******* 2020 EXTENSION HIGHLIGHTS *******
Responding as Local Needs Changed
Helping People Solve Real-World Problems
Creating. Adapting. Responding. Extension answered the call to help communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Extension not only pivoted how we taught, but changed programs to meet people’s needs. This 2020 highlights report shows examples of how we responded using research-based information. Continue reading…
Gardening Increases in Popularity
Many people spent more time outside during the COVID-19 pandemic, noticing their landscape or starting gardens. Nebraska Extension horticulture staff, including Extension Educator Sarah Browning, created the GROBigRed Virtual Learning Series. Continue reading…
Stretching Food Dollars
Food security issues dramatically increased during the pandemic. Extension’s Nutrition Education Program (NEP) staff used virtual teaching methods, including Facebook, recorded videos and interactive virtual classrooms to educate limited-resource families on topics such as: Continue reading…
Promoting Well-Being
Nutrition, fitness and well-being became critical issues during the pandemic. Extension responded with new programs:
• NEP staff, along with City Impact, piloted the U.S. Soccer Foundation’s Soccer for Success program for limited-resource youth. Continue reading…
Benefiting Childcare Providers
One of Extension’s ongoing priority programs is professional development trainings for childcare providers, because quality childcare affects entire communities. Since many childcare programs temporarily closed due to COVID-19, Extension began offering virtual trainings at no cost. Continue reading…
******* 20,311 YOUTH ENGAGED IN 4-H PROGRAMS *******
Lancaster County 4-H brings life-changing opportunities to youth wherever they are: clubs, schools, after-schools/summer sites, camps and homes.
Resources For Youth at Home
When schools closed in March, 4-H staff compiled and created research-based, experiential online resources which youth and families could use at home. Resources at http://lancaster.unl.edu/4Hathome included activity handouts, contest study materials and horse judging lessons. Continue reading…
Schools Adapt to Remote Learning
Extension coordinates several school enrichment programs, including Embryology for 3rd graders and Nutrition Kits for K–5th graders. These two programs quickly adapted to remote learning with videos, web-based resources (including EGG Cam), Zoom presentations and YouTube live sessions. Continue reading…
Super Fair Focuses on Youth
This year’s Lancaster County Super Fair focused solely on 4-H & FFA youth participation, and was a blend of virtual and in-person exhibits and events at the Lancaster Event Center Fairgrounds. Over 400 4-H/FFA exhibitors showcased over 2,700 exhibits... Continue reading…
Sewing for Hospitals
4-H coordinated three community-service sewing projects to meet the need for protective gear for hospital staff in Lincoln. During the initial phase called “Hats for Hospitals,” 4-H youth and community adult volunteers spent over 543 volunteer sewing hours producing 778 cotton surgeon hats. Continue reading…
******* OTHER EXTENSION HIGHLIGHTS *******
Wellness in Tough Times Chat Café
Nebraska Extension’s statewide Wellness in Tough Times team — which includes Extension Associate Soni Cochran — partnered with the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Department of Child, Youth, and Family Studies (UNL-CYF) to pilot a Chat Café help line. Continue reading…
Solving Insect Problems
Bed bugs, termites, ticks, spiders and many other arthropods can cause nuisance problems, economic impact and public health concerns. Despite the challenges of the pandemic, Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County continued to offer insect and spider identification and consultation services. Continue reading…
Teaching Water Stewardship
Associate Becky Schuerman is Extension’s statewide expert on domestic water and wastewater issues — assisting the public and industry professionals. This fall, Becky taught a STEM activity to homeschooled youth on being good stewards of our natural resources. Continue reading…
Extension’s Volunteers Worth Over $460,000
Extension’s estimated 1,023 volunteers gave 18,484 total hours of service worth $461,545.48* to our community! Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County benefits from these volunteers who help extend the reach of programs such as 4-H and Master Gardeners. Continue reading…
Originally published December 28, 2020 -
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