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In this exclusive “Reflecting on Kindness” series, Ponysitters Club members reflect back on moments from episodes that allowed them to express different forms of kindness.

In this week’s journal entry, Olivia demonstrates kindness through the themes of confidence, trying new things, empathy, and connection with animals. She shares how these themes allowed her to express kindness by recognizing and celebrating individual growth and the kindness of those who help us get there.

Sometimes it’s easier to focus on our weaknesses than our strengths. When Lizzie Sweet and her reptile zoo come to visit in “Special Connections” (S01E03), Lizzie goes out of her way to make Olivia feel comfortable trying something that scares her, never letting her feel small or less-than for not being as confident around animals. Olivia reflects on other moments when she’s played the role of helping Skye with something that scares her.

Dear diary,

Today was a big day at Rescue Ranch! I faced some fears, tried new things I never thought I’d try, and I surprised myself with how much I could do. Whoever thought I’d hold a snake, let alone enjoy it???

So, story time. A traveling reptile zoo broke down right outside the Ranch, and the zookeepers brought out all of their animals and let us all play with them while Grandpa helped fix their van. I was really nervous at first — I love all kinds of furry critters, but I do NOT like creepy crawly reptiles. How can you cuddle something with scales and cold blood? When one of the zookeepers, Lizzie Sweet, took out a snake and handed it to Ethan and Trish, I just about ran out of the barn!

Lizzie was soooo nice though. She let me watch the snakes from further away at first — I think she could tell I was nervous, so it helped to just watch until I was more comfortable. After seeing Ethan and Trish having so much fun playing with the snake, I started thinking they might not be as bad as I thought they were and started wanting to try holding them myself. Lizzie helped me hold one and taught us some neat snake facts — I never knew how hard it was to tell girl and boy snakes apart! It ended up being so much less scary than I thought it would be, and I even touched some other reptiles and lizards later in the day!

I guess it goes to show how great it can be when you try things that make you feel nervous or scared. It’s just like the other day when Skye was having a hard time with her reading homework — I know reading out loud gives her anxiety, but I also know she’s soooo smart and loves storytelling, and she’s so good at it too! Sometimes she just needs a friend to help her out with things that are scary for her, and I guess maybe I do too sometimes! We all want to be big, brave doers, but we all also have difficulties that get in the way, and we can’t do it all by ourselves. I guess that’s what friends are for!! I’m so happy that I have the best friends ever! I love my Ponysitter pals!!

Did you know that kids can become a real member of the Ponysitters Club? Learn how to join and be sure to inspire your kids to be doers by downloading the 4‑H Inspire Kids to Do Activity Guide!

Without struggles, one would not be able to distinguish the good times from the bad. Everyone’s had a rough day. A rough week. Perhaps a rough month. It’s never fun to dwell on your problems. In fact, it’s always best to share these trying times with a trusted friend, advisor or 4‑H’er.

Yes, that’s right, a 4‑H’er! You attend meetings with this person; you show your animal next to this person; you even have to wear the same uniform as this person. Through the Text, Talk, Act program, you can communicate and bond with this fellow 4‑H’er in a way you may have never imagined.

It’s simple. Pull out a mobile device and gather a group of two to ten friends. Text the code that Creating Community Solutions (contact this organization for instructions before meeting up with your friends) has provided, and let the mental health discussion begin! Do you need to talk to someone about your relationship with your family? Are you struggling with stress in school? Has your mood been taking a turn for the worse lately? If so, the Text, Talk, Act program is a perfect opportunity for you to connect with fellow 4‑H’ers and learn that you are NEVER alone in these situations.

Last November, I led a small group discussion with my 4‑H peers through Text, Talk, Act. I learned that some of my 4‑H friends were wrestling with some difficult issues in their home and personal lives. I took that to heart and made it a point to ask about my friends’ days from then on out. I wanted them to know that I cared and that I was willing to listen. 4‑H is a family! We all bleed green and white, am I right?!

Click here for more information about how to be a part of Text, Talk Act!

As a part of National 4‑H Council’s Legacy Awards celebration, we take a moment to recognize our 4‑H alumni who, through their respective fields, have used their experiences and learning in 4‑H to give back and play an integral role in the communities they serve. From chefs to athletes to educators, these alumni have been vocal about how the 4‑H experiences made them who they are today, earning them the Distinguished 4‑H Alumni Medallion.

