Youth leaders ready to meet ag challenges today and tomorrow
URBANA, Ill. -- High school students developed the skills and knowledge needed to face challenges in agriculture both as teen leaders today and as future careers tomorrow at the recent National 4‑H Youth Summit on Agri-Science....
Illinois youth learn skills to become healthy living changemakers
URBANA, Ill. – The past year has presented many challenges to people's physical, emotional, and mental health. Risk factors such as poverty, neglect, and violence can make the challenges more intense, and social isolation and uncertainty from COVID-19 may continue to negatively impact community...
Become a citizen scientist and record precipitation in your neighborhood
ST. CHARLES, Ill. – Are you interested in weather, or are you looking for an interactive family project? Community Collaborative Rain, Hail, and Snow (CoCoRaHS) Network is a grassroots effort of citizens measuring precipitation right in their own backyards.
“It's easy to join, takes only...
The time is right to plant cool season vegetables
URBANA, Ill. – Across Illinois, experienced gardeners are blocking dates on their calendars based on expected thaw dates and anticipated harvest times.
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Master Gardeners open e-help desk for 2021 growing season in DuPage, Kane and Kendall counties
ST. CHARLES, Ill. – Each March marks the annual reopening of the Master Gardener Help Desk services in DuPage, Kane, and Kendall counties. These trained University of Illinois Extension volunteers field community questions on trees, shrubs, lawns, flowers, vegetables, and other plant-related...
Assortment of cool-season grasses add beauty to spring
URBANA, Ill. – In spring, cool-season grasses grasses play an important role in providing habitat and food sources as they emerge, grow, and flower. Learn to identify the wide variety of grasses in a free online webinar by University of Illinois Extension.
"Grass identification...
Environmental webinars explore owls, native shade gardens
URBANA, Ill. – Peer into the natural world during two University of Illinois Extension webinars. The free, online webinars explore ways humans can have positive impacts on the environment.
The first webinar begins at 1 p.m. CDT on April 8. Extension Educator ...
Build skills or try something new with 4-H Spring Break Samplers
Hosted by University of Illinois Extension of DuPage, Kane, and Kendall counties
YORKVILLE, Ill. – Dabble in fashion. Get a taste of cooking. Try your hand at solving a certain colorful, cube-shaped puzzle. All of these, and more, are possible with the 4-H Spring Break...
Grow your green thumb this spring with free online gardening classes
URBANA, Ill. – Brush off the trowel and get ready for spring with University of Illinois Extension’s Four Seasons Gardening series starting in March.
Four Seasons Gardening is one of Illinois Extension’s most popular gardening series that has...
New program addresses issues of health access, understanding for Illinois residents
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – As families around the world lived through the rise and spread of COVID-19, countless Illinois communities faced a frightening reality: they were not equipped to mount the complex public health response the situation required. Many community leaders, medical centers, and...
Healthy forests start with single tree, hands-on landowners
URBANA, Ill. – The forests of Illinois are diverse, whether it’s a backyard with a few tall trees kids play under, an acre for firewood that is also home to deer and other wildlife, or a timber stand that will eventually be harvested and sold.
Just in time for spring, the Illinois...
Illinois youth come to the table on food insecurity
URBANA, Ill.— Local solutions to food access, food security, and food justice in Illinois will be developed by youth leaders and industry experts Illinois 4-H Food Action Summit. The virtual conference will be held from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. May 15.
University of Illinois...
Illinois 4-H staff evaluate options for summer 2021 exhibitions
URBNA, Ill. – In 2020, more than 400 Illinois 4-H competitive events, exhibitions, and shows went virtual, providing a positive youth development experience while protecting our members, volunteers, and staff. While the 2021 4-H...
Extension offices fill connectivity gaps
URBANA, Ill. –The COVID-19 pandemic accentuated what was already known about digital connectivity: millions of American don’t have access to high-speed internet; many of those are in rural communities.
Children attending daily virtual learning, coupled with adults working from home and...