A benefit of the 4-H Military Partnerships is the joint development of high quality curriculum materials in a wide variety of program areas. The curricula are valuable resources for youth programs and professional development for 4-H and military staff. All curriculum pieces are available for download and may be reproduced for military and extension use.

 

Georgia 4-H Military Installation Club Guide

This resource is meant to support new staff with developing a 4-H Club and carrying out a basic 4-H Club on base. For additional resources and support review the 4-H 101 Army Resources.

Club Meeting Guide: https://outlookuga-my.sharepoint.com/:w:/g/personal/laurwalt_uga_edu/ER1HEW93TFhIjGDz8jyDn8MB8-eoWdD9A9efyHjH8yZJ_Q?e=p4Om4R

4-H 101 Army Resources

The resources on this page were used at the Army 4-H 101 Training in Columbia, Maryland in March 2010. If you have questions about these resources, please contact Marlene VerBrugge at glass@ksu.edu or 785-532-1484.

4-H Environmental Science Camp in a Box

In 2022 Georgia 4-H hosted an in-person 3-day for Moody AFB School Age Program. Instead of letting those plans sit in our computers, we are sharing them with our partners in hopes it supports staff with carrying out a 3-day interactive camp. The environmental science target age group is the elementary age with a larger focus on 4th and below. Topics include Things that Move, Water, and soil. Lessons, handouts, schedules, supply lists, and flyers are included in the file download. If you have issues accessing reach out to milcamps@uga.edu.

Download Environmental Science Camp in A Box:

https://outlookuga-my.sharepoint.com/:f:/g/personal/laurwalt_uga_edu/Ev0BuLfG52dPjisuxm61nwcBlj-XDDW_AWSTohlqYjfy8g?e=4kPElK

4-H Army Express Guides & Training Topics

The Express Guides provide an overview of a 4-H project; while, the Training Topics give staff hands-on experience as they explore a specific activity. These sessions have been designed to follow the Experiential Learning Model where staff experience an activity, process what happened, and plan how they will use the curriculum with children and youth in the program.

Preparing to Be a Professional

The Preparing To Be a Professional video series was developed by 4-H agents from the University of Georgia Extension to help teens learn basic professional skills. Each short video provides helpful tips and guidelines and offers a downloadable resource for further reference. View the videos and download the accompanying tip sheets from Military OneSource. Educators can also request a 4-H staff member to teach the lesson for a group if face-to-face instruction is preferred. Military Child and Youth Center can request access to the curriculum by emailing Laura Goss at laurwalt@uga.edu.

Summer Health Squad

The Summer Health Squad is 6 six-lesson resource to educate participants about food security and overall health and wellness.  Lessons can be used in a camp setting or as a 6-week club.

Access the PPTs, lessons, and handouts via the OneDrive link. Please note that there are duplicates of some files to support access for those who need PDFs for downloading files. If you have questions or need assistance contact milcamps@uga.edu.

Download Resource Here: Summer Health Squad Lessons

Adult Babysitting

The 4-H/Army Child, Youth and School Services Adult Babysitter Training Curriculum “I have what it takes to be a Caring, competent, and Responsible Babysitter” is comprised of a Facilitator Guide, a Set of Participant Handouts and an Information Card designed for qualified 4-H and military Child and Youth program staff to train adults to babysit. The curriculum is divided into 9 chapters. Adults learn about the ages and stages of child growth and development, safety, food and nutrition, how to handle emergencies, implementing appropriate activities with children and the business of babysitting. Successful completion of the course includes 8 hours of First Aid and CPR, 2 hours of Child Abuse Awareness training and a local background check.

Character Education

Both 4-H and Army Child, Youth and School Services are members of the CHARACTER COUNTS! Coalition. The CHARACTER COUNTS! framework is built upon the Six Pillars of Character: Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring and Citizenship. Integrating the CHARACTER COUNTS! framework helps enrich 4-H programming. Through adult role modeling and deliberate discussions on how projects relate to character, 4-H’ers consciously learn to be caring, responsible citizens, skills that will serve them well throughout their lives.

Character Connections help your 4-H participants make the “Character Connections” to their 4-H projects. Within the curriculum supplement, you will find information about teaching young people in informal settings, how young people best learn, and the Experiential Model for Education, or the 4-H motto, “Learning by Doing”. Finally, you will find individual “Character Connections” activities that have been written specifically for your 4-Hers. These all include information about how each of the Six Pillars of Character relate to each 4-H project area, activity ideas that relate to the activities in the project literature, and discussion questions to help your 4-H’ers think about the activities and make the “Character Connection.”

