- Author: Chris M. Webb
UC ANR’s new after-school curriculum is designed to help 9 to 12 year olds good health skills that will last a lifetime. The six week hands-on program promotes preparing and eating healthy meals as well as encouraging plenty of physical activity.
In addition to the introduction these free, downloadable lessons include:
- Let’s Make It Clean: Wash Up!
- Make It Healthy: Eat Balanced Meals
- Make It Crunchy: Go for Whole Grains!
- Make It Colorful: Choose Fruits and Veggies by Color
- Make it Delicious: Plan and Balance
- Make It Fun: Eat and Share
- Author: Chris M. Webb
Environmental Health Perspective (EHP), a peer-reviewed open access journal published by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences has a wonderful collection of science education materials designed for youth.
From their site:
“The Environmental Health Perspectives (EHP) Science Education Program promotes environmental health literacy, using the scientific literature to teach students the principles of environmental health science.
EHP resources enable teachers to provide students with current and credible environmental health information. The lessons published through the EHP Science Education Program encourage students to learn about their health and their environment through cooperative hands-on and critical thinking activities and real-world examples. Students also learn their behavior can have significant effects on the environment.”
All lessons can be downloaded free of charge. Many are available in Spanish.
Current topics include:
- Air – topics related to air quality monitoring, air pollution and impact of air pollution on human health.
- Water – issues of water resources, pollution, routes of exposure, sources of pollution, health effects and policy.
- Land – land use hazards, built environments, perils of impervious surfaces.
- Climate – energy issues, environmental and human impacts of climate change, alternative fuels, disaster and emergency preparedness.
- Food – includes topics such as genetically modified and organic foods, presence of pesticides and additives in foods, obesity and food deserts.
- Health – genetic basis of disease, disease risk factors, environmental toxicants and their effects on human health.
Previous lesson topics can be found on the lesson archive page. To learn more, please visit their website.
- Author: Chris M. Webb
On Tuesday, March 6 UC Hansen Agricultural Center (UC HAC) will hold a preschool open house from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm.
Preschoolers and their grown-ups are invited to participate in the following activities:
- Story time in the garden
- Herbie the Seed Puppet
- Worms
- Plant a seed
- Zoo garden hunt
Attendees are invited to enjoy snacks or lunch from home at on-site picnic tables. No food or drink will be available for purchase.
There is no cost to attend, but reservations are required. To register or for more information, please see the UC HAC website .
- Author: Chris M. Webb
Persistence and collaboration often make success possible. Ventura County 4-H All-Stars Savanna Stanley and Dayle Morris have used both to keep their All-Star project at Ormond Beach moving forward.
Despite many obstacles, they have kept working together with the community to make their goals a reality. Quang Tong, former California State 4-H Program Representative, was quoted in a December 28, 2011 Ventura County Star article as saying…
“Both young ladies have demonstrated what is best about the 4-H program: commitment to the local community, hard work and a hands-on approach to solving problems. Instead of complaining about an issue, they went out, brought people together and made an impact to deal with the issue. Their initial work has grown to involve some serious stakeholders in the community, including local as well as state and national agencies.”
The 4-H program has many positive opportunities for youth and adults too. To find out more, please contact our office!
- Author: Chris M. Webb
Later this month, local area youth will be joining other 4-Hers from the southern section of our state for a Teen Involvement Conference. At the conference youth will gain leadership and teamwork skills while participating in community service activities. This year those attending the conference will be putting together care packages for our troops overseas.
Ventura County 4H participants are currently requesting donations and could use your help. Items requested are as follows:
- Hotel/travel size gel deodorant, shampoo, lotion, toothpaste, mouthwash
- Toothbrushes, dental floss, brush-ups
- Disposable razors
- Eye drops, nose drops
- Unscented baby wipes, wet wipes, small bottles of hand sanitizer
- Small Kleenex packages, q-tips (large or small packages)
- Anti-fungal cream, band aides, foot powder, sunscreen
- Ziploc bags of all sizes
- DVD’s, Cd’s, batteries – AA & AAA
- Phone cards, puzzle books, paperback novels
If you are able to donate, please bring the items to our office by January 18. Our office is located at 669 County Square Drive, Suite 100 in Ventura.