Fun Fit Hike

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According to the National Association for Sports and Fitness, children 6 – 12 years of age need a minimum of 60 minutes of exercise daily. The American Heart Association recommends at least 30 minutes a day to maintain a healthy heart. Outdoor exercise is just a trail, large yard or park away and a hike is one of the
simplest ways to get children outdoors and moving. Here are a few creative ideas to turn an ordinary hike into fun exercise:
Youth will need:
• Appropriate dress for weather
• Sneakers or trail shoes
• Bottle of water
• Healthy snack

Click here for the complete activity: FunFitHike-1yfyl2j

 

Reprinted from Ohio 4-H Cloverbud Connections – Spring 2008 Edition.

Source: Rebecca Miller, Hocking County Soil and Water Conservation District Education Specialist.

Cloverbud Activities and Events

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Cloverbud participating in Watermelon Eating Contest at the Greene County Fair . Photo courtesy of Xenia Gazette

Cloverbud youth can participate in most of the club and county 4-H activities. With a little thought and pre-planning, most activities can be adapted for all members.

Keep in mind the Program Foundations when planning activities and events.  These specific requirements are listed at http://go.osu.edu/CloverbudFoundations. Remember their activities must be noncompetitive, safe and age appropriate.

Cloverbuds are able to experience 4-H camp! This can be during the county overnight camp or a separate day camp.

  • Cloverbud Camp- youth may participate only in overnight and/or day camps that meet their needs
  • Cloverbud veggie car – youth make cars out of vegetables such as cucumbers, carrots, eggplants for the body and other vegetables for the wheels and decorations
  • Watermelon eating – how much watermelon can you eat
  • Cloverbot Challenge- age appropriate STEM activities
  • Cloverbud graduation- celebrating youth transiting from Cloverbuds to project age membership
  • Show and Tell- youth share their favorite collection, item, stuffed animal, activity, etc.
  • Demonstrations- recite 4-H pledge during county demonstrations to expose them to public speaking at a young age
  • Snack- prepare snacks for a club meeting
  • Thank you note contest- youth design a 4-H related picture to be printed on county thank you note cards

Cloverbuds are often excited to work closely with older members. Include Cloverbud youth in community service projects, gardening, and in club meetings. Have them lead the 4-H Pledge or Pledge of Allegiance at a meeting.

There are a few things to keep in mind when it comes to where Cloverbuds are developmentally. Activities should be age appropriate. The Cloverbud Program is noncompetitive since young children have a hard time understanding the concepts of winning and losing.

When working through activities, be mindful to connect youth with real life experiences using the experiential learning model (http://go.osu.edu/CloverbudFoundations). It is important to work with youth so they fully understand the concept of the activity.

Talk with the county Extension Office if you have questions or suggestions of activities to offer for Cloverbuds. Remember, you are setting the stage for a long, successful, and impactful youth development experience!

Produce Handling Game

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A perennial favorite with Cloverbuds in Cuyahoga County is the “Produce Handling Game.” It helps young members learn to identify fruits and vegetables, using only the sense of touch (and possibly smell). They can also imagine themselves as working in the produce department of a local grocery. If the right mix of produce is used, it can also teach members which vegetables come from roots, stems, leaves, or are fruits of plants.

Items Needed:

  • 1 recycled copy paper or printer paper box with detachable lid (the kind that holds about 10 reams).
  • pictures of fruits and vegetables from magazines, garden catalogues, etc.
  • small piece of felt or other cloth
  • variety of vegetables and fruits from garden or store (onions and ripe tomatoes not recommended!)

Instructions:

  1. Cut out pictures of vegetables and fruits, and glue to outside of box to decorate.
  2. Cut small window (about 6 x 8 in) in one side of box. Glue or staple cloth over window like a curtain, so players can’t see inside.
  3. Put produce in box where players can’t see what goes in. A good mix would be things like bell pepper, sweet potato, carrot, celery stalk, leaf lettuce bunch, lemon or lime, kiwi fruit.
  4. Players take turns reaching inside (no peeking!) and guessing one or more vegetables or fruits that are inside, using only sense of touch, feeling shapes and textures of items inside. Players can whisper their guess to game moderator so a not to “spoil” turn of next player.
  5. After everyone has had a chance to guess, take lid off and reveal what is inside.

