Positive youth development programs such as those offered by Boy Scouts of America (BSA) provide sources of support and opportunities for leadership and character development. Programmatic experts from BSA collaborated with researchers to develop a visual theory of change (pathway model) for youth development in Scouts BSA and for adult volunteer…

There is a defined need to provide accessible and effective professional development for 4-H educators. Lesson study is a Community of Practice-based approach to educator professional development. Prior research has shown lesson study to be effective with 4-H staff, adult volunteers, and teen volunteers. This inquiry, a multisite case study, was…

The purpose of this study was to explore the factors impacting former National FFA Organization (FFA) members' decision to discontinue FFA membership after high school. Data were collected using focus groups. Data indicated areas of improvement for how to retain membership on the alumni level within colleges and other local FFA Alumni chapters.…

Corn clubs played an important role in improving agriculture at the turn of the 20th century. Corn clubs were local organizations consisting of boys who cultivated corn on one acre of land under the supervision of a local club leader. The purpose of this historical research study was to document the organization, operation, and outcomes of corn…

MemphiSTEP is a five-year STEM Talent Expansion Program at the U. of Memphis sponsored by the National Science Foundation. The project focuses on retention and persistence to graduation to increase the number of STEM majors and graduates. The project includes a summer Mathematics Bridge Bootcamp; research experiences for undergraduates;…

The problem of decreasing enrollment among Senior 4-H Youth in Bradley County, Tennessee was studied. Data were collected from 208 ninth and tenth grade home economics classes. The data were classified into two groups: (1) girls who were 4-H club members at the time of the interview, and (2) girls who had been but were not in 4-H in 1970. The…

An attempt was made to determine the nature of the present 4-H organizational leadership in five counties, to identify organizational leader problems, and to determine methods and procedures for correcting these problems. It was proposed to solve the problems by preparing a plan that would cover the following leadership development phases: 4-H…

This study was concerned with the problem of decreasing county junior 4-H enrollment in Tennessee. It was designed to determine the association between selected variables concerning county 4-H programs and the total junior 4-H enrollment. The major purposes of the study were (1) to determine the relations between the total number of junior 4-H…

Robertson, Davidson, and Sumner counties, Tennessee, were studied to determine the present 4-H organizational leadership situation and to find solutions to whatever problems they have. It was concluded that the following was needed in each county: (1) more organizational leaders--a minimum of one per club; (2) definitions of leader role in terms…

THE OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY WERE TO--(1) COMPARE EDUCATIONAL GOALS OF RURAL YOUTH AND THEIR PARENTS AND (2) DETERMINE THE RELATIONSHIPS OF THE SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES TO SUCH FACTORS AS GEOGRAPHIC AREA, STATE, SEX, LEVEL OF LIVING, RESIDENCE, FAMILY SIZE, AND CLUB MEMBERSHIP. A SURVEY SAMPLE, SELECTED FROM AN EQUIPARTITIONED UNIVERSE…

This 1968 study explored role perceptions of junior Four H leaders and identified some factors in role performance. Hypotheses were tested relating to their role expectations, performance and self evaluation of preparedness for the role. Questionnaires were administered to 279 junior leaders, 121 adult leaders, and 36 Extension agents in 15…

An in-depth study of the involvement of project leaders in conducting an effective County 4-H Club program in Tennessee was attempted. A survey of the literature revealed that educational efforts could be utilized much more effectively by training leaders who in turn train the 4-H Club members. Five counties had an average of 2.4 project groups…

The problem of decreasing 4-H enrollment among senior 4-H youth in Blount County, Tennessee, was undertaken in this study. Data were collected from 246 ninth grade girls in five county schools. The girls were divided into two groups--current 4-H members (N=62) and 4-H club dropouts (N=184). The groups were compared on personal characteristics,…

The purpose of this handbook is to delimit the scope of distributive education in Tennessee and to provide guidelines for vocational program development in distributive education. Intended as a guide for the local distributive education teacher-coordinator, this handbook will also prove useful for administrators, guidance counselors, and…