Facilitating Youth Sparks
“A foundational understanding has been established that, when youth have sparks and a thriving orientation that includes relationship support for the development of their sparks, numerous developmental and social benefits are experienced, both by the young people and by the contexts they inhabit” Scales, Redmond, and Benson (2023).
This session will introduce participants to the concept of youth sparks, which is one of the three critical aspects of a high-quality developmental context. Participants will learn what youth sparks are, how they are connected to youth thriving, and how adults can help youth find their sparks. During the live webinar session, hosted by two PYD champions, participants will experience the Sparks module of the PYD curriculum, a curriculum that they can then use to train volunteers and teen leaders on the concept of Sparks.
Before you begin – please register for one of the two required webinars for Session Two
Please complete the self-paced learning assignments listed below in the order they are presented
Clicking on the button will open a new tab. To return to the session content, click on the PYD Academy tab on your browser’s tab list. This will take you back to where you left off.
Step One – Read
The Application of Social Science in 4-H Youth Development
(Note – This is a pre-press copy used with permission of editors. Please do not circulate).
In this paper you will read about:
How the 4-H program is based on social science research, and how that research base has changed and grown over the history of the 4-H program.
We are having you read this paper because:
We want you to understand why and how 4-H is based on social science research, tracing its evolution right up to current day. We also want you to understand the various PYD frameworks that have been used in 4-H, and how they align with the 4-H Thriving Model and the Science of Learning and Development (SoLD).
As you read don’t worry too much about:
All the details presented in the tables. These details will make a lot more sense once you move through the academy.
Pay close attention to:
The evolution of how 4-H is based on social science research, and how this research base can (and should) inform your 4-H programming. Also consider why adopting a common understanding of PYD across the 4-H system has been challenging to do. Note especially the momentum toward a more unified PYD approach that has been building in the past few years through the introduction of the science-based 4-H Thriving Model. How do you see yourself as part of that momentum?
Step Two – Watch
“A Spark is a passion for a self-identified interest that metaphorically lights a fire in a young person’s life, providing energy, joy, purpose, and direction“
Dr. Peter Benson
In this 22 minute video, the late Dr. Peter Benson, former president and CEO of Search Institute provides an overview of the concept of “sparks” and why they are an important aspect of positive youth development.
Step Three – Read
Scales, Redmond, & Benson (2023). In R. J. R. Levesque (Ed). Encyclopedia of Adolescence.
Copy provided to the PYD Academy with permission from Springer Nature Publishing.
In this paper you will read about:
Youth sparks and the research that underscores their importance in optimal youth development. You will also learn about thriving trajectories for youth and how they are connected to youth sparks. This connection is illustrated in the 4-H Thriving Model. The paper also show how the development of sparks, identity, and a sense of purpose are connected.
We are having you read this paper because:
The concept of youth sparks lies at the center of the 4-H Thriving Model. This is because we begin in 4-H with what a young person is most interested in, often reflected in the subject of a 4-H project. 4-H Cloverbud programs allow younger youth to experience a variety of subjects they might be interested in, contributing to sparks exploration and identification.
We also want you so see the interconnectedness of the elements of the 4-H Thriving Model. In graphic form it is easy to think that things develop in a linear, step-by-step way, but in reality all the elements of the model overlap and intersect and work together to ensure optimal youth development. This paper illustrates this interconnectedness through the presentation of several aspects of the 4-H Thriving Model and their relationship to youth sparks.
As you read don’t worry too much about:
Because this paper is an encyclopedia entry, and not a research paper, it is fairly straightforward and easy to comprehend. As usual, however, don’t get too bogged down on the many details that are presented, and focus on the more important topic of sparks, their development, and why they are essential in youth development.
Pay close attention to:
The ways in which sparks, identity, and purpose are woven together, and how each influences the other. Notice that these concepts are intrinsically propelled by the young person – they come from a “spark” within and are facilitated into fullness through relationships and opportunities. As you read, pause frequently to consider concrete ways that 4-H programs can help develop youth sparks and make note of them for use throughout the academy.
Step Four – Reflect and Share
How will you put what you have learned about Sparks into intentional practice in your 4-H Program?
Step Five – Download and Print for Reference
Step Six- Prepare for Live Webinar Session
We have prepared a packet of handouts that will be used during the webinar. Be sure to download and print the full packet before the live session.
Step Seven – Attend ONE of the Live Webinar Sessions
Session Two of the Academy wraps up with a webinar session. In this session, trained 4-H Thriving Model Curriculum facilitators will engage you in activity-based learning to further your understanding of Sparks. Facilitators use activities from the 4-H PYD curriculum, a resource that you can use to train your staff and volunteers too! Find the recording and the slides from the session below:
Step Eight – Do the Evaluation!
After you have participated in the live webinar, be sure to come back here to complete the Session Two Evaluation. Your input on the academy experience is critical to helping us shape the best possible academy going forward. Please click here to go to the evaluation.
Optional Step Nine – Go Deeper
Reconceptualizing Youth Sparks: A Sociocultural Approach to Co-Designing Programs for Somali Youth
It is important to remember that research is constantly evolving as we learn more about what helps youth thrive. Extension 4-H professionals play a big role in discovering new aspects of youth development. The 4-H Thriving Model is no exception! As new aspects of youth development are discovered through research, our PYD practice will be shaped as well. This article, written by a 4-H professional in Minnesota is a wonderful example of how our practice of youth development is shaped by research and discovery.
Journal of Human Sciences and Extension, 10(2), 116-139.
Step Ten – Go to Session Three