Reprinted from Ohio 4-H Cloverbud Connections – Spring 2004. Authored by Greg Seik, Former 4-H Youth Development Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Cuyahoga County, Ohio

Summertime Fun: Cloverbuds Go To Camp

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No matter what the age of a 4-H member is, 4-H Camp is the highlight of their summer.  Cloverbuds can experience 4-H camp, too!

Camps for Cloverbuds can take place in a variety of settings.  Fairgrounds, parks, etc. may be utilized when planning your Cloverbud Camp.  Be sure that the facility will provide a safe and welcoming environment for your campers.  There should be enough space for campers to utilize their large motor skills in addition to being able to accommodate small group activities.

When planning 4-H camp for Cloverbuds, keep in mind their developmental needs and be sure that activities are age-appropriate.  Programs should be activity based and include a variety of short-term experiences.  Remember that Cloverbud activities should be noncompetitive and foster cooperative learning with participants.  Most importantly, activities should be safe and fun!

Whether you offer a day camp of one day or a series of days, or an overnight camp, be sure that you have the appropriate number of approved volunteers.  Required staffing patterns for a Cloverbud overnight camp is a minimum of one approved volunteer per five campers.  For Cloverbud Day Camps, the ratio is one approved volunteer per six campers.  A minimum of 80% of approved camp volunteers must be 18 years of age or older as of the first day of camp.

Make your 4-H Cloverbud Camp fun!  Come up with a creative theme and design your activities around that theme.  For example, a camp with the theme of “Nocturnal Nature” might feature activities related to animals that are active at night (bats, raccoons, etc).  “Explore the Outdoors” might feature activities related to trees, flowers, or animals.  STEM activities might be featured at a camp with the theme of “Wacky World of Science”.

Check with your OSU Extension Educator for 4-H Youth Development for policies and guidelines that apply specifically to Cloverbud Camp.  They can help you to plan a safe and effective camp for your Cloverbuds.

 

Left, Right, Center, Keep

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This is a great game to play with all ages, children and adults. I have played it with all age groups and it is always enjoyed. It is a great way to reinforce right and left, plus teaching fair play and sharing.

What you need :

  • a minimum of 3 wooden blocks for each group of 5-10 players
    (blocks need to be large enough to have a letter written on each side but small enough that all three blocks can be held in a child’s hand at the same time – these can be purchased in the craft department of many stores or cut out your own)
  • Using a permanent marker – write one letter on each side of the block as follows – one K, one C, two sides will have R and two sides will have L. So the blocks will contain one K, one C, 2 R’s and 2 L’s. I place the R and the L on opposite sides of the block.
  • 3 pieces of wrapped candy per player ( I like chewable wrapped candy as opposed to hard candy. Lollipops work well too! )
  • people to play

Instructions to play:
The players sit in a circle facing one another. Each person receives three pieces of candy. They place their candy in front of them. One person begins by picking up all three blocks and rolls these into the center of the circle.

  • For example – lets state that the dice rolled come up with K, C , R

The person who rolled the dice will then K = Keep one piece of candy, C = place one piece of candy into the Center of the circle and R = hand one piece of candy to the person sitting on their Right. The next person (go around the circle either direction ) takes the three blocks and rolls.

  • For example – this person gets L, L , C. This person would then hand the person on their Left 2 pieces of candy and place one piece of candy into the Center of the circle. The game continues. A person can be completely out of candy and then a few rolls later receive some from a “ neighbor” A person rolls the number of blocks corresponding to the number of pieces of candy that he or she has.
  • For example – one piece of candy – roll one block, 2 pieces of candy – roll 2 blocks, 3 pieces of candy – roll 3 blocks, more than 3 pieces of candy – still you roll 3 blocks as that is the maximum number of blocks.

