Let’s kick off week 3 by learning about friends! Cindy Fitch, retired associate dean of research for WVU Extension, will begin the episode by reading us “Bear, Squirrel and Friends.” You don’t want to miss the surprise ending of this book!
Grab your pencils and paper! We’ll join 4-H Youth Development Agent J.R. Davis to learn about the 4-H pen pal program. He’ll teach us about letter writing etiquette and explain how we can become involved in the pen pal program.
Next, Kerri Carte, Family and Community Development agent in Kanawha County, will show us how to have some fun making lunch snacks. For this recipe, you will need flour tortillas, lunch meat slices, lettuce, tomato, cheeses—and cookie cutters!
“Whoo” loves owls? We’ll join WVU Extension Service Wildlife Specialist Sheldon Owen and Joey Herron with Herron Birding to learn about our feathered friend, the northern saw-whet owl.
Tuesday, July 6, 2021, 9 a.m.
Get your singing voices ready! We’re heading down to Camp Muffly in Monongalia County to visit with some 4-H’ers to learn the repeat-after-me song, Rick-a-bamboo.
We hope you’re hungry! Lauren Weatherford, WVU Extension Service Family and Community Development agent, will show us how to make some mouth-watering grilled fruit kabobs and gooey s’mores with a healthier twist. For the grilled fruit recipe, you will need skewers, blueberries, watermelon chunks, bananas, strawberries, pineapple chunks and cooking spray oil. For the s’mores, you will need graham crackers or chocolate wafers, marshmallows, hazelnut chocolate spread and various small fruits. Adult supervision is required for the use of the grill.
Next, we’ll slither on over to visit with Wildlife Specialist Sheldon Owen and Jim Fregonara, biologist with the West Virginia Department of National Resources, to talk snakes. We’ll learn which snakes are venomous and which are not—and most importantly, how to tell the difference.
Bring on the Mountaineer! WVU’s 67th Mountaineer Mascot Colson Glover joins us to answer some of his most-asked questions and chat with us about what it’s like to be the Mountaineer.
Wednesday, July 7, 2021, 9 a.m.
Anyone hungry for a warm, fluffy baked potato? We’ll start the day by joining WVU Extension Service 4-H Youth Development Agent Alex Coffman to learn how to bake a potato. For this recipe, you will need a cooking sheet, butter knife, fork, hot pads, baking potato, oil (2 tablespoons) and an oven. Adult supervision is suggested for the use of an oven.
Then, we’ll visit Evan Wilson, Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in Wayne and Cabell counties, where he will show us how to grow a potato in a bag. For this activity, you will need seed potatoes (with eyes), reusable grocery bags, garden soil, knife and scissors. Adult supervision is suggested for the cutting portion.
Get ready for some chemistry—kitchen chemistry that is! Energy Express Host Joel Brown will walk us through the process of making our own ricotta cheese. For this recipe, you will need a stovetop, cooking pan, large cooking spoon, strainer, cheese cloth, half gallon of pasteurized whole milk, ⅓ cup + 1 tablespoon lemon juice, bagel crisps, jelly or jam of your choice. Adult supervision is suggested when working with the stove and hot pan. Try your ricotta cheese in a dessert or breakfast recipe!
To end the episode, we’re going to relax with Visiting Instructor Kerry Gabbert and her son Sam as they walk us through some breathing exercises and partner yoga.
Thursday, July 8, 2021, 9 a.m.
This episode starts with a visit to the T&T acid mine drainage treatment facility located near Kingwood. Jeff Skousen, WVU Extension Service land reclamation specialist, teaches us how acid mine drainage is formed and how the water is treated before it gets released into West Virginia’s streams and rivers.
We hope you’re ready for a refreshing drink! Family and Community Development Agent Gwen Crum will discuss the importance of drinking water, instead of soda or sports drinks. She also will share one of her favorite infused water recipes that we can drink as a healthy alternative to sugary beverages. For this recipe, you will need a pitcher, oranges, pineapple chunks and water.
Next, we’re going to make a binary bracelet with Professional Technologist Joshua Meadows. He’ll walk us through the steps of the activity as he tells us all about binary numbers. For this activity, you will need some elastic string and two different colors of pony beads.
We’re going on a road trip! WVU Extension Service Wildlife Specialist Sheldon Owen takes us to his family’s farm in northeast Mississippi to learn about different types of frog calls and which frogs they come from.
Friday, July 9, 2021, 9 a.m.
To round out the week, we’re headed back to Tasty Acres Farm with our WVU Extension Service Family Nutrition Program experts.
We’ll join Amie Tutor as she visits Sweet Potato Hill to teach us all about sweet potatoes. Next, Amie will read “Carl and the Meaning of Life”—a story about an earthworm named Carl and his journey to discover the importance of his job to make rich soil.
Now, we’ll head to the kitchen where Susan Lilly prepares some oven-baked sweet potato planks. For this recipe, you will need an oven, knife, parchment paper (optional), two sweet potatoes, ½ teaspoon of salt, ⅛ teaspoon of pepper and nonstick cooking spray. Adult supervision is suggested for the cutting and the use of an oven.
Let’s get crafting! Tracey Valach with our Family Nutrition Program will show us how to make a fairy or gnome garden using found objects around the house. For this activity, you will need a variety of found objects from inside your home (paint, craft sticks, ribbon, beads, string, paper straws, wire), scissors, some type of adhesive (glue, tape, stapler) and a variety of found objects from your yard (twigs, pine cones, rocks).
The day wouldn’t be complete without some physical activity! Shannon Ritchie and her son Van will play Simon Says with us—physical activity-style, that is.