CYSTEKWARE Activities

These materials were developed in support of increasing youth participation in Army, Child, Youth & School Services (CYSS) Middle School and Teen programs. Each guide has at least six CORE activity plans developed around a specific topic or theme – to create a Technology Program. Each activity plan follows the 4-H Experiential Learning Model.

  • CYSTEKWARE Overview PDF 1
  • CYSTEKWARE Animation PDF 1
  • CYSTEKWARE Renewable Energy PDF 1
  • CYSTEKWARE REUsing Technology PDF 1 and PDF 2
  • CYSTEKWARE Robotics PDF 1
  • CYSTEKWARE Space and Astronomy PDF 1 and PDF 2

Yellow Ribbon Curriculum

The Deployment Cycle Youth Outreach Activity guides provide easy to use activity plans for volunteers and Military Child & Youth professional staff working with youth kindergarten through 12th grade from all Service Branches; keyed to grade appropriate life skill development and developed for 2 hour and 4 hour settings.  Curriculum includes 60 fun, quality experiential learning experiences linked to four phases of the deployment cycle (pre-deployment, during mobilization, 30 & 60 days after reunion).

There is a toolkit which provides the durable equipment needed to conduct all of these activities.  The Toolkits may be available through UGA Extension Military Outreach.

The curriculum also includes a Training Guide to equip volunteers for implementing youth activities.  This curriculum supports the Joint Family Assistance Program.

For more information on the Yellow Ribbon curriculum, contact us at oper4h@uga.edu or 706-542-4444.

Manners Worth Millions

Preparing the Youth Development Professional

This newly revised curriculum (formerly Moving Ahead) is a comprehensive staff development training that provides an overview of the competencies needed for those choosing to work with young people in out-of-school settings. These include understanding critical needs and competencies, methods of non-formal education, addressing risk and building protective factors, dealing with differences, conflict resolution, programming for developmental needs, understanding negative and self-destructive behaviors, and forgoing youth and adult partnerships.

Ready, Set, Go! Training Manual

The Ready, Set, Go! (RSG!) Training Manual was developed for distribution to state, regional and local teams and key military, school & community stakeholders via coordinated regional and local training efforts to increase understanding of the unique issues facing military youth dealing with the deployment and reintegration of a parent or loved one.

These manuals cover a variety of issues surrounding the effects of deployments on children and are an excellent tool in developing support networks for these young people.  The manual is broken into chapters and provide pertinent information such as an introduction to the military and it’s customs and culture, the five steps of the deployment process, dealing with the media, fostering resilience in young people and building a community capacity to support military kids.

Anticipated outcomes of this manual and accompanying training include:

  • Providing participants with hands-on practical information to assist them in building capacity to educate communities about local issues related to supporting military kids currently coping with the stress of knowing their parents or loved ones are in harms way.
  • Supporting participants with planning, implementation, and facilitation of training at the state, regional and local levels to increase understanding and support for National Guard, Reserve and other military youth impacted by the current global war on terrorism.

 

Up for the Challenge: Lifetime Fitness, Healthy Decisions

“Up for the Challenge” is a fitness, nutrition and health curriculum for school-aged, middle school and teen youth. It was written for military afterschool programs but is easily adaptable to any afterschool or 4-H club setting. The 290-page curriculum is divided into five chapters with each chapter containing multiple lessons in physical activity, nutrition and healthy decision making. Lessons range in scope and length from 30-60 minute nutrition and/or physical activities to a multi-week wellness event. Each lesson provides expected youth outcomes, instructor essential information, preparation instructions, supplies, lesson time, handouts and opportunities for reflection.

Youth Babysitting

This Babysitting Curriculum Guide is designed to help middle school and teenaged youth learn what it takes to be a responsible, caring , trustworthy, competent, capable, and safe babysitter.

As you work through the lessons with youth in your group, you will find that they learn the basic information on how to be a competent, responsible, and caring babysitter. They will also develop “life skills” such as caring, managing resources, decision-making and communication. (See “Promoting Life Skills” in the Appendix page 123). Each activity notes at least one life skill and uses the experiential learning model (See “The Experiential Learning Model” in the Appendix page 125) or “hands-on learning to reinforce it.” Based on the discussions your teens have, you may find they are learning other skills. That is great! The more skills they use and practice, the better. Your goal as Child & Youth Services’ staff is to provide opportunities for the young people in your program to learn, grow, and move successfully into adulthood. By encouraging them to “do,” “share,” “process,” “generalize,” and “apply” the life skills learned in each lesson, you are doing just that!

