Kwajalein 4-H recognized nationally

By Sheila Gideon, Hourglass Managing EditorJanuary 23, 2012

KWajalein 4-H recognized nationally
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Kwajalein 4-H recognized nationally
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U.S. ARMY KWAJALEIN ATOLL, Marhsall Islands - The Kwajalein 4-H club stays busy, offering five areas of programming to kids in Kindergarten through grade 12. They include citizenship, sewing, cooking, drama and photography. While participating kids and parents have certainly noticed how busy they've been -- they're not the only ones taking notice.

Carmen Golay is the Military 4-H program coordinator out of Honolulu. Golay recently mentioned Kwajalein's 4-H program in her Military 4-H blog. "Small but Mighty! 4-H on Kwajalein" showcased what a tremendous job the Kwajalein 4-H group does with limited resources.

"On an atoll in the middle of the vast Pacific Ocean, kids and their adult leaders are doing amazing 4-H work," wrote Golay. "For several years now, 4-H Leader Susannah Jones has been leading youth on Kwajalein in citizenship activities with neighboring island Ebeye."

She went on to discuss this year's special project -- a native plant garden at Ebeye School.

While most 4-H clubs around the world also conduct similar programming and projects, Kwajalein has been recognized for excellence amongst the others.

"Kwajalein, from our perspective, is doing a lot of positive quality youth programming, which to us is even more impressive given the limited resources," Golay said. "For the past several years we have always been able to depend on Kwajalein staff to come through with interesting projects, good documentation of their work and an overall sense of commitment to youth in 4-H. It's like instead of focusing on the 'limits' of living on a small atoll, the leaders and kids seem to take advantage of them."

4-H is the oldest youth development organization in the U.S., and also the largest, enrolling more than a million youth annually. The learning philosophy is 'learn by doing.'

"The reason that Kwajalein 4-H is doing so well is because they use the philosophy and resources that are available," Golay stated. "Even if every lesson is not from [national] curricula, the philosophy and processing about the activities is key."

Anyone can bake brownies, but cooking club leader Micah Johnson strives to make them healthy and to explain to the kids why it's important. She also will follow up her healthy eating lesson plan with some sort of physical activity.

"This means that youth are getting more out of the experience; they are retaining the lessons and gaining a sense of accomplishment and confidence in their abilities," Johnson said.

While 4-H has roots in agriculture and farming, modern 4-H is very diverse in project areas; this is an image they struggle with. For many youth in the U.S., the image of farming with 4-H is still an accurate one. Golay grew up in Iowa in a traditional 4-H program where she and her sister had horse, cow and chicken projects. But they also did art, photography, leadership, public speaking and foods projects.

"Working with military 4-H clubs, we try to focus on the healthy living, science and citizenship that is promoted by national 4-H. This is not difficult as most kids are interested in cooking, science areas such as robotics and technology and doing service projects that involve citizenship lessons."

Kwajalein 4-H looks forward to continuing to impress at the national level. Johnson even has plans to enter her cooking club into a food competition for all of Pacific 4-H.

Related Links:

Small But Mighty! 4-H on Kwajalein