UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- This year, National 4-H Week, Oct. 3-9, will celebrate youth development and leadership in cyberspace with its theme, "4-H Online!" And a specialist in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences says 4-H is a leader in using the Internet to help kids become more engaged in their community.

Nationally, about 93 percent of youth ages 10-18 are actively using the Internet to find information and communicate with others, according to a recent survey. That certainly applies to the more than 107,000 boys and girls in Pennsylvania 4-H, but many people don't associate high-tech cyber-surfing with the venerable youth organization, according to Christy Bartley, state program leader for Pennsylvania 4-H.

"Historically, 4-H programs have always been very engaged in the sciences -- basic animal science and food science in particular," Bartley says, "but now we're reaching into technology and engineering science areas. Our clubs and activities are doing a lot with aerospace, rocketry, GIS (geographic information systems) and computers.

"Traditionally, animal and food sciences tend to skew to a more rural audience. Computer science and aerospace programming allow us to expand to urban audiences. This year's theme will help children and their parents to see that 4-H isn't just animals and cooking. We're providing a variety of options for youth so those interested in technology and engineering can be a part of our program. They don't have to raise an animal to join -- we offer everything from computers to engines and rocketry."

Bartley points out that, in many 4-H programs, youth are unwittingly exercising the computational and reasoning skills that will help them academically. And new 4-H programming is evaluated to identify how it supports and develops Pennsylvania Department of Education objectives and scholastic standards.

"We've been working hard to link our programming to state educational standards," she says, "and teachers can access that information on our Web site (http://pa4h.cas.psu.edu/)."

A good example of 4-H's high-tech linkages is "Connecting to the Future," a Pennsylvania Rural Education Outreach project that teaches problem-solving and critical thinking skills in math, science and technology through a computer-based after-school technology program. Sponsored by Penn State Cooperative Extension in partnership with Lockheed Martin Management and Data Systems, the project looks to bolster technology skills in rural youth.

Project director Nicole Webster says fourth- through sixth-graders can blend computer skills with instruction in public speaking, teamwork, leadership and life skills.

"Pennsylvania is one of the slowest-growing states in the nation, with the second highest nativity rate, jobs concentrated in urban areas, layoffs and stagnant employment growth rate," says Webster, assistant professor of agricultural and extension education. "The outreach program lets kids apply their technical skills and knowledge, enhance their education and career opportunities and contribute to their community while they increase their personal skills."

The eight-week project promotes computer use and awareness to rural youth in Potter County. Program activities are facilitated by coordinators from Penn State Cooperative Extension in Potter County and the local public schools. They learn greater awareness of the use of computers in technology fields, greater awareness of technology-related careers and better typing and keyboarding skills.

"Programs such as our rural technology project could have a tremendous impact on the way youth engage with technology in and out of the classroom setting," Webster says. "It's important that computers are seen as a part of life rather than as sporadically used tools, a perception you'll find among many rural families and youth. Youth become peer teachers to classmates as they become more comfortable working with computers, and their exposure to technology can help revitalize rural communities."

Three Pennsylvania high schools -- Northern Potter High School in Ulyses, Galeton High School in Galeton and Washington High School in Washington -- are the initial sites of the Youth Engaged in Technology (YET) program, which uses technology to engage at-risk young people in learning and civic responsibility, according to Daniel Perkins, associate professor of family and youth resiliency and policy in Penn State's department of agricultural and extension education.

The twice-weekly after-school program uses technology as a tool to engage young people in learning and contributing. Through YET involvement, youth enhance their marketable job skills as well as develop leadership skills. The major focus of the meetings is such technology as robotics, GPS/GIS, Web page development and nano-fabrication. Club members also participate in community service activities related to technology.

Perkins says YET uses technology as a vehicle to engage young people in learning and contributing. Students with low interest in school stay committed to the YET program and say they have learned a lot about computers. They put their skills to good use in the community by teaching senior citizens to use the Internet.

"In these counties, the students lack exposure to technology and to jobs in technology fields," he explains. "Our primary audience is high school youth who have contextual factors that place them at risk -- for example, poverty or lack of engagement. Moreover, the extremely poor ratings within the state in terms of crime, youth alcohol and drug use, and economic development were also significant reasons why Potter County and Washington County were selected."

Bartley says these and other Pennsylvania programs are showcased on 4-HUSA.org, a new Web site exclusively for, by and about youth. The site, which focuses on youth ages 13-16, features a complete list of 4-H Web sites organized by state and interactive elements like message boards, weblogs and e-mail aliases.

For more information on "4-H On-Line!," contact your local county Penn State Cooperative Extension office.

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EDITORS: Contact Christy Bartley at 814-863-3828 or by e-mail at cek4@psu.edu.

Writer/Editor: Gary Abdullah Office 814-863-2708 FAX 814-863-9877