Masters Theses

Date of Award

3-1974

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Major

Agricultural and Extension Education

Major Professor

Robert Dotson

Committee Members

Cecil E. Carter Jr., Ben T. Powell, Joe Alexander

Abstract

The purpose of this survey-type study was to evaluate the present 4-H camp and conference programs in Tennessee. A total of 273 4-H members who attended the 1973 Tennessee State 4-H Congress and a total of 160 4-H agents responded to a mail questionnaire designed to probe member and agent preferences and expectations regarding camps and conferences. Characteristically, members: 1. Had been in 4-H club work for an average of about seven years. 2. Had attended demonstration day about three times. 3. Had attended week-long 4-H camp about three times. 4. Had attended, on the average, less than one (0.5) senior leadership conference of less than a week, and the same number of week-long senior leadership conferences. 5. Had attended less than one (0.3) all-star conference. 6. Had attended less than one day camp (0.2). 7. Had attended less than one (0.5) other 4-H camps and conferences. 8. Had attended a grand total of about three camps and conferences of all kinds. Other major camp and conference findings included the following; 1. Members and agents both picked, "To have fun," as the number one reason from among eight identified why members attend camp; though members alone ranked the reason second to "To make new friends." 2. They chose "Summer employment" and "Friends did not attend" as the more important of seven reasons why 4-H'ers do not attend camp. 3. 4-H members and agents agreed that the most important opportunity provided by present camps and conferences was to develop leadership ability. Social, physical and mental development opportunities also were mentioned. 4. They felt that a first major purpose of such activities was to help them learn to get along with others. "To develop leadership" ranked as second most important major purpose. 5. Four "Value of camp" principles, eight "Program and method" principles, five "Staffing and planning" principles, and eight "Vocational and miscellaneous" principles of successful camp and conference organization and conduct were identified and tested. In terms of specific evaluation, it was found that: 1. 4-H members felt present efforts at camp publicity and promotion were inadequate, while agents disagreed very significantly. 2. 4-H members and agents tended to agree in a positive evaluation of the present camp and conference programs. Some significant differences were noted when 4-H members and agents were compared by sex and district. Implications for application of findings and recommendations for further study were listed.

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