Taking Congress Home: Effects of NC 4-H Congress on Youth Behaviors and Intentions

Authors

  • Benjamin Silliman North Carolina State University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5195/jyd.2008.335

Abstract

This evaluation report describes the outcomes and quality of the 2006 North Carolina 4-H Congress, an annual five-day teen conference focused on citizenship, leadership, and service. A majority of returning youth cited Congress experiences as significant in their continued learning and practice in citizenship, leadership, and service learning. Likewise, most youth participants in the 2006 conference indicated that they planned to participate in more citizenship, community leadership, and service activities in their home communities. A Youth Program Climate survey revealed that youth viewed NC 4-H Congress as a setting where service was important, where they learned to accept differences, teamwork was emphasized, and where they were able to make a difference in the lives of others. Three implications of the evaluation report are discussed: 1) value of a youth leadership conference for educating and inspiring youth in citizenship, leadership, and service; 2) evaluation methodology, including engaging youth leaders in design and use of conference data; and 3) marketing and accountability opportunities resulting from program evaluations.

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Published

2008-03-01

Issue

Section

Program & Practice Articles