Several Live Summer Statewide Virtual 4-H Learning Opportunities for Youth will begin today! THANK YOU to all those who have offered to support these experiences as a program leader and/or team member, an instructor, a host, or other important role – it takes hardworking teams to provide such a wide array of program offerings across the state in a virtual format – your support is appreciated!
Additional Background Details (for Nebraska 4-H staff)
The primary “directory” for all Virtual and At Home Learning opportunities continues to be located at https://4h.unl.edu/virtual-home-learning. On this page, Live Experiences, Self-Paced Opportunities, and Activity Guides continue to be available. If you are interested in contributing to one of these experiences, more information can be found at https://4h.unl.edu/employee/virtual-home-learning.
The following Live Experience (real time, synchronously-delivered) programs will be offered for 10 weeks throughout the summer, many with weekly themed activities related to 4-H curriculum areas:
1) NEW! Virtual 4-H Camps
Primary Program Team Contacts: Sean Gundersen, Katie Zabel, Kali Tomlinson, Tracy Pracheil
Insights for our 4-H Staff: Virtual 4-H Camps provide fun, hands-on learning opportunities for youth right from their homes. Many camps are week-long, half day experiences. Next week’s camp: Virtual Vibes – 4-H Camp Style!
A variety of other program topics are being offered; several in-person camps, such as Big Red Camps and Imagine Science, have transitioned to this delivery and include focuses of engineering, ag and natural resources, teaching, digital media, and more. Also, through a partnership with Calibraska Arts Initiative, online courses focused upon media arts literary arts, performing arts, and visual arts, are being offered.
2) Boredom Buster Challenge | Mondays at 2pm CT/1pm MT
Primary Program Team Contacts: Andy Larson, Holli Alley
Insights for our 4-H Staff: Boredom Buster Challenge is back – this time with projects that could be a potential fair exhibit! Next week’s topic: Solar Oven Cooking!
3) NEW! 4-H Family Fun Night | Tuesdays at 7pm CT/6pm MT
Primary Program Team Contacts: Sarah Paisley, Tayler Wickham, Jackie Steffen
Insights for our 4-H Staff: 4-H Family Night provides guided activities perfect for youth and adults of all ages! The program is a collaboration between 4-H and The Learning Child. Next week’s topic: Germs, Germs, Everywhere!
4) Living Room Learning | Thursdays at 10:30am CT/9:30am MT
Primary Program Team Contacts: Tayler Wickham, Kameran Ulferts
Insights for our 4-H Staff: Virtually-guided activities continue next week during Living Room Learning! These activities focus on a new activity that can be done with materials found at home. Next week’s topic: Taste Mapping Sensor!
5) Virtual Field Trips
Primary Program Team Contacts: Sarah Paisley, Brandy VanDewalle
Insights for our 4-H Staff: Participants go on-site to learn more about science, agriculture, technology, and more! The program is organized by the 4-H STEM Careers Issue Team. Next Field Trip is scheduled for Tuesday, June 30!
In addition to the Live Experience programs, a NEW self-paced resource – a 4-H Clover Kid Fun Pack – will be released each week. The Nebraska 4-H Clover Kid Fun Pack is collection of timely, virtual and at-home learning opportunities. The activities are designed to be led by a parent, caregiver/babysitter, older sibling, or summer program staff member. Each week, a new Pack that includes 4 daily activities for 4 days (Monday – Thursday) will be released. The Primary Program Team Contact for the 4-H Clover Kid Fun Pack is Tiffany Sessions. Final information for next week’s Fun Pack will be updated on the web site very soon!
Suggestions for Promotion
Your assistance in promoting these opportunities is greatly appreciated! The following resources have been developed to assist with promotion efforts:
1) Marketing Toolkit
A toolkit to assist with sharing these opportunities with your 4-H families, volunteers, and your partners at schools and other youth-serving organizations, can be found at https://4h.unl.edu/employee/marketing-toolbox/virtual-learning. We encourage you to use the graphics and flyers that will continue to be added to this Toolkit. The flyers can be copied and included in lunches that are being distributed by school districts as a way of additionally connecting with families; they may also be shared with program supplies being picked up for other educational experiences that are being delivered locally.
2) Sample Email Message or Newsletter Article
Looking for summer learning opportunities you can do from home? We’ve got you covered! Nebraska 4-H is excited to share our upcoming summer virtual learning opportunities with you. All experiences provide hands-on, virtually guided activities! We’re kicking off our summer sessions on Monday, June 1, with a new Boredom Buster Challenge and our first Virtual 4-H Camp. Family Fun Night and Living Room Learning are also starting! Plus, Virtual Field Trips and the 4-H Clover Fun Pack provide additional ways for youth to learn from home.
Be sure to visit our virtual and at-home learning page (https://4h.unl.edu/virtual-home-learning) for more opportunities and resources this summer! Youth do not need to be 4-H members to participate or to utilize these resources. We look forward to learning virtually with you this summer!
3) Reshare Nebraska 4-H Social Media Posts
Please continue watching the Nebraska 4-H Social Media accounts (Facebook and Twitter) and sharing posts to your county 4-H social media accounts.
If you have any questions regarding the Live Summer Statewide Virtual 4-H Learning Opportunities, feel free to contact Tracy Pracheil (tpracheil2@unl.edu) at your convenience! Thanks!
More details at: https://4h.unl.edu/camps-centers/virtual-camps