Highlights new york state association of cooperative extension 4-h agents complied January 1, 1966 Revised: January 1975, October 1980, 1985, 1990, 2001, 2006, 2010 and 2015-16 table of contents
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- DECADE 2000 - 2010
- 4-H AGENTS AND THE NYS 4-H FOUNDATION
THE DECADE OF THE NINETIESScience is important to everyone - young and old, male and female, those who live in the city and those who live in the rural areas, those who work the field, in an office or plan the business strategies of the large companies. The 4-H method of Hands-on has been found to be the best way to assist youth in learning how to interpret information. "Series" from California and "Spaces" from Michigan are well-known project materials along with many scientific approaches being drawn out of the traditional 4-H Project materials. 4-H continues to expand ways we can encourage youth to become involved in making the world a better place to live. The new name for New York State Club Congress has been changed to June Events. A segment "Focus on Teens" is a programming effort to allow older teens to experience hands-on involvement in potential career opportunities through departments on the Cornell University Campus. “Cornell 101” is for younger teens, providing an opportunity to experience a university campus setting. 1994 was the last year for the National 4-H Incentive and Recognition Program and National Club Congress. Between 1995 and 2000 major changes were made at the State office level. A nationwide committee conducted a complete review of the New York State 4-H program. The recommendation from the review began the process of building a stronger 4-H program. A 4-H Youth Development strategic plan was developed. An interim state leader was hired, followed within a year by a new state leader. The phone is now being answered, "New York State 4-H Office". DECADE 2000 - 2010 Nationally 4-H Youth Development reorganized into 3 program areas: Science Engineering & Technology; Citizenship; and Healthy Lifestyles. New York State was there with Program Work Teams focusing on each of these missions. The 4-H SET PWT has been very active in developing and connecting staff to resources. This included a collaborative effort with the Museum of the Earth in Ithaca as well as the development of 4-H Science Toolkits. They also sponsored many workshops across the state and at our conferences. In New York State we embraced the GIS/GPS effort and formed a relationship with ESRI - Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. as did other states. Charles – Chip – Malone is the key staff person for NYS. Citizenship was still alive and strong in New York State. YouthCAN (Community Action Network) became more than just a buzz word. A variety of programs popped up around the state using curriculum such as Public Adventures. Currently a program called 4-H CITY Project (Community Improvement Through Youth) has been up and running in Broome County and New York City. Healthy Lifestyles includes Health, Nutrition and Fitness as well as Preventative Health and Safety. In NY we now have a Choose Health initiative with a PWT in the works. Program efforts were seen not only in club work but reached out to 4-H camps and menu options and now are working on Choose Health Ambassadors. In an effort to create consistency across NYS 4-H Club programs, the 4-H Club Management Notebook was developed including 4-H Club Notebook for Staff, 4-H Club Leader Handbook and the 4-H Cloverbud Handbook. Other resources developed in the past 10 years include the Why 4-H Series to be used as marketing pieces as well as the Guiding Principles document developed in 2007. This was meant to be used as an internal program planning document built upon the goals of the 2000 NYS 4-H Strategic Plan. With shrinking budgets the State 4-H Office has had to re-organize. Due to retirements and staff leaving, more duties were contracted out to county staff. The concept for the NYS Youth Development Network was developed in 2001. Their role was to coordinate communication between youth development programs; advise the state 4-H office on issues & programs not represented on PWT’s; provide a link to 4-H educator districts & NYSACCE4-HE and advocate on behalf of the NYS 4-H Strategic Plan. The membership now includes a representative from each NYSACCE4-HE district. 