Third Thursday Together
|
Each Third Thursday of the month, the 4-H Military Partnership offers educational webinars to support work with military-connected youth and families. A vareity of topics are provided to share professional development opportunities and introduce new and exciting curriculum in a fun and intertactive learning environment. Mark your calendar to participate each month at 2:00 PM ET and meet the presenters. If you cannot make a session, be sure to view recordings of the past Third Thursday Together webinars and review the resources provided by the presenter. Thank you for sharing and promiting the 4-H Military partnership Third Thursday Together webinar series. |
|
|
4-H Family Dinner: Bringing Families to the Table!
In today’s fast-paced world, the 4-H Family Dinner program empowers families to reclaim meaningful time together. By encouraging shared meals, the program fosters communication, resilience, and essential life skills which are key traits for youth to be Beyond Ready for life’s challenges. Through monthly recipes and family engagement, participants build stronger bonds and develop habits that support emotional well-being and personal growth. This session provides an overview of the 4-H Family Dinner program and shares resources to start one in your community. |
|
|
|
|
Celebrating 4-H Youth in Action & Lead to Change Projects
Grace Rowe & Parker Haris, National 4-H Council Join us for an engaging session that highlights the impact and opportunities of the National 4-H Youth in Action and the Lead to Change projects. This webinar will showcase how young people are leveraging their 4-H experiences to address community challenges, build leadership skills, and model civic engagement. Come ready to celebrate, connect, and spark ideas. As we celebrate youth leadership and explore practical ways to strengthen 4-H programming for military-connected youth! |
APPLE-solutely Fun Agriculture!
Kasey Bozeman, University of Georgia As the world population expands, there is a critical need to address food supply concerns. Apples are consistently one of the most consumed fruits in the United States and globally, as raw fruits, baked items, juices, and ciders. Georgia 4-H developed a lesson that teaches upper elementary and middle school youth about apple breeding and reproduction. Attendees will learn about the curriculum and sample activities for youth that include how to make apple prints, grafting techniques, and other fun-filled "apple-tivities" utilizing our friendly fruit! Since apples can be grown in every state, the content can be used by 4-H clubs across the nation. |
|
|
|
|
Hold Onto Your Seats! Hypersonics & 4-H Career Connections
Dr. Stephanie Stehle, Joint Hypersonics Transition Office & Dena Held, Purdue University/Indiana 4-H Curious about Hypersonics and why it matters for the future STEM workforce? This session presents an overview of basic Hypersonics concepts and explores why strengthening the future STEM workforce is critical to meeting ever-evolving technological challenges. Learn how career opportunities for skilled and post-graduate individuals are expanding in this cutting-edge field and discover how you can access vetted curriculum resources to bring Hypersonics content to your own STEM efforts for all age ranges! |
Green & Growing: Celebrating Service, Strength, and 4-H
Jenny Jordan, NC State University Join us as we center military families in the 4-H story. Hear youth voices, grab simple celebration templates, and learn how to partner together to keep momentum going for National 4-H Week. Expect to dive into the resources that can help you make the best better as you celebrate with military-connected youth and families. You'll learn more about templates, activities, tips for collaboration, and best practices. We hope you're Beyond Ready to join in the fun! |
|
4-H Military Partnership
Leadership Academy Capstone Projects Aly Schortinghouse, University of Florida, Claudia Meeks, Colorado State University, Vanessa Tranel, NC State University, Jeremiah Johnson, University of Kentucky, Amy Parrott, University of Arizona, & Phillip Alden, New Mexico State University The 4-H Military Partnership Leadership Academy, launched in 2023, will host the final meeting for the second cohort later this year. Join us to learn more about the 4-Leadership Academy and several capstone projects that participants have developed to support your work with military-connected youth and educators. Different Academy participants will share their projects, their resources, and their ideas to support your work, making the best better for military-connected children, youth, and families. |
Characteristics of Leaders
Allison Perkins, University of Georgia According to the National Resource Center for Youth Development, "Leadership training prepares youth to manage time, work as a team, set goals, start conversations, facilitate meetings, and make effective presentations. Promoting youth leadership development is a great way to promote positive life skills learning." Developing youth leadership can present challenges, such as the belief that young people are incapable of leadership, undefined goals, and limited time and resources. The webinar will share a local development program with integrity, self-awareness, vision, confidence, communication, and teamwork lessons. |
