COVID Leads to New Opportunities

 

This article was written by Shea Ann DeJarnette, 4-H Youth Development Extension Agent, for the Robesonian and Robeson Journal news papers.

If 2020 has proven anything, it’s that we are adaptable and creative thinkers. For example, this time of year I would be highlighting the Robeson Regional Agricultural Fair. Unfortunately, due to COVID-19, the fair had to be cancelled. So instead let’s talk about all the incredible virtual opportunities open to youth this fall. Many of these are set up as free opportunities available to teachers or parents; only a small number are open to just 4-H members. Want to see what you may just want to fall into?

Our NC 4-H Camps and Educational Centers put together a 7-part series of 45-minute educational sessions entitled Nature Adventures. This is a free series for teachers and families. You can register for the live or recorded sessions to make it easier to do at your own pace.

We are egg-cited to offer the 4-H Egg-Cellent Egg Contest to our 4-H members that raise laying hens. Youth will get the opportunity to learn what makes an “egg-cellent” egg and submit up to two dozen eggs for competition.

MARS Base Camp is the 4-H National Science Day experiment and comes with a rover, map reading, and coding opportunities. This is an exciting program we are offering to teachers and families in Robeson County for free. What child wouldn’t like to explore the Red Planet?

STREAMING with 4-H is an environmental education piece being put together in Hoke, New Hanover, and Robeson counties for teachers and families. This free opportunity starts October 1 with training on the series, then self-paced activities and lessons that fall in line with the NC Standard Course of Study. We are also adding three video lessons teachers and families will have access to, a live virtual field trip, and a nature arts and crafts contest.

We are also excited to let you know that NC 4-H is getting ready to launch a curriculum website that supports teachers with at least three different curricula and will connect you to our 4-H office for support on these resources. I know this seems overwhelming, but that’s not the end of the offerings.

Adult 4-H volunteers also have the opportunity to learn about the Head, Heart, Hands, and Health of Wellness as part of a training offered by the state 4-H office on September 30, 2020, from 6–7 p.m. For those wanting to improve their tech skills, there will also be a Kahoot! training on October 28 from 6–7 p.m.

So now the big question is, how do you sign up? Well that is easy, and there are multiple ways. Most of our registration is through Eventbrite. You can register through our 4-H App (download 4-H Now! from the Google Play or Apple app store, and when you open it, look for Robeson County 4-H) by clicking on programs, scrolling to the one(s) that interest you, and clicking on the registration button. You can also find all of our programs listed on our website or on our 4-H blog. It’s that easy to come and see what is fun, new, and exciting thanks to COVID-19 this year.

For more information, contact Shea Ann DeJarnette, Extension 4-H Youth Development Agent, at 910-671-3276, by email at Shea_Ann_DeJarnette@ncsu.edu, or visit our website.

Breakfast the Most Important Meal of the Day

This article was written By Joanna Rogers, 4-H Expanded Foods and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) Assistant for the Robesonian and Robeson Journal.  This article can also be found on the NC Cooperative Extension, Robeson County Center Page.

Why is breakfast the most important meal of the day? This is a question many of our youth ask when we discuss the importance of breakfast in the 4-H Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) classes offered through North Carolina Cooperative Extension. Students participate in a series of six lessons where they learn about the importance of making healthy choices so their bodies get the proper nutrients they need to grow and stay strong. Breakfast is a great way to start your day; it has many benefits to help you kick start a full day of learning.

Some of the many advantages of breakfast include being a great source of brain food and energy, as well as a great way to get most of our daily nutrients such as vitamins and minerals. In EFNEP, we talk about different ways we can make breakfast fun and delicious at home or on the go. Participants learn to make sure their breakfast covers three of the five food groups: fruits, vegetables, dairy, grains, and protein. Each food group plays a huge role in our bodies. School breakfast is a great option for students to choose when school is in session as it gives options that cover each of the food groups.

If school breakfast is not available, let us look at what we can prepare at home. Whole-grain cereal is a great place to start, paired with 2 percent milk and fresh fruit. Another option could be scrambled eggs with whole wheat toast and juice. Yogurt parfaits with fresh fruit, topped with crushed granola, is an excellent on-the-go meal. Getting enough grains in your diet can sometimes be difficult, but in EFNEP we show participants how everyday favorites can be great with whole grains. Here is a tasty grains breakfast recipe that is sure to be a crowd-pleaser:

French Toast

Makes 8 Servings

Serving Size: 1 slice

Ingredients

• 4 eggs, beaten
• 1 cup skim milk
• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon or nutmeg
• ½ teaspoon vanilla
• 8 slices of whole wheat bread
• 1 teaspoon margarine

Directions

1. In a large bowl, beat eggs with fork. Add milk, cinnamon, and vanilla; beat together until mixed well.
2. Melt margarine in a large skillet on medium heat.
3. Dip one slice of bread at a time in the egg mixture; coat both sides.
4. Place bread in hot skillet. Brown each side, about 2 minutes per side or until toasted.
5. Serve the toast with fresh fruit, pancake syrup, or applesauce.

For more information, contact Joanna Rogers, Youth Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program Assistant, by phone at 910-671-3276, by email at joanna_rogers@ncsu.edu, or visit our website.

NC 4-H Offering New Volunteer Trainings

 NC 4-H state office is offering the following opportunities for our adult 4-H volunteers.  All the trainings are free.  Please register if you are interested.

4-H Top 4 for the week of September 7, 2020

 Happy September everyone!  Hope you are enjoying a long weekend over this Labor Day.  It is Fall and we have several things going on so let's have at it.

