Throughout the summer, one would traditionally see 4-H participants at a variety of fairs, including the local, county, and state fairs. With the cancellation of the Monroe County Fair and the inability for 4-H to participate in the New York State Fair due to COVID-19 restrictions, it became crucial for youth to have opportunities to learn about 4-H, participate in hands-on experiences, and to offer 4-H’ers the chance to showcase projects worked on throughout the 4-H year.
In collaboration with the Strong National Museum of Play, Monroe County 4-H introduced 4-H Grows With A Summer of Play. This was a weekly experience that took place at the museum as well as virtually and at organizations and events throughout Monroe County.
For seven weeks, from July 19 through August 30, the 4-H program organized weekly activities for youth to participate in hands-on learning experiences that aligned with the museum’s theme of the week. Following the program at the museum, 4-H brought the developed activities to locations across Monroe County, reaching youth at Agape Haven of Abundance, Friendship Children’s Center, 490 Farmers Garden District Farmers Market, and The YMCA Center for Equity.
Youth participated in various activities, from weaving potholders to creating their own animal tracks, creating animal safari masks to building fairy house doors. A special week-long event, Down On The Farm, gave youth the opportunity to visit different farm animals every day of the week, including chickens, bunnies, and a calf brought by the Monroe County Dairy Princess.
4-H Grows With A Summer of Play concluded with a 4-H Smoothie Making Challenge as well as a 4-H Project Showcase at The Strong Museum of Play. The 4-H Project showcase gave youth from Cayuga, Livingston, Wyoming, Seneca, Monroe, and Wayne counties the chance to display 4-H projects that would have been displayed at the New York State Fair.
The program gave over five hundred youth the opportunity to participate in hands-on learning experiences and the chance to learn about 4-H in Monroe County.
The Monroe County 4-H Program is offered through Cornell Cooperative Extension to the youth of Monroe County. 4-H is a worldwide youth development program open to all youth ages 5 to 19 who want to have fun, learn new skills, and explore the world. To learn more, visit http://bit.ly/4hyouthdevelopment.
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