"Learning can be fun" is a core belief of the 4-H youth development program in Champaign County. Whether the class taught focuses on life skills, nutrition, character education or money skills, the youth learn while doing hands-on, thinking activities.

During the 2000-01 school year the Extension staff delivered programs to more than 10,000 youth ages 5-18. These youth were involved in either 4-H clubs, classroom sessions or after school community groups.

Character education is an important classroom program. More than 350 classroom sessions have taught young people the value of being a responsible, respectful, trustworthy person who promotes fairness, caring and good citizenship.

Dream Catchers 4-H Club Leader Inspires Children

Marilyn Whalen, leader of the Urbana 4-H club Dream Catchers, wanted to give her step-daughter the same leadership opportunities she had enjoyed as a girl. In 1999, she joined 200 other adult 4-H volunteers in 37 community clubs in Champaign County first as a co-leader, then leader of her own 4-H club. Last year, her 13 Dream Catchers members collected 511 pounds of food for the Central Illinois Food Bank for just one of their community service projects.

"Ours is a family oriented club. I encourage the parents to come to the meetings and get involved in the project work as well as the community service projects," said Marilyn. In fact, two parents volunteered to become co-leaders with Marilyn after the parents voted to hold meetings on Sunday afternoons so they could attend.

"Joining 4-H shows commitment," stated Marilyn in a recent interview. "Until parents get involved, they may look at 4-H as a kids’ social club and fail to see the leadership possibilities. ... I look at 4-H as a good place for kids to practice their leadership skills as well as learn new skills while completing subject matter projects. Competition can be tough, but I look at competition in 4-H as teaching kids about striving to do better the next time and learning new skills."

Other 2000 Dream Catchers community service projects included assembling and delivering personal care kits for men and women shelter residents, delivering flowers to the elderly, writing letters to overseas military personnel at Christmas, and collecting current magazines for waiting rooms. Marilyn plans to distribute brochures at local school registrations next fall to recruit new members.

Character Education Incorporated in School Curriculum

Tanya Hughes, Coordinator of Student Services at Kenwood School, Champaign, knows how challenging elementary students’ attitudes can be. Among my concerns were disrespect for teachers and other students, scuffles on the play-ground, and other common problems of elementary students. When a brochure entitled Character Counts!, a University of Illinois Extension Program, arrived on her desk one day, Tanya decided it was just what she was looking for. Kenwood teachers and administrators decided to participate as an entire school.

Character Counts! features six pillars of character: trust, fairness, caring, respect, responsibility, and citizenship. Extension educators visit each classroom once a month and teach students about a pillar. Tanya follows up by visiting each class once a week to reinforce the ideas presented.

"I can see signs of change," said Tanya after a recent lesson. One student in particular, a child largely responsible for herself and her siblings, was routinely tardy and disrespectful of other students and teachers. After participating in the program ". . . she now comes to me when she has a problem, describes the situation, and frequently has a plan to resolve the situation."

Character education has helped students take action when they witness someone being mean to others. "This same student told me how she recently stepped in to resolve a problem when some boys began picking on a child on her bus. She told the boys she didn’t like it and asked them to stop," said Tanya.

Memorable Moments Characterize Champaign County 4-H Program

Devin Kroner learned a valuable lesson during a 4-H horse riding event seven years ago. "Everything was great fun until I fell off my horse in the middle of a competition class!" exclaimed Kevin. "My mother made me get back on and not only finish that class, but go on with the rest of the day’s competition. I have to say that 4-H experience taught me a lot. When you have troubles, you have to try harder and learn from your mistakes."

Since that time, Devin has had many more memorable experiences in 4-H. Perhaps his favorite was being selected as one of nine 4-H youth to represent Illinois at the National 4-H Conference in Washington D.C. He is currently working on a national committee to develop 4-H materials for an ethics program. His involvement in the project resulted from his attending an ethics workshop at the conference.

Devin attributes his leadership and organizational skills, problem solving skills, sense of responsibility, and increased knowledge of subjects to his involvement in 4-H.