4-H News Archive |
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Grant/Adams County 4-Hers Geocache and Map Fairgrounds
It was a day of technology and mapping out the future for a group of 4-H youth, their families, and the community in Grant-Adams County. Using Global Positioning System (GPS) units youth learned how to collect waypoints at the Grant County Fairgrounds. Read More....
posted July 2009
Former 4-H'er Becomes UW Dog Handler
A University of Washington student chosen to handle the school's mascot at football games had experience showing dogs in 4-H.
Read article online. . . posted July 2009
4-H Archery Family Builds Skills and Strengthens Bonds
Check out this video about a 4-H family in Pierce County. The entire family is involved in archery.posted June 2009
4-H Teens Explode with Talent!
Kayla and Rachel, both 15, perform at Meeker Days in Puyallup in June. The teens are part of Explosion Extravaganza, a Pierce County 4-H performing arts group, which features the best of Broadway, Country, R&B, and Pop music. Entire story.
posted June 2009
Ferry County Youth Value Traditional Ways
Members of the Keller 4-H Culture Club made their Native American dance debut at their Coming Out Powwow and Giveaway. Nine boys and girls were individually featured performing their chosen type of dance – Traditional, Fancy, Grass, or Jingle – before community members and students at Keller Elementary School. Read More...posted June 2009
Pierce County 4-H Family Rides the John Wayne Pioneer Trail
Horses are a 4-H family affair for the Nagy clan. So when the opportunity to spend three days together on the John Wayne Pioneer Trail came along the Pierce County family was eager to get on their mustangs and ride. Read More...posted June 2009
4-H Staff Member Receives Award
Betsy Fradd, a media relations and event planning specialist at the WSU Puyallup Research and Extension Center, was selected to receive the award in the WSU staff category. Fradd led her WSU Extension 4-H Youth Development colleagues in organizing a pajama and book drive to help underserved children in Puyallup, Wash.. Read More..
posted January 2009
Washington State 4-H Youth - Our Next Generation of Great Thinkers
In the first 4-H National Youth Science Day on October 6, youth from our state and beyond took part in an experiment designed to highlight how water-absorbing polymers, called hydrogels, can be used in environmental applications including agriculture, erosion control, soil management, and environmental clean-ups. Read More..
posted December 2008
Proof Positive-- 4-H on the Today Show!
Dr. Richard Lerner of Tufts University was interviewed by Meredith Viera about the 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development. Watch a video clip of interview at:
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/26184891/vp/29507206#29507206
4-H'ers Awarded Prestigious
WSU Regents Scholarships
http://regents-scholarship.wsu.edu/
It’s an academic scholarship that impacts lives for years to come. For 18 students involved in WSU Extension 4-H, their years of leadership, academic achievement and community service were recognized and rewarded with the WSU Regents Scholarship.
Read More..posted November 2008
Jo Simpson, a long time 4-H Dog Project leader in Snohomish County, is recognized in Reader's Digest for her work with Canine Connections. See story online
Special Needs Youth Thrive in 4-H
Being a teenager can be a time of self-discovery, mixed emotions, and gaining perspective in life. Being a teenager with disabilities is the same except it can also be intensely isolating if you feel left out because of your differences. Enter 4-H in Kitsap County. Clubs there have long welcomed youth with differing abilities and, more recently, two new clubs have formed specifically for children with special challenges. Read More..posted November 2008
Clark County Teens Receive Top Award at Eastern National 4-H Roundup
Five Washington State University 4-H teams competed at the Eastern National 4-H Roundup in Louisville, Kentucky participating in both equine and dairy events. read more..posted December 2008
Inaugural year of 4-H National Youth Science Day a success!
Watch video. . ..posted November 2008
Six Inducted into Washington State 4-H Hall of Fame
Six Washington residents were inducted into the Washington State 4-H Hall of Fame at the 4-H Forum in Everett on October 18. They were recognized for their commitment and impact on 4-H and their communities and their leadership to 4-H over many years. read more.
posted November 2008
Tri-City 4-H Rabbit Club Participates in National Convention
By Paula Horton, Tri-City Herald staff writer
KENNEWICK -- Rabbits and guinea pigs are hard not to like. They're soft. Some are super fluffy. They're fun to play with. And, of course, they're cute.
That's exactly why 13-year-old Miranda Menard begged her mother for a rabbit more than three years ago. "I wanted a rabbit really bad," said the Chief Joe Middle School seventh-grader. "But my mom said the only way I could get one is if I joined 4-H and took 100 percent of the responsibility for it." Miranda joined the Rada Rabbits & Cavies 4-H Youth Club and got Lace, a small Netherland dwarf rabbit.