|
Navigating Change: Tools for Thriving in Early Adolescence
Kelle Ashley & Jenna Daniel, University of Georgia 4-H This leadership-based session embraces the Olympic theme using a variety of games, activities, and challenges to introduce skill-building tools (Stephen Covey's Circles of Influence and Personality Academy Instrument) that will help youth navigate social and emotional development, resilience, and peer relationships. This workshop will show how to create space for youth to reflect on aspects of their life they can control and influence while accepting the things they cannot. Help youth discover how to grow their Circle of Influence by connecting their leadership strengths. |
How to Appreciate the Neurospicy Youth in 4-H Programs
Kelly Bryant, University of Maryland 4-H How to appreciate the neurospicy youth in 4-H programs will equip 4-H educators with the knowledge and tools to support neurodiverse youth effectively. We’ll discuss understanding neurodiversity, recognizing common strengths and challenges, and implementing inclusive teaching strategies and de-escalation techniques. The session emphasizes creating welcoming environments, adapting activities to meet varied needs, and fostering positive youth development for all participants. Interactive components and practical resources help educators enhance their programs, ensuring every young person has the opportunity to thrive. |
|
Building Connections Through Positivity
Jamie Morris, Purdue University/Indiana 4-H Creating a fun, engaging, and educational environment for youth to learn, grow, and thrive is the goal of any 4-H youth development program, but it is not always easy. Working with others can be stressful, frustrating, and challenging because people have different ways of thinking and working and different goals and ideas. This session provides strategies to build and/or maintain positivity and infuse it into your work with others and the environment you create for 4-H youth. This session's ideas and methods may spark your interactions and rebuild or strengthen your connections with others. |
Crucial Conversations for Mastering Dialogue
Joe Smith, Crucial Learning If you're not getting the results you want, it's likely that an important conversation hasn't happened or hasn't been handled well. Both individual and organizational success is largely determined by how quickly, directly, and effectively we speak up when it matters most. People willing and able to hold Crucial Conversations are at the heart of healthy and high-performance organizations. Through the webinar, learn the skills of the world's best communicators. Gain the confidence and ability to dialogue when stakes are high, opinions vary, and emotions run strong. |
|
The Art of Reflection
Lauren Dye, University of Georgia 4-H Children and youth enjoy the activities we plan and often learn a great deal as they experience the process and the project. Planning for intentional reflection during and after the activity is an important component of the Experiential Learning process. The webinar explores different strategies and techniques to make reflection as much fun as the activity and provide participants (and facilitators) the tools needed to extend their learning. |
Exploring NASA Science
Anita Dey, Outreach & Engagement, NASA Headquarters NASA Science seeks to reach beyond our current knowledge by investigating the Earth, the Sun, the Moon, other worlds of our solar system, the stars, and the deep universe. Earth science and agriculture are key components of NASA missions and experiments for continued advancements. The webinar is an overview of NASA Science, exploring available resources, and learning about upcoming opportunities and new programs for educators and youth through NASA Science and Military OneSource. Blast Off with NASA Science! |
|
Passport to the World
Amy Henschen, Alcha Corban, Martha Ebbsmeyer, Myla Munro, University of Illinois Extension Passport to the World is designed to help individual members, groups of 4-Hʼers, families, and 4-H leaders learn about a foreign country as part of the people-to-people 4-H intercultural emphasis. Passport to the World can be done as a project for an individual, an entire club, or as a 4-H special-interest school program. By studying a specific country and carrying out activities related to that country, you will be able to experience some of the excitement and flavor of being there. |
Food Curriculum
Angie Frost, Purdue Extension The Foods curriculum series from Purdue University is designed to help youth have fun in the kitchen as they learn basic food preparation skills, prepare different foods, do fun experiments, and go on fact-finding missions. These educational materials focus on healthy food selection, smart food purchasing, food safety and science, food preparation, food preservation, and careers in the food industry. The design emphasizes teaching young people the importance of balance with their food choices as they are building healthy food habits that will carry them to adulthood. |
|
Thinking Traps
