NC 4-H Council Health Challenge

New Years is a great opportunity to create healthier habits and cultivate a healthier lifestyle. We encourage you to participate in our January challenge of drinking 64 oz of water each day. 

The human body is composed of nearly 60% water; hydration is crucial! Even slight dehydration can cause big changes in energy level, motivation, athletic performance, and your body’s ability to regulate temperature. Proper hydration can improve mood, concentration, reduce the frequency of mild headaches, and have a generally positive impact on brain performance. Drinking water can also boost your metabolism and increase satiety. One of the most important functions of water is in assisting the kidneys, which cleanse the body of toxins but must have enough water input to do their job correctly. Fill a reusable water bottle and keep it with you throughout the day to ensure you’re hydrating properly.

Upon successfully completing the January challenge, don’t forget to fill out our google form athttp://goo.gl/forms/tJGVmC62eK and submit it to be entered for a neat 4-H prize! Every month, there will be an adult and youth winner.

4-H Ski and Snowboard Trip

Who:  Youth ages 8+ (under 12 requires a parent/guardian)
When:  Friday, February 5th - 3:30 pm - 1 am
Where:  Applachain Ski Mountain / French-Swiss Ski College
Cost:  $25 Ski - $30 Snowboard (dinner on your own or $8 for chic-fil-A)
Deadline to register:  Monday - February 1.


Together with Alleghany County 4-H we are getting ready to take a ski/snowboarding trip at the French- Swiss Ski College at Appalachian Ski Mountain in Blowing Rock on Friday, February 5th. All youth ages 8+ (under age 12 requires a parent/guardian present) are eligible to attend. The cost will be $25 for skiing and $30 for snowboarding. Clothing rental will be additional. Dinner will be available for purchase (approx. $8 from Chic-Fil-A) or you may eat on your own at the Snack Bar. We will leave the office at 3:30 p.m. and will return around 1 a.m. Spaces are limited so contact the office to register (336) 401-8025!

This is an excellent opportunity for first time skiers and snowboarders!!!


To see the slopes live visit: http://www.appskimtn.com/asm-right-now/slopecam/

4-H Winterfest

It’s getting pretty cold already, but we are looking forward to seeing you all in January for our 2016 North Central District Winterfest! Winterfest is a one day event for all 4-H’ers in the North Central District ages 11 and up.

In the morning there will be an interactive workshop on various 4-H project areas as well as a community service project led by your District Officers. In the afternoon we will have lunch followed by your choice of Airbound Trampoline Park or bowling with your fellow 4-H members.

Date: Saturday, January 9, 2016

Locations: Winston-Salem - Forsyth County Cooperative Extension Office (1450 Fairchild Rd), Airbound Trampoline Park (7840 N. Point Blvd), and Northside Lanes (3550 N. Patterson Ave.)

Times: Arrival between 9:00-9:30am, Program from 9:30am-3:00pm

Cost: $20/person including Adults (Checks payable to North Central District 4-H Council)

Lunch will be provided and afterwards all participants will have a choice of Fun activity. Contact Whitney by January 4^th to register!

Poultry Science Summer Institute

Applications are now being accepted for the Poultry Science Summer Institute which is offered to any high school students interested in poultry.  It's a week long camp which covers all aspects of the poultry industry including feed milling and genomics. The application and more information can be found on the website at:

https://poultry4hyouth.ces.ncsu.edu/poultry-science-summer-institute/

Cards & Cookies 2015

Join us on your early dismissal day from school for a fun & festive community service project! 

Register by December 11th by calling 401-8025 or emailing Whitney at whitney_collins@ncsu.edu

Join in the DeSTEMber fun with Girlstart!

Girlstart's mission is to increase girls’ interest and engagement in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) through innovative, nationally-recognized informal STEM education programs. By empowering more girls to continue STEM studies, we can help address our nation’s STEM workforce inequities and impact innovation and economic development in America and across the globe. We accomplish this by developing innovative models and processes for teaching and delivering STEM through integrated informal STEM education programs. Girlstart provides year-round programming for girls and families including After School, Summer Camps, Girls in STEM Conference, Community STEM events, Hands-on Wednesday blog, and DeSTEMber to get girls interested in STEM at an early age.

Girlstart cultivates a culture where risk is rewarded, curiosity is encouraged, and creativity is expected. As a result, Girlstart girls are connected, brave, and resilient. Girlstart makes girls more successful, and inspires them to take on the world’s greatest challenges.

Throughout the month of December, Girlstart hosts DeSTEMber- 31 days of STEM fun for the whole family. DeSTEMber will highlight various STEM-related topics with hands-on activity blogs, photos, videos as part of a month long program to drive awareness for STEM, showing kids and families that 'STEM is everywhere.' Families can find DeSTEMber’s 31 days of STEM fun at www.destember.org!

Greenlight a Vet!

Many of you have seen Walmart's commercial "Greenlight A Vet".  Walmart is committed to hiring more then 250,000 veterans by 2020 through the Veterans Welcome Home Commitment.  Walmart has partnered with the Institute for Veterans and Military Families, Team Red, White and Blue, Team Rubicon Hire Heroes USA and Blue Star Families to launch Greenlight for Vets.  This campaign is to help create a visible and actionable national support for America's veterans and their families.  We interact with them every day at work, school, and in our neighborhoods.  Once they are back home and out of uniform,  it s hard to show support or recognize their contributions.  They are camouflaged more than ever.

The Meaning of Green

"Green is the color of hope, renewal and well-being. "Greenlight" is also a term commonly  used to activate forward movement.  The simple action of changing one light to green is intended to spark a national conversation regarding the recognition of veterans, and "greenlight" them forward as valued members of our communities." (Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 2015)

What is Greenlight a Vet?

America's veterans are some of our nation's bravest, hardest-working men and women.  However, it is hard to show them the appreciation they deserve when, back home and out of uniform, they are more camouflaged then ever.  Greenlight a Vet is a campaign to establish visible national support for our veterans by changing one light to green.

Change One Light to Green

Let us honor our veterans not only on November 11th, but all year round by changing one light to green in a visible location - on your porch, your home, or at you office- and keep it glowing every day as a symbol of appreciation and support for our veterans.  To help share your support, take a picture of your green light and post it using the hashtag #greenlightavet

To learn more about Greenlight A Vet campaign, click on the links below:

http://news.walmart.com/videos/youtube/greenlight-a-vet-ydrh341m0kk

http://www.greenlightavet.com/

I encourage you, your family, friends, organization(s), etc. to participate in the Greenlight A Vet campaign. If you do choose to participate,  please share your story with NC Cooperative Extension Military Outreach.  We would be happy to add your commitment to our veterans and their families on our website.