The 4-H/Army Child and Youth Services Teen Babysitter Curriculum is comprised of a Facilitator Guide designed for qualified 4-H and military Child & Youth program staff to train teens, aged 13-18 in Babysitting Skills. The curriculum is divided into 8 Chapters. Teens learn about the ages and stages of child growth and development, safety, food and nutrition, how to handle emergencies, appropriate activities to implement with children, and the business of babysitting. The available version is the most recent version of the curriculum – revised 2020.

Other Resources

  • 3, 2, 1… Action! Videography
    • The overall objective of this workshop is to give participants an overall understanding of videography by learning the skills and techniques necessary to create great movies. Participants will be involved with interactive activities that will teach them the techniques of scripting, storyboarding, and filming. Editing, final cut, and rendering the video will be covered, but interactive participation will be in the computer lab. Focus will be writing a script, talking techniques, creating a storyboard and why, camera basics, filming techniques, basics of film and audio editing, final cut, and rendering. Participants will also learn about the various roles or jobs that are a part of most video productions and how they interact with each other. The handbook consists of an instructor’s guide, skills guide, lesson plans, activities, ice-breakers, and several sample forms. Even though this handbook was written for a one-week workshop, the lesson plans can be easily presented separately.
  • 4-H / CYSS Camp Planning Handbook
    • This Camp Management Handbook serves as a guide for Army CYSS Services personnel in planning, preparing, implementing, and assessing a camp program. The guide focuses on the more complex needs of camp; however, many components apply to planning day camps.
  • Air Force Camping Guide
    • This resource has been specifically designed for the development of day, specialty, residential, and adventure camp programs. Materials cover aspects of program planning, preparation, and implementation of camping programs targeted to youth ages 5 to 18.
  • DoD / USDA Partnerships Tech Discovery Curriculum
    • The Tech Discovery Curriculum was designed for 5th – 12th grade military connected youth from all branches of service. It is focused on developing life skills and increased resiliency supporting military connected families during times of deployment and reintegration back into normal life. The curriculum includes 35 youth and family educational experiences that focus on building skills in Communication, Teamwork, Self-Responsibility, Decision Making, and Problem Solving while at the same time supporting enhancement of youth resilience in their emotional, social, family, and spiritual (their set of beliefs, principles, and values that give them strength) realms.
  • Enhancing Your Youth Program with Service Learning
    • This guide is designed for use by youth development professionals working with middle and high school students in the realm of Service Learning. The manual is full of ideas to help enhance service learning projects. These ideas can be used with military and 4-H youth development programs.
  • Experience, Operation: Military Kids
    • “Experience, Operation: Military Kids, Activity Plans for Kids to Use Before, During and After Loved Ones are Deployed” was created by the University of Minnesota Extension Service under the guidance of Jim Deidrick, 4-H Extension Educator from the University of Minnesota.”Experience, Operation: Military Kids” contains a number of activity plans that can be easily and quickly implemented in a variety of settings for youth ages kindergarten through twelfth grade.
  • Hero Packs Guide
    • Hero Packs are backpacks filled with a variety of items which are given to suddenly military youth as a thanks for the sacrifices that they make while their parents are deployed.Hero Packs serve as a tangible expression of support for military families from their communities. Hero Packs are backpacks filled by non-military youth with mementos and items designed to help connect kids with their deployed parent. They are a way to hand-deliver a salute to military children & youth for their strength and sacrifices while parents are deployed. A Hero Pack project involves youth groups and adults in a valuable community service effort that also builds awareness and fosters community support for geographically dispersed military families.Organizations interested in building Hero Packs for distribution to youth can contact UGA Extension Military Outreach at oper4h@uga.edu for information on materials. The lesson plan provides ideas on organizing a Hero Pack build.
  • Speak Out for Military Kids
    • Speak Out For Military Kids (SOMK) is a core program of Operation: Military Kids (2007-2015).  Essentially SOMK is a youth led speakers bureau than incorporates both military and non-military youth.  The purpose of the program is to empower youth with the knowledge, life skills and abilities to educate communities and groups to the effects of deployments on military kids.  This manual provides training ideas to begin an SOMK program in your state or community.
  • Youth Leadership Forums
    • “Successful” programs meet or exceed the planers’ goals, involve youth as resources, showcase Army values and minimize risk. This Handbook outlines Army CYS Services standards and expectations, shows how to involve youth in the planning process, and identifies leadership expectations for CYS Services professionals conducting these programs.
  • Write Letters to Soldiers
    • A great virtual and year-round civic engagement opportunity is writing letters to soldiers who are deployed. If you are not directly connected to a unit who is deployed Operation Gratitude provides a way for individuals and groups to send letters to soldiers.
  • Healthy Habits Curriculum
    • This manual provides 10 interactive lessons to help you promote healthy habits in youth programming. Lessons begin with a 10-15 minute educational session, which includes a script for the leader, along with discussion questions to expand the conversation based on children’s interest in the topic and on the time available. The curriculum includes two manuals one for ages 5-8 and the other is for ages 9-12. These manuals are based on the Youth Fit 4 Life program, which was jointly developed by the YMCA of Metro Atlanta and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.
  • Introduction to 4-H Simulation Lesson
  • Social and Emotional Learning in Practice
      • Social and emotional learning (SEL) includes learning to be aware of and manage emotions, work well with others, and persevere when faced with challenges. Youth programs develop SEL skills by creating opportunities for young people to engage in real-world projects, work in teams, take on meaningful roles, face challenges, and experience the accompanying emotional ups and downs along the way. Professional development and youth lessons are included in the toolkit by the University of Minnesota Extension 4-H.
  • Leadership Lessons for High School Students
      • The 4-H Military Liaison has created several engaging peer-reviewed leadership lessons designed for the camp setting. Contact Laura Goss (laurwalt@uga.edu) for assistance as needed for delivering the following lessons.
          • Mario Cart Leadership
          • LEADERship Directions
          • Mole Rat Leadership
          • Shark Tank Leadership
  • Pine Cone Reflect
      • A youth reflection activity that incorporates nature to discover the impacts of being a military youth.
      • Contact laurwalt@uga.edu for access to the lesson.
  • Discover 4-H Curriculum
    • Staff and volunteers can download free curriculums to use with children. Topics range from paper crafts, archaeology, math, diary heifers, photography, robotics, fitness, cake decorating, swine, healthy relationships, and so much more!
    • Access the resources at Extension Utah 4-H and complete the form to gain access.
  • NASA Resources and Activities

