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2002 Volunteer Leader Training Guide
Conducting a 4-H Skillathon
Printer Friendly Version (PDF)
Including Handouts
Target Audience
• Objective
• Materials Needed
• Introduction
• Teaching Points
• Reference
Target Audience
Objective
- Participants will be able to set up and conduct a 4-H project skillathon
using the experiential learning model.
Materials Needed
Introduction: What Is a Skillathon?
A skillathon is a way to involve youth and adults in learning situations in a
noncompetitive, learn-by-doing manner. It gives the 4-H member an opportunity to
develop both project skills and life skills. During a skillathon, the 4-H
members visit a series of mini-learning stations, attempting to perform specific
tasks. The station facilitator allows all team members to test their own
knowledge and abilities without help, then asks the young people questions to
guide them in building on what they experienced. The approach works well for all
age groups and can be done in group meetings, in classrooms, at a mall or at a
fair.
Teaching Points
How to Set Up a Skillathon
- Decide on the stations wanted. Be sure to consider time, space and the
number of participants and facilitators available.
- Decide who will be in charge of each station.
- Have each facilitator make up a realistic situation and task for each
station.
Suggestion: You can select almost any section from a 4-H project
book as a situation and task.
- Decide on the equipment or supplies needed at each station.
- Each facilitator should be responsible for gathering supplies for their
station.
- Assign someone to coordinate the skillathon (break into groups, keep time,
process the entire experience with the group).
- Depending on the size of the group and the number of stations, group the
members into teams of two to four (or more), assigning each team to a
station and moving them to the next station every six to ten minutes.
- After all teams have rotated through the stations, have each team give a
short presentation to the entire group on how they solved a task at one of the
stations. Let teams choose which station they want to present.
- Praise everyone’s efforts. Celebrate the learning!
Reference: 4HCCS project materials; i.e.,
Poultry Helper’s Guide, pages 28 and 29; Entomology Helper’s Guide, pages 30 and
31; and Beef Helper’s Guide, pages 14 and 15.
Darlene Z. Millard, Ph.D., 4-H and Youth Development Specialist
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