CourseCourse:LFS350/Projects/F2020/4HUrbanArgiculture

Project Title

Urban Accessibility of Agriculture Education through 4-H

Organization Name

4-H BC

Related Course Concepts

Asset based community development, Cultural identities

Organization Information

Organization Name

4-H BC

Mission and Vision of Organization

Mission: 4-H British Columbia inspires and educates, builds awareness of agriculture and food production, and develops skills to help youth reach their full potential.

Vision: Young people who are empowered leaders with the skills to make positive changes in all communities across British Columbia.

Guiding Principles + Values

4-H Motto: Learn to do by Doing 4-H Pledge: I pledge, My Head to clearer thinking My Heart to greater loyalty My Hands to larger service My Health to better living For my club, my community, my country and my world

4-H Canada's Leadership Development Pillars: Community Engagement & Communications Science & Technology Environment & Healthy Living Sustainable Agriculture & Food Security

Contact Information

• ·       Primary Contact Person(s): Marika Laird, Jarrett Chung-Smith ·       Email: [[1]], Jarrett.ChungSmith@gov.bc.ca ·       Phone: 778-666-0596, 778-943-6947 ·       Address: 1767 Angus Campbell Rd. Abbotsford BC V3G 2M3 ·       Website: https://www.4hbc.ca/

Preferred Method of Contact

• Best method(s) to contact: Email
• Best day(s) to contact:Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays
• Best time(s) to contact: Mornings, Afternoons

Preferred Platform(s) for Remote Collaboration

• Email, Phone, Skype, Zoom
• No

Context: What challenge or issue does the project aim to address?

4-H is an international youth development organization with its roots in agriculture. There are over 7 million youth involved in 4-H in 70 countries worldwide. 4-H has a long history in BC helping youth become strong community leaders who are aware of agriculture and career opportunities in the agri-food sector. 4-H BC currently has 2200 youth members participating in around 135 community based 4-H clubs across the Province. There are approximately 500 volunteers that run 4-H clubs at the community level. 4-H is very strong in rural communities in BC but the opportunity to participate is very limited in urban and suburban BC communities. We hope to explore how asset-based development can be used to grow agriculture education opportunities through 4-H for urban and suburban BC youth.

Main Project Activities

• Students will learn about 4-H BC history, structure, and operations through interviews with staff, volunteers and youth
• Students will research urban 4-H program models from outside BC

Expected Project Deliverable(s)

We would anticipate an options paper at the end of the project outlining some suggested approaches to help make agriculture education through 4-H more accessible to urban and suburban BC youth.

Intended Project Outcome

4-H BC provincial leadership, both staff and volunteers, have a better understanding of steps they could take to help make agriculture education programming more accessible to urban and suburban youth

Student Assets and Skills (preferred or required)

• Proficiency using web conferencing software (Zoom or Skype)
• Interest in education and youth work
• Curiosity and creativity

Student Assets and Skills (to be developed through the project)

• Interview and/or focus group facilitation
• Research
• Creative thinking
• Report writing

Are there any mandatory attendance dates (e.g. special event)?

• No - possible online learning opportunity October 17th but not mandatory

Is a criminal record search (CRS) required?

No

Preferred Days of Week and Hours

• Initial meetings with staff between 9:00am and 4:00pm Monday to Friday
• Subsequent interviews with volunteers and stakeholders may need to be in the evening or on the weekend

Related Community Service Opportunities for Students

The project will be primarily researched-based due to COVID restrictions to fall, but we may be able to arrange an opportunity for the students to present to a group of youth or volunteers online later in the semester.

Required Reading

Project/Partner Orientation Materials

• Students should review these materials prior to the first partner meeting:
  • Please watch this short video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bV584A-qr0w
  •  Visit the 4-H BC website: https://www.4hbc.ca/

Additional Project/Partner Orientation Materials

Staff will arrange a video conference orientation session for September 16^th.

Expected Outcomes

Learning Outcomes

I hope students will learn about...

• youth development and agriculture education

I think students will come to appreciate...

• the diversity of bc communities, rural, urban and suburban

Through this project, students will develop...

• creative thinking around how asset based development can help more bc youth and communities benefit from 4-H

How does the student project contribute to your organization's mission and long-term vision?

• 4-H BC is interested in providing service to more youth and communities around the province and in increasing the diversity of our membership. This project would be a helpful first step in considering options for increasing our reach in communities where we currently have low or no engagement.

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