During the 2018 4‑H Legacy Awards, we will be honoring Zippy Duvall, president of the American Farm Bureau Federation and proud Georgia 4‑H alumnus. Zippy currently serves in our founding class of the 4‑H Luminaries and recently was featured in our 4‑H Alumni Day in the Life series. Watch as he pays it forward to Virginia 4‑H’er Abby, allowing her to shadow him for a day! Check out the video, where he pays it forward to a Virginia 4‑H’er.

Learn more about the 2018 4‑H Legacy Awards.

In a decade of 4‑H National Youth Science Day, we’ve encouraged kids to unlock their passion for science, engineering technology and math (STEM), to ask the right questions, to be innovators, and empowered them to find solutions no matter how difficult the problem.

This year’s event was no different, as youth put their engineering skills to the test and got moving for STEM! The 2017 “Incredible Wearables” challenge tasked kids with creating their own fitness tracker and testing their custom wearable tech device.

One thing that changed for this year’s national 4‑H NYSD event was the location. The national celebration was held in Brooklyn, NY, and was hosted by P.S. 21 Crispus Attucks in Bedford-Stuyvesant.

nysd, national youth science day, incredible wearables, science, stem, youth, kids, students, education, tech, recap

The event opening ceremony was short and sweet, emceed by 4‑H STEM Youth Ambassador Kyra Lee Harry from New York 4‑H, and 2017 4‑H Youth in Action STEM winner Ava Lonneman from Ohio 4‑H. With an auditorium of 200+ students from schools across the state, youth told their personal STEM stories, national 4‑H NYSD partners HughesNet, U.S. Cellular, and Lockheed Martin partners shared remarks, and 4‑H Grown alumna and NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson shared a special video message with the young participants.

nysd, national youth science day, incredible wearables, science, stem, youth, kids, students, education, tech, recap
Kyra Lee Harry shares her STEM story.

Esteemed guest Letitia James, New York City Public Advocate, took the stage to share some inspiration with the “scholars” of the room.

“It’s OK to be a geek,” she shared. “It’s OK to be smart. It’s OK to dream and be anything you want to be… It’s ok to soar.”

nysd, national youth science day, incredible wearables, science, stem, youth, kids, students, education, tech, recap, letitia james
Letitia James inspires the room.

After final remarks and instructions, kids and took to their stations and the fun began. Here’s a photo recap of the challenge and bonus STEM activitie:

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nysd, national youth science day, incredible wearables, science, stem, youth, kids, students, education, tech, recap, hoola hoop

nysd, national youth science day, incredible wearables, science, stem, youth, kids, students, education, tech, recap, innovation
While some kids tested their fitness trackers, others explored the Innovation Station!

nysd, national youth science day, incredible wearables, science, stem, youth, kids, students, education, tech, recap, google, computer science, virtual reality Google stopped by to give kids a glimpse into new worlds through virtual reality!

nysd, national youth science day, incredible wearables, science, stem, youth, kids, students, education, tech, recap, aquaponics
4‑H NYSD partners learned a lesson in aquaponics.

Check out additional photos from the national event and be sure to follow the hashtag, #4HNSYD, event photos, videos and more nationwide!

Since 2008, 4‑H National Youth Science Day has engaged millions of youth around the world in exciting and innovative STEM learning and experiences, from wind power to robotics to rocketry. This year, the 4‑H NYSD is celebrating its tenth year, and what better way to commemorate this milestone by taking a look back at the challenges over the years.

Here are the hands-on challenges that helped dub 4‑H NYSD the world’s largest, youth-led science event!

nysd, national youth science day, science, youth, kids, experiment, challenge, hands-on, history, rockets to the rescue

2014: Rockets to the Rescue

2008: Helpful Hydrogels

In year one of 4‑H National Youth Science Day, youth explored a new superabsorbent polymer – called hydrogels – that can help with water conservation, right in our backyards!

2009: Biofuel Blast

In its sophomore year, 4‑H NYSD explored the production of the biofuel ethanol.

2010: 4‑H20

From one liquid to the next, 4‑H20 allowed youth to participate in a live demonstration of how carbon dioxide builds up in the atmosphere while understanding the importance of water quality.

2011: Wired for Wind

The fourth year of 4‑H NYSD brought a change in the elements, youth learned to design, build out and test two different wind turbine models. Designed by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and University of Nebraska Extension Program, the challenge explored how to engineer renewable energy technologies.

nysd, national youth science day, science, youth, kids, experiment, challenge, hands-on, history, motion commtion

2015: Motion Commotion

2012: Eco-Bot Challenge

Robots were the main attraction to this challenge, allowing youth to enhance their engineering skills as they learn to think like a robotics engineer with the end-goal of managing an environmental clean-up.

