Positive Youth Development
Youth Share Traditional Activities Through 4-H
Bristol Bay 4-H delivered cultural and traditional Yup’ik activities to 1,301 individuals
                                          in seven remote communities in 2024 through a UAF educator, who is also a Curyung
                                          tribal member. Because of the quality of the activities and education Bristol Bay
                                          4-H provides, communities and classes seek out 4-H programs in which youth gain confidence
                                          and leadership skills, and form positive relationships.
Youth Lead Charge to Create 91ÊÓÆµ State 4-H Day
The 91ÊÓÆµ 4-H Youth in Governance program allowed 91ÊÓÆµ youth to draft and follow
                                          House Bill 337 — designating the first Wednesday of October as 91ÊÓÆµ State 4-H Day
                                          — through the legislative process. This bill, which Gov. Mike Dunleavy signed into
                                          law on Aug. 24, 2024, recognizes 4-H and the achievements of its youth. Engaging youth
                                          in local government helps develop the next generation of empowered, educated and invested
                                          citizens.
Youth Learn Skills and Contribute to Local Food Availability
Each year, 91ÊÓÆµ 4-H youth raise livestock to sell at auctions held across the state.
                                          Youth engage potential buyers and follow up post-sale, raising thousands of dollars
                                          for youth projects and thousands of pounds of beef, pork, yak and lamb for local 91ÊÓÆµ
                                          markets.
4-H Clubs Give Youth Experiential Learning Opportunities
Through hands-on experiential education and leadership opportunities, the Sitka Spruce
                                          Tips 4-H Club connects youth to their environment while they learn skills from hiking
                                          to food harvesting and preservation. In 2024, participants hiked many of the area’s
                                          trails. They finished the season with a backpacking trip — the first for all participants
                                          — where they practiced teamwork, made new memories and friends, and gained outdoor
                                          experience.