Several circles can be playing at one time. I suggest having a teen leader or adult volunteer supervise each circle of players. The game ends when only one person has any candy left and the last two players with candy have rolled a final time. The person ending up with the last piece of candy is then allowed to take all the candy from the center of the circle and distribute it to all the players. With little ones, sometimes a small talk on sharing is needed!

Reprinted from Ohio 4-H Cloverbud Connections – Spring 2004 Edition.

Author – Barbara Phares, Former Extension Agent, 4-H Youth Development, Ohio State University Extension, Mercer County, Ohio

Campus Connections

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Hello again! Great to make this 4-H Cloverbud “Blog” Connection with you.

Have you ever heard the phrase “ages and stages”?  You probably have a good sense about what that means. Basically that kids at particular ages have general characteristics about how they think, relate (social), feel (emotion), and grow (physical abilities). Yes, kids develop at different rates and are certainly not the same, but they do possess general developmental characteristics.

Ages and stages are important for our 4-H Cloverbud program because it is designed with activities and structure to promote positive development. It is also why the 4-H Cloverbud program is different than the program for older youth. The characteristics of 5 to 8 years olds have program implications. Here are a few examples:

  • Characteristic: Short Attention Span = Implication: Activities are short in length (5 – 10 minutes)
  • Characteristic: Energetic = Implication: Engage kids with movement and hands-on activities
  • Characteristic: Hard time separating winning/losing from own identity = Implication: Provide encouragement in noncompetitive settings

As you are doing your great work as a 4-H Cloverbud volunteer, think about the “ages and stages” of your Cloverbud kids. In doing so, we can help grow their life skills.

Thanks for your commitment to the 4-H Cloverbud program as we enhance the healthy development of children throughout the state!

Ohio 4-H Cloverbot Challenge – June 9

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The Ohio 4-H Cloverbot Challenge gives 4-H Cloverbuds the opportunity to work cooperatively in teams to problem- solve using STEM (science, engineering, technology and math) skills. A new theme is selected each year and teams research a topic, build a working model of their solution to the Challenge issue, and create a poster to illustrate their findings. Cloverbuds, team advisors and families come to the Nationwide Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center in the spring, for the Challenge event.  Teams present their models and findings to a team of reviewers, learn about other Cloverbuds’ projects, participate in age-appropriate STEM activities, and are recognized at a closing celebration.

This year’s theme is the Cloverbot Astro Challenge and is scheduled for June 9, at the Nationwide & Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center in Columbus.

Event details can be found here: https://ohio4h.org/events/cloverbot-astro-challenge

ALL TEAMS MUST REGISTER by May 1, 2018: www.go.osu.edu/18cloverbots

Need a kit of blocks to get started?

Teams needing a kit may order one at a reduced rate thanks to funding from the Ohio 4-H Foundation! Kit Includes: a large brick set, a simple & motorized mechanisms set, a build to express set, and a base plate. Reduced Kit Cost: $165

Order Deadline: Checks must be received by March 20 to receive a kit at the discounted rate.

Get the order form here: https://ohio4h.org/events/cloverbot-astro-challenge

 

Recruiting 4-H Cloverbud Members

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Recruiting for 4-H Cloverbud members can be as easy as “ABC.” Here are three great audiences where you may find new members:

Alumni- Former members of your county 4-H program may be great resources for new Cloverbud members.  Because Cloverbuds is a relatively new program (started in Ohio in 1995), some former members may have kids or grandkids who could participate, but they don’t know about the program. Advertise Cloverbuds in your 4-H newsletter or on your county Facebook page where you might catch the attention of alumni. Provide them with basic Cloverbud information: age requirements, locations of clubs who have Cloverbud members, and upcoming county-wide Cloverbud events.

Brothers and sisters of current members- This is often the best source of members for the Cloverbud program. Siblings of members often come to club meetings so be sure they are involved in Cloverbuds. An excited Cloverbud can be the one who keeps a family coming to meetings.

