The Ohio State University Extension Food Preservation Team will be hosting a series of webinars on food preservation throughout the next several months. Each webinar will be held on a Tuesday from 4:00-5:00pm and features specific vegetables or fruits. This would be a great opportunity for those taking the Canning and Freezing project, or anyone interested in learning more about food preservation. Register for free at: https://go.osu.edu/2022FoodPreservationWebinarSeries.
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) is looking for passionate 4-H students to use their skills and talents to spread a message of education, service, and stewardship this Earth Day. ODNR is seeking proposals for student-led programs to take place at participating Ohio State Parks. Programs will be open to the public.
“We are impressed by the passion for conservation we see in Ohio’s 4-H students,” ODNR Director Mary Mertz said. “We would love for these students to take that passion and find out-of-the-box ways to engage their community, to improve our natural world, and have a little fun while doing it.”
The chosen programs will be offered to the public, free of charge, at Ohio State Parks between Friday, April 22 and Sunday, April 24. Examples of desirable programming include, but are not limited to invasive species removal, Earth Day art projects, sustainable fashion, and campfire cooking.
For a list of participating parks and to apply click here. The deadline to apply is March 14, 2022. Contact Alyssa Yaple with any questions about project proposals. Winning proposals will receive recognition at ODNR’s Natural Resources Park at the 2022 Ohio State Fair.
4-H is a community of young people across America who are learning leadership, citizenship, and life skills as they work in partnership with caring adults. The program is committed to helping young people develop skills that will help them succeed. Read more about it here.
The ODNR Division of Parks and Watercraft provides exceptional outdoor recreation and boating opportunities by balancing outstanding customer service, education, and conservation of Ohio’s 75 state parks and waterways.
The ODNR ensures a balance between wise use and protection of our natural resources for the benefit of all. Visit the ODNR website at ohiodnr.gov.
Calling all student artists – The 2022 Licking County River Round Up Poster Contest is now open and accepting submissions through April 8!
The 2022 River Round Up Poster Contest is open to all school-aged youth in primary, secondary schools (public, private, and home school; K-12) or school-aged youth living in Licking County.
Posters submitted must reflect water pollution awareness and encourage volunteer participation in the River Round Up.
Poster Awards: One winning poster will be chosen from each of the three categories below. $100 will be awarded to each of the winning student artists, and $500 will be awarded to each of the students’ schools for advancing science and art programming.
Categories: Elementary (K-5), Middle School (6-8), and High School (9-12). One winner will be chosen from each grade category.
Winning posters will be used as the primary electronic marketing pictures for the 2022 River Round Up and will be displayed at River Round Up Event sites on September 10, 2022, and in promotional displays around Licking County throughout the year.
For contest rules and to submit your artwork, visit: https://lickingswcd.com/how-to-help/river-round-up-2022.html
What is the Licking County River Round Up?
The Licking County River Round Up is an annual, county-wide river cleanup event in September on the Saturday after Labor Day. This year’s event will take place on Saturday, September 10, 2022. This community event brings out hundreds of volunteers who pull tires, shopping carts and mountains of trash from the Licking River and its tributaries.
Through this amazing community-based conservation effort, a river system that had all but been abandoned, has seen a beautiful rebirth of aquatic and bird life. The event is coordinated by the Licking County Soil & Water Conservation District in partnership with many local agencies and organizations – including the Licking County Health Department.
Are you at least 14 years of age, or will be 14 years of age by January 1, 2022? Then we have just what you need!
You are now eligible for county, state and national project award recognition, selection to attend 2022 state and national trips, and possibly even the opportunity to apply for scholarships as a high school senior! All of these opportunities are available to YOU – but you have to apply for them! The deadline to apply is Friday, October 15th, and all of the 2021-2022 application materials can be found on our Teen Opportunities page.
ExploreAg introduces high school students to the various careers in science, engineering and technology in the food and fiber industry and engages them in actively pursuing career paths that can help them become a part of the sustainable future of agriculture.
ExploreAg is open to students from varied backgrounds, with diverse skills and interests, and provides them with an opportunity to explore and understand available career paths in the agriculture and food industries. ExploreAg programs are free.
The goal is that a student’s time at ExploreAg will lead them to discover a passion they may not have considered yet.
The Friends of Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge will be presenting Ohio Birds for 4-H Virtually Saturday May 22 from 10-11 a.m. This program will help those 4-H members who are completing project 621 Ohio Birds or be a beginning for any youth wanting to learn about the birds they may see in their back yard. They will cover attracting and feeding birds, ways to view birds and record sightings along spots to see new birds along the Lake Erie Birding Trail. This presentation will assist with a plan your own learning activity or the Leadership/Citizenship activity of inviting a speaker to a 4-H club. For more information and to register, please visit the Friends of Ottawa NWR website.
The Licking County Health Department (LCHD) encourages participation in Licking County Soil & Water Conservation District’s (LCSWCD) River Round Up Poster Contest. The deadline for submission is April 16, 2021 and the winning individual receives $100 cash with an additional $500 in scholarship money for the student’s school!
The River Round Up Poster Contest is open to all school-aged youth in primary, secondary schools (public, private, and home school; K-12) or school-aged youth living in Licking County. Students can enter individually from home, or teachers are welcome to make it a class assignment or extra credit to encourage participation.
Posters should reflect water pollution awareness and encourage volunteer participation in the River Round Up. Winners will be announced on the River Round Up Facebook Page on Earth Day, April 22, 2021. Prizes then will be awarded to students and their respective schools.
The winning individual will receive $100 in prize money and the winner’s school will receive a $500 scholarship to use for advancing science and art programs. Up to two honorable mentions will receive $50 in prize money and a $250 scholarship each for their school.
The grand prize also includes having the winning poster used as the primary electronic marketing picture for the 2021 River Round Up. Entries will be displayed on the River Round Up Facebook page. Winning posters will be displayed at a River Round Up registration sites on Saturday, September 11, 2021.
Find more details about the poster contest and submit entries here.
Ready to explore the Arctic from your home? Join the 4-H Polar Mystery SPIN Club with our friends from OSU’s Byrd Polar Center. It all starts Monday Jan. 25 after school at 3:30 p.m. via Zoom for grades 6-8. Register at go.osu.edu/pmspin
More than 2,600 Packets Distributed, Four More Counties Added
REYNOLDSBURG, OH (September 10, 2020) – A tremendous response to the just launched Victory Gardens campaign has resulted in an immediate expansion of the program. The program took off immediately and demand was so high for seed packets, four more counties were added: Fairfield, Licking, Mahoning, and Summit. Seed pick-up days and times for each office are available on the Ohio Victory Gardens website. The collaboration between the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) and Ohio State University (OSU) Extension Offices has delivered more than 2,600 seed packets to ten counties across the state.
Victory Gardens originated during World War I, an answer to a severe food shortage at the time. The idea was wildly successful, growing an army of amateur gardeners and serving to boost morale and patriotism. Although there’s no food shortage now, ODA and OSU Extension are reviving the effort and once again encouraging people to plant seeds, realize the fruits of their labor, and share with others if inspired.
Seed packets were originally distributed through six OSU Extension Offices: Clark, Cuyahoga, Franklin, Hamilton, Lucas, and Washington counties.
The Victory Gardens Program will continue and expand with a larger seed distribution across the state in the spring. It also offers a full website with details on seed distribution, advice, and resources on every aspect of planting and harvesting produce.