Volume 16, Number 1, Fall 2005

4-H Mentoring Programs change
lives of youth and mentors

Mentor Cal Steele of Spring Lake, MI, enjoys the time he spends with youth participants in the Journey Youth Mentoring Progam.

By Megan Townsend

Cal Steele of Spring Lake, Mich., was flipping through the morning newspaper when an advertisement caught his attention. The Michigan State University (MSU) Extension office in Ottawa County was looking for adults to serve as mentors to troubled youth.

“I thought to myself, ‘Well, I owe this community something,’” says 79-year-old Steele, a retired engineer and mentor for the Journey Youth Mentoring Program. “So, it’s sort of like a payback, but also a concern with the problems youth face. They deal with situations I never had to when I was growing up.”

Gov. Jennifer Granholm and First Gentleman Dan Mulhern are also concerned with the future of Michigan’s youth, which is why they founded and are committed to expanding Mentor Michigan, a program that works to ensure every young person has an ongoing relationship with a stable, caring adult.

And with mentoring programs in 22 counties, MSU Extension and Michigan 4-H are helping Mentor Michigan achieve its mission of matching the state’s more than 2,300 youth on waiting lists with mentors.

Read this story.

In this issue:

• 4-H Mentoring in Action:
  • 4-H Mentoring Programs change lives of youth and mentors (includes Mentoring resources)
  • Michigan 4-H mentoring initiative matches youth with positive role models
  • Michigan 4-H Guiding Principles and mentoring
  • 4-H project "brewing" in Rapid River (A great example of natural mentoring, with very successful results)
  • Mentoring programs grow and thrive in Michigan 4-H Youth Development
• Michigan 4-H joins sesquicentennial spirit as MSU celebrates 150 years of leadership in learning
• 4-H'ers eligible to apply for MSU Scholarships
• National 4-H Conference promotes exchange of ideas, civic involvement and youth voice
• Michigan 4-H Art Exchange with China brings "the Kids Art Show of USA" to Shandong Province schools
• Michigan 4-H Youth Conservation Council provides unique statewide teen leadership opportunities
• North Central Regional Volunteer Forum to be held in South Dakota
• Calhoun County club shares good will with Project Buddy-Up
• Grand Haven club sews for community
• 4-H'ers successfully "Take a Day On" with Walloon Lake Village service project
• Michigan 4-H offers multiple opportunities for young people to practice civic responsibilities!
• 4-H Events and Workshops — What's happening in Michigan 4-H
• Promising Partnership
• Eaton County 4-H and FFA safety belt team convinced fairgoers to "Click It!"
• 4-H Kids Club provides safety and fun for kids during the summer
• Jumping for Joy!
• Livestock Camp opens doors to future career opportunities
• 4-H members teach kids about horses in Proud Equestrian program
• Michigan 4-H Capitol Experience: Encouraging political involvement and civic engagement with youth
• Antrim County 4-H youth meet with county commissioners
• 4-H Exploration Days — 35 years of success at Michigan State University
• Nominate a Michigan 4-H alumnus for the 2006 class of the 4-H Emerald Clover Society!
• Explore Michigan ecology at 4-H Great Lakes and Natural Resources Camp
• Follow the online trail to new environmental and outdoor education activities