by Heather Kent | Apr 17, 2024
Who doesn’t love a warm, soft pretzel? Did you know they are fast and easy to make? Pretzels are a yummy way to introduce youth to the science of bread baking. Following a recipe can also help them practice following directions and measuring ingredients. Plus….it’s just fun! In honor of National Pretzel Day, we are sharing our tried and true soft pretzel recipe, which is perfect for your next 4-H club meeting or a fun family night. Of course, be sure to note any youth with food allergies and plan accordingly! This recipe makes 12 pretzels, so you may need to double (or triple) the recipe depending on the number of people you have.
You can demonstrate making the dough, or divide youth up into groups of 4-5 to make a recipe of dough each. In addition to the ingredients below, you will need either a stand mixer or a bowl and spoon for each group, measuring spoons, a liquid 1-cup measuring cup, 1-cup measure for solids, baking sheets, parchment paper, pastry brush, oven, and pot-holders.
Tips for baking with youth:
- Create stations with all the supplies (including the recipe) needed. If possible, have a teen or adult for each station.
- Demonstrate how to measure ingredients
- Demonstrate how to knead and shape the dough
Ingredients:
This is optional, but you can have a variety of toppings for youth to try:
- Traditional-course sea salt
- Cheesy- nutritional yeast (if allergic to dairy), or cheese-flavored seasonings (like the kind you use for popcorn)
- Ranch, or any other seasoning you prefer
Instructions:
- Stir the yeast into warm water and sugar (or honey). Allow to sit for 1 minute. Slowly add 3 cups of flour, 1 cup at a time. Mix with a wooden spoon (or dough hook attached to stand mixer) until dough is thick. Add 3/4 cup more flour until the dough is no longer sticky. If the dough is sticky, continue to add flour (a small bit at the time) until it is no longer sticky. This will depend on how much humidity is in the air (this is a great science discussion!).
- If using a stand mixer, keep the dough in the mixer and beat for an additional 5 full minutes. If mixing by hand, place the dough on a lightly floured surface and knead with clean hands for 5 full minutes. If the dough becomes too sticky during the kneading process, sprinkle more flour on the dough as needed. After kneading, the dough should slowly bounces back when you poke it with your finger.
- Shape the kneaded dough into a ball. Cover lightly with a towel and allow to rest for 10 minutes. While the dough is resting, preheat oven to 400°F (204°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
- After the dough has rested, use a knife to cut it into 12 even portions. Give one portion to each youth, and show them how to roll the dough into a rope, or “snake” shape. Form a circle with the dough bringing the two ends together. Twist the ends and bring them back down over the circle to form the pretzel shape. Place pretzels onto the baking sheets and brush with melted butter and the topping of your choice.
- Bake for 12-15 minutes until golden brown and enjoy!
Further Engagement:
Youth who enjoy this activity may also enjoy the 4-H Breads Project. Youth can enter their baked goods in their local county fair or the North Florida Fair. Youth can also do a demonstration on breadmaking for county events, district events, or 4-H University.
by Heather Kent | Apr 17, 2024
Gardening is not just about growing plants; it’s about nurturing a connection with the earth, fostering a sense of responsibility, and discovering the wonders of nature. For 4-H youth, gardening provides a hands-on learning experience that teaches valuable skills, promotes healthy living, and instills a lifelong appreciation for the environment. After all, 4-H is about helping youth find their spark! In this article, we’ll explore five engaging activities to help 4-H youth develop their green thumbs and cultivate a love for gardening. These activities are perfect for a club meeting, classroom, or even at home with the family!
- Recycled Plant Pots– Make plant pots out of recycled materials! This is a fun and easy way to make small pots for seed-starting. All you need are some empty water or juice bottles and newspapers. Download the step-by-step directions.
- Paper Towel Gardening– Figuring out how to space seeds when you plant them can be a daunting task. Seed tapes make this easier, but they are expensive. You can make your own while teaching youth about how many plants can fit in a square foot of space. You will need 2-ply paper towels, school glue, a ruler, and seeds. Most full sheets of paper towels are about 1 foot square. You can do the math to determine how many seeds can fit on one paper towel. Once the spacing is determined, gently pull apart the paper towel layers and use a small amount of glue to glue the seeds in place. Place the other layer of paper toweling over the seeds and glue. Once it dries, you can plant the paper towel according to the depth listed on the seed packet. Below are a few common examples:- Bush Beans- 9 seeds per paper towel
– Cucumbers- 2 seeds per paper towel
– Tomatoes- 1 seed per paper towel
- Plant a Plant Person– in a paper cup, or a recycled plant pot from #1 above, plant grass seed. The pot can be decorated to look like a face with googly eyes!
In a few short days, the “plant person” will grow “hair.” The “hair” can be cut with scissors. Step-by-step instructions can be downloaded from Clover by 4-H.
