By RACHEL PIENTA
4-H Director
Each school year, University of Florida Extension faculty located at the Wakulla Extension office in Crawfordville offer school enrichment programming to all our area schools.
Programs include agricultural education, embryology, public speaking, nutrition, personal finance, horticulture, environmental education, civic education, and more. University of Florida Extension faculty participate in Project Learning Tree weeks at area schools on request. The Extension team can visit schools, help plan field trips, or host a visit to the Extension facility.
The UF/IFAS Wakulla County Extension hosted the Wakulla High School Exceptional Student Education Community Based Instruction class at the Extension facility on Monday, March 11. Some 27 high school aged youth participated in a series of mini workshops that included education on nutrition, basic food preparation, and the importance of pollinators. The youth had the opportunity to tour the Extension grounds and view Florida-friendly landscaping.
County Extension Director Samantha Kennedy taught a Family and Consumer Sciences lesson on the importance of eating a variety of foods from all the food groups, especially fruits and vegetables. These principles were reinforced through an interactive game about fruits and vegetables. The students then made yogurt parfaits using a variety of healthy ingredients.
Amy Frazier, from the Family Nutrition Program, led a session that helped youth to gain a better understanding of the sugar content commonly found in popular drinks and educated the group about healthier beverage choices. The session concluded with the group participating in an activity to create nutritious smoothies. The lesson emphasized the importance of reading Nutrition Facts labels when selecting beverages. Participants learned to assess and compare calorie counts, added sugar levels, and serving sizes. The Family Nutrition Program is dedicated to educating families and youth on making healthier food choices and improving their management of available food resources for optimal health and development. Program initiatives cover fundamental nutrition, physical activity, proper food handling, and economical food shopping.
In addition to learning about nutrition and healthy food choices, the students delved into important discussions about the crucial roles of pollinators in our food system and environment with Horticulture and Agriculture/Natural Resources Agent Khadejah Scott. One fascinating species they explored was the Mason bee, a member of the Megachilidae family known for living above ground and lining their nests with mud. These solitary bees play a significant role in pollinating fruit trees and blueberries. Inspired by what they learned; the students decided to act by crafting bee houses to support these native pollinators. Using simple materials like paper cups and handmade newspaper tubes, they created cozy shelters. Through this project, they not only helped preserve these vital insects but also gained a deeper appreciation for the intricate web of life in nature.
4-H Youth Development agent Dr. Rachel Pienta and 4-H Program Assistant were on hand to greet the students and staff from Wakulla High School, assisting the Extension team during the morning’s activities.
Annual signature school enrichment programs offered by the University of Florida Wakulla Extension team include but are not limited to the following:
4-H Embryology: Our faculty members support classrooms with equipment and curriculum to teach poultry science with an egg hatching unit.
4-H Public Speaking: Faculty provide curriculum, ribbons, and medallions for elementary and middle school-level classroom and school public speaking contests (formerly known as the Tropicana competition). A county level contest is held at the Extension office in Crawfordville in April. Youth advance to a district level contest in May.
4-H Ag Adventures: An elementary school partner is invited to bring 4th graders on the Annual Ag Adventures field trip to enjoy an educational day on a demonstration farm in Quincy.
Living On My Own: Financial education program that includes a facilitated personal budget simulation exercise. This program is provided to middle and high school classes by request.
4-H Day at the Capitol: School age youth ages 5 to 18 are invited by 4-H to spend a day in Tallahassee during the legislative session. Youth meet with public officials, tour the House and Senate chambers, and participate in a legislative debate and voting simulation.
School Garden Programs: In previous school years, we have helped local schools plan and install school gardens and provide age-appropriate curriculum for teachers to use with students in addition to serving as guest instructors and facilitators.
Grant writing support: Extension faculty can help teachers prepare applications for Florida Farm Bureau mini-grants, Florida Agriculture in the Classroom and/or School Garden grants.
STEM Skill-a-Thon(s): Extension faculty have resources to support science units with hands-on activities and more.
4-H Service Learning: Extension faculty can help teachers implement service learning with youth that engages students from planning to hands-on service.
Whether teachers or schools want a credentialed guest speaker or an expert program facilitator, Extension faculty are only a phone call away at 850-926-3931. For more information about local Extension programs, visit us online at https://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/wakulla/.
