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Summer 2023 Round-Up: Youth learning and serving through hands-on enrichment
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Wake County Center

Wake County 4-H

Summer 2023 Program Highlights!

Wake County 4-H programs encourage leadership development, community service, civic engagement, and healthy lifestyles for youth to develop skills and lead productive, successful lives. Let's take some time to highlight some of our favorite moments from Summer 2023...

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2023 Summer Round-Up!

Each summer, our team looks forward to supporting programs offering a wide range of opportunities for all ages and interests! We had an amazing summer full of outdoor adventures, science experiments, social action, and so much more. 

In this Edition of Wake County 4-H Quarterly Program Highlights...

Upcoming events this fall! Teacher Work Day Camp and Mental Health Walk

Building Confidence and Leadership! Wake 4-H members engage with County Commissioners and Health and Human Services

Summer of Service! Youth in Wake County are leaders in food security efforts

4-H Congress 2023


4-H Congress is an annual educational event sponsored by North Carolina 4-H and planned by the State 4-H Council and Congress Advisory Committee. North Carolina 4-H’ers ages 13-18 are invited to participate in this annual event.


Delegates from all across the state met at NC State University to develop leaderships skills by campaigning and electing state 4-H officers,   gain recreational and social experience through a hands-on educational weekend including keynote speakers, discussion groups, and workshops.

"Congress was a great experience this year. As a facilitator, watching our teen council members participate and represent as Wake County’s delegates was the best part. Overall, the conference was fun, welcoming, and meaningful!"


Dan Bulatek

4-H Youth Coordinator

"Congress is all about celebrating our 4-H youth, what they’ve accomplished, what they’re working toward and what they’re dreaming for their future in 4-H and beyond. It was a joy to witness and definitely inspired me, as a leader, to want to help these young people to be the best they can be!"


Beverly Schieman

4-H Agent

2023 Youth Health Council Projects


Youth Health Council started during the pandemic as a means to recruit and train teens of Wake County to spread awareness to the public, especially their peers, on COVID-19.


This past year, members focused their efforts on the impact of COVID-19 on Mental Health. We recognized and showcased the work of YHC members at an award ceremony in August, including:

Collective Journey: South Raleigh Promise Youth Voice Their COVID-19 Experience
988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline - Call, Text, or Chat 24/7 (30)

Zine

(or miniature magazine) expressing the impact of COVID-19 on youth mental health

YouTube Video

Spotlighting the young people's lives upended by the pandemic

PSA Video

988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline - Call, Text, or Chat 24/7 (30)

2023 Wake 4-H Summer Camps

Betsy-Jeff Penn Camp

Offering one of the best values in the state for a high-quality summer camp experience, youth gain critical life skills through experiential learning, improve their social skills by meeting and making new friends, and gain an experience that will last a lifetime.

Farm to Fork Camp

Youth learn where their food comes from and how to prepare meals using fresh items from the farm. Participants monitored chicks hatching, visited local farms, joined our annual International Festival for a day, and cooked new meals every session!

SPACES Drone Camp

Through collaboration with several universities, county departments, and city parks, 4-H SPACES hosted a day camp informing youth how to safely use a drone, understand scientific principles about flight, and find career opportunities using drones.

STEAM Camp

Using university-backed curriculum around science, technology, engineering, arts, and math, participants engage in learn-by-doing experiments to reduce summer learning loss and expand life skills. 

Pass the Mic Camp

High school students learn from local artists and activists to create art through different mediums and use their talents to inspire change in social justice issues.

Summer of Service

Youth Food Security Summit

Our 3rd annual Youth Food Security Summit was supported by several food systems leaders in the community. Youth participants ages 13-18 joined workshops on sustainability, nutrition, service, and gardening to gain an understanding of food systems and connect with other youth performing food security work in Wake County.


In the afternoon, we painted four mini-pantries - public and free outdoor food storages in which individuals can give and take shelf-stable goods. The pantries will be installed throughout Wake County at an elderly and disabled adults living complex, Salvation Army red shield club, child daycare, and community garden.


This year, we had 50 youth participants and 35 adult volunteers. We cannot wait to expand our efforts and continue to encourage youth to share their voice through meaningful engagement opportunities. See you in 2024!

Walk Through the Youth Summit (Slide Deck) >>>


Farm Safety Donation Drive

The Juntos Summer Academy is a residential camp held at NC State University. In 2023, the camp took place from June 12th - June 17th with 105 high school participants from nine counties in North Carolina.


Youth engaged in career and skills workshops, a week-long project led by community professionals, and a field trip to Wake Technical Community College, amongst other activities. On the last afternoon of the Academy, students gathered at the McKimmon Center to participate in a community service activity called Juntos Apoyamos A Nuestra Comunidad | Juntos We Support Our Community.


For this year's community service activity, the Juntos program partnered with Wake County Cooperative Extension and NC State Extension's Farmworker Safety Department to host a Farm Safety Donation Drive.


Donations were collected in multiple locations across the county to stock care packages for farm workers arriving in North Carolina. Juntos Youth assembled care packages in reusable bags with items such as toiletries, sunblock, bandanas, gloves, and other farm safety essentials. The donated items were distributed to 97 NC farm workers by Roberto Rosales, the Farmworker Safety Trainer at NC State Extension.

Summer Spotlight

YouthVoice Board of Commissioners Presentation


Middle Creek High School Student, Emily Pirhalla, spoke to the Wake County commissioners about how they can include teenagers in outreach work.


She is one of three youth delegates from Wake County 4-H clubs who will represent the county in August at YouthVoice, a part of the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners’ Annual Conference that allows the next generation of leaders to connect with county commissioners.

What's coming this quarter?

We hope to see you at some of our events this fall! Stay tuned for more details!

Walk for Mental Health

Saturday, October 7th 10AM - 12PM

This youth-led event starts outside of the Wake County Commons and Agriculture Building on Carya Drive in Raleigh. Participants follow the trails behind the office buildings to Historic Oak View Park.


Along the walk, Wake County 4-H Teen Council members set up displays focusing on mental health concerns among youth populations.

Register Now

Teacher Workday Camp

Monday, October 9th

Looking for Teacher Workday coverage? Stay tuned for more details about an adventure during Wake County's upcoming out of school time!


Our goal is to provide hands-on fun for youth on their day off!


The camp will be free, and registration is required.

SEPTEMBER

  • 4: Labor Day

OCTOBER

  • 4-5: Turkey Show

  • 7: NAMI Mental Health Walk

  • 9: Teacher Workday Camp

  • 21: Science Saturday

NOVEMBER

  • 15-16: National Poultry and Egg Conference

  • 24-28: National 4-H Congress

Download the printable PDF version of our Newsletter


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