative Extension of Jefferson County serve as a partner to bring 4-H programming to the Fort Drum area and installation.

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Jefferson County offers programming at the Fort Drum School Age Child Center and the Teen Center. Typically running for 6-weeks with sessions held one day per week, youth experience a wide variety of topics such as coding and robotics, cooking and baking, arts and crafts, zoology, photography, paleontology, and more! Each lesson provides a hands-on component to allow youth to show their creative sides and showcase what they have learned. Youth are encouraged to expand outside of these programs and participate in traditional 4-H clubs where learning goes beyond the classroom. Traditional 4-H clubs encourage youth to step outside of their comfort zones with a learn-by-doing approach while building on real-world experiences. In an environment where youth can expand their knowledge while having fun with their peers, confidence can grow, teamwork and leadership skills can strengthen, all while creating friendships and memories that can last for years to come.

According to research developed through the 4-H Military Partnership, military connected youth that participate in 4-H are two-times more likely to have the goal of being a leader, three-times more likely to participate in community service, two-times more likely to make healthier choices, and twice as likely to participate in STEM activities. 4-H helps military-connected youth turn their skills and curiosity into confidence and purpose. Through hands-on projects, community involvement, and 4-H clubs, military-connected youth can feel empowered to lead, give back, and inspire others to make healthier choices that could last a lifetime.

Families that are interested in learning more about the 4-H Military Partnership at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Jefferson County can visit our website at https://cce.cornell.edu/jefferson/programs-and-education/military-families .