Aimee Elkins, 4‑H educator in Oconto County with the University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension, has been awarded the Communicator Award for her Oconto County Teen Court promotional package, as well as specialty awards for Winter Camp East Excellence in Teamwork and Excellence in Camping by the Wisconsin Association of Extension 4‑H Youth Development Professionals through its annual statewide recognition program.
The Communicator Award recognizes excellence in promotional materials for the teen court program, while the other awards recognize multi-county collaboration and development of high quality leadership camp opportunities for older youth. These awards highlight Elkins’ significant contributions to strengthening 4‑H Youth Development efforts across Oconto County and Wisconsin.
The promotional package for the teen court included a restorative justice focused logo, brochures and flyers all designed to relaunch the program’s identity and build community trust. Serving youth ages 10-16 with first-time violations, the program offers a restorative alternative to juvenile court where a panel of peers determines meaningful consequences. These new promotional efforts successfully led to the recruitment of 21 teen panelists from every high school in the county.
The Excellence in Teamwork Award recognized a collaborative team of six 4-H program educators from eight Wisconsin counties, including Elkins, for their seamless coordination of the 2025 Winter Leadership Camp. This partnership was created to address a decline in engagement among older youth by providing a high-quality, multi-county leadership experience for 40 participants in grades 7 and up.
Parent chaperone Jen Bradley highlighted the success of this teamwork and said that youth “felt comfortable and encouraged to speak up and be themselves,” which helped foster deep connections that lasted well beyond the weekend.
The Excellence in Camping Award recognized the leadership camp for its innovative Leading in All Directions curriculum at Spencer Lake Camp, which utilized the Beyond Ready framework to prepare youth for future success. Serving 40 children in grades 7-12, the camp combined structured leadership education with hands-on Spark Stations and reflective goal setting, including a unique letter to self reflection. The program had a measurable impact, with 95% of participants reporting they gained practical skills to lead groups and formed new friendships outside their home counties.
Award applications are evaluated at the state, regional and national levels, with top honorees recognized at the annual National Association of Extension 4‑H Youth Development Professionals Conference in the fall.
