Knowledge Bank

A 4-H SPIN club is a special interest, short-term club where five or more young people learn about a topic of interest in an already existing program such as an after-school program, a recreation center, etc. SPIN clubs are designed to be educational, but in a fun way. SPIN clubs can be held after school or in the summer. Franklin County 4-H SPIN clubs, in particular, provide an opportunity for new American and/or urban youth to experience some of the benefits that the 4-H community club program has to offer, but in a reduced time frame. A unique partnership was developed between Franklin County 4-H, agriculture and natural resources, family and consumer sciences personnel, and Franklin County OSU Extension Master Gardener Volunteers to bring an "In the Garden" SPIN club to six nonprofits within Franklin County during the past two summers. For eight weeks, one hour a week, Franklin County Master Gardener volunteers taught a curriculum developed by Franklin County educators that involved various aspects of gardening in a fun, educational way. The overall theme of the program was garden education, health and wellness, nutrition education, and basic garden education, all-well researched benefits of youth gardening. The garden was used as a context for learning by the trained Master Gardener volunteers using the Franklin County curriculum. Program materials were provided for free, although each site was required to have a garden of some sort for the children to use. The second year of the program, site personnel were required to attend a meeting in advance to network with their Master Gardener Volunteers and to learn more about the program and the requirements for participation. In the second year, selected sites and site personnel represented a YMCA, a Boys and Girls Club via a food bank, and a homeless families organization. The first year of the program (2016) was a pilot year to determine best practices for the club. After extensive evaluation which included the Master Gardener Volunteers who conducted the teaching, the program and curriculum were revised and presented again the second year of the program (2017). Alternate second-year activities were also created for programs that had youth participants continuing into subsequent years. One of the 4-H SPIN club sites has a partnership with African youth and an African delegation, and so African produce was grown in the garden. Some unique challenges exist with the 4-H SPIN club, such as securing Ohio State-approved volunteers, introducing 4-H to members who have had no experience with it, locating a site where a consistent group of children can attend the SPIN club on a regular basis, managing sites, and more. All aspects of the Franklin County "In the Garden SPIN Club" will be addressed by Extension personnel involved in the process, Master Gardener Volunteers and a site host. The curriculum will be offered, if requested by participants, via email to defray printing costs.

AUTHOR AFFILIATION: Sue Hogan, The Ohio State University Extension Educator, 4-H Youth Development, Franklin County, hogan.239@osu.edu (Corresponding Author); Beth Boomershine, The Ohio State University Extension Educator, 4-H Youth Development, Franklin County; Marilyn Rabe, The Ohio State University Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Franklin County.