4-H offers free at home activities for youth in Butler, Carter and Wayne counties

Programs for 4-H in Butler, Carter and Wayne counties are using a grant from the Community Foundation of the Ozarks to offer alternative educational materials and to extend a helping hand to families vulnerable to the effects of COVID-19.

The University of Missouri Extension has created and delivered activity kits to schools and other area businesses, according to a press release from the Extension. Kits offer activities in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), gardening and pollination. In addition to receiving an activity kit, the recipients receive educational materials developed by the University of Missouri Extension in coordination with CDC guidelines. Topics include nutrition, and other information related to physical and mental health.

In Butler County, gardening kits are being passed out, Extension staff report. Each week the county is able to reach hundreds of youth with different gardening techniques. These techniques help youth grow their own gardens and become self-sustainable, staff believe. Kits are placed at the Dollar General in Qulin, Poplar Bluff parks department and Independence Baptist Church in Neelyville. For information on dates and specific packet information, please contact the Butler County office.

University of Missouri Extension of Carter County and Carter County Missouri 4-H Club has also launched “Kids Cook Local.” This cooking project allows children in Carter County, regardless of 4-H membership, to learn the valuable life skill of cooking healthy foods. Kits are placed at the Main Street Market, the local partner for this event, for pickup each Monday during their regular business hours, and at the Van Buren R-1 School District School Cafeteria for pickup each Tuesday between 9:30 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. Kits are also available for pickup at the East Carter Middle School each Wednesday. Kits include the recipe card for the featured food, and will include some of the main ingredients necessary for preparation of the featured food. During the month of June, children will learn to cook a breakfast food, a lunch food, a dinner food and a dessert item.

In Wayne County, STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics) kits are passed out each week. Every week, 40 kits are available for pick up at the Wayne County Journal Banner in Piedmont, while 100 kits are distributed among Greenville and Williamsville elementary students currently attending summer school. There are also around 10 kits available upon request at the MU Extension office located at the courthouse. Youth have made bird feeders using recycled cardboard tubes and used school milk containers. “Watch me Grow” kits is an activity that combines gardening and pollination while using science and mathematics. “Colors of light” kits teach youth the light spectrum.

For more information, contact:

Stephanie Milner and Kim Allison, University of Missouri Extension Butler County, 573-686-8064, milnersn@missouri.edu

Kelley Brent and Davida Pedigo, University of Missouri Wayne County, brentk@missouri.edu

Jennifer Williams and Diane Oesch, University of Missouri Carter County, jenniferwilliams@missouri.edu