RENO – Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and stay-at-home orders the Nevada 4-H Youth Development Program has been actively providing resources and programs for Nevada’s youth. They continue their efforts this summer with a series of online virtual summer activities to keep engage 4-H youth.
“Of course, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we had to cancel all summer Nevada 4-H in-person residential overnight camps, for the health and safety of our campers, volunteers and staff,” explained Carrie Stark, Nevada 4-H program director with University of Nevada, Reno Extension. “We know that 4-H summer camps are a valued tradition. So, in the spirit of keeping our 4-H youth connected with each other, engaged and learning, we have developed several programs that our youth can participate in whether they are in Reno, Las Vegas or Elko, for example.”
Some programs that have already begun, and some that have recently ended, include the Hygge 31-Day Challenge, the Cloverbot Challenge, and the Nevada 4-H Spirit Week, which was held in mid-May.
Current and future programs include:
- Thoughtful Thursdays, which began in mid-May. These are five- to eight-minute videos by 4-H staff of volunteers on topics that might be especially helpful to teens at home coping with the pandemic, such as how to express and manage feelings, exercise tips or helping with the family’s meal planning and preparation.
- Virtual Graduation Celebration May 31 – June 6 highlighting the graduating Nevada 4-H seniors and their accomplishments. Photos, plans after graduation, favorite 4-H memories and more will be shared virtually, online.
- An eight-week animal science-related project begins in June focused on animal by-products. Youth don’t have to be participating in an animal science project already to participate in this project; they just need to have an interest in learning about animals.
- The “Engineering and Design at Home” is June 15-19 for 11- to 15-year-olds. Students will be challenged to develop a purposeful/useful artifact from reclaimed materials, while exploring their creative abilities and reducing their consumption and waste production.
- The 4-H Pledge Challenge is also June 15-19 where 4-H youth will post photos and/or writings each day on the ways they are exhibiting the four “Hs” during the pandemic: Heart (things they are doing to show love and generosity), Head (creative ways they are overcoming challenges), Hands (things they are doing to help others), Health (ways they are staying healthy).
More projects are in the works for July, including a Virtual Camp Out, a State Communications Contest, a Monday Night Dinner activity and more. For more information on Nevada 4-H’s summer programs for youth, contact your local Extension office or nevada4h@unce.unr.edu. Or, in northern Nevada email chviliceks@unr.edu, and in southern Nevada email lunan@unr.edu.
