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Reviewing Your 4-H Cloverbud Programming

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Portrait Of Excited Elementary School Pupils On Playing Field At Break Time

As 4-H Cloverbud volunteers and educators, we are always focused on planning for the next big event. Many times, we don’t take time to review our programs. The Ohio 4-H Clovebud program several resources that help with program delivery, curriculum, goals, and tools to help with evaluation. As your 4-H season comes to an end for the year, build in time to take a closer look at your Cloverbud program. Spend time with other club volunteers discussing their activities and events. Sometimes we get so busy throughout the season, we plan activities for the “wow” factor instead of selecting the best hands-on educational activities for our Cloverbud members. Not that we can’t bring in fun age-appropriate activities, but we need to provide and teach the Ohio 4-H Cloverbud program curriculum to our Cloverbud 4-H members.

So where do you start? As you reflect on your 4-H club season, think about each one of your meetings and activities. The Cloverbud program should explore areas of healthy lifestyle, earth/environment, citizenship, plants and animals, consumerism and family science, science and technology, personal development, and community expressive arts. The primary goal of the Cloverbud program is to promote children’s healthy development—mentally, physically, socially, and emotionally. The program should be fun and positive, leader-directed, activity-based, noncompetitive, success-oriented, and group-centered for youth aged 5 and in kindergarten until they reach age 8 and in the third grade. Did the programs that you provided follow the goals of the Ohio 4-H program and did your programming create an environment for Cloverbud members to develop self-understanding (self-esteem), social interaction skills (getting along with others), decision-making skills, learning skills (learning how to learn), and mastering physical skills?

Here are a few Ohio 4-H Cloverbud Guidelines to help make sure you are on track. One of the best ways to start evaluating the program is asking yourself, where did you get your club resources? Often volunteers search online for activities instead of using Ohio 4-H resources. The Ohio 4-H program has done the hard part for you. Visit ohio4h.org/cloverbudresources for information on the 4-H Cloverbud Volunteer Guidebook, The Big Book of 4-H Cloverbud Activities, My 4-H Cloverbud Year, activities, kits, and extra materials used to support Cloverbud programming. Check with your county Ohio State University Extension Office to see if there are free resources, books, or kits for Cloverbud volunteers. 4-H Volunteers must use the Ohio 4-H Cloverbud curriculum when working with Cloverbud members. To use any lesson other than the Cloverbud curriculum, you must submit a written lesson plan for approval to your county 4-H professional.

Did you have a minimum of two youth ages 5-8 and one officially trained Cloverbud volunteer? This can be tricky especially with 4-H clubs with only a few Cloverbud age members. Sometimes it’s hard to have at least two Cloverbuds, so effective communication and planning can help get full participation. There must be a ratio of at least one 4-H volunteer for each six Cloverbud youth.

How often did you meet? Cloverbuds meet a minimum of six times throughout the operating year. The operating year will begin October 1 and end September 31. Offering more than six meetings will help your busy members meet the state requirement.

A great resource is the 4-H Cloverbud Program Foundations available online, ohio4h.org/sites/ohio4h/files/imce/Families/4H%20Cloverbud%20Program%20Foundations%202.20.15.pdf. This tool explains the 10 foundations of the Cloverbud program. Another awesome resource is the Ohio 4-H Cloverbud Program table shown below. This reference will help you be sure each one of your activities is best matched for Cloverbud-age members. This helps separate project members versus Cloverbud members, as well as explain criteria for fair, camp, and animal activities.

 

Utilizing these helpful guidelines and tools when reviewing your 4-H Cloverbud programming will help ensure that your members are receiving curriculum designed just for them. The Ohio 4-H program has developed curriculum, tools, and resources to help you enjoy your role as an Ohio 4-H Coverbud volunteer. For more information contact your county Ohio State University Extension Office or visit ohio4h.org/cloverbudresources.

Get Excited for Fall with this STEM Activity!

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STEM activities are a great way to introduce Cloverbuds to the world of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. By participating in hands-on STEM activities, children can learn problem- solving skills, creativity, and decision making skills.

Using the season to build activities around a theme engages Cloverbuds and connects them to real world experiences. Try this favorite Fall-themed STEM activity with your Cloverbuds at your next meeting.

