DICKSON COUNTY UT EXTENSION » EXTENSION FROM 34X known as Home Demonstration Clubs) meet monthly throughout Dickson County. Contact the Extension Office for meeting times and locations. Priority Extension FCS programs: Tennessee Families » Book by Book (early literacy and reading development of young children in partnership with the Governor’s Books from Birth Foundation Imagination Library) » 21st Century Community Learning Center (federally funded grant through the State Department of Education to enhance the afterschool program at Oakmont Elementary School with a focus on reading, math, science, homework, technology, and sports/leisure/nutrition) » Parent education programs for audiences including Head Start and Families First clients. Tennessee Shapes Up » Tennessee Nutrition and Consumer Education Program (federally funded grant – driven by a local coalition which provides nutrition education for Food Stamp eligible families and individuals) » TEAM UP TENNESSEE – (funded by a grant from the State Department of Public Health) – a local partnership including Horizon Medical Center, the Sarah Cannon Cancer Center at Natchez Medical Park, the Dickson County Health Council and others designed to educate Tennesseans about cancer prevention, educate Tennesseans about the importance of early cancer screening in saving lives, and increasing access to screening services. The program includes cooking schools demonstrating healthy choices for
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entertaining to increase fruit and vegetable consumption and reduce fat and calories as well as seminars by local health care professionals. » Living in the State of Poverty (an educational simulation to help service providers and community leaders increase their awareness of issues facing low income individuals and families) » Safe Home Food Preservation – Research-based information on how to safely can, freeze and dry foods at home. Leadership » Family and Community Education (including leadership development for community based FCE Clubs – formerly known as Home Demonstration Clubs - and the County FCE Council) » CHARACTER COUNTS! (character education in schools and workplaces) » Educational programs for community organizations/ workplaces in the areas of financial management, teambuilding, conflict resolution, time management, leadership development, and other topics as requested For information about Extension Family and Consumer Science programs, contact Janet C. Cluck, Extension Director, at the County Extension Office, 204 Henslee Drive, by calling 446-2788, E-mail: jccluck@utk.edu or visit our website: http://dickson.tennessee.edu . UT Extension provides equal opportunities in programs and employment.
4-H Youth Nearly 3,000 Dickson County boys and girls are enrolled in 4-H – the educational youth development program of The University of Tennessee Extension Service. Almost 70 4-H
Clubs hold educational meetings monthly, mostly on a classroom basis during school hours or during “activity” schedule at the middle and high schools. There is also a club for families who have chosen to home school which meets monthly. Membership is open to young people in grades four through twelve. The national 4-H emblem is a green four-leaf clover with a white “H” on each leaf. The H’s stand for head, heart, hands and health. As the only youth development program with ties to the United States Department of Agriculture and the state land grant university, the mission of 4-H is to produce self-directing, competent young people to become contributing members of society. Members have the opportunity to select from a list of 26 4-H projects, which relate to such subjects as agriculture, home economics, communication/personal skills, citizenship/service learning, health/wellness, environment/natural resources conservation, and workforce preparation. In Dickson County, the most popular 4-H projects are: Companion Animals, Line & Design, Horse, Photography, and Wildlife. Members may also participate in educational activities at their monthly school meetings including public speaking, demonstrations, posters, and baking contests. Emphasis is placed on group participation and the enhancement of self-esteem. Summer camps continue to be popular activities with large numbers of young people participating each year. Day camps and 4-H workshops focusing on Line & Design and Rocketry are offered during spring and fall school breaks. Livestock groups are still active and
youth aren’t required to own livestock in order to participate in project groups and/ or judging team training and competition. Current project groups include beef, horse, goat, poultry, dog, photography, wildlife, forestry, and shooting sports. Character education in Dickson County is implemented through the 4-H Youth Development program in partnership with the county’s Education Edge Steering Committee. The Six Pillars of Character are emphasized in the CHARACTER COUNTS! framework. Older 4-H’ers in junior and senior high have the opportunity to participate in various conferences and camps on the state, regional and national levels. Citizenship, leadership, wildlife conservation, electric energy, and personal development are among the areas of emphasis. Youth Leadership Dickson County is a series of experiential 4-H Youth Development activities taught in the “Service Learning – Youth Leadership” course at Creek Wood High School and Dickson County High Schools. The class runs throughout the school year with twenty students per class. Participants develop personal skills while learning about the community through tours, demonstrations, guest speakers, and other ‘hands on’ activities. 4-H programs are offered to all eligible persons regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability. For more information about 4-H in Dickson County, contact Renee Badon or Katie Scott, Extension 4-H Agents, at the UT Dickson County Extension Office, 204 Henslee Drive in Dickson, by calling 446-2788, or visit on the internet at http://www.utextension.utk.edu/4H/
DICKSON FACT BOOK 2013