The many months of COVID19 shelter-in-place have been full of challenging changes. We have had to alter the ways we work, play and connect. For the Expanded Food and Nutrition Program (EFNEP), our remote environment has led us to invent new ways to continue serving our communities. The EFNEP youth team in Alameda and Contra Costa counties eagerly embraced the challenge of creating lesson materials for remote delivery. Educators are creating numerous video lessons for students from kindergarten to middle school, covering concepts from handwashing to MyPlate to label reading, and more!

Video lessons with nutrition educators guide students through asynchronous learning. Lessons include time working independently at home, paired with live class interaction withEFNEP educators.

Check out a sample of the educators' videos here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4u3tnutLTq4

For more information, contact Leah Sourbeer, EFNEP Program Supervisor ljelmazati@ucanr.edu

On December 8th, 2020, Dr. Mary Blackburn Was Acknowledged by the Alameda Board of Supervisors, For Her Contribution to Residents

Click here to view Dr. Mary Blackburn's Resolution 

Dr. Blackburn has served the Bay Area community for over 50 years. Her work provides Nutrition Education to Seniors, Youth and Families, with a focus on offering dietary recommendations for “At Risk” community members and Black People at risk for chronic disease. Her work with UC Cooperative Extension expanded this research to assessment and evaluations focused on providing policymakers with an opportunity to support social and public health efforts. Blackburn's work has focused on increasing fresh food access, decreasing childhood food insecurity, increasing food allotment and providing health education classes for families struggling to make ends meet. 

Dr. Blackburn has won numerous local, state, regional and national awards over the years, including the NEAFCS National Excellence through Research award five times. On September 14, 2020, she was inducted into the National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (NEAFCS) Hall of Fame.

Dr. Blackburn is well known for pioneering work that addresses social and community health needs across Alameda County and the Bay Area. Her work includes a focus on black and multi-ethnic people, at risk for chronic disease, pregnant women, children and adolescents. She delivers research-based nutrition and quality of life education to at-risk and vulnerable communities. More recent work involves collaboration with UC CalFresh Healthy Living program staff and UC Master Gardener Program volunteers. This work includes a gardening project for senior citizens designed to increase physical activity, improve nutrition and overall well-being in affordable housing in Oakland. 

Schedule an Adventure Day at UC Elkus Ranch in beautiful Half Moon Bay.    

Due to the popularity of our new Private Family Tours, we are expanding upon this tour experience to a half day of adventure: UC Elkus Ranch Adventure Day! 

Adventure Day is a private outdoor day of fun at UC Elkus Ranch for social bubbles of children and adults. Participants can spend the day caring for our animals and gardens, making a nature-themed craft, going on hikes around the property, and so much more! Social bubbles can contain up to 10 children maximum (extra fees apply). Perfect for preschools, babysitting groups, families, and anyone else who wants more quality outdoor time on the ranch. 

The extension of the private tour experience stems from the requests we have received from visitors even before the COVID-19 restrictions were set in place. Parents of visiting students and campers have often inquired about opportunities for the entire family to visit the ranch to experience everything Elkus Ranch has to offer. This unique experience can be tailored to each group's interests and ages. Groups can choose to spend their time learning about gardening and botany, small and large livestock animals, animal training, or local wildlife and plants. The learning opportunities are endless in our outdoor classroom!

Adventure Day is currently being offered on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 10am-2pm. At least 1 adult is required to attend to assist with any issues that require close contact so that our educators can remain socially distant. For information on scheduling and pricing, please visit http://ucanr.edu/adventure. Adventure Day must be scheduled in advance and all statewide and San Mateo County Health Department restrictions are being enforced. Current information on San Mateo County health restrictions can be found at https://www.smchealth.org/health-officer-orders-and-statements. 

Elkus Ranch, property of the University of California, conducts educational outdoor programs for urban, disabled and inner-city youth in environmental science, California history, animal care and agricultural programs year-round.

Located on the central California coast in Half Moon Bay, the ranch offers diverse programs including those specifically designed for students with special needs, allowing participants to learn about the inter-relationship of the environment and themselves in a rural setting. Under normal circumstances, Elkus Ranch hosts more than 9,000 youth and adults each year from all over the San Francisco Bay Area including Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Santa Clara, San Francisco and San Mateo counties.

Elkus Ranch also has a conference center that can be leased separately. The 4,400 square foot educational and conference facility is available for daytime retreats, meetings and workshops year-around. Current COVID-19 restrictions may affect availability. The commercial kitchen is available for onsite meal preparation or catering. Additional information about the ranch and conference center, can be found at http://elkusranch.ucanr.edu/Visit/Conference_Center.

For more information about UC Elkus Ranch, please visit http://elkusranch.ucanr.edu or contact Leslie Jensen at LKJensen@ucanr.edu or (650) 712-3151.