Mini Pumpkin Volcano

Materials Picture of a Mini Pumpkin Volcano made with baking soda, food coloring, and vinegarNeeded:

  • Mini Pumpkin
  • Baking Soda
  • Vinegar
  • Dish soap
  • Food Coloring
  • Spoon
  • Measuring Cup
  • Tray or paper (for the mess)

What to Do:

  1. Cut the stem area of the pumpkin, keeping the opening smaller.
  2. Clean out the seeds.
  3. Place the pumpkin on the tray or paper.
  4. Add 3 to 4 spoons of baking soda to each pumpkin. Add a few drops of dish soap, and a few drops of food coloring.
  5. Pour vinegar into a bowl and have the Cloverbud use a measuring cup to pour vinegar into the pumpkin. Watch as the pumpkin erupts!

To make your pumpkin volcano even more interesting, carve the pumpkin like a jack-o-lantern and watch the eruption from different angles of the pumpkin.

Check out the Cloverbud Connections Pumpkin STEM and the Pumpkin Ideas for Autumn 4-H Cloverbud Activities blogs for more pumpkin and fall ideas to use with your Cloverbuds.

 

Pile of mini pumpkins

Sources:

https://littlebinsforlittlehands.com/mini-pumpkin-volcanos-fall-science-experiment/

https://www.kindergartenworksheetsandgames.com/pumpkin-volcano-science-experiments/

Photos from Adobe Stock

 

Fall Fun with Cloverbuds

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Autumn is here! Temperatures are getting cooler and days are getting shorter. Fall is a favorite of many families. There are so many things to enjoy about the fall, but what happens when chilly and rainy days upset your plans for a sun-filled perfect autumn day? Most of the following activities can be done inside, with warm dry clothes, still creating seasonal memories with your Cloverbuds.

Rainy Weather? Go out Anyway! In his 1973 book, “Coast to Coast”, Alfred Wainwright wrote “There’s no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing.” Sometimes, rainy days make the best days outdoors. Popular outdoor areas, like pumpkin patches, the zoo, and the parks see a reduced attendance rate on less than picture perfect days, so you’ll have smaller crowds. Places like the zoo or aquarium have interspersed buildings that can provide a quick place to duck in if the weather is especially blustery. If you’re looking for an inexpensive outdoor experience, local metro parks or your own backyard are the perfect solution. Take your Cloverbuds (be sure to tell parents in advance so they can dress their Cloverbud for the weather) on a wet weather scavenger hunt for the biggest and smallest puddle, see who can create the biggest splash, find animals tracks in the mud, or make leaf boats to float. A bonus of parks and trails is gathering fallen leaves or materials to use to make art but be sure to leave the wildflowers for others to enjoy. (Know and follow your local park guidelines. Some have policies that state the only thing you should take is pictures.) So be prepared for a little rain and a little mud. Pack that extra change of clothing, strap on those rainboots, grab the raincoat, and enjoy the wet weather!

Looking for indoor activities to use with your Cloverbuds this fall? If you have leaves available in your backyard (or collected after a hike), use them to make some amazing works of art. Leaves can be used to make a nature art frame, or used outside for games and activities. Fall wildflowers such as ironweed and goldenrod make beautiful backgrounds for your frame too.

Thinking ahead to upcoming holidays, floral arrangements or wreaths make excellent indoor activities. Using materials from the discount store and hot glue, fun fall decorations can be made with budget friendly materials. Cut the center out of a paper plate and glue leaves and pinecones around the edges for a fall look or go spooky with tissue ghosts and black construction paper handprints.

Homemade play dough never goes out of style and can be used more than once if it is stored properly. Check your spice cabinet and add cinnamon, pumpkin or apple pie spice, or nutmeg to create a fragrant hands-on fall theme play day! Be sure to tell Cloverbuds not to eat the homemade play dough.

Carve pumpkins and use the seeds to make a salty snack or dye them and use for counting, making patterns, color sorting or creating seasonal art! Learn how to dye the harvested seeds and find a list of STEAM seed activities here.

Don’t forget to check out the Great Lakes Great Apple Crunch in a few weeks to register those apple crunches for Ohio which helps celebrate October as Farm to School month. Every tasty bite counts!

