As part of the youth education team’s summer, we planned and executed a number of different programs, from kindergartners learning about trees to middle schoolers learning about stream monitoring. A common thread in many of our programs this summer was their connection to the local 4-H programs. This really stood out to me as a unique part of my summer because of my own personal connection to 4-H.  From preschool through high school, I was part of my local 4-H program and participated in activities similar to the ones our youth education team put together this summer. During my time in 4-H, I developed leadership, career, and life skills that have helped me become who I am. Being able to create programs such as our career exploration workshop or our Rural Youth Services program connected me back to my 4-H roots.  While planning and executing our programs, we considered how to connect these students to plants and nature, but also how to help them make connections with those around them and build confidence in different skills. We created activities that were engaging and informative and revolved around the theme of the programs. After reflecting on the 4-H programs we facilitated this year, I realized how important being a part of 4-H was to my development. Having this leadership opportunity to help spark this new generation’s growth, confidence, and skills was such a beneficial part of my summer.