-The deadline to register and drop items off for 4-H Artastic is Monday, September 14th at 5 pm.  registration can be found on our app under programs or you can click here to register.  This year we are excited to let you know that this year those who enter the county 4-H Artastic Competition will also get to enter the State 4-H Arts and Crafts competition.  This competition will involve us taking photos of your entry to send to state.  We are excited that the state 4-H office is offering this opportunity and look forward to having several items represented at the state level.  There is no cost to either competition.  If you have questions about this program please contact Wendy Maynor or Shea Ann DeJarnette at Wendy_Maynor@ncsu.edu or Shea_Ann_DeJarnette@ncsu.edu.  When you drop off your items Kareis Britt and Christy Prevatte will be able to assist you.

-The deadline for adult 4-H Volunteers to register for training is September 13, 2020.  The multi County training will take place September 14 at 6:30 pm over Zoom.  This is an important training and can serve as your two hour training requirement per year.  Please register on our App under programs or click this link to the online registration.  If you have problems with the registration please contact Wendy Maynor at Wendy_Maynor@ncsu.edu or Christy Prevatte at Christy_Prevatte@ncsu.edu or by calling (910) 671-3276.  

-We are excited to be offering two virtual environmental education training and curriculum for K-8 teachers.  Our local one is called STREAMING with 4-H.  this will be based on Project Learning Tree and will include a live virtual field trip, three videos done in connection with Forestry officials, and a natural arts and crafts contest.  If you would like to share with your child's teacher or take part in this free training you can register for the training on our app under programs or by clicking on this link.  This is a free program being done in connection with New Hanover, and Hoke Counties.  For more information please contact Wendy Maynor or Shea Ann DeJarnette at Wendy_Maynor@ncsu.edu or Shea_Ann_DeJarnette@ncsu.edu.

The other virtual learning opportunity being offered to teachers and parents is Nature Adventures.  This is a seven part series of 45 minute educational sessions for the fall semester taught by our 4-H camping professionals.  This is a free program.  The deadline to register is September 18.  You can register by clicking this link.

We are eggcited to offer a new opportunity for our Robeson County 4-H youth who raise laying hens.  The 4-H Egg-Cellent Egg Contest registration is open to all active 4-H members ages 5-18.  This contest will be to collect a dozen brown and or colored eggs by the deadline.  The eggs will be turned in and judged for quality interior and exterior and winners in the 8-10, 11-13, and 14-18 age divisions will receive prizes.  There will be mandatory virtual training prior to the competition.  Youth will also have to complete supplemental components before the November 9 deadline.  For more information and to register you can go to the 4-H App under programs.  You may also click on this link for more information and register your child by  clicking on this link.  Please note Robeson County Youth do not need to pay the registration fee.  When registering please click on the check or county scholarship option for payment.  When registration closes our program will pay the fee.

That is all for this week.  Please check our 4-H Calendar which you can locate on our blog as well as on our app for upcoming programs.  Also please download the 4-H app on your phone.  It is a free download.  Just search for "4-H Now!" and when it is download look for Robeson County 4-H.

Hope you have a great week and we are looking forward to seeing all of you soon,

Wendy, Christy, and Shea Ann

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Insta-opportunity for Adult Volunteers and Parents

 

ROBESON COUNTY CENTER Instant Pot for Beginners Tuesday, September 29 or Thursday, October 1, 2020 6 - 8 p.m. O. P. Owens Agriculture Center 455 Caton Road, Lumberton Explore the exciting world of Instant Pot cookery. Learn everything from the history of multi-cookers and tips for storing and cleaning, to different accessories that allow you to utilize all the functions and cook a variety of dishes. Healthy food preparation techniques and recipes will also be highlighted. There is a $15 registration fee due by September 24. Registration fee includes a cookbook and handouts. There will also be taste-testing. The workshop is limited to 5students per class, due to COVID-19 restrictions and maintaining social distancing guidelines. Due to limited class space, we will NOT be able to reserve a space until payment is received.Registration is performed on a first come, first served basis. To register and pay via credit card online please click here. Payment can also be made by check or money order only (NO CASH) made payable to Robeson County Cooperative Extension and brought in person to the Extension Center.  For more information contact Jessie Jones, Extension Food and Consumer Sciences Agent, at 910-671-3276 or jessie_jones@ncsu.edu. Accommodation requests related to a disability should be made at least five business days before the date of the event to Jessie Jones.  ‌ 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.

Interested in Taking Youth to Mars?

 

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

 

The Grow Box

 

Liz Driscoll, our resident 4-H Plant Geek at NCSU is sharing this really neat learning opportunity for your child.  This opportunity is the 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 to develop their science skills. You’ll grow plants together, search for seeds, observe pollinators, and get creative with the hands-on activities in each box. 

Every two months, The Grow Box will be delivered to your door packed with engaging, hands-on activities for your family. Inside you’ll find plants or seeds, tools for outdoor exploring, an activity book packed full of information including plant profiles from the JC Raulston Arboretum’s gardens and fun garden games, and a garden journal to document your garden adventures.

September's Grow Box program is fall vegetable gardening.
Estimated shipping date for September/October: September 16, 2020

• Enjoy planting vegetables and strawberries with your kids, discover how to save seeds, create fun plant labels, grow microgreens, and more!

Themes of the following months will change with the seasons:  

• November/December: changing leaves and propagation
• January/February: evergreens and cones  
• March/April: spring and pollinators

The Grow Box can be purchased individually – no need for a year-long subscription. Order one for the entire family or one for each child in your house. Just make sure to order by the required deadline to ensure that your family receives their box. Only 50 boxes will be produced each rotation, so make sure to sign up early! You’ll be notified by email when the box ships so you know to watch the mailbox for its arrival.

We hope that during this time of a pandemic, this will bring North Carolina 4-H and the JC Raulston Arboretum to your doorstep.