Resources:

childsplayabc.wordpress.com/2021/06/06/leaf-boats-and-rafts/

honeyandlime.co/fall-leaves-wreath-craft-for-kids/

munchkinfunathome.com/arts/playdough

messylittlemonster.com/2020/10/how-to-dye-pumpkin-seeds.html

Preparing Your Cloverbud for a Successful Return to School

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This fall my oldest child, who is a newer teacher, will be welcoming a classroom of kindergarteners. I remember when I sent her off to school for the first time and the mix of emotions that comes with that milestone event. Change can be stressful for young children. When my son and a good friend started kindergarten, I was the drop off person. I ended up spending the entire morning sitting with my son’s friend because of the difficulty he had transitioning to this new environment. We reminisced about this recently as they graduated together from the same college. That first day of kindergarten was a rough one but they both made it to college graduation! This all started me thinking about what parents can do to help younger elementary children, particularly kindergarteners, have a successful school year.

PBS shares tips for parents related to change at school. One is to talk to children about their feelings when doing something new – like starting school. Sometimes these discussions with our children can point out the truth of what they are worrying about. As a parent, we may think our child is worried about making friends when really, they are worried about where the bathroom is or how they are getting home. The PBS article points out that when we do not talk about things with our children, they will use their imagination to fill in the gaps. Sometimes they will imagine the worst.

Having open discussions with your child about what to expect can help with the stress of something new. Explain what will happen, how the day will work, who else will be there. We learned early on with our son that explaining what to expect helped him deal with change. Even after the school year starts, continue to have these conversations. What is something you are excited about today? What is something that is making you nervous? Do you have any questions about anything? This open communication will help your child will allow them to know that you want to hear about the what is happening with them – both good and bad.

Sometimes when our children talk to us, it is tempting to minimize their feelings. Another tip that PBS shares is to allow your children to express their feelings. When we have empathy towards our children and listen to them, we let them know that emotions are normal. It is okay to be sad, angry, nervous and everything else that might come with navigating the school year. You can validate your child’s feelings with responses like:

  • “That sounds tough.”
  • “That is so frustrating.”
  • “If that happened to me, I would be sad, too!”

As parents, we also must remember that children cannot always name their feelings. Crying, yelling, withdrawal, acting out and regression can also be signs that something is wrong, and they need help. When my son was younger, he went through a couple weeks where he was saying not very nice things to his dad, sister, and me. At first, I thought it was that behavior that we needed to address. After some reflection, his dad and I realized that this verbal aggression was the outcome of something he was struggling with inside. Once we addressed that issue, things calmed down. It was a good lesson for me as a parent to take the time and ask questions to get to the heart of the problem.

Another great suggestion from the PBS article is to be sure that we, as parents, are aware of our own emotions. Our children are aware of our emotions and how we react can influence them. If our children see that we are not too worried about something, they will think that everything is going to be alright.

What are other practical ways that we can help children as they transition back to school? Research tells us that routines are important to children. Providing your child with predictable routines can help them feel more comfortable. Consider having regular times for meals, homework, and bedtime. Consider building fun evening routines that include time for fun and time together as a family. Make sure that your child gets a good night’s sleep.

Communicate with your child’s teacher as appropriate. Teachers see you child in a variety of situations. They can not only share with you about academic progress but also about many other parts of your child’s school experience. In elementary school, one of the questions I always asked teachers was about my children’s social growth. Did they have friends to play with on the playground or sit with at lunch? How did they interact with their peers? Your child’s teacher can be a great support.

Connecting with teachers and the school can be a great way to support your child and a way for you to meet other parents. The Centers for Disease Control suggests that “when parents participate in their child’s school activities, kids get better grades, choose healthier behaviors, and have better socials.” How can you get involved? Ask your child’s teacher how you can help in the classroom. You might be able to help a teacher prep supplies for lessons, cut out classroom decorations, or help with classroom activities. As your child gets more involved in school activities, attend those activities. Join the organizations that support your school – a PTO, Music Boosters, etc. Use your talents and interests to enhance what your child’s school offers.

Other ideas as your child goes back to school.