4-H AGENTS AND THE NYS 4-H FOUNDATION During 1969, the purpose and function of the New York State 4-H Foundation, Inc., was expanded and undertook a 1.3 million dollar financial campaign that would dramatically extend 4-H opportunities. It was made clear that no campaign rises higher than the conviction of the sponsoring group. Therefore, the "4-H Family" themselves had to be thoroughly committed to the campaign and the purposes for which funds were needed, ready, willing and able to lead out in setting the giving and getting pace. Accordingly, in 1970, David Barnes, President of the New York State Association of Extension 4-H Agents, appointed Mary Lou Brewer, Madison County and Alfred Lasky, Erie County as co-chairpersons for the Internal Division of the Campaign. The Agents Association selected one-fourth of the campaign for $325,000 as their goal. The remaining $975,000 would be raised from external sources: corporations, individuals, and foundations. In turn, District 4-H Agent Representatives were named. James Gould, Western District; Donald MacVean North Central District; Donald Stiles, Eastern District; Allan Turner, Finger Lakes District; Frank Wiles, South Central District and Allyn Smith, Southeastern District. By 1972, the internal Campaign had pledges or gifts totaling $328,000, exceeding their projected goal from the 4-H family by $3,000. This included more than $30,000 pledged by Cooperative Extension in counties. Some $290,000 was pledged by volunteers, 4-Hers, State 4-H Office and Cornell University faculty as an impressive indicator of the "4-H family" leadership and commitment. John C. Sterling, Executive Director, 1969-1973 Since August 1988, the New York State 4-H Foundation has been about the business of building relationships, support and commitment within the system to marketing 4-H in order to raise funds for innovative 4-H youth development efforts. From August 1988 to August 1989, the executive director visited every county but two so that effective dialogues could begin and foundation goals could be explained. County 4-H program goals were outlined in case statements later used to develop "an investment brochure", outlining statewide investment opportunities for corporations, foundations, and individuals. Commitment to the future was clearly established when the Foundation engaged an investment manager to manage part of its assets. A golf tournament was organized both to market the Foundation and 4-H, as well as build some unrestricted support for allocation to effective Association programs. In 1990, $20,000 was allocated to support Youth-At-Risk programs around the state. Finally, board development and expansion was a priority. Expanding from 14 members to 17, the Board of Trustees was expected to not only support the Foundation with personal contributions, but identify and ask potential contributors for contributions to 4-H. Alumni Booths were set up at county fairs, Empire Farm Days and the State Fair in an effort to expand the Foundation's donor base and identify potential 4-H volunteers for county programs. We are pleased with the results so far and are convinced that the product we are marketing, 4-H, is a wise investment on the part of donors. A major fund raising effort was conducted in the late 90's ending in 2000. Peter Huntington was chair. Over $400,000 was raised to support local programs. 4-H CAMPING The first county 4-H Club Camps opened in 1924. Chenango County Agent, Harry Case, held a two-week program, 1 week for boys and 1 for girls. Miss Dorothy Powell, Assistant Agent on Long Island conducted a week long Camp for girls. In his annual 1924 report Mr. Case wrote "Believing that farm boys and girls need more opportunities provided them to associate with other boys and girls and to assemble for instruction and recreation, a county camp was established at Chenango Lake during August. Thirty-two farm boys attended and learned much from mingling with each other and the instruction and recreation provided. The girls' camp was composed of twenty-two". Chenango has claimed a "first" for a county camp, but Nassau County camp opened first, on July 5, 1924. Miss Powell reported, "It is quite as important that we teach club girls happy, healthful recreation as well as practical work. In learning to swim, hike, play and work together at camp, these 65 girls learned more in perseverance, self-reliance, cooperation and self-discipline than in any other phase of the work". The Nassau County Camp currently known as Dorothy P. Flint 4-H Camp was located at Long Pond, Wading River. The $7 camp fee left a deficit, due to the purchase of a boat. The Camp had volunteer counselors, the site was free, tents were loaned by the Farmingdale State School, cots were borrowed from the Red Cross and dishes came by the State School and the Central Park School Lunch Association. Uniforms for the girls were long stocking, bloomers and white sailor blouses. In 1927, under the leadership of Delaware County Agent John A Lennox and the generosity of Congressman J.D. Clarke, Delaware County 4-H Camp Shankitunk was settled on the east side of the Delaware River. This was on the property of Congressman Clarke's home and farm. The 