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Involving Millennials. Susan Gamble , Extension Assistant Professor Zona Hutson, Extension Assistant Professor 2008 CYFAR Conference. Learning Outcomes:. Who Millennial teens are and how to make the most of their talents Recruit so that the experience is beneficial to all
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Involving Millennials Susan Gamble , Extension Assistant Professor Zona Hutson, Extension Assistant Professor 2008 CYFAR Conference
Learning Outcomes: • Who Millennial teens are and how to make the most of their talents • Recruit so that the experience is beneficial to all • Motivate, guide and support teen volunteers • Identify the importance of guided reflection
Energy Express Energy Express is a six-week AmeriCorps summer program promoting the school success of children living in low-income communities across West Virginia by: • Providing summer learning experiences focused on reading • Serving nutritious family-style meals • Engaging college students as AmeriCorps members • Developing strong partnerships
Energy Express--2007 • 78 sites across West Virginia • 512 college student AmeriCorps members • 2,900 Children served • 4,448Volunteers • 65, 998Hours of service • 2,621 Youth Volunteers
Definition of a Generation A group of people who are programmed at about the same time. (Source: Howe and Strauss,2000. Millennials Rising.) Consider: • Common experiences • Media messages, school systems values, parenting • Lots of generalizations • Use of information to examine ourselves
Millennials (1981-2002) • Special • Well Looked After • Conventional • Confident • Team Oriented • Pressured • Achieving • Techno-Savvy • Immediate (Source: Howe and Strauss,2000. Millennials Rising.)
Why teens volunteer? • Service ethic • Working with others • Work experience • Fill a void
Recruitment • Parents • Credibility/Reputation • One to One • Existing agencies/organizations • Mass media
Recruitment Service considerations: Age appropriate Teens’ motivation Short term Close to home
Recruitment Websites • DoSomething.org • Idealist.org • 4-HUSA.org • VolunteerWV.org • TakingITglobal.org • iearn.org • Youthnoise.com
Training • Provide orientation to service • Be concrete • Outline what is/is not appropriate • Confidentiality • Need time to practice • Clear goals
Youth Development—4-H Essential Elements • Belonging • Mastery • Independence • Generosity (Source: Cathann Kress, National 4-H Headquarters, CSREES, USDA)
Belonging • Positive relationships • Inclusive environment • Safe environment
Mastery • Engagement in learning • Opportunity for mastery
Independence • Opportunity to see oneself in the future • Opportunity for self determination
Generosity • Opportunity to value and practice service for others
Reflection Learning from experience by: • Observing • Discussing • Analyzing • Putting analysis into action (Source: Eyler, J. 1996. A Practitioner’s Guide to Reflection in Service Learning)
Why Reflect? • To connect service experience with educational outcomes • To examine critical issues • To enhance civic skills and responsibility • To connect personal relevance to the situation (Source: WVU Center for Civic Engagement)
Reflection Activities • Comic strip yarn web • Crossword puzzle • Graffiti wall • Beach ball • Teen Space
Evaluation • 1-2 New things you learned? • 1-2 Things you plan to take back and implement? • On a scale of 1 to 5 how effective was this session?