  • Keep transportation consistent – For kindergarteners especially, where everything is new and can be confusing, keeping transportation consistent can help them feel comfortable and confident.
  • Have a transition object – If your child is nervous about school, have something small that they can keep in their pocket or backpack to help decrease anxiety. It might be a family picture, small stuffed animal, or a favorite toy. Communicate with your child’s teacher about this object because you do not want it to become a distraction in the classroom.
  • Create a goodbye ritual – Remembering that children like routines, a goodbye ritual is a great way to consistently start the day. Have a special wave, handshake, or phrase.
  • Help them make friends – As the school year starts, consider scheduling a play date with other students in your child’s class.
  • Read books about school – Reading together as a family is a great way to build literacy. Include books about back to school. Some titles include: The Night Before Kindergarten, Llama, Llama Misses Mama, David Goes to School or Pete the Cat: Rocking in My School Shoes.

Ask open ended questions to find out about your child’s day. This allows for more conversation. I still try to practice this with my 21-year-old son. If I just ask how his day was, the answer I get “fine” and the conversation ends. Here are some examples to ask your child:

  • What did you learn today?
  • Who did you sit with at lunch?
  • What was the best thing that happened today?
  • What was the worst part of school today?
  • What was a rule that was hard to follow?

Going back to school is exciting and sometimes scary all at the same time. When we as parents, help our children with the transition back to the classroom, we can help them be successful.

References

Back to School: Ideas for Parent Involvement. (2023, August 9). Retrieved from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. cdc.gov/healthyschools/features/B2S.htm

Dowty, A. (n.d.). Helping Your Kindergartener Adjust to School. Retrieved from Family Health Clinic. familyhconline.com/helping-your-kindergartener-adjust-to-school/

Farmer, D. (2022, January 11). Helpng Kids Handle Change at School. Retrieved from PBS Kids. pbs.org/parents/thrive/helping-kids-handle-change-at-school

 

Cloverbuds and School Lunches

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Welcome Back to School

 Welcome Back to School surrounded by several different colored pencils in bright colors

Fall is rapidly approaching and that means the beginning of school is right around the corner. This is such an exciting time for your Cloverbud! A new classroom and teacher, and an opportunity to sit with friends and enjoy lunch together.

Many parents struggle with questions about school lunches. Sometimes it’s difficult to decide what to pack. Should your Cloverbud buy lunch, or should they pack? Do you have time to pack their lunch each day? Plus, it can be difficult to come up with healthy foods they will eat. Then there’s the challenge of packing food that will taste good hours later. You need to consider food safety, food allergies, picky eaters, short lunch periods, and not wanting to waste food. All these things together can be downright overwhelming!

Buying lunches can help take some of the pressure off. When deciding on whether to pack or buy, begin with buying lunch one or two days a week when you know there will be foods your Cloverbud likes to eat. As the year goes on, your Cloverbud will see other foods and decide whether to try them or switch days to buy. This can help streamline the week, remove a few days of packing from your schedule, and allow children to try new foods for a relatively low cost.

If you’re brand new to the world of school lunches or looking to find new ideas, here are some tips to remember when deciding whether to pack your Cloverbud’s lunch.

Keep it simple! There are many new things going on and lunchtime can provide familiar comfort. Avoid foods your Cloverbud has never seen or tasted before. Now is not the time to try to be a superhero. Other students will not judge you or your child for having chips instead of celery and carrot sticks that look nice but won’t be eaten. You do not need to be a gourmet chef or spend tons of time in the kitchen to put together lunches your Cloverbud will enjoy. Ask for feedback. Did your Cloverbud have enough time to eat their lunch during their lunch period? Do they need more to eat? Was there anything that didn’t taste good?

Practice. Practice packing and eating from the lunchbox a few days before school starts. Check to see if the school prefers all disposable items in the lunchbox. Many children are focused on things other than remembering which containers to throw away or bring home.

Keep a list. To reduce decision making fatigue and to remember what foods are good, keep a physical list on the fridge. Be sure to decide on this list before school starts so shopping trips can be easier.

Food allergies. If your Cloverbud has a food allergy, discuss lunchroom set up with their school. Set-up may vary on a case-by-case basis and can change from one building to the next. Communication with the school is key.

Image of the five good groups: dairy, protein, fruits, vegetables, and grains

Image of the five good groups: dairy, protein, fruits, vegetables, and grains

Mix it up. Do your best to include food from all food groups. Short lunch periods and picky eating habits may dictate this. Do your best to provide a healthy lunch that your Cloverbud will enjoy.

Prep when you can. Some sandwiches can be made a few days in advance. Add condiments the morning of. Sides can be measured, chopped, or sorted at the beginning of the week. Involve your Cloverbud as much as possible in lunch preparation. Prepping in advance allows your Cloverbud to pick out items from each food group and to pack their own lunch.

