The 4-H Agri-Science in the City, Chick Quest at Rothenberg Preparatory Academy was very successful.
The students thoroughly enjoyed their experience engaging with the chicks.
Additionally, they learned about the life cycle and what it takes to take care of life.
For a short video outlining the learning objectives and demonstrating the enjoyment the students felt, watch below or visit: http://go.osu.edu/ChickQuest2015
OSU Extension, 4-H Agri-Science in the City and Rothenberg Preparatory Academy are excited, for a second year in a row, to incubate and hatch baby chicks. The process began on February 19th, amid a series of snow days, and will hatch around March 11th. The six dozen eggs (72 eggs) are housed in incubators on three floors at Rothenberg. One incubator is on the ground floor with the Preschool and Kindergarten Students. On the second floor two incubators are in the science lab, the students from the 1st and 2nd grades are helping take care of those eggs. On the third floor the 3rd, 4th and 6th grade science classes are taking care of incubators in each room.
Once the chicks hatch they will stay in the school for one week and then will make it to their new home in Butler County with a 4-H family. The Chick Quest project is done in conjunction with the Life Cycles lessons going on in various classrooms. Student are able to identify that living things require energy, water and a particular range of temperatures in their environment; that living things interact with their physical environments as they meet those needs; and that living things impact the environment in which they live, the environment also impacts living things.
On a cold Thursday in Cincinnati students at Rothenberg Preparatory Academy in Over the Rhine received an unusual lesson. Dan Divelbiss, Chief Growing Officer, from Waterfields in Lower Price Hill gave a presentation on Aquaponics.
Through the 4-H Agri-Science in the City program the students at Rothenberg have learned about the diversity of agriculture and how agriculture plays a role in nearly every industry. Food isn’t just something that we want, it’s something that we need, and the students from Rothenberg have experienced food in a variety of ways. Through the work of the Rooftop Garden program at Rothenberg, the students have planted seeds and watched their fledgling seedlings turn into strong plans. In their regular science curriculum the students have learned about life cycles and how everything is interconnected.
When Dan came to give his presentation, the students were immediately mesmerized by the idea that you can grow something on water. They watched intently as the system was demonstrated and explained to the students. The students answered Dan’s questions and came up with their own questions.
The students are now looking forward to what they have learned from Dan and making their own aquaponics system for their classroom.
Dan was happy to give the presentation to the students and looks forward to providing this opportunity to other youth. Dan explained during the lesson that he previously attended a workshop by the OSU Extension South Centers on aquaponics and used what he learned in that lesson to improve the systems at his facility.
If you want to know more about 4-H Agri-Science in the City in Hamilton County contact: Tony Staubach, staubach.9@osu.edu.
Want to know what the students at Rothenberg Preparatory Academy in Cincinnati are learning? Check out the Fishy Science Video and brush up on some fish facts made especially for the students involved in 4-H Agri-Science in the City!
Program Manager, 4-H Youth Development (Tony Staubach) was featured in an article by Soapbox Media. An excerpt from the article can be found below.
Rothenberg students are lucky to also be one of just two schools in the state to participate in 4-H Agri-Science in the City, which is offered through Ohio State University Extension and focuses on Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education. Students alternate on a weekly basis, splitting time between garden activities and 4-H activities, which include everything from incubating eggs and hatching chickens to molding bread and killing bacteria.
“STEM education provides an opportunity for the students to draw connections across the curriculum and integrate learning into all facets of their life while trying to solve difficult issues,” says Tony Staubauch, 4-H program officer at Rothenberg.
The garden and 4-H programs, though separate, share connections, and Staubach says it’s a common goal to make sure students understand just how important agriculture is to their existence.
“In an urban area it is easy to forget that food doesn’t just ‘come from the grocery store’ but is grown, processed and often processed again before it’s put on the shelves and purchased,” he says. “I want these students to understand that they are already a part of the agriculture system and that they can continue to take on a larger role. They can be advocates for their own health; they can be advocates for their own community needs.”
To read the whole article please click here.
Master Gardener Program Highlights:
Hamilton County is fortunate to have a great Master Gardener Volunteer program! There are over 30 sites in the area that rely heavily on the Ohio State University Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Program for dedicated and trained volunteers in order to be able to provide services to and enrich the Greater Cincinnati community. Here is a story about a particularly interesting MGV project.
