UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- As hundreds of Pennsylvania 4-H members gather from across the state for Penn State 4-H Achievement Days at Penn State's University Park campus, they'll be taking part in a new service learning project that will benefit local charities and community service agencies.

For the first time, approximately 420 youth, ages 13 to 19, will take part in "Service with a Purpose Day" on Tuesday, Aug. 3. They will perform community service at more than 30 locations across Centre County, including reading books and playing games with children at the Bennett Family Center daycare facility on Penn State's campus, doing activities with residents of the Brookline retirement community, assisting program participants at the Pennsylvania Association of Retarded Citizens in State College, and preparing books to mail to schools in Africa for the Adopt a Village Project.

Lydia Everhart, youth program management coordinator for Pennsylvania 4-H, says she hopes participants will take something from the day back to their homes, clubs and counties.

"We want to enhance the learning experience of the young people who come to Achievement Days, so we're offering this service learning opportunity," she says. "The theme reflects the overarching motto of 4-H: 'to make the best better.' We hope to help our kids broaden their thinking about the purposes of 4-H as they learn about community service.

"We want them to put the 4-H pledge into action by using their hands in service to missions and groups that meet important needs within the state. All year, they work with adult volunteers to become self-directed, productive and contributing members of our diverse society. This will make their training more real and immediate as they make friends from across the state."

"Service with a Purpose Day" is part of Penn State 4-H Achievement Days, an annual three-day conference of competitive and educational programs that let 4-H members showcase their knowledge and skills in more than 20 contests -- including physical fitness; orienteering; public speaking; livestock, dairy and horse judging; and more -- with competitors from across the state. They also get the opportunity to qualify for national competitions.

For more information about the service project or participating agencies, contact Lydia Everhart by phone at 814-863-7873, or by e-mail at lak146@psu.edu. 4-H Achievement Days are co-sponsored by Agway Equine Feeds, Case & New Holland Equipment, Nestle Purina Pet Care Co., Purina Mills, LLC, Wegman's, Wiscoy Pet Food Co., Springs Window Fashions and Moyer Packing Co.

Pennsylvania 4-H is coordinated by Penn State Cooperative Extension. More information on 4-H can be found on the World Wide Web at http://pa4h.cas.psu.edu.

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EDITORS: Contact Lydia Everhart at 814-863-7873 or by e-mail at lak146@psu.edu

Writer/Editor: Gary AbdullahOffice 814-863-2708 FAX 814-863-9877