1928 brochure advertised the camp as having "A new dining hall with fireplace…Large kitchen with the best of Delaware County running spring water and ice boxes...Tents are located with perhaps the best air and water drainage of any spot in this section; always dry and seldom foggy… Only milk from T.B tested cows used" By 1928 seven counties, Chenango, Delaware, Jefferson, Nassau, Ontario, Orange and Otsego had camping programs. In 1928, State 4-H Club Leader W.J. Wright wrote in his annual report: "There are some questions in the minds of Agents as to the value of these camps when evaluated on the basis of time spent and club members in attendance". Again, in 1930 he wrote: "County 4-H Club camps have not assumed the same importance in New York as they seem to have assumed in some other States. Possibly they have not been encouraged sufficiently by the State Club Office". There were 13 camps in the State by 1936 and courses offered were Nature Study, First Aid, Swimming, Handicraft, Photography, Recreation and Life Saving. More crafts were added to include leather tooling, basketry, wood, plastic, paper, metal boondoggling, felt, pans plaster, clay modeling, cedar, finger painting and weaving. The next 10 years found training courses for Leadership, Forestry, Health, Firearm Safety, Archery, Pioneering, Conservation, Folk Dancing, Boating and Canoeing, Camping and Woodcraft and Outdoor Cookery. In 1953, 29 different crafts were offered testifying to the wide variety of interest. Evening programs, campfires and ceremonies are playing an important part in 4-H camp life. Other 4-H Camps operated by counties were: 4-H Club Fun in Steuben, Harris 4-H Camp in Chemung, Capital District in Rensselaer, Ulster, Erie and Sullivan. (Dates for these camps were not available.) All of the early camps were tent camps. Instructors were volunteer leaders, Club Agents and Extension Specialists from the State College at Cornell University. Within a few years the Cornell staff could no longer meet requests for such help and the State Leaders Training Camp answered the need. The first State Leaders Training Camp was held in 1930 on Cayuga Lake. The Louis Agassi Fuertes Council of the Boy Scouts of America made available their site Camp Barton. Dean of the College of Agriculture C.E. Ladd, Director of Finance, R.W. Wheeler and Professor Assisted State Leader W.J. Wright in Extension gave their services. Professor Wheeler made $400 available from the college funds to help finance the camp. In 1932 three non-4-H persons asked the privilege of attending and were accepted by Camp Director, J.A. Cope. The following year, Albert Hoefer, Assistant State 4-H Club Leader and Camp Director extended an invitation to Boy Scout Executives. The cost had been $10.00, but with the deepening depression the fee was reduced to $7.50. It was raised in 1953 to $18.00. In 1933 the food cost per meal per camper was 13.9 cents, in 1949 it had increased to 29.2 cents. Each year $500 were allocated from College funds and an additional $250 was provided from the National Rural Arts and Recreation fund. The Sears Foundation, being interested in leadership training programs, contributed funds which provided half-scholarships to more than 25 lay leaders. In 1953 adults were attending 4-H Leaders Camp from Girl Scouts, Y.W.C.A., Salvation Army, Social Welfare, Catholic Youth Association, City Youth Bureaus, Jewish Youth Work, Council of Homemakers and Indian School. The Camp had become inter-state with 10 youth leaders from 5 States in attendance. In 1938 the site for State 4-H Leaders Camp moved to 4-H Camp Letchworth currently known as 4-H Camp Bristol Hills, Canandaigua. In 1941 it moved to Tompkins County Recreation Camp and from 1949 to 1953 it was located at Hidden Valley 4-H Camp, Watkins Glen State Park. "Director John Lennox had kept abreast of camping developments during the years when no State Camp was held. He was skillful in adapting the program to current needs and trends. Director Lennox, with an increasing number of non 4-H campers (about 50%)) representing many organizations, has been most skillful in making the spirit of the camp for all youth leaders and in building morale of the campers." (There is not a definite date for the last year of Leaders Camp.) Other county 4-H camps opening were: in 1931 Bristol Hills, built with W.P.A. labor for Ontario County; in 1945 Hidden Valley for Schuyler, Tompkins and Broome Counties; Sacandaga for Warren, Montgomery, Fulton and Oneida Counties; Overlook for Franklin and St. Lawrence Counties; in 1950 Wabasso for Jefferson County; in 1951 Owahta for Cortland County; in 1962 Wyomoco for Wyoming and Monroe Counties; and in 2003 Peconic Dunes 4-H Camp through a contract with Suffolk County Department of Parks, Recreation, and