Emily Golinsky, Bright Moose, LLC Our brains are amazing resources, but sometimes, they play tricks on us that prevent us from doing our best work. These “mind traps” (also known as “thinking traps” or cognitive distortions) can cause short-term emotional distress that mirrors common mental health challenges and affects judgment and good decision-making. Join Emily to learn about the fascinating human tendency to fall into these traps and the strategies you can use to avoid them. It’s essential learning so you stop hearing staff (or yourself!) say things like “I should have been able to do this without help” and other self-defeating commentary. |
Discover 4-H Curriculum
Stacey MacArthur & Meggan Callister, Utah State University Created for various settings, the Discover 4-H curriculum provides resources for all ages in 4-H club programming. Learn more about the different clubs, offerings, and possibilities as you explore some of the more than 50 programs available. |
|
Cultivating Curiosity
Shawnie Sahadeo, University of Georgia Cultivating curiosity when working with youth leads to greater interest and investment in learning. We will explore three ideas that, when used together, can cultivate curiosity in various settings. We use a new resource, the Ouisi games, to build excitement and brainstorm together how best to use these concepts with children and youth of all ages. |
Beat the Heat
Katie Bowker, Georgia 4-H, University of Georgia The weather is warming, and we'll find ourselves outside in the heat more and more. Georgia 4-H Journeys in Health & Safety includes Handle the Heat. A magazine for middle school students that has accompanying activities and lessons, Handle the Heat is a great resource. Katie Bowker shares an overview of the resources and activities to use in various settings. |
|
For the Love of the Game:
Clover Gaming Kathleen Bohde, Purdue Extension/Indiana 4-H Games are an all-inclusive way for youth to learn STEAM and create family connections and peer networks. Clover Gaming Connection delivers 12-plus hours of content encouraging innovation and imagination and cultivating creativity in board game design. Gaming and game design is a way to develop programming that excites youth and allows participants to see possibilities for their future. This session reviews the curriculum and many implementation options to fit youth programming needs. d |
Thriving with Physical Activity & Skillastics
Jessica Johnson, Skillastics Although learning stems from many variables, health is a vital factor in a child's ability to learn, thrive, and be successful. Multiple studies confirm that physical activity's benefits are cardiovascular and muscular fitness, social-emotional outcomes, and brain health. When kids are moving, they are learning. When kids are moving, they are thriving. Skillastics is a physical activity program that simplifies engagement in movement, sports, skills, and more.We explore one approach to fitness, sport-skill development, SEL, and even STEM during the webinar. Whether indoors or out, we'll explore how movement becomes part of your programming and supports youth thriving. |
|
Balance is a Myth
Dan Faill We often hear the phrase “work/life balance” but have zero clue how to achieve that unicorn status. That’s because it doesn’t exist. This program dives into the myth of balance while exploring different tips and tricks to hack your day and week to be more productive and live a more “balanced” life. |
Astronomy: It's Out of This World
Kasey Bozeman, The University of Georgia 4-H Are you ready for a session that is out of this world? Young people are obsessed with learning about space … it’s not just a (moon) phase! Astronomy is the branch of science that deals with celestial objects, space, and the physical universe. Georgia 4-H developed two publications and a series of lesson activities related to astronomy topics for upper elementary and middle school students. During this training, participants learn about astronomy content and activities related to science education. Topics include (1) the history of the universe and space study, (2) the relationship of Earth, sun, and moon, (3) our solar system, (4) moon phases, and (4) eclipses. Be a luna-tic and blast off as you learn about these awesome resources! |
|
Overcoming Your Inner: Addressing Imposter Syndrome
Dan Faill Have you ever felt out of place, like you don't belong? Maybe you've been elected to serve an organization and don't feel qualified, or you're waiting for the other shoe to drop, and people will find out you're a fraud. Turns out, you're not alone. A study from the Journal of Behavioral Science found that 70% of people feel like an imposter at some point. Let's dive into understanding that annoying voice that tells us we're not good enough, not ready enough, or just not enough in general while giving mindset tips and tricks you can use for the rest of your life. |
Your Thoughts Matter:
Navigating Mental Health Amanda Raines & Jamie Dellifield, The Ohio State University What is mental health, and how are many people affected by related issues like anxiety and depression? Understanding and explaining this can be difficult for youth development professionals as they meet the needs of the youth in their programs. It is vital to the health of our young people to learn to answer these questions. Amanda and Jami share strategies for using this curriculum in various ways with youth and address best practices for supporting military-connected youth and families as they navigate and understand mental health. |
