The Citizenship program area helps build strong leaders that are involved in their community. View the list of project books available to 4-H members interested in Citizenship.

Operation Military Kids program specifics and national web page

Vernon Parish participated in two service-learning projects this year: Christmas with a Trooper and Ronald McDonald House Aluminum Tab Collection. To find out more...

Join us at the New Orleans and Alexandria zoos for a fun-filled family night!

Lincoln Parish 4-H'ers participated in the My Green Space service-learning project. The goal of this project was to encourage the Grambling community to take part in a revitalization of gardening and use products for community festivals. To find out more...

Youth from Webster Parish participated in the Doyline High Desk Project service-learning project. The goal of this project was to generate funds to purchase new desks for the high school wing of Doyline High School. To find out more...

Vernon Parish 4-H’ers participated in the Ronald McDonald House Aluminum Tab Collection service-learning project. The goals of this project were to educate others concerning the use and needs of the Ronald McDonald House programs, to involve our parish and communities in our efforts, to collect more than 700 pounds of aluminum tabs for donation and to educate others in the need to recycle for our environment. To find out more...

Youth in Allen Parish participated in the Toys for Tots Project. The goal was to make Jr. Leaders aware of community service needs. To learn more...

The Catahoula 4-H members participated in the Tobacco-free service-learning project. The goal of this project was to reduce the use of tobacco products among the students in Catahoula Parish as well as the general population. To learn more...

4-H'ers from Richland Parish participated in the Toucans Make a Difference Food Drive service-learning project. The goal of the project was to increase awareness of homelessness and hunger, provide a local food bank with resources to present clients with food and coats and to increase youth participation in community. To find out more...

Youth from Tensas parish participated in the Tensas Community Garden service-learning project. The goal of this project is to gain cooperative and leadership skills and provide produce to the community. To find out more...

Concordia Parish 4-H'ers participated in the soup kitchen with these goals in mind: to teach the youth how to help the less fortunate and to provide items to the local soup kitchen that were needed. To find out more...

4-H'ers from Natchitoches Parish participated in the Safety Crew, Teens Constructing a Safer Tomorrow service-learning project. The goals of the project were to establish a service-learning project at Marthaville Jr. High with seventh-grade students during health class to increase civic engagement among participants and to teach life skills of responsibility, self-reflection, communication and teamwork among participants. To find out more...

Meningitis Awareness Campaign

4-H'ers from Tangipahoa Parish participated in the Wetlands Restoration service-learning project. The goals of this project were to teach 4-H members the value of wetlands restoration, how to do it and to restore a wetlands are. To find out more...

Youth from St. Bernard Parish participated in the wetlands service-learning project. The objective of Wetlands Service Project is to teach youth about the importance of being involved in pressing issues within their parish. To find out more...

Youth learn about bullying during the St. Landry Parish 4-H Character Development Program.

Ascension Parish Junior Leaders participated in a service-learning project that assisted elderly people in Ascension Parish. The goal of the service-learning was for our teen leaders to have a better understanding of geriatrics and the importance of service work. To find out more...

The Louisiana Sustainable Community Project, Reading to the HEART -- a partnership involving the LSU AgCenter and local agencies -- targets youth and families in two Louisiana parishes: Rapides and Madison. Drawing on the latest research in reading motivation, the projects seeks to help children develop specific reading development skills and also to educate parents and guardians on ways to support their children’s literacy advancement.

Lafayette Parish 4-H recently held a bowl-a-thon to raise money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. To read more...

Youth participated in the Avoyelles Parish’s 4-H Service-learning Project, PETS & PEOPLE, in conjunction with the Hessmer Nursing Home. One Junior Leader collected a group of 4-H'ers, roughly 10 pets and two 4-H agents who all visited the nursing home. To find out more...

Youth from Bossier Parish decided to participate in a service-learning project at the veterans nursing home in their parish. The goal of this project was to offer a program to the Bossier-Caddo youth that offered a sense of belonging in our community. To learn more...

This year, clubs are asked to participate in the 2009 statewide combined environmental and health care service-learning project by taking part in club competition! To learn more....

Check out the Census for Teens site for cool facts, fun activities and information you can use to learn about the United States Census Bureau.

4-H members are presenting cooking demonstrations using winning dishes from 4-H competitions to promote Louisiana agreiculture and healthy living. To read more...

On September 17, many youth groups will be studying the constitution in honor of National Constitution and Citizenship Day. Resources are provided to help you learn more about the U. S. Constitution.

