PEKIN, Ill. - As Spring approaches in Illinois, many folks are excited to spend more time outside. 4-H Adventures in Nature can help families make the most of their time outdoors. This program, offered by University of Illinois Extension, provides monthly, nature-based challenge activities that young people and their families can do together. These fun, educational activities can help family members connect with each other and with the natural world!

Starting in April, 4-H Adventures in Nature will send challenges to participating families at the beginning of each month (April through August). Most challenges can be completed in any outdoor space and will focus on a different theme each month. Families can choose to do as many of the challenges as they would like, and those that participate in challenges from all 5 months of the program can receive a prize! Themes for the monthly challenges include:

• April - Air
• May - Earth
• June - Plants
• July - Water
• August - Fire

Plus, families can join the 4-H Adventures in Nature Kick-Off on April 22 (Earth Day)! This special event will take place at Wildlife Prairie Park from 10 AM to Noon. Attendees will be able to try new activities like nature journaling, hear guest speakers, and explore nature.

Research shows that spending time in nature can have a wide array of benefits for physical and mental health, such as lower blood pressure, reduced stress, better immune function, increased positive emotions, and improved fitness. Many of these benefits are particularly apparent in children, with studies indicating that time in nature can improve academic success and maybe even offset negative impacts from too much screen time. 4-H wants to help youth and families to reap these benefits!

Register for free at go.illinois.edu/AdventuresInNature. This program is free and open to the public, but families must be registered and report the results of their activities to earn prizes. If registrants need accommodations to participate, please contact Emily Schoenfelder, University of Illinois Extension, Fulton-Mason-Peoria-Tazewell Unit 4-H educator at eschoe@illinois.edu. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time to meet your access needs.

For more information about 4-H, in addition to other youth and adult programs offered through Extension, visit their website at extension.illinois.edu/fmpt.

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ABOUT 4-H: Illinois 4-H strives to help youth learn skills for living. University of Illinois Extension provides 4-H programs in every county in Illinois. Illinois 4-H aims to impact the lives of 200,000 youth each year through sustained learning clubs and groups and short-term programming.

For Further Information Contact: Emily Schoenfelder – 4-H Youth Development Educator, Fulton-Mason-Peoria-Tazewell Unit  eschoe@illinois.edu | 309.347.6614