4-H Youth Transportation Study St. Mary’s County 4-H 4-H Youth Transportation Study

Project Team Actionem Ductus Tom Clark Joan Thorp Christa Hood Charles Roach Steven Hall

St. Mary’s County 4-H Background Fosters high quality positive youth development St. Mary’s County Statistics Membership Stands at 136 Youths in 11 4-H Community Clubs 90 Official Project Areas / Curriculum 125 Additional Youth Participate in 4-H through the Patuxent River NAS Military Partnership 70 Additional Youth Participate in 4-H through the SMCS 21st Century After-School Program 80 Registered and Trained Adult Volunteers

Transportation Needs at 4-H Local transportation would enable more children to participate 4-H wants to grow in southern St. Mary’s County Possibilities include more meeting locations, or providing transportation to bring the participants to the meetings Event transportation Clubs need transportation to attend competitions and events Approximately 26 events identified

Initial Solutions Vehicle Donation through Local Car Dealership University of Maryland Extension approval Liability concerns for volunteer drivers Apply for grants to fund maintenance and insurance costs Select centralized meeting location and utilize local bus schedule Local fire department, library, industry meeting space

Actions Taken Create handout to raise funds/interest Place with similar organizations (Judy Center) to increase awareness of 4-H Create sponsorship program Business can sponsor an event – could become annual funding stream Develop a pilot presentation to solicit funding Local community organizations

Our Team’s Journey Adaptive leadership Potential Opportunity Inspiration Action

I pledge my head to clearer thinking, my heart to greater loyalty, my hands to larger service, and my health to better living, for my club, my community, my country and my world.