Each year, National 4-H Week sees millions of youth, parents, volunteers, and alumni come together to celebrate the many positive youth development opportunities offered by 4-H. The theme for this year’s National 4-H Week, October 4 through 10, is Opportunity 4 All, a campaign that was created by National 4-H Council to rally support for Cooperative Extension’s 4-H program and identify solutions to eliminate the opportunity gap that affects 55 million kids across America.
With so many children struggling to reach their full potential, 4-H believes that young people, in partnership with adults, can play a key role in creating a more promising and equitable future for youth, families and communities across the country. “In 4-H, we believe all youth should have an equal opportunity to succeed,” says Kristina Gabalski, CCE Orleans 4-H Program Coordinator. “We work to support all youth in developing the skills they need to make a difference in the world.”
Monroe County
Monroe County 4-H will observe National 4-H Week this year by highlighting some of the inspirational 4-H youth in our community who are working tirelessly to support each other and their communities.
“We believe youth perspectives are so important and a solution to eliminating the opportunity gap, because young people come with new ideas and new ways of seeing the world,” explains Jennifer Sirangelo, President and CEO of National 4-H Council. By encouraging diverse voices and innovative actions, 4-H believes that solutions can be found to address the educational, economic and health issues that have created the opportunity gap.
Throughout the week, youth will be encouraged to participate in activities, which reflect the 4-H mission and goals. The celebration culminates with a scavenger hunt in Monroe County Parks. Families can follow along on the Monroe County 4-H Facebook page.
On Tuesday, October 6, Monroe County 4-H will be hosting two virtual Open House sessions so that county residents interested in 4-H may learn more. These Zoom sessions will offer the same information and activities, but there will be a morning session at 10:30 a.m. and an evening session at 6 p.m. There is more information regarding the open house, including registration links for each session, at http://monroe.cce.cornell.edu/events/2020/10/04/national-4-h-week-2020. All are welcome.
The community is invited to join Monroe County 4-H participants to perform random acts of kindness on Thursday, October 8. Recognize and appreciate the essential workers in your life by writing a kindly worded letter. One example could be to write your mail carrier a letter thanking them for their hard work and dedication to getting the mail delivered.
On Saturday, October 10, youth and families are encouraged to get outdoors and explore Monroe County’s vast and beautiful network of county parks. There are instructions for completing a family-friendly, family-fun scavenger hunt on the Monroe County National 4-H Week event page, http://monroe.cce.cornell.edu/events/2020/10/04/national-4-h-week-2020. Complete the hunt, share your findings, and receive an honorary Park Ranger award.
Orleans County
The new 4-H year began on October 1, Gabalski said, “With COVID-19 safety protocols in place, local 4-H clubs are beginning to meet again in-person. We will host our annual Produced in New York cooking competition this fall, as well as our 4-H Holiday Workshops. Two special in-person workshops are part of the National 4-H Week celebration.”
A Halloween Ikebana Pumpkin workshop is planned for Thursday, October 8, at 7 p.m. in the Ed Center on the 4-H Fairgrounds. “We will learn about the Japanese art of floral arranging called Ikebana,” Gabalski says. “Participants will then create their own autumn-themed Ikebana arrangement in a pumpkin to take home. It can be a fun arrangement, or it can be scary.”
On Saturday, October 10, a Bake and Bark Live workshop is planned in the Trolley Building at 11 a.m. The event will be an in-person workshop in which participants will learn how to make treats for their dog. Participants will get to take home the treats they make, Gabalski says.
Both events will have limited participants, and masks will be required. “We will also be practicing physical distancing to stay safe,” Gabalski adds.
Gabalski says she will be working to have poster displays in place at local libraries, and she also hopes to have a 4-H animal science costume contest on the Orleans County 4-H Facebook page. “Orleans 4-Hers can submit photos of their animal projects wearing costumes,” Gabalski says. “There will be prizes.”
This is a great time to join 4-H, she adds. “4-H, the nation’s largest youth development and empowerment organization, cultivates confident youth who tackle issues that matter most in their communities right now. We have opportunities here in Orleans County as well as at the state and national levels.” For more information, contact Gabalski at 798-4265.
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