Coming from all parts of the state, 672 elementary and middle school students from 51 schools had the opportunity to attend the third annual “Step Up and Lead” conference series. A joint effort of Georgia 4-H and the Georgia Association of Elementary and Middle School Principals, “Step Up and Lead” conferences focus on cultivating leadership skills in elementary and middle school students. With conferences held at three University of Georgia 4-H centers in Hampton, Tifton, and Eatonton in March, youth from all parts of the state were able to participate in interactive activities designed by youth development professionals. |
“Step Up and Lead” Conferences feature motivational speakers and exciting, interactive workshops. Workshops are designed to engage and empower youth in future leadership initiatives. The workshops are divided into three sessions: Building Communication Skills, Team Building and Cooperation, and Planning and Organizing.
Specifically, in the 1st session: Building Communication Skills, students picked their favorite snack and wrote a brief speech about why others should eat that snack. Then they came to the front of the group to give their presentation. “I learned a lot about public speaking and how you should speak loud and make eye contact,” one student said.
In the 2nd session entitled Team Building and Cooperation, students were challenged to make it under a spinning jump rope as a team without anyone getting hit or the were asked to use their bodies to make the formation of various alphabet letters as a group. “I learned how to talk to my classmates and share ideas with them” another student said.
The 3rd and final session, Planning and Organizing, placed students in groups again and asked them to plan a special event using a brain storming circle chart. Youth planned locations, costs, food, and invitations for mock weddings, trips to Vegas, and camp programs with their peers. “I saw how a map of ideas can help you reach a goal like an atlas can help you reach a place,” remarked one participant.
The conference series had over 600 youth participants and over 100 adult attendees statewide. The March 6th conference at Fortson 4-H Center in Hampton hosted 121 youth and 14 adult leaders, March 9th’s UGA Tifton Conference Center held 204 youth and 48 adults, and finally Eatonton’s conference at Rock Eagle 4-H Center facilitated 347 youth and 59 adult leaders.
Georgia 4-H is part of the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension program and exists to assist youth in acquiring knowledge, developing life skills, and forming attitudes that will enable them to become self-directing, productive, and contributing members of society. The Georgia Association of Elementary School Principals (GAESP) and Georgia Association of Middle School Principals (GAMSP) exist as a part of the Georgia Association of Educational Leaders (GAEL), which provides unity of school leadership groups in Georgia.
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2010 Spring Step Up & Lead Conference
2011 Spring Step Up & Lead Conference
2011 Fall Step Up & Lead Conference
2012 Spring Step Up & Lead Conference
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"My students learned a lot about the importance of working as a team."
"This has been wonderful!"
"The children came up with some great ideas that could be implemented within the schools."
"The team building exercises were very helpful. They walked away feeling confident in the classmates and themselves."
"I really feel like just giving them a chance to think about what it really means to lead is incredibly powerful."
"I hope it will give them more confidence in their leadership abilities. I see the potential it has to have an impact on them as they volunteer in our community."
"It seemed to have made my students "think". They really seemed to grasp what leadership is."
"This conference allowed our students to build and practice leadership skills in a safe, encouraging environment." |