Constitution Day and Citizenship Day is September 17th. The National Constitution Center offers new and exciting resources to engage students in the Constitution, current events and civic learning. Visit the website to learn more about the U. S. Constitution: http://www.constitutionday.com/

Take this civics quiz to test your knowledge of the United States Constitution. Plus get creative ideas to celebrate Constitution Day and Citizenship Day.

The African-American Inventors Curriculum was designed by a team of educators from The Ohio State University Extension Service to encourage fourth- through eighth-grade youth to develop creative and critical thinking skills, to encourage young people to view themselves as inventors and problem solvers, to increase youths' awareness of African-American history and culture and to comprehend and apply scientific principles in everyday life.

BOOMERANG is a 15-session youth development program, geared to youth in individualized curricula for grade 4-5, grade 6 and grade 7-8.

Service-learning is a program that was offered by the LSU AgCenter’s 4-H youth development program. The concept takes community service and makes it become more relevant. It allows youth to take ownership of the project while participating in learning experiences.

The Junior Leadership Club of Lafayette Parish was nominated for the 45th Governor's Conservation Acheivement Award Program. To read more...

The purpose of the WPIIT is to help create for youth a variety of options for improving educational and skill competencies and for making effective connections to employers. The WPIIT promotes the linkage between academic and occupational learning and opportunities related to career planning, effective interview techniques, dressing for success, smart money management and business etiquette.

Join us on Facebook and Twitter.

Start off this school year with a BANG!

Spend Labor Day weekend in the great outdoors at Camp Grant Walker.

Are you prepared? You will be after this!

Join participants from all over the world in the 2009 Freedom Walk, to remember the victims and families of 9/11/01.

On April 17, 2009, Operation: Military Kids hosted a dairy themed day camp on LSU's Campus. Photos from the camp can be found here!

As the service-learning project comes to a close, efforts need to be made to help youth continue to use their new knowledge and skills to make decisions, solve problems and grow as caring, contributing members of their communities.

An initiative since 2005, Service-Learning is an important part of the Louisiana 4-H Youth Development Program and the LSU AgCenter. Learn more about service learning in 4-H.

It’s important that the service-learning project belongs to the participants and their community. Young people and community members should work together to identify community needs, plan service activities and evaluate the impact of the service-learning project.

Operation: Military Kids is hosting "Military Kids Marsh Maneuvers" at Rockefeller's Wildlife Refuge June 1-6, 2009. Available to all military kids in any stage of deployment who are entering their freshman year of high school through completing their senior year.

“What positive outcomes in youth, adults, and communities result from the presence of critical elements in a 4-H experience?” A group of evaluators reviewed the basic and applied research on characteristics of effective programs for youth development. From this process, eight essential elements were identified focusing on belonging, mastery, generosity and independence.

The celebration stage is the point on the service-learning cycle where you celebrate the accomplishments of your project. Take a look at the resources provided for ideas and assistance on celebration.

Reflection is a very important part of the service-learning cycle. On this page, there are some resources and ideas to assist you in reflection. To read more...

The meaningful service checklist will help you to determine if you have met all of the hallmarks of meaningful service.

Service-learning is a teaching method that combines academic instruction, meaningful service and critical, reflective thinking to enhance learning and civic responsibility. Use this rubric to evaluate the progress of your service-learning project while you're doing it and once you've completed it.

Here are some scenarios of meaningful service. To learn more...

It is important for youth to have the voice when it comes to service-learning. To learn more...

You'll find the Service-Learning Preparation and Planning Sheet invaluable as you plan your next service-learning project. The sheet provides a framework for success for your service-learning project. .

Here are some situations designed to provide an opportunity for you to think about and design effective service-learning projects to addresses the needs outlined in the situations.

Here are some recommendations for adults who are participating in service-learning with youth.

Here is a resource of what makes service meaningful. Read to find out more...

The holiday rush of 2007, a ‘fresh’ memory soon to be forgotten in anticipation of returning to school, Easter holidays, etc. However, in 2007 during those warm, easy going, days of early summer the Ascension Parish 4-H Junior Leader Club created memories that will rebuild lives and last a lifetime.

Four-H members from Union Parish had an opportunity to share their talents in an effort to help others in their community. Members have made table decorations for residents of the Timberlake Nursing Home and one member even used her cake decorating skills to earn $50 for her school’s cake auction. To read more…

St. Mary's Service Learning Project. To read more...

In collaboration with the City of Winnfield, 4-H youth assist with community events and activities throughout the year. To read more...

