4-H Adult Homecoming Weekend

WV 4-H Adult Homecoming Weekend

State 4-H Contact: Nancy Yates

This weekend is a time for West Virginia 4-H adult members, volunteers, All Stars, and alumni to:

• Strengthen leadership skills for working with youth in the 4-H program
• Connect and collaborate with fellow volunteers and alumni
• Celebrate service through the 4-H All Star Consecration Ceremony and recognition dinner for 4-H volunteers and All Stars
• Recharge and reflect in a supportive, inspiring environment

Workshops, recognition, and fellowship make this weekend a meaningful experience for all who serve and support 4-H.

WHO

WV 4-H Volunteers, All Stars, Adult Members, and Alumni (18 years or older) who serve, or want to learn more about serving, as volunteers with the West Virginia 4-H program.

WHEN

Friday, September 19, 2025 - Sunday, September 21, 2025

WHERE

WVU Jackson's Mill

PARTICIPATION OPTIONS AND COSTS

This year’s theme is “Choose Your Own Adventure,” and we are excited to offer you several options for participating in the homecoming weekend.

• $100. Full event with 2 nights of cottage/yurt lodging – Includes dorm lodging (cottage or yurt) and four meals during the weekend.
• $95. Full event access, but lodging not included - Includes four meals during the weekend. It is up to the participant to make private housing arrangements directly with Jackson's Mill or off-site.
• $65. Saturday only - 2 meals included (Lunch and Dinner)
• $50. Saturday only - 1 meal included (Lunch OR Dinner)

If your Event Fee is being covered, or partially covered, by your county or a scholarship, please choose "Submit and Pay Later" when completing your registration.

Check payments should be made out to West Virginia University and mailed to:

Nancy Yates
PO Box 6031
710B Allen Hall
Morgantown, WV 26506

Please include "Adult Homecoming Weekend" in the memo line of the check.

If you need to arrange other forms of payment, please email Nancy Yates.

*Discover Cards are not accepted.

LODGING OPTIONS

Participants must contact Jackson’s Mill for private lodging and will pay Jackson’s Mill directly for upgrades. Contact Jackson’s Mill at (304) 269-5100.

Private lodging will be limited this year due to the WV Lodge being renovated. Here are some nearby hotels to consider:

• Weston (Exit 99)
  1. Hampton Inn by Hilton (304) 997-8750
  2. Holiday Inn Express & Suites by IHG (304) 269-3550
  3. Quality Inn (304) 406-6019
  4. Super 8 (304) 904-4049
• Jane Lew (Exit 105)
  1. The Inn at Plantation (304) 884-7807

REGISTRATION

Registration will open on Friday, July 11, 2025, at 8:00 p.m. and close on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, at 11:55 p.m. All payments must be submitted by Thursday, September 4, 2025, at 10:00 a.m.

Registration will be handled through the 4-H ZSuite Online System.

Register Here (4-H ZSuite)

External Registration (No ZSuite Account)

Event Details

The full conference program includes leadership learning sessions/workshops, WV 4-H All Star business meeting, ideas for 4-H club meetings and activities, leader recognition, informative speakers, Council Circle, reflections, fellowship and fun.

The program is designed especially for adult 4-H volunteers to enhance the lives of youth across West Virginia, and to acknowledge the tireless efforts of our volunteers!

It is an excellent opportunity for leaders to learn about the 4-H program, gain leadership skills, get new program ideas, make new friends, assist in discussing future plans and renew enthusiasm for the 4-H program!