Community families- If you want to take your Cloverbud program beyond your past and current families, use your local newspapers. Plan an event for the 5-8 year old population and publicize it in your community. At the event, make 4-H Cloverbud registration available so families can sign up.

When building your Cloverbud enrollment, keep in mind that one adult is required for every six Cloverbud members. If you are successful with Alumni, Brothers and sisters, and Community families in growing your Cloverbud program, you may also need to look at recruitment of new volunteers. It can be a vicious circle- growing club membership and providing leadership for the growing clubs- but it’s a great problem to have.

What’s in Your Medicine Cabinet?

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What’s in the medicine cabinet in your home? And why is this important?

Misuse of opioids, including prescription pain medications, is a serious problem in Ohio and across the country. Overdose deaths from opioids have created a public health emergency. In 2016, more than 4,000 Ohioans died of an unintentional drug overdose—more than car accidents—ranking Ohio as #1 in the nation. All areas of Ohio are affected by the epidemic of drug overdoses: rural, suburban, and urban.

Prescription opioids are found in many medicine cabinets, making them readily available. Half of those who misuse these prescription painkillers obtained them from a family member or friend for free. The prevalence of other drugs, such as heroin and fentanyl, is also a cause for concern.

The issues related to opioids are very complex. It will take an entire community effort over the long term to address the current issues and the underlying causes.

What can adults who work with Cloverbud-age children do?

  • Find out if your local community has a drop-off location for prescription drugs and disseminate this information to your 4-H families so they understand how to dispose of these medications properly.
  • Emphasize that no one should take medicine that is not prescribed for them or give their prescription medication to anyone else.
  • Have a pharmacist come to talk to the club about medication safety.
  • Do activities that help youth to be positively engaged in their community, as well as those that build their communication, social and emotional, and interpersonal skills, which will help them build a foundation to resist future peer pressure.
  • Learn about drug addiction and how it is a disease that affects the brain.
  • Access materials from the Generation Rx Toolkit developed by Ohio State University’s College of Pharmacy.

Resources:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: www.cdc.org/drugoverdose/opioids
Generation Rx: www.generationrx.org
National Institute on Drug Abuse: https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/understanding-drug-use-addiction
Ohio Department of Health: https://www.odh.ohio.gov/-/media/ODH/ASSETS/Files/health/injury-prevention/2016-Ohio-Drug-Overdose-Report-FINAL.pdf?la=en
State of Ohio Board of Pharmacy: http://pharmacy.ohio.gov/Pubs/DrugDisposalResources.aspx

4-H Healthy Living: Are We Practicing What We Pledge?

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With health as the 4th H and with a variety of healthy living projects, 4-H as an organization recognizes the importance of promoting and establishing healthy habits for its members. However, some aspects of 4-H have yet to embrace health promotion.
In 2016, a survey study was conducted to 4-H club leaders about club practices related health. The survey results below showed that although some practices align with health recommendations, the majority of 4-H clubs surveyed were not serving healthy foods and beverages nor allowing time for physical activity during club meetings.

Results:
• Over 90% of clubs served water and not quite half served 100% fruit juice (45.6%), but other beverage offerings included fruit-flavored drinks such as Kool Aid (50.5%), artificially sweetened fruit juice (36.9%), and soda (33.3%).
• Cookies and baked snacks were the top food items served at club meetings; fruit was the third most served food item, followed by chips and pizza.
• A majority of clubs (59%) hold fundraisers involving food items; top items sold were baked goods, pizza, and candy bars.
• Only two-fifths of clubs always and less than half sometimes allotted time for physical activity.
• Club leaders identified limited time, lack of interest, lack of space, and physical disabilities of club members and leaders as challenges to implementing healthy living activities.

4-H volunteers have the opportunity to help children meet guidelines for physical activity and healthy eating by regularly incorporating healthy living activities into 4-H club meetings. For example, to increase physical activity, try including active movements into already existing activities such as icebreakers and roll call. Try to keep MyPlate in mind by including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and unsweetened beverages as snacks during meetings. Finally, consider taking the 4th H for Health Challenge to jump start your club’s journey to healthier meetings.