One of our artistic 4-H’ers inquired recently if she could take needle felting as a self-determined project. I was happy to let her know she could, and in fact, this year, it was one of the new idea starters for self-determined projects.
As a growing hobby, it makes sense that needle felting has been added to the idea starter list. Felting is a versatile fiber art that locks wool fibers together to create 3D sculptures or dense, non-woven fabric,
The 4-H program offers more than 200 projects, but if youth want to explore a topic not on the list, they can create their own. It’s an opportunity for members to go beyond the scope of their current project book or explore a topic that is unavailable as a project book.
An idea starter list is provided in the annual Project Guide to help youth create a self-determined project. Other new ideas are No-Sew Fun; Building the Future: Construction Careers; Backyard Fireflies; Aquaculture: Raising Seafood; and Restoring Fisheries. The idea starter list has a wide variety of topics, including clowning, computer science, hedgehogs, skateboarding, and Viruses, Bacteria, and Fungi, Oh My!
Knitting It Together is a new project book added this year. Even if a 4-H’er has never held a part of knitting needles, this project will help them complete a small project as they learn basic stitches such as knit, purl, cast-on and cast-off. The project is for all learning levels.
How the Herd Multiplies is a new project for youth with livestock experience who want to know more about the reproduction of beef cattle, goats, sheep and swine. It also explores animal science related careers, too.
Switching to the plant end of things, Field Crops and Forages is a new beginning level project that provides an understanding of planting and harvesting and the many uses of corn, soybeans and wheat. The project also examines agricultural machinery.
In the new project Water Matters, project members will be asked to consider the source. Where does their water come from and what did it go through to get to them. The project also helps 4-H’ers learn about professionals who work in the field of water management.
An advanced level project, Living on Your Own, explores things to think about when a person is ready to live independently. Project members are asked to consider their goals, budget, transportation needs, service needs and more to make smart decisions about the move to live on their own.
In the world of electricity, 4-H offers two new projects – Small Circuits and Science Fun with Electricity. The intermediate level project Small Circuits gives 4-H’ers a chance to use coding, microcontrollers and sensors in circuitry projects. Short tutorials and background information go along with the investigations and challenges. Some basic electrical circuit skills and knowledge are required for the project.
Science Fun With Electricity includes 11 kid-friendly and time-tested experiments about static electricity, currents, electromagnetism, electric motors, and electric light. Each experiment has a brief introduction, a supply list and a step-by-step instruction to bring an electrical concept to life.
As you can see, 4-H offers something for everyone. 4-H projects provide invaluable hands-on “learn-by-doing” experiences that foster essential life skills like responsibility, resilience, leadership and confidence.
To learn more about what 4-H has to offer, visit our Wayne County Extension Office at 428 W Liberty St, Wooster, or call us at 330-264-8722.
Laurie Sidle is an Ohio State University Extension Family and Consumer Sciences and 4-H program assistant and may be reached at 330-264-8722 or sidle.31@osu.edu
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This article was previously published in The Daily Record.