New University Study: 4-H'ers Excel Beyond Peers

CHEVY CHASE, Md., Oct. 7 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, hundreds of thousands of young people across the nation will simultaneously create biofuel. As part of 4-H National Youth Science Day(TM), middle-school-aged youth will participate in Biofuel Blast, the 2009 National Science Experiment, which teaches how cellulose and sugars in plants - such as switchgrass, sorghum corn and algae - can be converted into fuel. Following the experiment, the young participants will lead local discussions about alternative energy and join their voices with those involved in the national energy debate.

Created to combat a shortage of American young people pursuing science college majors and careers, 4-H National Youth Science Day seeks to spark an early youth interest and leadership in science. 4-H year-round, out-of-school programming is developed by the nation's 106 land-grant colleges and universities and is implemented through the 3,100 local Cooperative Extension offices across the nation. Currently, more than five million young people across the nation participate in 4-H science, engineering and technology programming in topics as varied as robotics, rocketry, wind power, GPS mapping, agricultural science, film making, water quality and water conservation. And, through the One Million New Scientists, One Million New Ideas(TM) campaign, 4-H has undertaken a bold goal of engaging one million additional young people in science, engineering and technology programming by 2013.

"It has been shown that engaging youth in scientific exploration early sparks a lasting interest in the sciences," said Donald T. Floyd, Jr., National 4-H Council president and CEO. "Whether it's 4-H youth in Michigan creating biodiesel to power their school buses, 4-H'ers in Indiana building robots for their local police station or in California where 4-H youth are increasing the health of local streams, rivers and the ocean through water testing and conservation projects - when young people are given the opportunity to learn and take a leadership role in their community, it inspires confidence and a lifetime of achievement."

In fact, now there's proof of 4-H's positive impact on youth. Youth development scholar, Dr. Richard Lerner, worked with researchers at the Institute for Applied Research in Youth Development at Tufts University to conduct The 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development. The longitudinal study found that, when compared to other youth, young people involved in 4-H are:

• Nearly two times more likely to get better grades in school;
• Nearly two times more likely to plan to go to college;
• 41 percent less likely to engage in risky behaviors; and
• 25 percent more likely to positively contribute to their families and communities.
  

Overall, the study found that the advantages of 4-H participation include higher educational achievement and higher motivation for future education. In addition, youth in 4-H are more civically active and make more community and civic contributions than youth in other out-of-school activities.

On 4-H National Youth Science Day, six million 4-H youth and 514,000 volunteers nationwide will join with academics from the land-grant colleges and universities to lead parents, teachers, students, and other youth organizations in Biofuel Blast. For more than 100 years, 4-H has lead out-of-school science education through the delivery of robust, university research-based science curriculum and exciting rallying initiatives like 4-H National Youth Science Day. Through their membership and participation, today's 4-H youth will gain the skills and scientific interest necessary to help America maintain its competitive edge in the global marketplace.

About 4-H National Youth Science Day:

4-H National Youth Science Day takes place every year during National 4-H Week (October 4th through the 10th). In 2008, 4-H National Youth Science Day kicked off its inaugural year by partnering with Steve Spangler to showcase Helpful Hydrogels - an experiment that uses scientific principles to teach youth across the nation about water conservation. Youth from every state in the nation tested the effectiveness of water absorbing polymers in an easy-to-administer soil and water experiment followed by sharing their results online and engaging youth around the country in a dialogue about important environmental issues.

This year's National Science Experiment - Biofuel Blast - was developed in conjunction with the University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension and Wisconsin 4-H with generous sponsor support provided by John Deere and DuPont. For more information on 4-H National Youth Science Day, please visit www.4-H.org/NYSD.

About the 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development:

The 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development is a longitudinal study which began in 2001, through the support of National 4-H Council. Youth development scholar, Dr. Richard Lerner, worked with researchers at the Institute for Applied Research in Youth Development at Tufts University to conduct the study. The 4,701 adolescents surveyed are racially and geographically diverse representing 34 states in the nation. Youth are measured in "waves" across time which compared those that participate in 4-H to those that do not. The study is currently in wave six. For more information about the study or to download a PDF copy, go to http://4-h.org/d/Pages/Layouts/GroupPageedc5.html

About 4-H:

4-H is a community of six million young people across America learning leadership, citizenship, and life skills. National 4-H Council is the private sector, non-profit partner of National 4-H Headquarters at USDA. 4-H programs are implemented by the 106 Land-Grant Universities and the Cooperative Extension System through their 3,100 local Extension offices in every county across the country. Learn more about 4-H at www.4-H.org.

SOURCE National 4-H Council