The New Mexico State University Cooperative Extension Service New Mexico 4-H program and Collet Park Elementary School in Albuquerque formed a partnership in 2016 to help elementary school students succeed. The result was the 4-H Fridays program, which brought experiential learning into the classroom through the 4-H youth development program.
The 4-H Fridays program created by Brittany Sonntag, NMSU Extension Bernalillo County 4-H agent, and Stephani Treadwell, Collet Park principal, was honored with a Western Extension Directors Association award for Excellence in Extension Programming, Multidisciplinary Team, in June.
“We are proud of the work that Brittany and her team have done to elevate new ideas for reaching diverse audiences. As an urban Extension agent, it is critical that she looks at traditional programming differently and adapts to meet the needs of New Mexicans in Bernalillo County,” said Jon Boren, NMSU College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences associate dean and director of the Cooperative Extension Service. “The partnership she has built with Collet Park Elementary School is an example of how Extension is changing the lives of New Mexicans every day.”
“My favorite part of this program is getting to bring 4-H to youth who would not be able to participate in the program otherwise,” Sonntag said.” It has been a great way to overcome barriers of participation, such as lack of transportation, cost of materials, and parents working during program hours. It is helping youth overcome the academic divide while learning everyday life skills.”
After accepting the team award, Sonntag discussed the 4-H Fridays program with Extension directors at the WEDA meeting and shared information about replicating the program in other states.
“4-H in our school has been an eye opener for me, and I hope others will create their own version for their schools,” Treadwell said. “My favorite aspect of 4-H is when the children realize that the reading, math and science skills from their classroom are applied when they work on their projects. We remember skills when we use them for something we value.”
In recent years, 4-H was added as a special area subject, like art, music or physical education, giving Collet Park students two hours of 4-H per week.
New to the program for the upcoming year, Collet Park students will be setting goals for themselves in the four life skills categories, head, heart, hand, health, which are the four Hs in 4-H.
“Life skills are an important part of being a successful adult,” Treadwell said. “We feel that life skills are as important as experiential learning in the 4-H program.”
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CUTLINE: New Mexico State University Cooperative Extension Service Bernalillo County 4-H Agent Brittany Sonntag (right) and Extension Associate Director Allen Malone celebrate the Western Extension Directors Association award for the 4-H Fridays program. Sonntag and Collet Park Principal Stephani Treadwell were honored with an Excellence in Extension Programming award. (Courtesy photo)