For the past couple of years, MGV Marilyn Klump-Stringfield has been a regular volunteer at The Children’s Home of Cincinnati. A retired Elementary Ed teacher, she works with the agency’s Lower School Garden Club to plan and carry out weekly gardening activities throughout the Campus during the school year. Tim Daugherty, Director of Facilities for The Children’s Home is also a MGV and has organized a basic Landscape Maintenance class for some of the older children on Campus. He also volunteers when he can with the Tuesday morning Horticulture Volunteers at Spring Grove Cemetery and Arboretum. The Spring Grove Hort Volunteers include several Master Gardener Volunteers – Phil and Lin Cottell; Carol Potterton; Debbie Clark; Jan Stenken; Linda Jacobs; Nancy Kruger; Shari Eberle; and Vicki Bricker. Irene Brown is Spring Grove’s Volunteer Programs Coordinator.
2014 marks The Children’s Home’s 150th Anniversary. Although the agency has gone through many changes over the years and no longer provides residential services to children, in its early days in the mid-1800’s it sheltered hundreds of destitute children and orphans. Some of those children fell victim to childhood diseases that were then so common and deadly: smallpox; measles; typhoid; influenza; tuberculosis. Between 1866 and 1964, 210 Children’s Home children were lovingly laid to rest in The Children’s Home Lot at Spring Grove (Section 29 – Lot 73.)
The Spring Grove Hort staff (Dave Gressley, Brian Heinz, Julie Molleran) along with the Hort Volunteers came up with an idea to collaborate with The Children’s Home to add some plantings to the Children’s Home Lot as a way of remembering the children buried there, on the occasion of the 150th anniversary. The Hort staff and volunteers decided on a plan for perennials beds of native plants that would attract butterflies and other pollinators as a fitting theme for the Lot. The Hort staff designed the beds and Spring Grove donated the plant materials.
So on a pleasant Tuesday in mid-September, about 16 students from The Children’s Home along with a few staff members and MGV Marilyn took a field trip to Spring Grove. They met up with Spring Grove Hort staff and Volunteer Group, and worked together to install the plants. The students commented on how much they enjoyed working with the volunteers, and volunteers mentioned how rewarding it was to work with the students on this particular project. One student said that it was pretty neat to connect with a part of The Children’s Home’s history, and to help make the lot better for the future.
Hello! I am Lisa Cox and I joined the Ohio State University Extension team in October 2014 as a Program Assistant for EFNEP (Expanded Food & Nutrition Education Program). I was born, raised and currently live on the Westside of Cincinnati. I am a wife and a mother of 2 ½ year old twins. I graduated from Seton High School and earned my culinary degree from Cincinnati State. I also have ten plus years of experience working in childcare. So, teaching Food & Nutrition classes to the caregivers of children is the perfect way for me to blend my past work history and my college degree! I am a people person and love to help others, so I have really enjoyed teaching classes and meeting/networking with so many new people. If you would like to know more about EFNEP, please call the office. I am more than happy to let you know about what we do!
The Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) is designed to assist limited resource audiences in acquiring the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and changed behavior necessary for nutritionally sounds diets, and to contribute to their personal development and the improvement of the total family diet and nutritional well-being.
Tracy Bedford has been with OSU Extension for 4 years as the SNAP-Ed Program Assistant in Hamilton County.
“When I started with extension I was hired to educate the senior population in our county on eating healthfully while on a budget. The lessons we used were based on the USDA Dietary Guidelines and the newly released MyPlate,” stated Bedford.
Over the course of my time here our program has changed direction to include school aged kids in Cincinnati Public Schools, both during and after school, including the Summer Food Service Program during summer break.
Bedford reminded “,The program is state and Federally funded without any cost to our clients. It’s a free nutrition program for our lower income population that is in almost all of the 88 counties in Ohio.”
If you are an organization that works with this clientele and interested in our free classes please call our office at 513-946-8989 and ask for more information on the SNAP-Ed program.
March 14th at 6:00PM.
At OSU Extension, Hamilton County
5093 Colerain Ave. Cincinnati, OH 45223
*Special Note to 4-H Youth- Feel free to sign up our alternate date is March 7th at 10:00AM at OSU Extension, Hamilton County.
Are you a Hamilton County Resident?
Are you between the ages of 14 and 30?
Do you want a free dinner?
Do you like to share your opinions?
Would you like to share what a perfect community looks like?
If you answered yes sign up to attend our OSU Extension Community Reconsidered Conversation.
