United Way of Northern Arizona — 4-H Blacksmith Program Forging Leaders

Partner Update: 4-H Blacksmith Program Forging Youth Leaders

Hello,

If we were to say “4-H” to you, you’d immediately think pigs and goats on display at the County Fair, right? Animal husbandry has always been a core part of the 4-H experience.

In recent years, however, the Coconino County Cooperative Extension, which runs our local 4-H clubs, has expanded their youth education programs to include robotics, cake decorating and, now, blacksmithing.

In spite of the closures brought by Covid-19, interest in the practical metallurgy class being offered by the group, called “Evolution of the Tool,” has exceeded all expectation.

The program gives youth access and instruction to artisan and skilled trade work. In the class, teens learn metal work techniques and produce a set of hand tools from which they can make nearly any other hand tool. That will allow them to complete almost any project in raw material like steel or wood with the skills they have learned.

The classes are forging more than chisels and punches, however.

They also are turning these teens into youth leaders; the next part of the program is for them to instruct others about metallurgy, blacksmithing and artisan metal work.

“We want to train youth so they can become the primary leaders of the program,” said Joshua Farella of the 4-H Youth Development program, who added that 18 youth instructors are currently being trained. Classes were conducted outside with mandatory mask wearing and social distancing when practical to meet CDC recommendations.

These newly minted youth instructors will get the chance to share what they know in the coming months as part of the Coconino County Summer Adventure program and an adventure camp for youth of military families that is tentatively scheduled for this summer. Depending on Covid-19 protocols, that camp is expected to bring about 160 campers from around the country to Coconino County.

Through your generosity, United Way of Northern Arizona has been able to support this program, which is being offered in Flagstaff, Page and Williams. Grant funding has helped pay for raw materials and items like a belt sander and forging press, professional equipment that is usually only seen in industrial settings.

“I tell the kids that if they want to, they’ll be able to forge battleships or spiral staircases,” said Farella.

Donate to the United Way of Northern Arizona today and help innovative programs that “step up for our youth,” like the 4-H blacksmith program that forges not only metal but youth leadership.

You can support UWNA today through #ArizonaGives, the statewide celebration of nonprofits improving lives in Arizona. The official #AZGivesDay is April 6, but donations are being accepted now

MAKE YOUR #AZGIVES DONATION HERE

View as Webpage

UNITED WAY OF NORTHERN ARIZONA

1515 E. Cedar Ave. Suite D-1 Flagstaff, AZ 86004

928-773-9813 nazunitedway.org

STAY CONNECTED

‌ ‌ ‌

Post navigation