Youth & Family News

Five 4-H teen leaders and their teams have pledged their hands to larger service in the coming months as they implement the service projects outlined in their winning mini-grant applications. The West Virginia 4-H All Stars have committed $1,000 to support the five mini-grants that will enhance communities in Gilmer, McDowell, Putnam, Wood, and Wyoming counties.

Daisy Snyder and the Gilmer County 4-H teen leaders plan to create a sensory garden for the Glenville Genesis Home's residents. Research has shown that sensory gardens help elevate mood, improve appetite, and improve sleep. The teens plan to build flower beds, paint decorations, build birdhouses and feeders, and plant various plants and flowers. Snyder hopes to include additional 4-H members, volunteers, and 4-H All Stars in this effort.

West Virginia 4-H is excited to offer additional virtual 4-H Special Interest (SPIN) clubs for 2022. These virtual 4-H SPIN clubs will focus on different topic areas and will last between four to six sessions.

West Virginia 4-H is excited to launch the virtual 2022 State 4-H Confident Speaker Series! This four-part series will prepare 4-H members to go for the gold in 4-H Presentations! Youth will have the opportunity to experience developing a 4-H presentation from start to finish with support from Extension educators and previous State 4-H Presentation Expo gold ribbon winners! Prizes will be awarded.

Are you a motivated 4-H member who likes to create mobile videos and speak in front of a camera? West Virginia University Extension Service is taking the lead on developing video-based learning experiences focused on climate change and we need your help!

West Virginia 4-H is excited to kick off virtual 4-H Special Interest (SPIN) clubs for 2022. These virtual 4-H SPIN clubs will focus on different topic areas and will last between four to six sessions. Additional virtual SPIN clubs will come online throughout the winter, so stay tuned for more February and March clubs!

For the past two years the West Virginia 4-H All Stars have generously funded to eleven mini-grants for West Virginia 4-H teens/teen leader groups to assist in the planning and completion of a community service project through the My Hands to Larger Service 4-H Project.

The West Virginia 4-H Program is offering a pen pal program for youth of all ages to make new friends across our great state. Youth who register will be paired up with another youth to begin communicating with - either electronically or via written letter.

All 4-H members, parents, volunteers, supporters, alumni, families and friends are invited out to the Coliseum to cheer on the Mountaineers for our annual WVU Men & Women's Basketball Day.

4-H volunteers are encouraged to participate in an engaging volunteer opportunity with the Eastern Region of Extension Agents. These statewide virtual workshops will occur monthly from November through April on the second Thursday at 7 p.m. on Zoom.

West Virginia 4-H held their State 4-H Presentation Expo in April 2021. Six of the top scorers - two from each presentation type (Formal Speech, Demonstration, Illustrated Talk) - were invited to participate in the inaugural Northeast States 4-H Presentations Fest on Saturday, September 18, 2021. This event, led by Melanie Forstrom of Cornell Cooperative Extension, showcased the presentation skills of 37 youth from 10 states, including Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and West Virginia.