January 2023 Edition

4-H Youth Development
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Staying Active Even When It’s Winter

As the new year arrives, many will have goals of becoming more active, but they fi nd it diffi cult to stay motivated. You are not alone.  A survey from the University of Southern California’s showed 32% of Americans say they are exercising less than before the pandemic.  Incorporating physical activity into your day has many benefits including help with weight loss, immune system boost, stress relief and  feeling better. The  goal is to get 150 minutes of activity each week. 
While it can be hard to stay motivated, here are some tips to help you meet your activity goals.
Make a plan. Figure out when you can incorporate physical activity into your week. The 150 minutes of weekly recommended  physical activity can be broken down into 30 minutes over fi ve days or even smaller increments throughout the day. The important thing is to move, even if it is for 10 minutes at a time. If you are not sure how to fit physical activity into your schedule, log how you spend your time each day, so you can  see where exercise might fit. Once you have a schedule, develop a backup plan to catch up in case you cannot exercise at your regular time.  Activities such as walking or climbing stairs require no equipment and can be done indoors, if the weather is nasty find something you enjoy doing. Research shows that people who enjoy their physical activity have a better chance of sticking with it. Also, your activity does not have to be diffi cult to have a positive effect. It could be as simple as walking around your neighborhood or 
dancing to music each day.

KY 4-H Winter Dash

If you are looking for a fun way to stay active, try our 4-H Winter Dash. This program helps young people and adults in their lives stay active  during the winter months. The Kentucky 4-H Winter Dash is a self-paced marathon that goes through February 28. Record your walks using the simple survey and at the end of the event, receive a medal for completing the 26 miles. This is open to anyone who chooses to participate. 4-H wants to encourage young people and their support system to be active together.
Log your distance using a smart phone camera to scan the QR code or vist https://uky.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_37Cv63xUiTB1FDU

Source: Natalie Jones, Extension Specialist for Family Health

Don’t Forget
4-H Writing Contest entries are due Feb 17. Categories include songwriting, poetry, original monologue, public service announcement,  press release and “What 4-H Means to Me” essay. Contact the 4-H offi ce for more details.

Adult 101
Are you ready to leave for college? Be out on your own? Are you prepared to do adult tasks? Adulting 101 programs help young adults  demystify the obscure reality of being an “adult” on topics like insurance, taxes, laundry, automotive, etc. Each FREE session is packed full
of important life skills and tools necessary to live independently. 
Register at https://events.anr.msu.edu/AdultingW2023/

International Club
Our 4-H International Club restarts January 25 from 2:45pm-4:30pm CT. The club exposes members to new countries by sampling their  food, games and culture. The free club is open to youth in grades 4-12. Youth must register by January 20. Monthly meetings are on the
fourth Wednesdays. Youth may ride the bus from school to the 4-H offi ce with a parent’s note, but they will need to be picked up at 4:30pm.
 Register by January 20 with completed 4-H Participant Information & Enrollment Form.

Volunteers Needed
There are several projects that typically start in January and February that need additional adults to help plan and conduct the programs.  Volunteer leaders are essential to providing diverse activities allowing youth to gain project skills. For these projects, we cannot offer these in Green County without an adult volunteer who is willing to be trained and assist with the project. We are fl exinble on the dates/times but a minimum of six hours of education is required for the youth. We can provide training and resources to help with the projects. If you are
interested, please reach out to the 4-H offi ce; we can discuss the expectations in more detail.

Shooting Sports
There are fi ve disciplines in the shooting sports program: Rifl e and Pistol (air/.22), Archery, Shotgun, and Black Powder. Each discipline  must have a trained, certifi ed instructor.

Horse / Livestock / Dogs 
To offer programs in livestock (ham, sheep, pig, beef, dairy, goats, or poultry), dog or horse programs, we are required to have a certified leader in that species.

4-H Boot Camp
Are you ready to take the next step in your leadership journey? Join us for the 4-H Leadership Boot Camp hosted at Lake Cumberland 4-H  Camp, Feb 2-3. During this educational experience, youth (14+) will have the opportunity to develop their leadership skills in a fast-paced, 
team-focused environment. The registration fee is $100; call the 4-H office for registration forms due by January 25.

KY Teen Summit
The premier middle school leadership event is the 4-H Teen Summit. Held March 16-18 at multiple 4-H camps across the state, over 600  youth will come together to learn team building, problem solving and discover new hobbies that can be shared with their county 4-H  programs. 
Start the journey of being a leader today. $125 registration. GCMS 4-H offi cers receive a $50 discount.
Call the 4-H offi ce for a copy of specific registration forms.

4-H Mock Interviews
A soft skill that isn’t taught very often, but that is essential for scholarships and careers is the interview. Prepare a sample resume and  participate in a mock interview. Local winners can advance to the area and state competitions. Local event is March 7 at the 4-H offi ce at  3:00 p.m.
Register by March 1 by calling the 4-H office.

Capitol Experience
Join youth from across our state as we experience our state capitol and join the legislative process on March 13-14. We leave Monday  around noon and return by 5pm on Tuesday. $30 per youth includes lodging and tours. Youth responsible for two fast food meals. Limited to ten youth in grades 6-12.
Register by February 24 with completed 4-H Participant Information & Enrollment Form.

4-H Summer Camp Registration Opens  June 13-16, 2023
Spring is around the corner, and it’s time to think about 4-H CAMP! We camp June 13-16. Camp cost $275 and includes lodging, meals,  transportation and all activities at camp. 
We camp at the Lake Cumberland 4-H Camp in Jabez. Classes will be different this year. Campers will select four classes and have multiple, advancing skills sessions in the classes. Classes may be swimming lessons, recreation, nature, canoe or kayak, fishing,  pontoon boating, rifles, archery, outdoor cooking, crafts, forestry, folk activities, campfires, fishing, caving, sports, and more. Youth will  select their camp classes when they make full payment of their camp fees. 
Camp is for youth in 4th grades and above and who have not passed their 14th birthday by June 13. Younger siblings may attend, contact  4-H for more details. Campers will be supervised by adult and teen leaders as well as camp staff and 4-H professionals.
To register for summer camp and save your place, a nonrefundable $50.00 deposit and completed registration form is due. Registration  forms are at the 4-H offi ce and will be passed out during Club meetings at school. Please note: full payment must be received by June 1,  no refunds will be allowed after June 1. Make checks payable to Green Co 4-H. 
We also accept credit cards for the full amount or for the final amount, but not for the deposit. 
Parents may be interested in attending as chaperones or class instructors. Green County needs to teach one class at camp. If you would  like to attend as a volunteer leader, contact 4-H for a volunteer packet. Leader forms must be returned by March 31. If you have questions, please contact the 4-H offi ce at 932-5311.