Having fun at 4-H camp is a little something extra for military kids in Louisiana. OMK Camp Lagniappe was enjoyed by children of deployed Servicemembers.

Operation: Military Kids is putting on a series of camps this summer to help Louisiana's geographically dispersed military children and youth. Camps will be all over the state and open to military kids from all services. Camps include horseback riding, survivor skills, zoo camp, Military Kids Marsh Maneuvers and more.

Vernon Parish has participated in many different service-learning projects including March of Dimes, Haven Ministries, Cystic Fibrosis, Earth Day Projects, and Soft Drink Tabs for Ronald McDonald House. To read more…

As a result of the interest raised by our 2006-07 service learning project, “What Happens in the Environment, Stays in the Environment”, our parish environmental project club, the Green TEENs, was formed. The club has three main goals: 1) to learn about environmental issues here in our parish, 2) to serve the community by helping with environmental projects, and 3) to educate others about environmental issues. To read more…

The 4-H Million Trees Project (4HMT) is an international service-learning project to inspire the approximately 6.5 million North American 4-H youth to plant 1 million trees to combat global climate change.

Operation: Military Kids is hosting a Speak Out for Military Kids (SOMK) Clover College track at this year's 4-H U, with opportunities to join the SOMK State Board. Scholarships are available to anyone interested in attending.

The Washington Parish 4-H Program sponsored a canned food drive to benefit the Bogalusa Help Center during the month of November. The 4-H members collected the canned goods in their schools and brought these items to their November club meetings.

As we pledge our hands to larger service in 4-H, there is a lot of potential to put our hands and hearts to work. You’ll find the following opportunities throughout the new year to serve and celebrate.

Labadieville Middle School 4-H Club members participated in the Toys for Tots project. They assisted the Marine Corps Reserve in packing the toys.

Fashion Board Serves Children’s Hospital

In an effort to educate youth about our country’s democratic process, the Vermilion Parish 4-H Jr. Leaders selected Citizenship as the club’s Service Learning Project focus for the 2008-09 school year.

The Lafayette 4-H Junior Leaders are working with Lafayette Mosquito Control to identify areas of highest mosquito populations in the parish and work with local municipalities to install bat boxes in those areas.

East Carroll 4-Hers upgrade the Lake Providence Senior High School Football Stadium by putting new banners up around the stadium.

The Concordia Parish 4-H Club participated in the 4-H CAN Fight Hunger Campaign. There were 435 people involved and 10 hours of service engaged in.

Bossier Parish 4-Hers participated in the "Adopt-A-Cottage" Christmas gift wrapping and visited the NWLA War Veterans Home.

Fashion Board members from West Feliciana Parish decided to join together for the second year in a row to put together a fashion show to benefit the Our Lady of the Lake children’s hospital. The show also enabled the group to improve their clothing construction, leadership and organization skills. To read more…

Eighty-five youth from the Tensas parish 4-H program participated in the Tensas Beautification Task Force projects. To read more...

Twenty-two youth and adult volunteers from St. Landry Parish are participating in the Muscular Dystrophy Association project. To read more...

YES/4-H has had many service learning projects. The community has celebrated Arbor Day in February 2008. To read more...

After the devastation of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the St. Bernard Parish 4-H members and Jr. Leaders Club banned together, along with 1500 other volunteers, to rebuild a local playground. The playground was submerged under 22 feet of water for two weeks. To read more…

Richland Parish's service learning project was collecting cans. To read more...

Plaquemines Parish 4-H members participated in two projects that related to the Rebuild Plaquemines Project. Members planted new trees in a tree farm at City Park in New Orleans and also built a new playground. To read more…

Ouachita Parish 4-H members participated in the 4-H Environmental Project. This was part of the “Helping Keep Ouachita Beautiful” campaign. Members planted and maintained flower beds at public buildings in an effort to raise awareness for this cause. To read more…

The Reading to the Heart project is a literacy-based character development program that focuses on providing an afterschool reading challenge to promote a literacy rich environment and promises to be a fun, exciting journey for all participants. Youth will be provided with free books and engage in motivational reading activities that illustrate real-life teaching valuable character traits and behavior necessary for fulfilling contributing lives.

Members of the Lasalle 4-H and Junior Leaders clubs built 36 Blue Bird houses to be placed around buildings in the parish. The houses will hopefully attract Blue Birds, who are effective in controlling the mosquito population. To read more…

The Lafourche Parish 4-H project “Go Green” collected and recycled old cell phones, DVDs, and videotapes. Participants sold the old cell phones to a recycling company and used the money for a beach sweep. The DVDs and videos were donated to a local children’s hospital.

