Robeson County 4-H

  This years 4-H STEM Challenge is Mars Base Camp.  Dr. Misty Blue-Terry, 4-H STEM Specialist with North Carolina A&T State University has offered to host a training on this kit for North Carolina 4-H Volunteers on Saturday, September 19th from 10:00 am - 12 Noon via Zoom.  During the time together, we will be able to walk through two of the activities in the kit with the focus on getting familiar with the activity and discussing strategies for virtual implementation.   Having a kit is not mandatory, but would be helpful.  Kits can be purchased here:  https://shop4-h.org/ products/mars-base-camp-stem- challenge   If you are interested in this training opportunity, please fill out the Google form below no later than Friday, September 4th at 12 Noon.   https://forms.gle/ oM9ZMgGSj9bB4D277  

  Liz Driscoll, our resident 4-H Plant Geek at NCSU is sharing this really neat learning opportunity for your child.  This opportunity is t he introduction of a new pilot project -  the Grow Box .  The Grow Box is a "subscription box" program that delivers garden fun for families right to their door. It is a partnership between North Carolina 4-H and the  JC Raulston Arboretum  and is funded through an Extension Innovation grant. It is intended to grow and nurture the agricultural curiosity of our current 4-H families and possibly lure new ones into the fold and connect kids to the wondrous plant world of the JCRA.   Grow Box A program of Garden Fun for your family delivered to your door from North Carolina 4-H and the JC Raulston Arboretum at NC State University. Register through Eventbrite today The Grow Box  gives youth and their families the opportunity to explore their backyard or the natural spaces near them with guided activities designed t...

  Calling all teachers, homeschool families and educators who want to spice up your fall education plan! Announcing  Nature Adventures,  a virtual learning program aligned with NC state teaching standards on NC ecology and the natural sciences. Nature Adventures  is a 7-part series of 45-minute educational sessions for the fall semester developed and taught by professional Environmental Educators from North Carolina's premier 4-H Camps. This program is provided for FREE for teachers and families. Check out the session schedule below. All programs are aligned with the North Carolina Standard Course of Study and are presented live over Zoom. Can't make the live event? Register for the recording and go at your own pace! LEARN MORE at our website, grab material lists, and review standards alignment This program is free, but requires registration                            REGISTER HERE PROGRAM SCHEDULE...

This article was written for the Robesonian and Robeson Journal by Wendy Maynor, 4-H Program Associate.  It can also be located on the NC Cooperative Extension, Robeson County Center website. I know you have heard the old saying “making lemonade out of lemons.” That is exactly what the Robeson County 4-H Program is doing. Like many programs, due to the pandemic we are not able to meet face to face. So, we are learning to be more creative and think outside the box through virtual programming. In other words, our members are still learning, and having fun along the way. Summer camp, virtually? For the last few months 4-H has offered the following camps, most of them free of charge, to all 4-H members:  Jr Chef; Arts & Crafts; Biotech; Cloverbud; Overnight Camp; Congress; Citizenship; and Junior County Retreat. Multiple parents stated their children really enjoyed and appreciated the camps, and they are on board with future 4-H virtual programming. The campers said they learn...

 

 Good morning everyone.  Hope the first day back to school has gone well for everyone.  We are thrilled for everyone to be starting a new school year.  We are working toward exciting things in 4-H as we look toward wrapping up the end of our year. -By now you have probably heard that the Robeson Regional Agricultural Fair has been cancelled due to Covid-19.  However I am pleased to announce that the fair is still sponsoring our 4-H Animal Shows.  Those shows will be virtual.   Even though we have been down this road before this time will be a little different.  Last time we could not have poultry in the building but our youth could be there.  This time we could probably have the animals but not the youth.  So we are looking at a new format that will allow youth to show us their animals while also talking to the judge.  We will get information to our participants as soon as we work out the logistics which includes folks with connect...

 Hey folks, below is a note from Liz Driscoll the 4-H Youth Specialist who leads some seriously awesome programs.  Please check out the link for great information. Hello friends,  You all know that I think soil rocks and I hope your youth dig it as well! Did you know that there is an abundance of opportunity to study soils at NC State and go on to a rewarding career in soil? The  Department of Crop and Soil Sciences  has put a spotlight on soil! Please  share this story  with all the youth in your world as well as partnering teachers and educators that would be interested in sharing soil careers with their high school students. Thanks! Liz

  Financial Preparedness Financial Resilience - Tools for Your Community FEMA works with partners to promote individual and community resilience. This September, FEMA will highlight financial readiness during National Preparedness Month. In collaboration with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), FEMA will host a National Preparedness Month webinar on Wednesday, September 16, 2020, from 1:00 to 1:30 p.m. ET. You will hear experts from the FDIC and CFPB give real-world examples of how to be more financially prepared for emergencies or disasters and share tools that can help individuals and communities increase economic resilience. FDIC will focus on the financial preparation and disaster recovery information in their  Money Smart for Adults curriculum , where you can find practical knowledge, skills-building opportunities, and resources. CFPB will feature its  Start Small, Save Up   initiative, which offe...

This article was written by Shea Ann DeJarnette, 4-H Extension Agent, for the Robesonian and Robeson Journal and can be found on the NC Cooperative Extension, Robeson County Center website .  I am writing this with an abundance of mixed feelings. On Tuesday, August 11, 2020,  the fair board called a special meeting to decide if there would be a Robeson Regional Agricultural Fair this year. After going back and forth for months (and I do mean months) the board decided it would be best not to open the fair this year. On one hand, I praise the board members for thinking about the health and well-being of the more than 70,000 people that attend our 9-day fair. Not to mention the health and well-being of the hundreds of folks who work with the carnival and volunteer with the fair board. That was a hard and brave decision to make for our community. On the other hand, I am sad. Sad we will not have an event that in recent years has helped bring our community together after hurricanes...

Please see the message below from the Robeson Regional Agricultural Fair  " With great sadness, we are forced to announce that the Robeson Regional Agricultural Fair Board members voted tonight to cancel the 2020 fair. At the heart of this decision was the health and well-being of you, our patrons, vendors, entertainers, carnival workers, and yes, our board members. Please know we have explored options from opening with a huge variety of safety measures in place, to just opening portions of our fair such as the carnival and food vendors, to virtual shows and exhibits, and even creating a whole new online experience for you. However, in our hearts we knew that it would not be the same quality experience that you deserve and we refuse to sell you short. As previous years have shown us with the challenges of hurricanes, the fair has been a healing event for the community, and the economy. As much as we all hoped that would be the case this year COVID is reminding us that your life...

  2020 NC State 4-H Horse Program Cloverbud Curriculum Survey Hello Everyone! During this time devoid of live programs and events, the NC 4-H Horse Program Staff are focusing efforts on curriculum development. The first project that is being tackled is a new, state-wide curriculum for our 4-H Horse Program Cloverbud members (ages 5-7). To begin this process, it would be extremely helpful if industry supporters, and agents, parents, and club leaders that work with youth in this category would take a quick moment to fill out a short survey about areas in which this curriculum should focus (link below). NC 4-H Horse Cloverbud Curriculum Survey Thank you so much for your participation! NC State University and N.C. A&T State University work in tandem, along with federal, state and local governments, to form a strategic partnership called N.C. Cooperative Extension. Extension's 4-H program is the largest youth development organization in North Carolina. We help over 247,000 young peo...