Adjust as needed. You may have to adjust your ideas a time or two in the first few weeks. That is normal, especially when Cloverbuds find new foods they like.

There is no right or wrong way to approach a school lunch. Through trial and error, you will discover what works best for you and your Cloverbud. Remember, school is about learning, and you can learn about healthy lunches right along with your Cloverbud!

Have a great school year!

The Nature Connection: Get Your Cloverbuds Outside with Scavenger Hunts

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If you’re looking to take advantage of time to be outside during the summer months with your Cloverbuds, consider a nature scavenger hunt.

The Nature Connection

Being out in nature has positive benefits for both physical and mental health. Direct exposure to nature and the outdoors has been found to have a restorative and calming effect. It shifts focus, provides an escape, and may facilitate reflection. Although research hasn’t been able to pin down why there is such a health benefit, it could be due to an increase in physical activity. In addition, time spent in nature during childhood is associated with connectedness with nature, increased pro-environmental attitudes, and pro-environmental behaviors. However, we also know that children are spending less time outdoors than previous generations.

Scavenger Hunts: What and Why

A scavenger hunt is a game that starts with a prepared list of specific objects for participants to gather or locate. Scavenger hunts are more than just a way to keep children busy, they are a way to build critical thinking skills and have fun at the same time.

There are many reasons to consider a scavenger hunt.

  • They don’t require many supplies.
  • They can be as simple or elaborate as you want.
  • They can be played with individuals or with teams.
  • They can be customized to a variety of age groups.
  • They are adaptable to small or large groups.
  • They can be played in various ways.

Adult leaders can plan the scavenger hunt or turn it over to teen leaders to create it (given some parameters). To create a scavenger hunt, you’ll need to decide on the game parameters. Make sure to define if anything is off limits. Then follow these basic steps.

  1. Make a list of items for participants to find or things to do. A Google search will also turn up printable scavenger hunt sheets. There are some nature-related scavenger hunts to check out.
  2. Define the search area (backyard, neighborhood, park, etc.).
  3. Decide on a time limit for completion.
  4. Decide how you will complete the game: Is it finding the most items? Or is the goal for everyone to find the items and share what they found?

Scavenger Hunt Ideas

  • Items in nature: leaf, flower, feather, rock, twig, acorn, pinecone, bird’s nest, animal tracks, etc. Check out these sites for some ideas for a nature scavenger hunt.
  • Items that are a particular color or shape
  • Items that involve the senses: something smooth, something soft, something you can hear, something you can smell, etc.
  • Items to correspond to letters of the alphabet
  • Mix and match to add some challenge: a yellow flower, a smooth stone, a blue bird.
  • If you don’t want to or can’t remove items from their natural environment, take photos.

Ways to Extend the Learning

  • Mindfulness is a way to bring connection between the brain, body, and behavior. This Iowa State University activity sheet for Mindful Nature Hike Bingo provides a lesson plan for making the connection between nature and mindfulness.
  • Books are always a good way to introduce or extend the learning on a topic. This site gives suggestions for books about nature.
  • Project Learn Tree© has 12 nature walk activities, including a scavenger hunt.

Whatever you decide for your scavenger hunt, have fun doing it!

 

References

DeVille, N. V., Tomasso, L. P., Stoddard, O. P., Wilt, G. E., Horton, T. H., Wolf, K. L., Brymer, E., Kahn, P. H., Jr., & James, P. (2021). Time spent in nature is associated with increased pro-environmental attitudes and behaviors. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(14), Article 7498. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18147498

Hartig, T., Mitchell, R., De Vries, S., & Frumkin, H. (2014). Nature and health. Annual Review of Public Health, 35, 207–228. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-publhealth-032013-182443

Jiminez, M. P., DeVille, N. V., Elliott, E. G., Schiff, J. E., Wilt, G. E., Hart, J. E., & James, P. (2021). Associations between nature exposure and health: A review of the evidence. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(9), Article 4790. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18094790

Larson, L., R., Szczytko, R., Bowers, E. P., Stephens, L. E., Stephenson, K. T., & Floyd, M. F. (2019). Outdoor time, screen time, and connection to nature: Troubling trends among rural youth? Environment and Behavior, 51(8), 966–991. https://doi.org/10.1177/001391651880668

