While 4-H’s presence in the school day is a natural fit, we need to ensure that program efforts in the classroom are intentionally designed and supported. By definition, 4-H School Enrichment is a sequence of learning experiences for groups of youth, in cooperation with school officials during school hours to support the school curriculum. 4-H professionals are encouraged to collaborate with local school systems to enhance daily lessons by training school teachers on 4-H curricula that match the North Carolina standard course of study.

Stokes County 4-H partners with Stokes County Schools and homeschool groups to provide a positive educational experience. Here in Stokes County, we are currently offering three programs for students:

1. Embryology- Egg-splore the science of embryology from egg to chicken. Youth follow the beginning of the life cycle of real chickens from being inside of the egg all the way untll it hatches.
2. Steps to Health- Steps to Health’s 2nd Grade School program consists of 9 sessions that are designed to educate and inspire North Carolina children to eat smart. Hands-on activities, games, and physical activity are incorporated into each lesson.
3. NEW Winged Wonders- Youth will observe the wonders of the natural world unfolding in front of them by raising painted lady butterflies from larva through adulthood. Youth will experience the mystery of the butterfly life cycle while engaging in hands-on activities that explore concepts of insect structures and functions, compare insect behaviors and life cycles, and demonstrate the role everyone can play in environmental stewardship.

Stokes County 4-H would love to implement more school enrichment programs in our schools. The programs mentioned above are geared for second grade, but can be modified for other grades as needed. If you are interested in your classroom participating in one or more of these programs, please contact Taylor Furr, 336-593-8179 or taylor_furr@ncsu.edu for more details.

We thank the United Fund of Stokes County, NC 4-H, and NC State University who help make these programs possible.