Iberville Parish 4-H members conducted the Reading to Lead project in their community, as literacy awareness was seen as a issue in the parish. The club participated in after-school programs to educated and help child improve their reading comprehension. To read more…

Iberia Parish 4-H Members, in collaboration with Big Brothers Big Sisters Acadiana and Shadows on the Teche, held two Easter egg hunts for local youth. The members collected close to 1000 plastic eggs and candy for the children to hunt for. To read more…

Iberia Parish 4-H Members participated in a project entitled “Pull Tabs for Ronald McDonald House” in an effort to support families living at the Ronald McDonald House with their sick children. The project was suggested in that all children could participate in the collection of the tabs. To read more…

Members from the Evangeline 4-H Club have partnered with Chicot State Park and Arboretum in an effort to educate visitors on the history of the park and also to provide them with environmentally friendly awareness workshops. Members also participated in beautification projects for the park. To read more…

This year Clinton High School and East Feliciana Parish 4-H Club members teamed up to participate in three different service-learning projects. The projects ranged from working with Habitat for Humanity to holding a pet show for the elderly. To read more…

East Baton Rouge Parish 4-H members visit the Our Lady of the Lake Children's Ward patients to make crafts, spend time with the patients, and clean the playroom. To read more...

Half of the Concordia Parish 4-H Clubs contributed to the project “Youth Push Cause for CAWS.” Members have collected items to donate to the Concordia Welfare Animals Shelter to enable to shelter to stay open. To read more…

Members of the Cameron Parish Junior Leader Club are leading a program to raise public awareness of litter and unite their community in taking pride in their parish. The club members have given an educational presentation and have also created drawings that will be featured in an anti-litter campaign calendar. To read more…

The Caldwell Parish 4-H Junior Leader Club Project “Bridging the Gap with Literacy,” provides an opportunity for members to interact with both the young and old in their community. Participants have the option of either teaching a character education lesson to Kindergarten to Second-grade children or playing games with residents of Haven Nursing Home. To read more…

Avoyelles Parish 4-H Club members were able to learn a new skill while donating their time to others in their service-learning project this summer.

The Ascension Parish Jr. Leader club has chosen to focus on the elderly in the community.

Sitting in a hospital all day long is not much fun for the typical child, especially Jackson, a 3-year-old with big brown eyes and Batman pajamas. When 4-H’ers Jessica Windham and Myles Morris asked if he wanted to make a keychain, he was glad to make a "butterfly one for my mom."

This is a PowerPoint about Service-Learning to learn how you can make a difference in the youth in your parish and in the community.

To download file, right-click and select "Save Target As."

Program flyer for the Reading to the HEART program. Reading to the HEART is an exciting family reading program featuring computer technology projects, book discussions, arts & crafts projects, photography, scrapbooking and family portfolio development, and other family literacy events.

The RTTH Program is a partnership between the LSU AgCenter and local community and faith-based partners to bring the findings of evidence-based reading research to the educational community and families with an interest in helping all people learn to read well. As depicted in the research poster, logic modeling of the RTTH Program is helping us assess the effect of reading interventions on reading motivation and proficiency.

Are you looking for ways to stretch your technology budgets for literacy programs? Information on web-based resources you can use in literacy programs, including lesson plans, computer project, online books, "the arts," and professional development are included in the PowerPoint presentation: Stretch your technology budget: Using web-based resources in literacy programs.

The purpose of the School-Home Links Reading Kit is to encourage greater family, school, and community involvement in the education of children, and to improve their skills and achievements in reading and other language arts.

During the reading challenge, participants may read on their own or with family or friends. Listening to someone else read -- in any language -- or reading to someone else also counts toward the total minutes children read books, newspaper or magazine articles, comic books, newsletters or other materials.

Membership in the Association is open to every 4-H volunteer who works directly or indirectly with youth. The educational philosophy is to promote teaming with other volunteers and 4-H extension agents to grow in leadership through utilization of leadership skills in practical program planning, implementation and evaluation.

Provides vision and goals of the 4-H Volunteer Leaders Association.

East Carroll Parish 4-H members participate in 'Race for the Cure'

School children visiting Parker Coliseum in Baton Rouge for AgMagic aren’t just learning about the wonders of agriculture and our natural resources.

State 4-H officers and leaders helped teach leadership skills to their peers during the Annual Leadership Conference at the Grant Walker 4-H Education Center, March 24-26.