Masterton, W., Carver, H., Parkes, T., & Park, K. (2020). Greenspace interventions for mental health in clinical and non-clinical populations: What works, for whom, and in what circumstances? Health and Place, 64, Article 102338. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthplace.2020.102338

Shapiro, S. L., Carlson, L. E., Astin, J. A., & Freedman, B. (2006). Mechanisms of mindfulness. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 62(3), 373–386. https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.20237

 Sheldrake, R., & Reiss, M. J. (2023). Primary children’s views about appreciating, supporting, and learning about nature. Journal of Biological Education, 57(2), 401–421. https://doi.org/10.1080/00219266.2021.1909643

Tillman, S., Button, B., Coen, S. E., & Gilliland, J. A. (2019). ‘Nature makes people happy, that’s what it sort of means’: Children’s definitions and perceptions of nature in rural Northwestern Ontario. Children’s Georgraphies, 17(6), 705–718. https://doi.org/10.1080/14733285.2018.1550572

Van Heel, B. F., van den Born, R. J. G., & Aarts, N. (2023). Nature experiences in childhood as a driver of connectedness with nature and action for nature: A review. Ecopsychology. Published online March 7, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1089/eco.2022.0080

 

STEM Days for Cloverbuds

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Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) activities can make learning fun for our Cloverbuds and instill a lifelong desire to learn new things! Doing STEM based learning has many benefits for youth so Morgan County implemented Cloverbud STEM days. Events typically last 2 hours and consist of different STEM activities for Cloverbuds.  The day ends with a snack.

The event is completely conducted by Older Youth in Training and Junior Leaders.  With guidance, they choose a theme and plan what activities they want to do. Older youth lead the activities throughout the day.

The last STEM Day was on April 7th. It was called “Swing into Spring.” One of the activities for the day was based on the lifecycle of the Monarch Butterfly. It was an interactive game where the Cloverbuds become the monarch butterfly, beginning as an egg.

Supplies Needed:

  • Cotton balls
  • Laminated Monarch Caterpillars
  • Laminated Monarch Butterflies
  • Laminated milkweed leaves
  • Laminated Flowers
  • Milkweed seeds for a giveaway (optional)
  • Popsicle sticks (optional, to hot glue onto butterflies and caterpillars for easy holding)

What to Do:

  1. Explain what the Cloverbuds will be doing (experiencing the lifecycle of a monarch butterfly.)
  2. They will start off as an egg (cotton ball) and then hatch into a caterpillar. To hatch out of their eggs, each Cloverbud must jump 5 times. After they do so, hand them a laminated monarch butterfly caterpillar.
  3. Next the caterpillars must eat to form into a chrysalis to become a butterfly. Monarch caterpillars love milkweed. Each Cloverbud must collect (eat) 5 milkweed leaves so their caterpillar can form a chrysalis (explain the chrysalis is the shell a caterpillar will stay in while it is transforming into a butterfly).
  4. To simulate emerging from the chrysalis, they will put their caterpillars into a green cup. They must take ten steps to break out of their chrysalis (The actual time frame for this is 8-15 days).
  5. Once they have taken ten steps, hand each Cloverbud a laminated Monarch Butterfly.
  6. Now that they have hatched, it is time to get ready for the great migration to Mexico. Explain that just like birds, Monarch butterflies migrate too. They fly over Lake Erie to Canada all the way to Mexico where it is warmer. In order to prepare for migration, monarch butterflies must eat. Butterflies eat the nectar in flowers. Cloverbuds must collect eight flowers to successfully migrate to Mexico.
  7. Lastly, they will cross the finish line making it to Mexico.

There are many different variations you can do with this activity. Consider adding predators or other environmental factors. Morgan County 4-H partners with their SNAP-Ed program assistant to teach a short/fun lesson on nutrition during snack time right before dismissal. Cloverbuds enjoy that aspect of this event.

Consider implementing Cloverbud STEM days in your Cloverbud program.  STEM days have been a huge success in Morgan County!

 

Expanding Cloverbud Opportunities: County-Wide Cloverbud Clubs

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Are you looking for additional ideas to expand your current Cloverbud program?  Do you have 4-H clubs with one or two Cloverbud members that would benefit from opportunities beyond the community club?  Consider hosting a county-based Cloverbud Club to maximize outreach efforts.

