Fond du Lac County Youth in Governance Programs

• Three 4-H older teens have each served on the Fond du Lac County 4-H Executive Board for 2 to 3 years. Their terms ended at the end of 2009. Information was gathered from them via interviews. They reported feeling like valuable contributors, participating in significant decision like budgetary choices and setting priorities for the program.
• The 4-H Junior Leader Association sponsored mini-grants allowing 4-H clubs to create their own environmental project or expand previous service projects. Youth leaders created the application for clubs to get mini grants, they developed the report form for clubs, wrote the report to the granting agency, and created a ppt of the year’s project which they presented at annual 4-H achievement night to about 280 people. Examples of activities completed this year include • Planting over 150 trees • Pruning/Picking up leaves at local cemeteries • Garbage/Litter cleanup on bike trails • Educational programs for members by the FDL County Land/Water Conservation Dept. • Improvement to club flowerbeds at Town/Village Halls throughout FDL Co. • Roadside cleanup • Spring cleanup in marshland/wetland • Litter pickup around local rivers/streams • Help local communities beautify new parks/museums • Leaders from Campbellsport 4-H worked with the fair board to start recycling at the Fair • 4-H Jr. Leader members created and taught environmental lessons related to water use for 4th and 5th grade youth at the Boys’ and Girls’ Club Estimates of involvement are over 300 youth and adults participants with over $2000 being allocated to the program by 4-H clubs.
• The Fair Board requested additional youth voice and held a discussion in which youth decided to take leadership for an event and attend meetings to give youth input and learn about the whole operation.

For more information: Fond du Lac County UW-Extension Youth Development