2013: Maps & Apps

In its sixth year, the 4‑H NYSD challenge was a two-part experience! First, youth were tasked with designing and mapped their own community park. Once complete, GIS mapping and layers were used to assess community problems and provide cost-effective solutions.

2014: Rockets to the Rescue

In 2014, 4‑H NYSD took flight in this rocket-powered challenge! Designed by the University of Arizona, youth learn how to develop and test an aerodynamic transportation device that can deliver food to disaster victims.

nysd, national youth science day, science, youth, kids, experiment, challenge, hands-on, history, drone discovery

2016: Drone Discovery

2015: Motion Commotion

Developed by Oregon State University Cooperative Extension, year eight’s two-part challenge taught youth a lesson in safety. The challenge encouraged youth to investigate physical and human factors of motion, simulating a speeding car collision and distracted driving with toy cars.

2016: Drone Discovery

Drones were the focus of the 2016 challenge, designed by Cornell University Cooperative Extension. Youth learned everything from flight dynamics to safety to flight control.

Click here to learn more about these challenges and how you can relive past 4‑H National Youth Science Day experiences!

National 4‑H Council is proud to announce the recipients of the 2017 4‑H Youth in Action Awards. These four young people exemplify the life skills 4‑H’ers are mastering across the country and the types of lasting impact 4‑H’ers are having in their families and their communities.

It is our honor to formally introduce these True Leaders as they will serve as national ambassadors for the collective 4‑H movement over the next year and showcase what it means when we say, True Leaders aren’t born, they’re grown.

The 2017 4‑H Youth in Action Award pillar winners are:

Agriculture: Samuel Sugarman (Encinitas, California)

Growing up on a farm, Samuel Sugarman realized in his teen years that young people in his San Diego suburb didn’t experience many opportunities to be outdoors. These youth were glued to cell phones, computers and television screens much of the time and had little to no understanding of where their food comes from. A 4‑H’er since the age of 9, Samuel had developed life skills like public speaking and goal setting, while learning from adult mentors who modeled servant leadership. Drawing on these skills he’d developed in 4‑H, Samuel created the free Farm Tour Program to connect youth in his community with animals and nature. Since the program’s inception, Samuel has led hundreds of Farm Tours for scout troops, youth groups and school groups. Through these tours, he taught youth about stewardship, compassion, patience and gratitude. In 2016, Congressman Darrell Issa honored Samuel for his service work with the Congressional Gold Medal for Service.

This award is sponsored by Bayer.

Citizenship: Amelia Day (Fort Valley, Georgia)

When Amelia Day escorted her father to an appointment at a veteran’s hospital in 2012, she didn’t know that the visit would spark an idea for a 4‑H service project that would reach far beyond her hometown. A 4‑H’er since elementary school, Amelia knew first-hand the transformative power of 4‑H; she’d seen the difference 4‑H opportunities made in her life to aid her in overcoming a difficult speech impediment. At age 13, when she sensed a need for encouragement and support for our nation’s veterans, she put the leadership skills she’d learned in 4‑H into action, and Operation: Veteran Smiles was born. This service initiative provides care packages, notes of encouragement and musical therapy to veterans at the Carl Vinson Veteran’s Hospital in Dublin, Georgia. Over the past five years, Operation: Veteran Smiles has impacted more than 4,000 veterans and engaged more than 6,500 volunteers with the help of 4‑H clubs, volunteers and grants.

This award is sponsored by U.S. Cellular.

Healthy Living: Bryanne Sanchez (Imperial, California)

Bryanne Sanchez became an advocate for healthy living in her community as her 4‑H club’s first Healthy Living Officer. Using this platform, Bryanne sought to bring initiatives promoting a healthy lifestyle to her Club and community. As her 4‑H club’s Healthy Living officer, she launched the annual Color Me Green Run in Imperial County. Annually, more than 250 runners participate in this fun, three-mile race that encourages youth and adults to stay active. She was instrumental in implementing the All 4‑Health Fair at the California State Leadership Conference, working to partner with other organizations to provide healthy living activities. Realizing that a healthy lifestyle includes both physical and mental well-being, Bryanne partnered with Creating Community Solutions to organize a Text, Talk, Act forum that provided more than 200 youth with the opportunity to discuss these topics in a healthy environment.

This award is sponsored by Molina Healthcare.