Each year, Union County, Ohio, hosts a county-wide Cloverbud Club. To accommodate the large number of Cloverbuds in their county, two sessions are offered: one on Wednesday evening and one on Saturday morning. Meetings are held at the beginning of each month, February through May, with an additional session at the end of May to conclude the Cloverbud year. The theme for 2023 is “In My Backyard”. The meeting schedule utilizes a camp approach in which the Cloverbuds rotate in groups to different stations. Teens serve as counselors and supervise the Cloverbuds as they rotate through the activities.  Adult volunteers lead the sessions and teach the Cloverbuds about the selected topics.

The February meeting topic was “All About Bees”.  Cloverbuds learned about the life cycle of a bee, made beeswax candles, learned about pollination, and had a honey tasting station. The March meeting focused on worms. Cloverbuds conducted experiments with Red Wiggler Worms. During the April meeting, Cloverbuds learned about gardening. They planted lettuce seeds, made fruit pizza, and did a fruit and vegetable taste test. May’s meeting focused on animals. Volunteers brought a dog, horse, lamb, goat, pig, and turkeys.  The final meeting in May included a visit to a local farm and fishing.

The Cloverbud Club is a huge success, thanks to the teens and adult volunteers, and continues to grow each year.  Consider adding a county-based Cloverbud Club to your existing Cloverbud opportunities and expand your 4-H outreach.

Getting Outside with Cloverbuds

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It’s beginning to feel like spring and summer and it is a great time to be outside.  Being active outside with Cloverbuds is so fun and so very important.  Being outside improves children’s academic performance and helps build critical thinking skills.  They learn about the world around them.  Relaxing in the great outdoors reduces stress, as it does for many adults, too.  Children learn to appreciate the world around them and begin to understand their role within it.

How can you incorporate the great outdoors into your Cloverbud meetings? Could you move your 4-H meeting outside?  Could you incorporate a hike? Could your club recreation activity be outside?

In the Big Book of Cloverbud Activities, there are many outdoor activities to try with your Cloverbud members.  For instance, Chapter 23 is all about habitats as homes for animals. Youth will learn what a habitat is and can even make their own.  Check it out!

Some other ideas to do with children as the weather is warming up:

  • Plant a garden- let the children pick what to plant
  • Go on an insect hunt
  • Blow a dandelion
  • Make hopscotch and play with your child
  • Play with sidewalk chalk
  • Go on a bike ride
  • Take the dog on a walk
  • Make pictures of the clouds in the sky
  • Fly a kite
  • Go fishing
  • Blow bubbles
  • Go on a theme hike (ex. Find things that are purple, ABC hike, shape hike, etc.)
  • Read a book outside
  • Have a yummy picnic
  • Creeking
  • Search local park system and find programs

Encourage youth to find their spark outside this spring and summer.

 

Source: The Nature Conservancy

 

STEM and Cloverbuds

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Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) activities have a large impact on children. STEM focuses on hands-on learning which helps children develop STEM skills including problem solving, critical thinking, creativity, curiosity, decision making, and many more. It is never to early to teach these skills which are important not only now, but in the future. Try this STEM activity at your next meeting!

Important Information to consider before doing this activity.

  • Neodymium magnets are extremely strong! Fingers can easily get pinched when trying to separate the magnets. Be sure to keep the magnets away from cell phones, computer, and other electronics.
  • Iron oxide powder is not good to breathe. Therefore, the iron is mixed in with the glue.  Wear a mask when working with this powder.
  • Iron oxide powder is available from a variety of online sources.
  • Neodymium magnets are available from a variety of online sources.

                                   Magnetic Slime

You will need:

  • Liquid starch
  • Elmer’s glue
  • Iron Oxide powder (wear a mask)
  • Mixing bowl
  • Plastic spoons
  • ¼ Cup for measuring
  • 1 Tablespoon for measuring
  • 1/8 cup for measuring
  • A neodymium (rare earth) magnet, regular magnets aren’t strong enough

What to do:

  • In a mixing bowl add ¼ cup glue and 2 Tbsp iron oxide powder. Stir.
  • Pour in 1/8 cup liquid starch.
  • Stir the mixture well, the starch will react with the glue and slime will form.
  • Use your hands to knead the slime. If it is too sticky add more starch.
  • Use your magnet and play with the slime.