DECATUR, Ill. – Adults are always on the lookout for fun summer activities for the children in their lives. Events that are educational, fun, and free aren’t always easy to find. Well, we have one! University of Illinois Extension has partnered with area libraries to bring you a two-part food science event.
“Youth will cook, do experiments, and of course, eat while they learn about food science,” says 4-H Youth Development Educator Jamie Boas.
Yes, You Can Play with Your Food! 4-H Food Science Fun will take place this summer at multiple libraries within DeWitt, Macon, and Piatt counties. Each location will have two sessions. The first session will be Food Science 101, where youth will use garlic salt to investigate the connection between smell and taste. They will also pop popcorn on the cob and create a flavoring with a slogan and advertisement. The second session will be Food Science 201, and they will use different leavening agents to blow up balloons and make unleavened bread and butter.
This fun and educational event is free and open to youth entering grade 3 and up. For a complete list of libraries, visit the following:
- Dewitt County: go.illinois.edu/DeWittScience
- Macon County: go.illinois.edu/MaconScience
- Piatt County: go.illinois.edu/PiattScience
For more information about the DeWitt and Piatt locations, please contact Rachel Davidson, 4-H youth development coordinator, at racheld@illinois.edu or call 217-762-2191. Have questions about the Macon locations? Please contact Jenna Ward, 4-H youth development coordinator, at jrward@illinois.edu or call 217-877-6042.
University of Illinois Extension provides equal opportunities in programs and employment. If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in this program, please contact 217-762-2191. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time for meeting your access needs.
Source: Jamie Boas, 4-H Youth Development Educator, University of Illinois Extension
Writer: Laura Crider, Marketing and Communications, University of Illinois Extension
ABOUT 4-H: Illinois 4-H empowers and prepares Illinois youth for success. University of Illinois Extension provides 4-H programs in every county in Illinois, affecting the lives of 200,000 youth each year through sustained learning clubs, groups, and short-term programming.
ABOUT EXTENSION: Illinois Extension leads public outreach for University of Illinois by translating research into action plans that allow Illinois families, businesses, and community leaders to solve problems, make informed decisions, and adapt to changes and opportunities.