|
Emotional Wellness Curricula
Amanda Raines & Jami Dellifield, Ohio State University Teaching young people how to identify emotions, build resilience, and know how to talk about mental health is a daunting task for youth development professionals, but it is vital to the health of our young people. According to the National Council on Wellbeing, Young people need to be educated on discussing their mental wellbeing and asking for help when needed. This new 4-H curriculum is perfect for starting those conversations with 8 to 12-year-olds. The project book helps you explore emotions, how to express them, and how to react to them positively. |
Engaging Family Events
Jason Painter, NC State University The Science House at NCSU North Carolina director Jason Painter explores best practices for family engagement events. Learn strategies to engage children, youth, and adults in various activities that extend experience together. The Science House supports science exploration for all ages and has kits and resources for Family Science events. |
|
Learn, Grow, Eat & Go Curriculum
Randy Seagraves, Texas A&M University The Learn, Grow, Eat & Go curriculum, created by teachers, is a multifaceted gardening curriculum that is fun, academically rich, and research-baed. Through a linear set of lessons with hands-on activities, your group can establish a thriving, easy-creation, and maintenance garden. Our session demonstrates youth-led & maintained garden installations and more. During the session, you can take part in hands-on activities from the curriculum. Bring one (1) square paper towel, school glue, carrot seeds, and a marker to follow along. |
Focus on Facilitation
Harriett Edwards & Jenny Jordan, NC State University Whether working with youth or adults, we all have the opportunity to add to the learning. With a shift of the lens, we can take a simple craft to an example of teamwork, a discussion to create deeper meaning. We'll explore facilitation using the experiential learning process sh,aring strategies and approaches to take anything from a transition to an ongoing project to a more rewarding learning experience simply by how the facilitator (you) shifts the focus to the learner. |
|
Cloverbud Reading Adventures
Dr. Scott D. Scheer, Rebecca Supinger, Rhonda Williams, and Christy Millhouse, The Ohio State University Research shows that children reading just one book a day from birth to kindergarten will hear almost 300,000 words by the time they start school. We also know that sometimes books help us begin difficult conversations with children. Ohio Cloverbud Design Team members explore Ohio’s Cloverbud Reading Adventures. These easy-to-use resources for Cloverbud volunteers help promote literacy by connecting Cloverbuds to a book and complementary activities. A collection of approximately 20 books is currently available as free downloads, with more books being added. Presenters highlight the books Ada Twist Scientist, A Kid in a Medieval Castle, and The Day the Crayons Came Home during this session by sharing related activities. |
The Art of Engagement: Storytelling for Leaders
Kerri Garbis, Ovation Communications Did you know people are 20 times more likely to remember a fact relayed in a story? When was the last time a presentation made you sit up and take notice? Did you also notice the use of Storytelling? It’s the most effective way to convey a message to any audience! Storytelling allows you to connect emotionally with your audience, makes persuading them more manageable, and is more likely to garner the desired results. This interactive virtual workshop introduces the most vital emotional connection tool we have to use in person and via written communication. Participants will understand the primary components needed for a complete story, the types of stories to tell, and where/when it is best to tell a story. Participants will also learn how to tie stories to content and strategies to ensure stellar engagement. |
|
Work Ready Life Skills Curriculum
Monica Nagele & Courtney Stierwalt, Purdue University Work Ready Life Skills teaches life skills people need to become qualified applicants for job openings nationwide. The biggest skills gaps for first-time workers are problem-solving, collaboration, and communication. Purdue Extension developed Work Ready to teach the critical life skills our workforce needs to succeed in their first job. The webinar shares how to implement the Work Ready Curriculum, the target audience, success stories, and ways the curriculum can be adapted to your needs. |
Ignite Your Super Powers
Candi Dierenfield, University of Florida What is your passion or purpose? When we share our passions through a positive youth development (PYD) experience, these are our secret superpowers as they ignite excitement in others. How do we help youth find their secret superpowers? This session explores using the 4-H THRIVE model to guide military-connected youth through PYD experiences to identify their passion and develop critical life skills. |
|
"This work is supported by the Children, Youth and Families at Risk 4-H Military Partnership Professional Development and Technical Assistance Program, project award no. 2022-41520-38161, from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture."
|
|
