4-H Youth Development

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Jefferson County's 4-H Youth Development programs are designed to support the positive outcomes we desire for young people through increasing their personal assets and decreasing the risk factors in their lives.

4-H Youth Development programs provide opportunities for youth through a multi-faceted approach: Club programming, 4-H Camp Wabasso, ACT for Youth, Operation Military Kids, Youth Ag Education, Youth Worker and Volunteer Training, and Community Outreach education.

4-H Clubs - Perhaps the single most recognized facet of the 4-H Youth Development program, a 4-H club is an organized group with geographic or subject matter boundaries at the community, neighborhood or school level, where youth participate in projects and activities year- round. Kids between the ages of 5 and 19 can participate in a community club or council, a family club, or as an independent member.

Military 4-H Clubs - 4-H clubs provide a "slice of home" and consistency for military youth, who must handle the difficulty of parents being deployed for long periods of time and/or who must move frequently.

After-School Programs - Cornell Cooperative Extension of Jefferson County is working in two North Country school districts to provide after-school programming to students.

• The Advantage After-school Program, implemented in the LaFargeville School District, provides after-school academic, social, and developmental activities for children in grades 2 through 8.

• The new Theresa Advantage After-school Program, to be implemented in the Theresa School District in September 2008, provides after-school academic, social, and developmental activities for children in grades K through 3.

• The Copenhagen Central School STARS Program is a partnership between the school district and Cornell Cooperative Extension.

ACT - Assets Coming Together for Youth is a youth development program striving to build assets for youth in Jefferson County. ACT creates youth and adult partnerships that assess community resources for youth and address the needs of youth in their community. ACT for youth is funded by the NYS Dept. of Health.

Operation Military Kids is a two-part program designed to provide support for children of Reserve and National Guard families.

    Part 1: Educating communities and youth workers about the culture of military families, particularly those facing a deployment.

Part 2: Providing resources, assistance, and support to military families and children affected by the global War of Terror.

4-H Camp Wabasso - Since 1925, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Jefferson County has coordinated a summer residential camping program. It has been located on Millsite Lake in the Town of Theresa since 1950. The 4-H camping program addresses the developmental needs of campers by providing opportunities for social, personal and educational growth within the context of the natural environment. Research has proven that a week at residential camp is equivalent to participation in an organized club for one year. For more information about 4-H Camp Wabasso, click here.

Youth Ag Programs - The Youth Agricultural Education program helps young people gain a greater awareness of the food and fiber system, and its role in the economy and society. Youth ag programming includes the Horse and Dairy Bowls, school enrichment programs such as Ag Extravaganza, tractor and farm safety courses, and animal exhibitions at the fair.


For more information contact:

ACT for Youth:

Stephanie Graf, Acting Coordinator

sag58@cornell.edu • 788-8450, ext. 251

Lyle Walker, Coordinator (on leave of absence)

lew29@cornell.edu • 788-8450, ext.250

Cynthia Barker, Educator

788-8450, ext. 245

Debbie Ahlheim, Secretary

dra27@cornell.edu • 788-8450, ext. 222

4-H Camp Wabasso:

Jim Gwise, Director

jgg22@cornell.edu  • 788-8450, ext. 242

Kristen Dodge, Secretary

kmd35@cornell.edu • 788-8450, ext. 254

4-H Animal Science:

Matt Greene, Educator

mpg6@cornell.edu •  788-8450 ext. 247

4-H Club and Leader Support:

Holly Sakowich, Educator

hrs54@cornell.edu •  788-8450, ext. 229

Karen Soule, Educator

kes68@cornell.edu •  788-8450, ext. 269

4-H Youth Development:

Stephanie Graf, Team Leader

sag58@cornell.edu • 788-8450, ext. 251

Jerilynn Sharrott, Secretary

jas383@cornell.edu • 788-8450, ext. 223

Operation Military Kids:

Kristy Urdiano, Educator

klu3@cornell.edu • 788-8450, ext. 260

School Programs:

John Kunz, Coordinator, LaFargeville Advantage

jtk32@cornell.edu • 788-8450, ext. 250

Linda Willmert, Secretary

lsw11@cornell.edu • 788-8450, ext. 257

Tom Wojcikowski, Coordinator, Copenhagen STARS

tdw26@cornell.edu • 788-8450, ext. 246

USDA 4-H Curriculum Specialist:

Kelly Oram

kmo3@cornell.edu • 788-8450, ext. 232