4-H SET activities and programs are delivered in an environment that promotes positive youth development.  Positive Youth Development (PYD) builds on young peoples’ strengths and assets. PYD occurs from an intentional process that promotes positive outcomes for young people by providing opportunities, choices, caring relationships, and the support necessary for youth to fully participate in families and communities. PYD occurs in families, peer groups, schools, neighborhoods and communities.

Research into the science of learning suggests that a community-centered environment can play a large role in youth education.  Learning is enhanced when adults place value on learning, on the search for understanding, and create a safe place for youth to experiment and make mistakes.  

High-quality 4-H SET programming doesn’t only provide valuable benefits in SET content knowledge and process understanding, but also in the form of leadership development, life skills development, and civic development.  Providing 4-H SET learning experiences within a positive youth development framework is critical in helping youth learn, grow, and contribute to their communities.  More information on PYD's connection to 4-H SET is available at http://www.ca4h.org/SET/documents/CA4HSET-PYD.pdf

4-H National Headquarters promotes the Essential Elements of Positive Youth Development which consist of the four elements:

• Caring Relationships (Belonging): All youth need a caring, supportive relationship in their lives.
• Constructive Learning Experiences (Mastery): 4-H offers opportunities to take on new challenges and learn new skills.
• Leadership Opportunities (Independence): Creating opportunities for youth to develop skills and confidence for leadership and self-discipline.
• Service to Communities (Generosity): 4-H helps youth focus on developing concern for others and taking action to demonstrate that concern.

The U.S. is at pivotal point in its history. Despite our country's rich legacy of innovation and global contributions, we face declining proficiencies and workforce shortages in science, engineering, and technology fields.  Nationwide only 18% of high school seniors are considered proficient in science while only approximately 15% of today's college graduates earn degrees in science and engineering.  Read more about America's Critical Need for more Scientists and Engineers.

The goal of the 4-H SET Initiative is to address America's critical need for more scientists and engineers by engaging 150,000 youth by 2013. 4-H SET activities will improve SET skills, knowledge and awareness among youth. Through engagement in 4-H SET activities, youth will apply SET learning to all areas of their life, adopting and using new methods of approaching problems. Ultimately, the goal of the 4-H SET Initiative is to increase the number of youth pursuing education and careers in science, engineering and technology.

4-H SET activities and projects combine non-formal education with hands-on, inquiry-based learning in a positive
youth development context to engage youth in improving their SET knowledge, skills and abilities. 4-H SET activities and
projects combine the strengths of the 4-H Youth Development Program’s non-formal experiential-based delivery modes
and strong youth-adult partnerships to address SET content as defined by the National Science Education Standards.

The 4-H SET approach is used in many settings, with many youth, and with many project topics.  4-H SET includes using current 4-H projects presented in a different way, adding new project subject matter, and focusing on certain abilities or skills not covered before.

The 4-H SET initiative is providing many new ways to help 4-H grow and expand in our counties, state, and country. The 4-H SET initiative is a truly a useful tool and approach for us to use to let others see 4-H in a different light.  The 4-H SET approach may seem different and be a teaching method than many of us are not accustomed to using. It may take some practice for us to learn how to use this approach.

4-H SET Overview (2-page) (Word) (PDF)

4-H SET Support Documents (Word) (PDF) - Provides more information on each of the 4-H SET components highlighted below.

	NATIONAL SCIENCE EDUCATION STANDARDS The National Science Education Standards present a vision of a scientifically literate populace. Using a grade-level approach, they outline what students need to know, understand, and be able to do to be scientifically literate.   The Standards hold to the principles that science is for all youth and learning science is an active process.  Learn more (Word) (PDF) National Science Education Standards
	SET CONTENT understanding and SET ABILITIES Both SET content and abilities (processes) are critical to increase SET literacy.  SET abilities unify disciplines and provide youth with powerful ideas to help them understand the natural world. Learn more (Word) (PDF) SET Programming in the Context of 4-H Youth Development (PDF)
	EXPERIENTIAL and INQUIRY Learning Experiential learning (EL) is based on the idea that experience matters in the learning process.  Through concrete learning experiences, youth are encouraged to think, explore, question, and make decisions.  In inquiry-based learning, youth build understanding through active exploration and questioning. Learn more (Word) (PDF) UC 4-H Experiential Learning Website An Inquiry Primer by Alan Colburn (PDF) Effective Questioning Strategies (PDF)
	POSITIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT context Positive youth development occurs from an intentional process that provides youth opportunities to belong, learn new skills, experience independence and develop concern for others.  Contextualizing SET learning experiences within a positive youth development framework is critical in helping youth learn, grow, and contribute to their communities. Learn more (Word) (PDF) UC 4-H Positive Youth Development Overview
	MENTORING AND PARTNERING with youth Learning experiences are led by trained, caring adult staff and volunteers acting as mentors, coaches, facilitators and co-learners who operate from a perspective that youth as partners and resources in their own development.
	EXTENDED LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES In-depth, long-term projects will have a greater impact on learners.  SET programs should consider the frequency and duration needed to increase youth knowledge, skills and attitudes.

Effective Education Requires Good Educators.  Good educators create environments in which they and their youth work together as active learners.   Professional development opportunities to help prepare 4-H adult volunteers, teens and staff to incorporate science, engineering, and technology into 4-H projects and activities. These professional development experiences assist in increasing the knowledge, skills, competencies, and confidence levels of adult volunteers, teens and staff to provide hands-on, experimentally-based 4-H SET learning experiences. Professional development events are listed in the SET Updates.

4-H staff and volunteers develop, design, and deliver 4-H SET programs to youth in diverse settings and locations that have current, accurate content and are contextually valid. Through this program development and design strategy, 4-H volunteers and staff provide opportunities for youth to increase knowledge, skills, and competencies and improve their attitudes about science, engineering, and technology.  Each county has 4-H programming in club, camp, afterschool, in-school and other settings. Through each of these delivery modes, new youth are engaged in learning science, engineering and technology.

A wide variety of 4-H SET curricula that support the National Science Education Standards (NSES) have been identified, adapted/developed, and implemented. By working with 4-H volunteers and staff, land-grant college and university faculty, 4-H SET content experts, and other partners the 4-H program infuses new, exciting and innovative materials to reach new audiences and enhance the 4-H experience.  An online curriculum database is available with identified SET-Ready electronic curricula.  Educators may download these packages to use in a variety of settings. Link to Curriculum Resources.   Link to Electronic 4-H SET Curriculum Library.

• National 4-H Council - One Million New Scientists. One Million New Ideas.™
• History of 4-H science and the SET Initative
• California 4-H SET 5-Year Plan (Word) (PDF)
• Link to other 4-H SET Resources

The 4-H SET program partners and collaborates with many other youth organizations, schools, institutions of higher education, and others. Link to Partnerships & Collaborators

• Link to the National 4-H Brand Network
• California 4-H SET Photograph Gallery

California 4-H SET Leadership Team