4-H STARR Conference 2011

225 teens and adults from 35 counties across NYS participated in the 2011 4-H STARR (State Teen Action Representative Retreat) conference April 15-17. The conference is an annual event organized by a planning committee made up of 4-H'ers, volunteers and staff. The retreat is packed with workshops and activities, with a strong emphasis on leadership opportunities, science enrichment, and collaborative team work in community service.
In 2011, as Cornell Cooperative Extension celebrates their centennial year, the conference emphasized the depth and breadth of the history of Cornell Cooperative Extension in communities. Workshops focused on renewable energy, geospatial science, rocketry, youth growing food in communities, entomology, textiles and indigo dye, leadership concepts, games with a purpose, making "how-to" videos related to science, creating video games...and more. In addition to the campus connections, the 4-H STARR conference stresses youth/adult partnerships for effective decision-making and problem-solving. Involvement with the retreat is both empowering and rewarding for both teens and adults alike. The essence of STARR is to further the development of life skills.
Participants also committed time to community service throughout the weekend event -- making benches for the Youth Building at the NYS Fair, sewing stuff-pillows for children and families in need, painting backdrops for 4-H events and donating new toys for children in need.
The event is supported by the NYS 4-H Foundation. NYS 4-H Youth Development, the youth serving organization of Cornell Cooperative Extension, enriches the lives of youth and families across New York State.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• 4-H
• community
• service
• leadership
• youth
• adult
• partnerships
• skills
• STEM