Georgia 4-H Support

  • Extension / 4-H Military Outreach Programs Blog
    • Text Description: The Extension 4-H Military Outreach Programs blog highlights ongoing UGA Extension events and resources. The target audience is Child and Youth Services for all service branches, family members, 4-H staff, and service members (active, reserve, guard, veteran) interested in carrying out programs with military youth in mind. The 4-H Military Liaison share Georgia 4-H lesson plans, National 4-H Curriculum, upcoming training opportunities, partnership updates, and 4-H events. Individuals can subscribe to the blog on the website.
  • Georgia 4-H Science Programs
    • Resources on the 4-H Science Program blog support 4-H professionals, volunteers, families, and youth in 4-H science-related endeavors. Each county 4-H program is unique, and a set of packaged activities does not necessarily meet a community’s needs. Based on the local interest as well as resources and support, there are a variety of programs and curricula available to support 4-H Science and STEM initiatives in Georgia. This blog is intended to empower individuals to have the resources and tools necessary to confidently lead science programs. Individuals can subscribe to the blog on the website.
  • Local 4-H Programs
    • 4-H clubs provide quality educational experiences to military-connected youth using research-based curricula for military youth ages 5-18. Military Installation staff can connect with their local 4-H county staff for staff training, youth programming, curriculums, and other resources.
  • Georgia 4-H Curriculum and Lessons
    • Georgia 4-H has a variety of curriculums and lessons that Military partners can use. Lesson topics include career readiness, animals, public speaking, leadership, less stress on the test, erosion, robotics, financial literacy, agriculture, civic engagement, introduction to 4-H, social emotional learning, drink less sugar, dance anatomy, parliamentary procedure, and more! To learn more about these resources contact Laura Goss.
  • Professional Development
    • The Georgia 4-H Military Liaison is available to support connecting local staff, providing professional development, grant partnerships, and other direct/indirect support to military staff. Contact Laura Goss at laurwalt@uga.edu for partnership opportunities.

 

Contact

Hoke Smith Annex
University of Georgia
Athens, GA 30602
Phone:706-542-4444
Fax: 706-542-4373
jbrown10@uga.edu