Tag: Youth Development

From the classroom to global impact: Florida Youth Institute students tackle complex international challenges

by Jamie Groh
July 23, 2026

While many teenagers spend their summer focused on vacations, jobs or sports, a group of high school students is researching solutions to hunger, food insecurity and other complex global challenges. Through the Florida Youth Institute ... READ MORE

Category: Blog Community, UF/IFAS
Tags: Agricultural Education, Agricultural Sciences, Agriculture Careers, Blog Community, CALS, College Of Agricultural And Life Sciences, Experiential Learning, Featured, Florida Teacher Institute, Florida Youth Institute, Food Insecurity, Food Security, Global Challenges, Global Food Systems, High School Students, Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, Life Sciences Education, STEM Education, Student Research, UF CALS, UF-IFAS, University Of Florida, World Food Prize Foundation, Youth Development, Youth Leadership

Clucking Chickens and Confident Kids: Florida 4-H’s Barnyard Challengers Program

by Keith Newman
May 27, 2026

What happens when you combine hands-on learning, supportive mentorship, and a few clucking chickens? You get Barnyard Challengers, a unique 4‑H program that opens doors for youth of all abilities to experience agriculture in a meaningful ... READ MORE

Category:
Tags: 4-H, Agriculture, Brevard County 4-H, Youth Development

Media Alert: Wakulla County 4-H Youth to Host Panel of Experts in Drug Prevention

by Jamie Groh
May 12, 2026

What: Teen Town Hall: Prevention before Intervention panel discussion and Q&A session about substance abuse prevention. As part of the “Prevention Before Intervention” campaign, 4-H youth leaders of Wakulla County are hosting a panel ... READ MORE

Category: 4-H & Youth, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Community Engagement, Drug Prevention, Expert Panel, Florida 4-H, Substance Abuse Prevention, Teen Health, UF/IFAS Extension, Wakulla County, Youth Development, Youth Leadership

Living Stories: Foundations of Youth Development

by Jessica Alday
April 8, 2026

It's the Monday after Spring Break, and while many students may choose to extend their vacation, the students in Dr. Kate Fletcher's Foundations of Youth Development course (FYC3201) are ready for their morning class. Students greet each ... READ MORE

Category: Professional Development, UF/IFAS Teaching, Work & Life
Tags: Classroom Snapshots, Department Of Family Youth And Community Sciences, FYC3201, FYCS, Service Learning, Youth Development

Brevard County 4-H Fair & Market Poultry Auction

by Gayle Whitworth
March 18, 2026

When and Where Join Brevard County 4-H for our annual 4-H Fair & Market Poultry Auction on April 17-18th, 2026. The UF/IFAS Extension Brevard County office in Cocoa will be hosting the fair at 3695 Lake Drive, Cocoa, FL 32926. This event ... READ MORE

Category: 4-H & Youth, Livestock
Tags: 4-H, 4-H Fair, Life Skills, Youth Development

Tales from UF in Ireland: Two Students Share Their Experience

by Jessica Alday
March 17, 2026

On the river between Lough Corrib and Galway Bay lies the city of Galway, Ireland. Known for its colorful buildings and whimsical artists, every year, Galway hosts a cohort of students passionate about service-learning through UF in Galway & ... READ MORE

Category: Community Volunteers, UF/IFAS Teaching
Tags: Department Of Family Youth And Community Sciences, FYCS, Service Learning, Study Abroad, UF In Ireland, Youth Development

This prevention science researcher studies youth right alongside them

by Jessica Alday
February 12, 2026

Erin Vines is a doctoral candidate in the Youth Development and Family Science (YDFS) program at the UF/IFAS Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences (FYCS). She conducts research on youth and families experiencing adversity. She focuses ... READ MORE

Category: Health & Nutrition, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Department Of Family Youth And Community Sciences, Parental Incarceration, Prevention Science, Youth Development, Youth Development And Family Sciences, Youth Participatory Action Research

A Prevention Scientist’s Journey to Address Teens’ Mental Health Online

by Jessica Alday
February 4, 2026

Josie Bryan is a Doctoral Candidate in Youth Development and Family Sciences (YDFS) in the UF/IFAS Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences (FYCS). She conducts prevention science research that tries to understand teens' mental health ... READ MORE

Category: Health & Nutrition, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Department Of Family Youth And Community Sciences, Digital Media, Mental Health, Prevention Science, Social Media, Youth Development, Youth Development And Family Sciences

What is a Nassau County 4-H member?

by Kelsey Irvine
January 9, 2026

Here in Nassau County 4-H, we do more than do “things”. We create intentional and impactful programs for our county’s youth through cooperative opportunities, events, contests, clubs, and more. Being a member here means you’re part ... READ MORE

Category: 4-H & Youth, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: 4-H, 4-H Member, 4-H Memberships, Clubs, Nassau County, Nassau County 4-H, Youth, Youth Development

Manners Matter: A Parent’s Guide to Raising Kind Kids

by Gayle Whitworth
October 1, 2025

When I was a child, and even as I grew into adulthood, my mom would always say, “Mind your manners” as I headed out the door. It was her gentle way of reminding me to represent myself well, to be respectful, and to make good choices. She ... READ MORE

Category: 4-H & Youth, , Relationships & Family, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: 4-H, Brevard County, Youth, Youth Development

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