Weekend Schedule

Workshop and Activity descriptions

• Beyond the Book: Using Children's Literature to Spark Learning in 4-H Clubs"
• Children’s books can be powerful tools for helping 4-H members connect with project content, develop empathy, and build communication and critical thinking skills. This hands-on workshop will explore practical ways to incorporate children's literature into 4-H club meetings, project areas, and Cloverbud activities. Participants will experience book-based activities, review book selection strategies, and leave with ready-to-use ideas that align with 4-H learning models and life skills.
• Exploring Healthy Mediterranean Cooking
• The Mediterranean diet is considered one of the healthiest eating patterns due to its focus on whole, nutrient-dense foods and its well-documented benefits for heart health, brain function, and overall longevity. Learn more about menus, planning/shopping and preparing delicious options. Includes tasting opportunity.
• Hands-on Milling Class
• Learn how to run the Blaker gristmill and grind some fresh cornmeal to take home with you! Space is limited.
• Jackson’s Mill Makerspace Preview
• Explore the Jackson’s Mill STEAM Building Makerspace and discover hands-on club opportunities for your members! In this session, volunteers will learn about Makerspace Club options and see examples of youth projects like 3D printing, soldering, and the glowforge. You’ll also design and take home your own custom jewelry using our laser cutter. No tech experience needed—just bring your curiosity and leave with ideas to bring your club back for a creative day at the Mill!
• Putting the Health H into Snacks
• This workshop will provide ideas for healthy or healthier snack options at 4-H activities and events. There will be an interactive, hands-on component so come prepared to engage and snack!
• Recruitment & Retention = Engaged Youth
• Are you looking for ideas on how to better engage your 4-H members? Come to this workshop to learn ideas for interactive and fun 4-H club meetings, creative club project ideas, inclusive & adaptive activities, and much more.
• (TENTATIVE) Archery
• (TENTATIVE) Tomahawk Throwing
• Building Effective Teams for Success
• Participants will consider effective strategies which can be used to develop stronger positive teams on the club and county level. Such teams if implemented with fidelity will lead to stronger more active programs for youth and adults.
• Finding "Me" in Team: Using the Enneagram to Increase Self-Awareness and Strengthen Team Dynamics
• Self-awareness is the core of productivity and effective communication. When we can recognize our own traits as well as the traits of others, we can leverage each other's strengths and provide opportunities to work on tasks that they enjoy, which can lead to better outcomes overall. The Enneagram can help us recognize what motivates us and those we work, especially how that might cause conflict and how to deal with issues when they arise.
• Practical Parliamentary Procedure for Everyday Fun
• From 4-H clubs to Rotary to church committees and everything in between, formal meetings are a part of our everyday life. But running meetings, and using parliamentary procedure, can seem boring, burdensome, or even downright terrifying to many people. Join Chad for this fun and interactive session to brush up on your Robert's Rules and feel confident going into your next meeting. Be sure to bring along any questions you have, too!
• Tastes & Tales: Stories and Snacks for Kids & Families
• Tales and Tastes is program for kids and families that brings storybooks to life through food. Each session begins with reading a story, then participants step into the kitchen to create a dish inspired by the story. Tales and Tastes combines the magic of storytelling with hands-on culinary fun to create tasty memories.
• WVU Storybook STEM Lessons for Cloverbuds and Young 4-H'ers
• Discover two engaging Storybook STEM lessons for Cloverbuds (grades K–2), created by the WVU Extension 4-H STEM Working Group. This hands-on session will show volunteers and educators how to pair storybooks with simple STEM activities that spark curiosity and learning. Participants will leave with ready-to-use materials and ideas to bring STEM to life for young learners.
• WV 4-H All Star Executive Committee Prep Session
• Citizen Science West Fork River Stream Survey
• Take part in a volunteer citizen science project to monitor the health of the West Fork River. You'll get knee-deep to collect and identify macroinvertebrates and assess physical and ecological conditions as part of a WVDEP Save Our Streams survey. No experience needed!
• Walking Tour of Jackson's Mill
• Walking Tour of Jackson's Mill - join historian Joe Obidzinski as he leads a walking tour around Jackson's Mill where he will discuss history, interesting stories, and share neat photos and tidbits from the history of the Mill.
• Folk & Line Dancing (TENTATIVE)
• Service Opportunities (To Be Determined)
• ROUNDTABLE - Community Service Ideas
• ROUNDTABLE - Off the Grid: Building Resilience and Confidence in a Natural Disaster
• In August of 2025, a pilot camp, will be held in Tyler County, to help youth to learn how to survive in a natural disaster. At this camp they will learn the skills to help them become resilient members of their community, ready to tackle weather emergencies or natural disasters. This camp aims to do more than just teach basic emergency preparedness; it aims to instill a sense of self-reliance, foster critical thinking under pressure, and create a ripple effect of readiness across WV communities.
• ROUNDTABLE - Grab 'n Go 4-H Club Ideas

REFUND POLICY

Refunds can be requested until September 5, 2025, but will incur a $25.00 processing fee which will be withheld from the refund. Refunds can take up to 10 weeks to be processed and may come in the form of a pre-paid Visa card mailed directly to the registrant.

Cancellations and request for refunds must be emailed to Nancy Yates.

There will be no refunds for no shows.

WVU is an EEO/Affirmative Action Employer -- Minority/Female/Disability/Veteran.
In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, and reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs).
The WVU Board of Governors is the governing body of WVU. The Higher Education Policy Commission in West Virginia is responsible for developing, establishing, and overseeing the implementation of a public policy agenda for the state’s four-year colleges and universities.
Reasonable accommodations will be made to provide this content in alternate formats upon request. Contact the WVU Extension Service Office of Communications at 304-293-4222.