STEM: Ava Lonneman (Mogadore, Ohio)

Ava Lonneman, a 17-year-old 4‑H’er through Ohio State University Cooperative Extension, doesn’t let gender stereotypes get in her way when it comes to pursuing her dreams. Though told in elementary school that STEM “isn’t for girls,” Ava relentlessly pursued STEM herself and sought to bring STEM programming to her peers. As founder of a STEM mentoring program and her school’s 4‑H Maker’s Club, Ava has reached more than 1,600 youth using 4 H curricula such as Junk Drawer Robotics and National Youth Science Day. Ava aims to explore all STEM fields and to set an example for youth to persevere in their interest areas, no matter the challenges they face. When she graduates in 2018, Ava plans to attend college and pursue a career in STEM, with the ultimate goal of becoming a university president.

This award is sponsored by HughesNet.

We would like to thank our 2017 Youth in Action pillar sponsors: Bayer (Agriculture), HughesNet (STEM), Molina Health Care (Healthy Living), and U.S. Cellular (Citizenship).Learn more about the 2017 4‑H Youth in Action Awards.
Raise Your Hand as a 4‑H Alumni and pay it forward to empower the next generation of True Leaders like our 4‑H Youth in Awards winners: www.4‑H.org/RaiseYourHand
From obesity to mental health, today’s teens face multiple challenges that impact their health and wellbeing not just now, but for years to come. 4‑H believes in the power of young people to take action and lead positive health outcomes in their lives and communities. Check out the newly-released infographic on the state of youth health in America, and how today’s True Leaders are taking the lead.

health, youth, teens, healthy living, nutrition, fitness, wellness, 4-h, inforgraphic

Are you or do you know a college aged student who is looking for plans for next summer? How about an opportunity to live and work in Washington, D.C. with housing and meals paid for? Who could pass up that opportunity? Hundreds of college aged students and new grads have become Program Assistants at the National 4‑H Conference Center and touched the lives of thousands of high school and middle school 4‑H’ers. Program Assistants for the Citizenship Washington Focus and Leadership Washington Focus Programs fill a job position that is unlike any other, but also get a chance to develop skills that will be used throughout the rest of their lives.

Why is being a CWF/LWF Program Assistant (PA) such a unique experience? Well, PA’s go through the training and process to become licensed Washington, D.C. tour guides. They work with chaperones and bus drivers to make sure that their delegates have the best week possible and see as much as they can of Washington, D.C. They help delegates step outside of their own comfort zones and meet new people, creating bonds that last well beyond their week at CWF or LWF. Since they have been a part of the National 4‑H Conference Center for over 50 years, who better to tell about their experiences than the Program Assistants themselves. Being a PA comes with its own unique set of challenges and rewards:

Challenge: Living and working in the same environment for an entire summer.

Reward: Growing a fondness for where you live and becoming appreciative of how close you get to everything, including your co-workers.Challenge: Keeping patience in situations that make your job difficult.

Reward: Having the delegates thank you at the end of the week and write a kind thank you to you for all of your knowledge and giving them something to work toward as they return home.

As they teach, the PA’s often realize they too learn along the way:

“As much as I hope the delegates take out of their experience, as a PA you take even more from the relationships and life lessons that they teach you. I picked up a southern accent from Alabama, basketball skills from Iowa, an appreciation for bus rides from South Dakota, selfies from Nebraska, Hoosier hospitality from Indiana, hip-hop from Louisiana, and the importance of snacking from Virginia. And while those are all fun examples, I learned so much more from my one-on-one interactions with delegates. There are so many names and faces that will stay with me for the rest of my life.

At the end of each week I shared the quote with my delegations that you are the sum total of all of the people that you have ever met, and I think that sums up my PA experience well. I’ve learned a lot in school, but nothing has taught me more about myself than spending a summer with eight of the best friends you could ask for and 1,500 of the best 4‑H’ers this country has to offer, and THAT is why you should become a PA.” – Andrew Powell, 2014 CWF PA

The life skills, professional skills, and customer service skills that PA’s gain from this job are invaluable, no matter what career field you are entering. There have been lawyers, nurses, teachers, 4‑H agents, high ups at major Agricultural organizations, tech companies, and politicians that have made the 4‑H Center home for a few months. The worry of getting a tour guide license, helping a bus driver navigate D.C. traffic, taking 50 4‑H’ers on the metro, seeing the President speak at Arlington on Memorial Day, telling cheesy jokes, or seeing how many people you can get to believe that the Washington Monument really does get lowered into the ground when a plane flies over are just some of the many stories that PA alumni from 5, 15, and 40 years ago continue to share. But the number one story we hear from youth that attended one of our programs is that their PA brought the city to life, made learning fun and created a life changing experience for them.