Conservation. In 1953 eight Associations owned their campsite representing large investments and heavy overhead expenses. Seven counties located their camps in a State Park, often with cabins, dining hall, kitchen and a certified lifeguard. Weekly fees once as low as $130 now range from $300 to $600. With yearly budgets of $89,000 to $4491, 800, camping schedules and times vary from one county to another. Currently there are nine 4-H Camps in operation. All are coed. All of the camps have Junior Counselors who are in training to become paid staff along with paid counselors and other paid personnel. The new century brought with it a new challenge to provide learning opportunities for boys and girls that will be fun and rewarding. Programs offered are similar to the original Arts and Crafts, Archery, Conservation, Horse, Outdoor Cooking and Water Safety classes but now have Air Rifle, Astronomy, Drama, Environmental Studies, Fishing, GPS, Rocketry, Ropes Courses and Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics Fun. NYS 4-H Camps are also connecting with Cornell Faculty to pilot curriculum and support research. An example of this is the “Choose Health” Project conducted by Tim Jahn, NYS 4-H Camp Coordinator and Wendy Wolfe, Research Associate in Division of Nutritional Sciences, had a significant impact on the NYS 4-H Camp Program. The 4-H Camps active in 2016 are: 4-H Camp Bristol Hills, Dorothy P. Flint Nassau County 4-H Camp, Hidden Valley 4-H Camp, 4-H Camp Overlook, 4-H Camp Owahta, Peconic Dunes 4-H Camp, 4-H Camp Shankitunk, 4-H Camp Wabasso and 4-H Camp Wyomoco. References: "History of State Leaders Training Camp"
Camp Statistical NYS 4-H Camp Coordinators
There were about twenty-one 4-H Club Agents in 1922. They decided that they should get together to exchange ideas and discuss what their job entailed so they could better serve the youth of the State. One of the main purposes of the 4-H club Agents' Association was to promote fellowship and strengthen their position as professional workers. The organization was called the "Kid Boosters Association." Number eleven of the by-laws states: "When initiated each member shall choose a nickname. He will forever after be called by the nickname during annual meetings. If he fails to choose a name, one will be selected by acclamation. Fines shall be imposed to any member failing to call a member by his nickname.” Regular members paid dues of $1.50 and associate members were $. 75. Associate members were ex-Club Agents who were still active in 4-H Club work, Club gents-at-large and assistant Club Agents-at-large. Temporary Chairman - O. B. Trowbridge, Oswego Co. and Secretary Pro Tern - John Lennox, Delaware Co. were leaders for a group of eighteen 4-H Club Agents gathered in Willard Straight Hall at Cornell University, Ithaca on Nov. 22, 1922 for their first meeting. These charter members selected "Kid Boosters Association of New York State " as the group name. Elected to serve as officers at the 2nd meeting in December 1923 were: Captain Kid (chairman) - Rufus Stanley Vice Captain - Mildred Stevens Keeper of the Log (secretary) - H.S. Weaver At the 1923 meeting eleven additional agents were initiated into the group, a Vice-Captain and Keeper of the Chest (treasurer) positions were added.
It was a small group and they were housed in Willard Straight Hall when they came to conferences. The men were housed in the small rooms and the women in the dormitory on the third floor. The men got together in one room and held "Bull Sessions" on club work; the women no doubt did the same. The Agents felt that the exchange of ideas among themselves was as beneficial as the conferences themselves due to the difference in approach to the matter. Being new in the field, they were all in the same situation, and they wanted to help each other. They told how they did things in their own counties that could be adapted to most any other county. As time when on, a few important project committees were formed and Agents were given preference to which committee they were appointed according to the major project of the county. They worked with the college specialists in a particular field and where there wasn’t a specialist assigned as yet, their aim was to work with the college to get one if they felt there was a need. The conferences, committee meetings, and "Bull Sessions" helped to really get club work going in the counties. As new counties opened up, the Agents, who were an enthusiastic group, told others about their work and recruited many agents who would have otherwise gone into teaching or some other phases of agriculture. Throughout the years, this group has grown to a very large group and has done much to advance club work in New York State.
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