- Planting Party– This activity can double as a service project. Choose a sunny spot at your Extension Office to plant a small herb, vegetable, or flower garden. Work with your Extension office to see if some Master Gardeners might help to demonstrate proper planting techniques, including digging holes, loosening roots, and backfilling with soil. Encourage club members to work together in teams to plant their chosen seedlings, taking turns and offering assistance as needed. Discuss the importance of spacing, watering, and mulching to promote healthy plant growth and prevent competition for resources. As they plant their garden, 4-H youth will develop teamwork skills and a sense of ownership and pride in their collective efforts.
- Garden Journaling: Encourage 4-H youth to keep a garden journal to document their gardening journey and reflect on their experiences. Provide each participant with a notebook or journal and encourage them to record observations, drawings, and notes about their garden activities. Prompt them to write about the plants they’re growing, the weather conditions, any pests or diseases they encounter, and their successes and challenges. Encourage them to take photographs of their garden throughout the growing season to track its progress. Set aside time during club meetings to review and discuss journal entries, share tips and insights, and celebrate achievements. By journaling their experiences, 4-H youth will develop communication skills, critical thinking skills, and a deeper appreciation for the interconnectedness of nature.
Opportunities for further engagement:
If planting seeds and growing them at home, youth can exhibit them at the North Florida Fair in several ways:
- Youth can take photos of their plants and enter it into Class 11. Photos can also be entered in County Events. Blue ribbon photos will move on to 4-H University.
- Youth can enter potted plants or dish gardens in Class 1.
- If harvesting vegetables, youth can enter canned goods in Class 6.
- Youth can create a poster to demonstrate what they learned about gardening (parts of a plant, plant varieties, what plants need to grow, etc). Posters can be entered in Class 12 and can also be entered in County Events. Blue ribbon posters will move on to 4-H University.
- Youth interested in learning more about plants can join a Horticulture Judging Team– the contest takes place on 4-H Day at the Fair on November 9th. The state contest is in June, and the winners go onto the national contest.
Gardening offers endless opportunities for 4-H youth to learn, grow, and connect with the natural world. By engaging in hands-on activities such as seed starting, garden planning, planting parties, journaling, and harvest celebrations, 4-H youth will develop valuable skills, cultivate a love for gardening, and make lasting memories with their peers. So, roll up your sleeves, grab your gardening tools, and let the green thumb adventures begin!
by Heather Kent | Apr 16, 2024
As the days grow longer and the weather warms up (but isn’t too hot), it’s the perfect time to take your 4-H club activities outdoors! Outdoor activities offer unique opportunities for hands-on learning, team building, and exploration of the natural world. Whether you’re in a rural setting or an urban environment, there are plenty of fun and engaging outdoor activities to enjoy with your 4-H group or as a family. This article shares five ways you can shake things up by taking it outside!
Nature Scavenger Hunt: Embark on a nature scavenger hunt to discover the wonders of the great outdoors! Create a list of items for participants to find, such as leaves of different shapes and sizes, animal tracks, bird feathers, or specific types of flowers. Divide the group into teams and set them loose to explore the surrounding area. Encourage participants to use their observation skills and work together to check off items on their list. The team that finds the most items within a designated time wins a prize!
- There is a native plant scavenger hunt as part of the Florida 4-H Bluebird project on page 9 of the Leader’s Guide.
- To make this even more engaging with youth, you can use iNaturalist. It is a free app from National Geographic that uses crowdsourcing to identify plants. You can create your scavenger hunt for your club in the app, and then families or teams of youth use their phone to take a picture, document, and identify plants or animals.
- If youth enjoy this type of activity, you might want to consider the Florida Friendly Landscaping Project or the Florida Youth Naturalist Project. Both projects guide youth through learning about Florida’s native plants and environments.
Outdoor Games Day: Organize a fun-filled outdoor games day for your 4-H club members to enjoy friendly competition and physical activity. Set up stations for classic games like sack races, tug-of-war, relay races, and frisbee throwing. You can also introduce lesser-known sports or activities such as disc golf, ultimate frisbee, or orienteering. Tailor the games to accommodate different skill levels and abilities, and encourage teamwork, sportsmanship, and fair play among participants. Don’t forget to provide plenty of water, sunscreen, and snacks to keep everyone energized throughout the day!
Wildlife Watching: Take a walk on the wild side and explore the fascinating world of local wildlife! Visit nearby parks, nature reserves, or wildlife sanctuaries with your 4-H club and embark on a wildlife-watching adventure. Bring along binoculars, field guides, and notebooks to help identify and record sightings of birds, insects, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians. Encourage participants to observe animal behavior, habitat preferences, and adaptations to their environment.
- Consider inviting a local naturalist or wildlife expert to join you on your excursion and share their knowledge and expertise with the group.
- Visit a state park to look for signs of wildlife. You can request a letter from your Local UF IFAS Extension Office to waive the state park entry fee.
