Young people who participate in New York state 4-H clubs do better in school, are more motivated to help others and achieve more than other kids who both do and do not participate in other kinds of group programs and clubs, according to a two-year Cornell study.

Members of the youth organization also are more educationally motivated, have higher levels of self esteem, place more emphasis on having a value system and communicate at more of an adult level, says the study conducted by June Mead, a program evaluator for Cornell Cooperative Extension; Eunice Rodriguez, an assistant professor in the Department of Policy Analysis and Management; and Tom Hirschl, a professor in the Department of Rural Sociology at Cornell.

The findings from the study on how 4-H clubs make a difference in young people's lives are based on the "New York State 4-H Clubs: 'Members Only'" survey of almost 3,200 fifth-through 12th-graders (30 percent male, 70 percent female) in 50 New York counties, including New York City. Statewide, 4-H club enrollment is now about 10,600 males and 18,300 females.

The Cornell researchers analyzed the data from the "Members Only" survey and then compared the data with that of the "Search Institute Profiles of Student Life: Attitudes and Behaviors" survey that included young people who were involved in some type of club or organized group program and those who were not. The research by the Search Institute of Minneapolis found that the more opportunities young people have to develop their capacities in positive ways, the less likely they are to engage in problem behaviors and the more likely they are to engage in positive, pro-social behaviors.

Of the 254,400 young people in the Search Institute's survey, the 41 percent who participated in some type of club or organization similar to 4-H scored higher in almost all of the areas studied.

Importantly, researchers also found that the longer young people are members of 4-H, the better they fare. Those in 4-H clubs for more than one year reported getting better grades

and caring more about how well they did in school, and reported higher levels of involvement in community service projects and more time in volunteer work than those in 4-H less than a year.

Hundreds of young people said that 4-H clubs provided enrichment activities, broadened their worldview and expanded what they learned in school. One youth wrote, "[My] 4-H experiences, such as public presentations and educational projects, have given me an edge in school. Most importantly, the leadership experiences that I have had through 4-H have helped me to become a more outgoing person, ready to take on all different sorts of responsibilities."

Many young people reported that they had developed skills in leadership, public speaking, self-esteem, communication, and planning and that they have made lasting friendships through their club participation. One 4-H'er reported, "I've had a lot of fun in 4-H, learned many new skills and learned that my little help can count. 4-H has given me opportunities to grow and have fun doing so. For this gift, I am very grateful." Another wrote: "Without 4-H, I don't know where I'd be."