The 4-H PYD Academy equips 4-H and other youth development professionals with the essential knowledge and skills to plan, implement, and evaluate high-quality youth development programs that help youth thrive. The National 4-H PYD Academy is an output of the 4-H PLWG Chartered Committee on Positive Youth Development. 4-H PYD Academies are convened and supported by National 4-H Council in cooperation with the National Association of 4-H Youth Development Professionals (NAE4-HYDP) and Extension 4-H professionals from across the country. The purpose of the PYD Academy is to ensure that 4-H educators possess the knowledge and skills they need to plan, implement and evaluate high quality 4-H Positive Youth Development programs for youth.
PYD Immersion
Access, Equity and Belonging: Strategies and Resources for Creating Safe and Relevant Spaces in Positive Youth Development Work
Wednesday, January 10th
PYD Immersion: One-day learning opportunities for professional development on a focused topic important for effective 4-H PYD practice.
The goal for this session is for participants to feel empowered to better understand diverse communities, working towards developing, implementing and evaluating programs with equity and inclusion as core components. Led by members of the Access, Equity and Belonging Committee, this virtual session will address key competencies needed to serve diverse audiences in a meaningful way.
PYD Immersion
Supporting Volunteers Using the Thriving Model
Wednesday, February 14th
PYD Immersion: One-day learning opportunities for professional development on a focused topic important for effective 4-H PYD practice.
This virtual session will focus on 4-H’s most important resource—the people who volunteer within our programs—and providing them with tools for strengthening their understanding of the 4-H Thriving Model. A participatory session, the group is encouraged to bring resources and ideas to share and will be introduced to a framework for organizing volunteers and resources for volunteer management.
PYD Immersion
Helping Youth Thrive through a Computer Science Lens
Wednesday, April 10th
PYD Immersion: One-day learning opportunities for professional development on a focused topic important for effective 4-H PYD practice.
Build your capacity to help youth thrive in a PYD setting through the lens of a computer science (CS) pathway. Discover how an exploratory computer science activity can catalyze youth to nurture sparks, find belonging, build relationships and find their voice. In this virtual session, participants will learn how to apply the foundations of the 4-H Thriving model more broadly to 4-H programs and get a feel for the CS activities developed for Clover by 4-H.
2024 4-H Virtual PYD Academy
Supporting Youth Resiliency
Tuesday, May 7th – Thursday, May 9th
Supporting Youth Resiliency—2024 4-H Virtual PYD Academy focuses on understanding how youth become resilient and capable of navigating life’s challenges—an essential component of youth development research. Featuring leading experts who will present the science of resiliency, this academy is recommended for all 4-H professionals and those involved with other youth-serving organizations. An essential base for youth development professionals helping youth navigate the post-pandemic world, this 3-day virtual academy consists of a daily keynote address, panel discussion, five capacity-building sessions and a reflection period.
4-H is the youth development program of our Nation’s Cooperative Extension System and USDA. 4-H.org is maintained by National 4-H Council as part of our mission as an independent, private-sector partner to the Cooperative Extension System. As an independent, 501 (c)3 charitable organization, National 4-H Council does not direct or implement 4-H programs at the state or local level.