OGLESBY, Ill. - 4-H youth explored new interests and built skills during the Spring into 4-H Workshop, with support from local organizations, volunteers, and 4-H leaders.
Participants rotated through three workshops of their choice, taking part in activities across a wide range of 4-H project areas. Local organizations led workshops focused on life skills. Financial Plus Credit Union’s Financial Literacy Specialist, Crystal Geiger, introduced money management through a trivia activity. Oglesby EMS: Pete Ragazincky and Arianna Alfaro taught CPR and first aid, with participants assembling their own first aid kits to take home.
Additional workshops led by 4-H alumni and club leaders introduced youth to a range of project areas. Participants designed parade floats in a brick-building session, created bug gardens in entomology, practiced floral arranging techniques, and prepared sweet and savory salsas. In cake decorating, youth practiced frosting techniques on mats before applying them to cookies, creating designs they could take home.
Spring into 4-H workday provided an opportunity to explore interests, build confidence, and connect with other youth from across the counties. To learn more about 4-H opportunities, call University of Illinois Extension at 815-433-0707 or email Shasta Hladovak at shlad@illinois.edu.
University of Illinois Extension develops educational programs, extends knowledge, and builds partnerships to support people, communities, and their environments as part of the state's land-grant institution. Extension serves as the leading public outreach effort for University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences in all 102 Illinois counties through a network of 27 multi-county units and over 500 staff statewide. Extension’s mission is responsive to eight strategic priorities — community, economy, environment, food and agriculture, health, partnerships, technology and discovery, and workforce excellence — that are served through five program areas — 4-H youth development, agriculture and agribusiness, community and economic development, health and community wellness, and natural resources, environment, and energy.