The 2007-08 4-Habitat program finale was May 9-10 with a Block Party! 

Congratulations to the youth who spent the year, June 07-May 08, developing and implementing the program with an awesome website at 4-Habitat- Helping Build a Better Future. 

View the 4-Habitat video and 4-Habitat Press Release.

Kelsay Martin – Monroe Jessie Hicks – Boone Maddie Hicks – Boone John Moore – Lafayette Ellis Cole – Bates Nicole Smith – Lafayette Lane Brewer – Oregan Jeanetta Baumer – Wright Carissa Morrow – Wright Sarah Queen – Wright Shaina King – Christian

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Be part of the 4-Habitat team!  The 4-Habitat Solar Edition program begins July 21-23.  Applications are due in the state 4-H office by July 1.

Program Highlights
4-Habitat is a Housing and Environmental Design Extension and 4-H program that partners with Habitat for Humanity to “adopt” a family  who purchased a Habitat home.  Youth teams worked directly with the family (a mom, dad, preschooler and baby) on home interior design and landscaping.  Learning and service opportunities focused primarily on the interior design process and improving energy efficiency through both interior finishes and landscaping.  Additional teams provided other components such as sewing, art projects, cooking, and a website to track the progress of the project.

• Youth and volunteers participated in five overnight meetings in Columbia to work with the family in selecting and implementing interior design, energy efficiency and landscaping plans.

• Youth received training in interior and landscape design principles, design software, communication -  Blackboard website, working with low income audiences and more.

• Youth and volunteers painted the home interior, designed the interior of children’s bedrooms, built (coffee table and two end tables) and refinished (two dressers and one table) furniture, created and framed artwork, installed shelving, built a fabric covered headboard, purchased energy efficient shades and curtains and home accent items for decoration, purchased a vacuum cleaner and furniture, installed outdoor lattice,  planted flowers and more.  Donations received by the state 4-H office and local donations secured by youth made the program possible.

• Youth and volunteers created a 4-Habitat Cookbook and stocked the family’s kitchen with nutritious food staples and prepared dishes.

• Youth and volunteers hosted a culminating neighborhood block party that included other Habitat for Humanity homeowners.  Each family received a 4-Habitat tote bag with youth and family-related Extension resources, energy efficiency materials and donated items.

• An evaluation of the program and a TV news story by the MU Cooperative Media Group is underway.  Stay tuned!

The following Extension and 4-H staff and volunteers helped make the 2007-08 program possible: 
Lisa Hamilton-Hill, Michael Goldschmidt, Bradd Anderson, Barb Buffaloe, Stephanie Nicholson, Alice Havard, Marie Pasley, Joanne Cowan, Theresa Shettlesworth and Alison Copeland.