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Ohio 4-H Youth Development

Ohio State University Extension

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JOANN crafts support for 4-H

Youth in the Boys’ Group learning about their health at the Adventure Central Garden.

Each year, JOANN donates thousands of dollars to support Ohio 4-H youth programming. These funds are distributed to counties in the form of JOANN mini grants. Here are some of the ways Ohio 4-H counties have benefited from this support.

 

The Girls’ Group making custom tote bags during a session.

Youth discover health and wellness at Adventure Central

Adventure Central always looks for new ways to help youth build healthy communication skills and learn to support one another. This year, they used their JOANN grant funds to enhance their Boys’ and Girls’ Group programs.

Throughout the summer, the Boys’ Group participated in activities in which they learned about healthy hygiene, character, nutrition, money management, and more. The Adventure Central youth making their own healthy smoothies with a smoothie bike.Girls’ Group learned about healthy hygiene and eating habits and participated in activities related to identity exploration, self-discovery, and self-awareness.

“Our Boys’ and Girls’ Group programs strive to emphasize life skills, diversity and inclusion, teamwork, and problem-solving, preparing kids to be self-aware mentors, leaders, and citizens,” said Tyler Kessler, Extension educator at Adventure Central. “We learned so much together this summer, and I look forward to the possibilities that await this special group of kids in the future.”

 

Campers learning how to sew their own blessing bags during a session at camp.

4-H’ers give back with blessing bags

At Lorain County 4-H camps this summer, 4-H’ers created blessing bags to give back to their community and help those in need. Campers learned how to sew simple drawstring bags and filled them with toiletries, a brush, a comb, andStaff and counselors were on hand to teach youth how to sew. first aid supplies.

A portion of the almost 200 blessing bags created were donated to the Lorain County Office on Aging and Blessing House. Youth also took bags home with them to give directly to individuals in need.

In addition to teaching 4-H’ers about the importance of community service, the activity served to spark an interest in sewing and learning new skills. “A parent of one camper reached out to tell me her daughter has continued to sew and started making items for friends and family. She is now planning to take a sewing project next year,” said Jacki Baca, Lorain County Extension educator for 4-H.