4-H agents plant seeds for the future with local students

(MIAMI, March 8, 2012) - When Suzanne Wojcik, a Physical Education teacher at Citrus Grove Elementary School was recently given a directive to teach nutrition to her students, she immediately contacted 4-H Extension who she knew had a hands-on, visual program, created to involve students in an educational learning experience.

Under the direction of 4-H agent Kathie Roberts, it was decided to include agricultural lessons that would incorporate the school’s vegetable and fruit gardens, since many students fail to realize that vegetables don’t just come from the supermarket.

The entire Miami-Dade Extension Staff was involved in teaching lessons to 860 students on the following topics:  hand-washing, seeds, water conservation, vegetable identification, seafood nutrition, the food pyramid and fitness.  

In addition, representatives from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) taught about good and bad bugs in the garden, and showed plant samples that were diseased by pests.  Members of the Miami-Dade 4-H Youth Council also assisted teaching students at Citrus Grove.

“4-H builds a better America, one youth at a time,” said Wojcik.  “The 4-H volunteers and professionals from the community provided a mind body curriculum that created an excellent educational experience cleverly disguised as fun.”

4-H is part of the Miami-Dade Cooperative Extension, which is a partnership of the Sustainability, Planning and Economic Enhancement Department formerly (Miami-Dade Consumer Services Department), and the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.

4-H is a volunteer led youth development program that was established in Florida in 1909, and has over 6.5 million members in the United States, 240,000 members in Florida, and over 10,000 in Miami-Dade County. 4-H membership is open to all children, ages 5 to 18.   Through hands-on, informal education and project studies, 4-H members develop life skills such as teamwork, leadership, communication and citizenship to become responsible and productive community members.

For more information on 4-H call 305-592-8044 or visit http://miami-dade.ifas.ufl.edu.