- Author: Claudia Diaz Carrasco
The California 4-H Youth Summits are three day weekend leadership conferences hosted in multiple locations throughout the state.
Be a leader, be a hero
The theme of the Southern Youth Summit event was "Be a leader, Be a hero". Keynote speaker Dan Shomo, a former Navy seal, shared how skills he learned in 4-H helped him complete his military training.
Budgeting Basics
The weekend agenda also included a workshop led by Derrick Robinson, UC ANR academic coordinator for the Money Talks project. During the Money Talks workshop, 4-H'ers learned budgeting basics using real-life scenarios and hands-on activities.
Favorite activities
Exploring and connecting with nature through hiking, meeting new friends, and the workshops were some of the activities youth reported as their favorite part of the Southern Youth Summit.
Youth-Adult Partnership in planning the event
Tiffany Marino was the youth chair for the event and was supported by Kelly Dowlan, the Adult Chair. Tiffany, who started 4-H when she was 5 and has participated in the program for 14 years, attributes her leadership skills to 4-H.
"When I was younger, I was kind of quiet and reserved, and 4-H has definitely just brought me out of my shell and brought me a whole other level of confidence -- confidence in what I do and what I say. It's really changed me as a person and brought me to an understanding of who I am and what I want to do."
"4-H is such a great program because there's so many things you can do within it. It's not just an agriculture thing, it goes into youth development, leadership, community service. Really, it's what you make of it!"
- Tiffany, Southern Youth Summit Chair
The Youth Summits were planned and organized by the California 4-H Management Board.
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- Author: Suzanne Morikawa
- Author & Photographer: Christian Redman
4-H'ers throughout California are practicing and supporting healthy lifestyles in their communities. The Sparks Surveys taken by California 4-H youth show that more than 87% of 4-H'ers are learning about nutrition and making healthy choices. They are sharing their knowledge with their communities by organizing health fairs, hosting Color Me Green 5K Runs and doing service projects to support people in their communities.
Southern Area Healthy Living Summit
The Healthy Living Summit in the Southern Area was chaired by 4-H'er Christian Redman. This is the second year of the Summit, and Christian involved several 4-H clubs to support the event with interactive booths and activities.
Christian shares highlights of the Summit
The CA Southern Area had a very successful “Healthy Living Summit” with 50 plus participants.
4-H'ers danced, ran, sewed, did yoga, listened and snacked all afternoon.
Service to Others
We served others by making 100 lunch bags for the homeless and 25 smile dolls for children who have cleft lip and cleft palate.
Color Me Green 1K Run
The DSOC Super Kids 4-H Club enthusiastically participated and stole the show.
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