Extension Communications
3614 Administrative Services Building
Ames, Iowa 50011-3614
(515) 294-9915
11/28/00
Contacts:
Joe Kurth, 4-H Youth Development, (515) 294-1018, jkurth@iastate.edu
Tracy Petersen, Extension Communication Systems, (515)
294-9915
Iowa 4-H Enrollment Grows By 14,000
AMES, Iowa -- Iowa State University Extension 4-H Youth Development programs reached nearly 14,000 more youths in 2000 than in the previous year. Total enrollment increased from 121,260 youths to 135,000.
The total enrollment statistics reflect non-duplicated 4-H'ers -- those who participate in multiple activities such as clubs, camps and school enrichment programs are counted only once.
"In 2000, we have reached 25 percent of all Iowa youths enrolled in grades K through 12," noted Joe Kurth, director of Iowa 4-H Youth Development.
Iowa 4-H Youth Development considers any youth who participates in six or more hours of 4-H programs or activities to be enrolled in 4-H. While enrollment in traditional 4-H clubs remains steady, the greatest increases have come in special interest and school enrichment activities.
School enrichment programs are developed by 4-H to be used during school hours. Enrollment in those programs increased by 11,000 youths over the past year. One example of a school enrichment program is Boomerang, in which high school juniors and seniors are trained in character education. In turn, they deliver the curriculum to youths in grades 4 through 8.
Special interest activities, which saw an enrollment increase of 8,000 youths, are those offered outside schools and traditional clubs. Approximately 40,000 children in grades K through 3 are enrolled in Clover Kids, one such activity. A new program, Growing in the Garden, hopes to attract another 10,000 in the upcoming year. More than 1,000 adults have been trained to deliver that program, which teaches about gardening, food, fiber and environmental sciences, Kurth said.
Kurth said he is especially pleased with the enrollment increase, in light of Iowa's shrinking rural population and significant budget restraints. He credited 17,000 statewide volunteers as well as the 4-H staff with the increase.
Kurth noted that many new programs are developed with urban youths in mind.
"We want to be inclusive and representative of Iowa's population," he said. We also want to show the importance of agriculture in our lives."
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