Interested in joining the more than 50-year-old legacy? Apply here or share this opportunity with college students or recent grads you know.

Hello! This summer I had the absolute pleasure of attending Citizenship Washington Focus (CWF), where I stayed at the National 4‑H Conference Center. During my time here at CWF, I traveled with my delegation into the heart of Washington, D.C. to view the glorious monuments and memorials. Among these monuments and memorials were the Abraham Lincoln Memorial, the Vietnam Veterans memorial, the Marine Corps Memorial, and many more.

How did we get to downtown D.C.? There is quite a bit of walking during this week, but I can promise you we never had to walk to get from the 4‑H center to our destinations. For the most part during the week we rode on buses with the most polite bus drivers you could possibly imagine. However, sometimes on Fridays, delegation day, we didn’t use the bus as our form of transportation. Instead we ventured into the mysterious underground tunnels below the bustling city of Washington, D.C.; formally known as the Metro System.

If you are like me and you are coming from an area where public transportation is limited, then you are in for a treat. Washington, D.C. is full of something new and exciting around every corner, but below the ground is something like nothing else that could be found in the city above.

First, to descend into the underground of D.C., you’ve got to hop onto the escalator or trot down the stairs until you reach the bottom. Then, you will come upon these mysterious machines whose magical powers are to confuse and frustrate the riders of the Metro. These machines are where you can purchase a metro card and put an allotted amount of money on the card. The most important thing to remember when working with these machines on the metro is this; do NOT get frustrated by these contraptions. In fact, be pumped that you get this new experience to purchase a card that will give you complete access into the underground world of Washington, D.C.

Once you have purchased your metro card, take the time to read what train line you need to be on. There are six different colored train lines, all of them traveling to unique places throughout the city. If you have ever seen Harry Potter, then you must know that the metro is our version of Platform 9 ¾. The metro is today’s version of the Hogwarts express, because like the train that travels to Hogwarts, the metro also travels to some pretty magical places. So take it all in while you experience it and don’t just take it at face value. The metro is so much more than a grungy train underground. The metro is full of interesting people, exciting places, and a chance to make some memories while you’re here visiting Washington, D.C.

Written by: Karlie Wade, CWF PA 2016

Citizenship Washington Focus is a week-long citizenship and leadership conference with tours of Washington, D.C., workshops, and committee meetings. For this conference, 4‑H’ers from all over the nation come to the National 4‑H Conference Center and are able to connect with other 4‑H’ers. Yet while CWF is a place where young people get to interact with their government and see how the democratic process works, CWF also creates other meaningful experiences and memories for participants. In addition to writing bills, attending a mock congressional session, meeting with real legislators, and developing leadership skills, 4‑H’ers at CWF create bonds with each other that are often maintained for years to come.

At first you wonder how a large group of teens with SUCH different stories and backgrounds can connect. Delegates for CWF come from all over the United States, some have met others from their delegation previously, but many meet for the first time at the airport or on the bus on the way to CWF. However, every week it seems that these different stories and different backgrounds are what help form these connections. Early on the first day, the delegates are a bit shy and talk to those that they already know, but by the end of that day, the delegates have begun their bonding journey. People who start with nothing in common end the week with shared experiences and memories that they share for years to come.

As program assistants, we enjoy working with the many delegates from different backgrounds and hearing the unique stories from everyone. I enjoy many parts of the week, but there is a moment every week that I look for. It is on Friday of every week of CWF, which is when we host the dance. The dance signifies that Citizenship Washington Focus has come to an end, which is sad, but the most beautiful thing happens after the dance. After the dance every week, after the last song has been played, there is always a group of delegates in a large huddle saying their goodbyes to one another and even shedding some tears. While it is the end of Citizenship Washington Focus, it is only the beginning for some. The beginning of the great things that will be accomplished, the beginning of the pathway to active citizens, and the beginning to many lasting relationships.

From the outside looking in, some might just see a large group of teens walking around, touring the nation’s capital. But as the program assistants, those of us who have the pleasure of working with the delegates, we truly get to see how all of these young people are able to come together and create wonderful things. The wonderful things may be the bills that they write and argue in the congressional session, but more often, they are the connections developed between each other as they are writing and arguing those bills.

Written by: Nosa Akol, CWF PA 2016