Extension Reconsidered is a national dialogue about the future of Extension in the United States.
If you are a Hamilton County Resident between 14 and 30 and want to be a part of this conversation please fill out the form below. We will contact you with the dates and locations of our conversations.
Your only obligation is to attend our event and share your opinion about the future of your community.
*Join the Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/768156853238776/?pnref=story
**Don’t forget to like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.
In December 2014 the SOHO Furniture Finders held their first 4-H Club meeting. The new club serves as an excellent reminder that the diversity of 4-H Programs can serve any students needs. The new club is a part of a local home school group. In their first meeting the 4-H members made a chicken coop and the Cloverbuds learned the 4-H pledge and began selecting project books.
The breadth of 4-H Programs address a variety of needs. As the students become more familiar with the 4-H program they will begin to select projects that they may share at the Hamilton County 4-H Fair.
For more information about this and other 4-H clubs see the information below.
We are excited that the SOHO Furniture Finders are a part of our OSU Extension, Hamilton County Family.
The best time to join 4-H is NOW. Contact the club you are interested in now so you can formally enroll by the county deadline.
The Hamilton County 4-H enrollment deadline is March 1st. Any 4-H’er that wishes to take their project to the fair must be enrolled in a club by the first of March.
4-H Annual Activity Fees
Members: $75.00 first child $45.00 child 2 and more
Cloverbuds: $20.00
1. Look for a club that meets in an area near you.
2. Select a club that meets during times which work with your family’s schedule.
3. Find a club that accepts members within your child’s age range.
Cloverbuds: Must be at least age 5 and in Kindergarten as of Jan. 1st. Project Members: Must be at least age 8 and in 3rd grade as of Jan. 1st.
4. Contact the advisor for more detailed club information. Ask about: participation/attendance requirements, club dues and fundraising, meeting schedule, location, club size, and any other questions you may have.
5. Ask what kind of involvement or participation the club expects from parents.
6. Set up a visit to a club meeting or jump right in. Have fun and enjoy your 4-H Club experience!
Can’t Find the Club for You? If you can’t find a club that will work with your family’s needs, maybe you should consider starting a club of your own. Contact us for information on how to become a 4-H volunteer club advisor. It’s an extremely rewarding experience! Contact Tonya Horvath: horvath.166@osu.edu
| 4-H Club Name | Contact | GradesK-2
(Cloverbuds) |
Grades3 & Up | Non-Animal
Projects |
Sewing | Livestock | Dogs | Horses | ShootingSports |
| Agrico 4-H ClubMeets @ Whitewater Township Sr. Center
3 rd Wednesday – 7pm |
Advisor – Kelly AllgeierMikenkellyallgeier@gmail.com | X | X | X | X | X | XDog training required | X | XShooting Sports training required |
| Gorman Farm 4-H ClubMeets @ Gorman Heritage Farm
Evendale 4th Monday – 7pm |
Advisor – Cindy Capannarigccapi@yahoo.com | X | X | X | X | X | XDog training required | X | XShooting Sports training required |
| Hamilton County Shooting SportsMeets @ Izaac Walton League Mt. Healthy Chapter
1 st Monday – 6pm |
Advisor – Debi Parkerhamiltoncounty4hshootingsports @gmail.com | X | XMust be 9 to shoot | X | X | X | XDog training required | X | X |
| Madeira 4-H ClubMeets @ Petro Home 7pm – Day TBD | Advisor – Tina PetroAdams.petro@gmail.com | X | X | X | X | X | XDog training required | X | XShooting Sports training required |
| Hamilton County Livestock ClubMeets @ Harrison Community Center
2 nd Tuesday – 7pm |
Advisor – Tracy Hauertjhauer@gmail.com | X | X | X | X | X | XDog training required | X | XShooting Sports training required |
| NEW HOMESCHOOL CLUB!SOHO Future Finders
Meets@ 5309 Hamilton-Eaton Rd., Hamilton – First Wednesday of the month 11:30am to 3pm |
Advisor – Alicia ElamAlicia@ohiohomeschoolers.org | X | X | X | X | X | XDog training required | X | XShooting Sports training required |
| Western Hills 4-H ClubMeets @ home in Western Hills
2 nd/ 4th Sundays – 4:00pm |
Advisor – Becky Roellruga0329@yahoo.com | X | X | X | X | X | XDog training required | X | XShooting Sports training required |
You can also view our New Member Packet by clicking the link.