Get to Know 4-H

This article written by Wendy Maynor, 4-H Program Associate, will appear in local newspapers and can be located on our website at robeson.ces.ncsu.edu.

How much do you know about the North Carolina Cooperative Extension, Robeson County Center 4-H Program? Here are a few interesting facts: youth in 4-H are 20 percent more likely to attend college and more likely to be successful in their adult lives. They are also 20 percent more likely to get better grades in school and 40 percent less likely to engage in risky behaviors. Doesn’t this sound like something you would want your child involved in? As a parent, one of our most important jobs is to do everything possible to set our children up for success. 
Who doesn’t want to be successful, have fun, meet new friends, and learn along the way? N.C. 4-H offers something for everyone between the ages of 5 and 18. Youth will acquire skills in public speaking, goal setting, leadership, citizenship, self-confidence, and communication through informal learning methods. 

Recently, nine Robeson County 4-H members won gold at the county level competition in public speaking and presentations. They will represent Robeson County on the district level in June at Craven County Community College. They have an opportunity to win ribbons, cash, and represent our county at the state competition held at North Carolina State University in July. 

There are many fun and exciting programs where youth have the opportunity to learn through hands-on activities in safe and nurturing environments. Some children love animals, others enjoy gardening or shooting sports, while others enjoy being a part of a specialty or community club. Community service projects are an important part of 4-H clubs. Community service helps youth to understand the importance of giving back and building their community. 

The standards and expectations are set at a high level for our youth. The 4-H motto is “To make the best better.” The four values that members work on through fun and engaging programs are: Head, which represents managing and thinking; Heart, which represents relating and caring; Hands, which represents giving and working; and Health, which represents being and living. In addition, 4-H has a pledge that represents what each member and leader stands for:  “I pledge my Head to clearer thinking, my Heart to greater loyalty, my Hands to larger service, and my Health to better living, for my club, my community, my country, and my world.”  The 4-H Program teaches our youth ethics, responsibility, and leadership skills which they will use throughout life. 

In addition to 4-H clubs, Teen Retreat is a weekend leadership/team-building program that is both fun and educational. Summer Fun offers several specialty day camps and a week-long overnight camp for the adventurous camper. There are still spots available for camp. Another fun and exciting time for 4-H members is the Robeson Regional Agricultural Fair. Animal Science Project members show their animals at the fair competition and, along with other members, enter items into the art exhibit. 

Doesn’t 4-H sound like the perfect opportunity for your child? Register online today at 4HOnline and become a part of this awesome Youth Development Program. All members and volunteers must be registered online to participate or register for camps. 

For more information, contact Wendy Maynor, Extension 4-H Youth Development Program Associate, at 910-671-3276, by email at Wendy_Maynor@ncsu.edu, or visit our website. 

NC State University and N.C. A&T State University are collectively committed to positive action to secure equal opportunity and prohibit discrimination and harassment regardless of age, color, disability, family and marital status, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, political beliefs, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, and veteran status. NC State University, N.C. A&T State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and local governments cooperating. 

Read more at: https://robeson.ces.ncsu.edu/2019/05/get-to-know-4-h/

Children and Disasters

In This Issue: Ready Tips CERT & Communities Children & Disasters Financial Preparedness Important Dates

Ready Tips

Financial Preparedness Just like knowing alerts or building a supply kit, financial wellness is also an important part of emergency preparedness. However, about 4 in 10 Americans said they would not have enough money to cover a $400 emergency expense. National Financial Capability Month serves as a reminder for us to review our financial health. Follow these tips to prepare financially: Start building a rainy day fund by saving a little each month. Pay yourself first—when you get paid—rather than waiting to see what is left over after spending. People with cash on hand can recover faster than those relying on credit. Documenting personal property can make insurance claims easier. If you don’t have the right documents, claims could be delayed. Use the checklists in the Emergency Financial First Aid Kit (EFFAK) to see if you’re missing anything. Store your records in a safe place and back them up online. Encourage your kids to start building good money habits. Saving a little bit at a time helps them be prepared for all kinds of emergencies. Homeowners and renters insurance policies do not usually cover flood damage. Talk to your agent. Find out what is covered by your existing policy and learn more about flood insurance at FloodSmart.gov. Follow #FinancialFuture2019 on social media for more tips!

CERT & Communities

CERT Members Take Action: Financial Readiness Across the Nation, Community Emergency Response Teams (CERTs) help their communities respond to and prepare for disasters. April is National Financial Capability Month, and a great opportunity for you as a CERT member or program manager to organize and prepare your team! Many of us know that storing supplies like food, water, and medicine is important for being prepared. But how many go-bags include cash or copies of important documents? People with cash on hand can recover faster than those relying on credit. However, about 4 in 10 Americans said they would not have enough money to cover a $400 emergency expense, and many do not have savings for an emergency at all. Read more…

Wildfire Community Preparedness Day The National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA) Wildfire Community Preparedness Day is May 4, 2019. Wildfire Community Preparedness Day is an opportunity for you to take action on a single day by organizing or joining a wildfire safety project. These projects help you prepare for wildfires and reduce your community’s risk. This year, State Farm funded 150 projects across the Nation. Project ideas are endless and for all ages. Visit WildfirePrepDay.org for project ideas and tools. Then, share your community’s efforts by adding it to the NFPA’s project map. For more on wildfire safety, visit www.ready.gov/wildfires.   2-1-1: The Community Resource Hub Before, During, and After Disasters Join FEMA on Wednesday, April 24 from 12:00-1:00 p.m. EDT for a webinar about 2-1-1. 2-1-1 can be a community resource in both crises and every day. The webinar will discuss how to connect with 2-1-1 before an event. It will also explore how 2-1-1 can help make your community more resilient. Kelly Dodd, director of Western New York’s 2-1-1, and Debbie Costa from FEMA Region II will present. Register here. Community Hurricane Readiness Join FEMA on Wednesday, May 15 from 12:00-1:00 p.m. EDT for a webinar to learn about resources and activities that can help you and your community prepare for the 2019 hurricane season. Register here.