"When I first started (in the 4-H club) it was intimidating," the Richland teen said. "But now I have 10 rabbits and seven guinea pigs -- a couple are due soon." Miranda quickly learned what club member and classmate Hannah Mowry had known for years. Raising rabbits and cavies -- the proper name of guinea pigs -- was "really cool" and addictive.
Hannah, 12, got her first cavy and rabbit on her fifth birthday. She now has about 20 rabbits -- she raises tans, velveteen lops and Netherland dwarfs -- and about 30 cavies. Both girls say they like cavies better than rabbits because of their personalities, but they admit raising either animal requires a lot of work and dedication.
In fact, all 42 Tri-City-area youths in the Rada Rabbits & Cavies 4-H Youth Club likely will say they raise the animals because it's fun. But they're actually doing much more than just learning about how to care for the small creatures. read more.
Wildcat Woods! Forestry Afterschool Program
For the past two years after school forestry education students at Weyerhaeuser Elementary near Eatonville have learned about forest environments and ecosystems on ten acres of logged land located next to their playground. read more.
posted November 2008
Alumni Spotlight
She won the Chesapeake Bay Retriever Nationals at age 10. Carley Simpson, a 4-Her from Snohomish County, quickly advanced and, at 14, went to her first Westminster Dog Show in New York City. . . read more.
posted November 2008
Pierce County 4-H teen Turns Compassion into Action
By Betsy Fradd, WSU Extension 4-H
There’s always been a place in heart for animals so when Zoe Stoy heard about the possibility of visiting polar bears in their native habitat she went into action. The 17-year old Pierce County 4-Her applied to the Polar Bear International Leadership Camp and then, in true 4-H fashion, developed a public presentation about the plight of the bears to educate others on their situation.
After writing an environmental essay and being interviewed Zoe was selected as one of 33 arctic ambassadors from the United States, Canada, Australia, and Demark to attend a week-long camp in Churchill, Manitoba – also known as the polar bear capital of the world.
“Polar bears need our help. They were declared endangered not because of their population decreasing but because of their habitat decreasing at a rapid rate,” said Zoe who is also president of the Pierce County 4-H Ambassadors.
Zoe’s trip included traveling in an enclosed Tundra Buggy to see polar bears and the conditions they live in. At first they saw a mother and two cubs from afar but, eventually, the trio became curious about the visitors.
“The little cubs came up to the Tundra Buggy and stood on all fours and looked right into my eyes. It was completely bone chilling,” said Zoe.
The camp experience also featured a helicopter trip to view the tundra from the air, several interactive lectures by environmental specialists detailing how climate change has impacted the earth, and creating individual action plans to best convey the information once back at home.
Zoe plans on giving several talks to 4-H clubs, at her school, and at community events to help raise the awareness of how to help polar bears. With her increased knowledge and new perspective she also has assuredness of conviction.
“I feel as if I now have the power to do things that I couldn't do before,” said Zoe. “Without this experience, these people, and this whole trip, I would not be who I really want to be. I know I can make a difference.”
Read more about Zoe’s adventure at: http://polarbearsinternational.org/student-journals/stoy/
posted November 2008
No Child Left Inside Award Goes to the Chelan County 4-H Forestry Education Program
Kevin Power's Forestry Education Program is the recipient of a No Child Left Inside Grant from the State of Washington. There is a terrific interview with Kevin showcasing the value of his program and experiential education for youth in general.
Listen (.mp3) posted September 2008
Washington 4-H Delegates Hear First Lady Laura Bush at Helping America’s Youth Conference in Portland
Learning how to make a meaningful impact in the lives of others was the message at the recent Helping America’s Youth (HAY) conference.
Two Washington state 4-H youth, Jessica Ubachs and Caleb Klein, along with 4-H State Teen Coordinator Jan Klein and 4-H volunteer Chip Taylor, were among the 150 people taking part in the conference in Portland, Oregon February 27 and 28.
First Lady Laura Bush and other speakers stressed the importance of mentoring youth and suggested ideas on how young people and adults can get involved.
“ I am now not only motivated to make a difference in the 4-H program, but to reach out to at-risk youth in my community,” said 15-year old Jessica from Clarkston. “As 4-H volunteers we need to reach out and help the at-risk youth that may need a relationship with another caring individual. These youth are not always the easiest to work with, but it's that much more important that we reach out to them open heartedly,” she added.
This was the sixth regional HAY conference designed to raise awareness about the challenges facing youth, especially at-risk boys, and motivate caring adults to connect with youth in the areas of family, school and the community.