Only Connect: Supporting Transcendent Awareness in Youth Development Programs
摘要
Transcendent awareness is one of the seven indicators of youth thriving included in the 4-H Thriving Model. This indicator is perhaps the most difficult one to understand and even more difficult to translate into youth development practice, especially in secular, publicly funded programs. This difficulty arises because the concept of transcendence is often limited to spirituality or religion. While spirituality is a long-established essential part of positive youth development, with significant research to support it, the translation of this research into practice has been limited. In this chapter, we define transcendent awareness through the organizing principle of connection to something larger than the self and explore how it can be supported in youth development programs through connection with nature, mindfulness, and service.