Children & Disasters

Summit for Service Learning and Youth and Community Preparedness In January 2019, students, teachers, and organizations in Guam gathered for the 2019 Service Learning and Youth and Community Preparedness Summit. The summit was hosted by the Guam Department of Education (DOE) and the Guam Homeland Security Office of Civil Defense (GHS-OCD) Guam Youth Preparedness Program (GYPP). FEMA National Youth Preparedness Council Alumna, Kiahna Espia, has been involved since the beginning. Read more…

Youth Resource: Gen i Revolution It’s never too early to start thinking about being financially prepared! Sponsored by the Council for Economic Education (CEE), Gen i Revolution is an online game that helps middle and high school students learn about personal finance. Students help a character in a financial crisis and do activities to achieve a mission. The 16 missions include budgeting, credit, risk and insurance, and more. Students can play by themselves or as part of a class. Teachers can also use the game as part of the Learning, Earning, and Investing for a New Generation curriculum. To learn more, visit the Gen i Revolution website and join the Revolution today!   Money Matters: Resources for Youth in Financial Preparedness As part of National Financial Capability Month, presenters from Young America Saves, Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy, and FEMA’s Youth Preparedness Council presented a youth savings webinar. This webinar shared financial tools and resources for youth, organizations that serve youth, and the public. You can view the recording here. Share Your Stories If you have a story, event, or resource you would like to share, let us know at FEMA-prepare@fema.dhs.gov.

Financial Preparedness

Unlock Your Financial Future with National Financial Capability Month Disasters can happen at any moment. Part of being prepared is understanding your finances and being financially prepared. Throughout April, FEMA’s Ready Campaign and the Financial Literacy and Education Commission (FLEC) are encouraging you to take action to improve your financial future. The more financially prepared we are as a nation, the more resilient we will be when faced with disaster. National Financial Capability Month 2019 kicked off with a Facebook Live! held on April 2. The event was hosted at Junior Achievement’s JA Finance Park in Fairfax, Virginia. Speakers from the Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration (FIMA), Operation HOPE, and Junior Achievement of Greater Washington discussed how to prepare financially for disasters. They also shared tips for getting started. To watch the recording, click here. More events are happening throughout April. See below for more details!

Twitter Chats Join FEMA’s Ready Campaign on Twitter this National Financial Capability Month! At 1:00 p.m. EST on Wednesday, April 24, @Readygov will host the Insure your Financial Future Twitter Chat. Join in by following #FinancialChat to hear from experts and learn about resources to improve your financial wellness through insurance for unexpected events. On Wednesday, April 10, @Readygov also hosted a Twitter Chat about planning and budgeting. You can still read the conversation and see the resources shared! Just visit the Twitter Moment here.   Money Matters: Resources for Youth in Financial Preparedness The Financial Literacy and Education Commission (FLEC) and the Ready Campaign presented a youth savings webinar on Wednesday, April 17. This webinar provided financial tools and resources for youth, community organizations that serve youth, and the general public. It included presenters from Young America Saves, Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy, and FEMA’s Youth Preparedness Council. You can view the recording here.

Important Dates

April—National Financial Capability Month Wednesday, April 24—Webinar: 2-1-1: The Community Resource Hub Before, During, and After Disasters (12:00-1:00 p.m. EDT) Wednesday, April 24—Insurance Twitter Chat: Follow @Readygov and #FinancialChat (1:00-2:00 p.m. EDT) Saturday, May 4—Wildfire Community Preparedness Day Wednesday, May 15—Webinar: Getting Ready for Hurricanes (12:00-1:00 p.m. EDT)

Mother Nature, Enough is Enough

  It might be our last day at camp but Mother Nature doesn't seem to care.  She started the day with another storm that had us move to our cabins after our pancake and sausage breakfast.  This did let us get the cabins cleaner, start packing, and maybe take a little nap to get rid of some of the exhaustion we have accumulated while having fun over the past several days.
  Finally radar showed a break in the weather and we broke bad.  After an early lunch of cheeseburgers and broccoli bites we hit the camp to make memories in style.  Two groups hit the pool and made sure the water was just right.  Other groups were making friendship bracelets at arts and crafts, learning about leadership and making planes.  Of course we had some youth who were climbing high on the rock wall and more youth working on their communication skills.  Within four hours we did it all, and camp store.
  So the great thing about the last day at camp is that we can spend our camp store money on anything in the store.  Don't be surprised if we bring home some extra presents for you like water bottles, key chains, flashlights, stuffed animals...you know the necessities.
  After camp store we went back to having fun at our activities.  Dinner was chicken tenders and we enjoyed a whole bunch of them with our veggies and french fries.  It was a great last dinner.  Of course we needed to get our energy because tonight's activity is the dance.
  We all got ready and hit the rec hall.  It didn't matter than it started raining because we were dancing up a storm.  To be honest not all of us were dancing, some were talking, others were wishing it would stop raining so we could go out and play games...but all in all we had a pretty good time.  The rain kept us from having our last campfire outside but we had one inside that wasn't bad at all.
  When it was all done we headed back to the cabins one last time.  After tonight we will be packing up to go home in the morning.  Just a few things left to do and we will be on our way home.  See y'all soon.