- Clover by 4-H offers several easy activities to support projects that are grab-and-go. Wildlife Signs is an activity that is appropriate for a variety of ages. This activity helps youth make observations about the wildlife around them, and can be a great introduction to the 4-H Wildlife project! To access the materials, you need to create a free account.
Fostering Further Engagement
Florida 4-H supports several project areas that foster a love of the outdoors. If you know a young person with a spark for the outdoors, encourage them to explore a project related to Wildlife, Forestry, Shooting Sports, or Sportsfishing. We also have a Forest Ecology Contest and a Wildlife Ecology Contest.
With a little creativity and enthusiasm, the possibilities for outdoor activities with your 4-H club are endless! Whether you’re exploring the wonders of nature, , engaging in friendly competition, or observing wildlife in its natural habitat, outdoor activities offer valuable opportunities for learning, growth, and connection. So, grab your sunscreen, put on your hiking boots, and get ready to make lasting memories with your 4-H club members and families in the great outdoors!
You
Write a blog article about 5 activities to teach 4-H youth about gardening
by Heather Kent | Oct 12, 2023
Because of our mild weather in Florida, nearly every season is fair season! County, regional, and state fairs occur throughout the fall, winter, and spring in our sunshine state. However, most county and regional fairs in the panhandle are in the fall. Fairs are an important component of the project experience. They provide opportunities for youth to demonstrate their project knowledge and skills. Livestock shows, judging contests, and exhibits are three ways youth are encouraged to develop communication and problem-solving skills associated with their project. To help our families prepare for the fair season, we have curated several resources:
Livestock Shows- if you are new to livestock shows, you may feel a little overwhelmed. This article has some very helpful tips on making sure you are prepared- whether you are showing a large animal (such as a steer) or a small animal (such as a rabbit). The article also includes a downloadable packing list, as well as a list of supplies you may want to have on hand for a “show box.” A show box is a container where you store all of your show supplies.
Judging Contests– Juding contests help youth develop critical thinking skills. Fairs typically offer a variety of judging contests- from agriculture, livestock, poultry, horticulture, and even consumer choices. If you want to learn the basics of judging contests, check out this article and video. If you are interested in agriculture or livestock judging, check out this article for a list of free, downloadable resources and local judigng opportunities.
Exhibits– Fairs are a great way to show off what you have done throughout the 4-H year. From individual project exhibits to club booth exhibits, there is
something for everyone. Check out our family guide to fair exhibits to know which types of exhibits are right for you! If you plan to submit exhibits to the North Florida Fair in Tallahassee, be sure to read this article which is a step-by-step guide to prepare your exhibits for that blue ribbon premium!
4-H Days at the Fair– most fairs offer a special day just for 4-H families. On this day, entrance into the fair is usually free for 4-Hers and features several judging contests and events to support 4-H project work. 4-H Day at the North Florida Fair is November 12th. Check out this article with tips and information you need to know before you go to 4-H day.
For more information about fairs in your area, or to help youth in your county make the most of thier local fair, contact your local UF IFAS County Extension Office.
by Heather Kent | Oct 5, 2023
It is amazing how far a dollar can go- especially these days! Now through October 15, you can purchase a paper clover (or several) to help support your local program. Your donation will make a huge difference in the lives of local youth. In Florida, Tractor Supply Clover funds help send youth to camp and leadership events like 4-H Teen Retreat, 4-H Executive Board, iLead, 4-H University, 4-H Day at the Capitol, and 4-H Legislature. Don’t have a local Tractor Supply in your county? Don’t worry- a portion of all funds collected are distributed to counties that do not have a store so that everyone benefits!
Since 2010, Tractor Supply has partnered with 4‑H to raise more than $14 million through the Paper Clover campaign. The success of these campaigns has impacted over 81,500 youth by providing them with the tools and resources they need to develop leadership skills to reach their full potential. For twelve days each April and October, Tractor Supply customers can purchase a paper clover to help local 4-H programs. One hundred percent of funds raised through the bi-annual Paper Clover campaign directly benefit 4‑H youth, with most funds benefiting local programs. For more information about 4-H, contact your local UF IFAS Extension office, or visit our website at https://florida4h.org.
Dates for the 2023 Fall Paper Clover Campaigns: Fall: October 4-15, 2023
Who doesn’t love a warm, soft pretzel? Did you know they are fast and easy to make? Pretzels are a yummy way to introduce youth to the science of bread baking. Following a recipe can also help them practice following directions and measuring ingredients. Plus….it’s just fun! In honor of National Pretzel Day, we are sharing our tried and true soft pretzel recipe, which is perfect for your next 4-H club meeting or a fun family night. Of course, be sure to note any youth with food allergies and plan accordingly! This recipe makes 12 pretzels, so you may need to double (or triple) the recipe depending on the number of people you have.
