Category: Relationships & Family

Featured image: Young explorers observing mushrooms with magnifying glass in forest. AdobeStock_ 1655868095 By Serhii, Photo used under license.

Don’t let the ‘summer slide’ slow down learning; experts share fun options to fuel young minds

by Lourdes Mederos
June 11, 2026

Summer break has arrived for kids. A time for fun, freedom and family vacation. It can also be a time when academic skills fade away. With nearly 3 million students enrolled in Florida public schools, University of Florida experts at ... READ MORE

Category: 4-H & Youth, Blog Community, Camp, Clubs & Volunteers, Events, Professional Development, Relationships & Family, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: 4-H, 4-H Camp To Go, 4-H Programs, 4-H Summer Camps, Adventure, Adventures, Backyard Fun, Bonnie Wells, Citizen Science, David Hafner, Español, Exploring, Gardening, INaturalist App, Learning Opportunities, Lynsey Occenac, Outdoor Adventures, Science, Spanish, STEM, Summer, Summer Slide, UF-IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Extension Broward County, UF/IFAS Extension Martin County, UF/IFAS Extension Osceola County, University Of Florida, Vacation, Young, Youth
Boy at bottom of steps

Small Moves, Big Benefits: The Power of Short Bursts of Activity

by Leigh Grubbs
June 11, 2026

Many people believe that improving their health requires spending hours at the gym or completing long, intense workouts. While structured exercise certainly has benefits, research continues to show that small bursts of movement throughout the ... READ MORE

Category: Health & Nutrition, Relationships & Family, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, Work & Life
Tags: Exercise, Family, Florida, Health, Healthy, Nutrition, Physical Activity, Taylor County, UF/IFAS Extension
Water with lemon

Stay Hydrated This Summer: Why Water Matters More Than Ever

by Lori Wiggins
June 5, 2026

As temperatures rise during the summer months, staying hydrated becomes one of the most important things we can do to protect our health. Whether you're working outdoors, enjoying recreational activities, gardening, attending community events, ... READ MORE

Category: Health & Nutrition, Relationships & Family, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, Work & Life
Tags: Family, Florida, Health, Healthy, Hydration, Nutrition, Taylor County, UF/IFAS Extension, Water
A wide view of the ocean at sunset shows the sun low on the horizon casting warm orange light across the sky. Gentle waves ripple across the water, reflecting shades of gold and blue. A small boat appears as a silhouette near the center of the horizon, with another faint vessel visible farther to the left.

Self-Compassion Practices: Be Kind to Yourself

by Angelika Keene
June 4, 2026

Everywhere we turn, social media, influencers, and even health professionals are offering endless advice on how to practice self‑care. Most of it centers on outward habits like getting enough sleep, eating well, and staying active. These routines ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, , Community Volunteers, Health & Nutrition, Home Landscapes, Natural Resources, Professional Development, Relationships & Family, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research, UF/IFAS Teaching, Work & Life
Tags: Balance Not Perfection, Be Kind To Yourself, Growth Mindset, Healthy Mindset, Mental Health Matters, Resilience, Self Compassion, Stress Management, Wellbeing Journey
Alarm clock

The Power of Sleep: Why Rest Matters at Every Age

by Lori Wiggins
June 4, 2026

In today’s fast-paced world, sleep is often one of the first things people sacrifice. Whether it is staying up late to finish work, scrolling on phones, studying for exams, or managing busy family schedules, many Americans are not getting ... READ MORE

Category: Health & Nutrition, Relationships & Family, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, Work & Life
Tags: Better Sleep, Family, Florida, Health, Healthy, Sleep, Sleep Schedule, Taylor County, UF/IFAS Extension
Group of people talking on a panel.

Prevention Before Intervention: A 4-H Community Pride Project

by Dr. Rachel Pienta
June 3, 2026

Guest Author: Lani Lopez-Logan The Wakulla County 4-H Community Pride Project took a powerful step toward youth awareness and prevention this year with “Prevention Before Intervention,” a teen town hall created by youth, ... READ MORE

Category: 4-H & Youth, Clubs & Volunteers, Community Volunteers, Events, Relationships & Family, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, Work & Life
Tags: Community Pride, Mental Health, Prevention, Service Learning, Stress Management, Teen Leadership
Fruits and vegetables with white background

Celebrate National Fresh Fruit and Vegetables Month This June

by Lori Wiggins
June 3, 2026

June is National Fresh Fruit and Vegetables Month, the perfect time for families to enjoy the flavors, colors, and health benefits of nature’s bounty. With summer gardens beginning to produce and farmer markets filling with fresh local produce, ... READ MORE

Category: Health & Nutrition, Relationships & Family, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, Work & Life
Tags: Family, Florida, Health, Healthy, Healthy Eating, Nutrition, Taylor County, UF/IFAS Extension
Alarm clock on a beach that reads SUMMER TIME

Summer Time Blues: Turning Free Time into Life Skills Gold

by Gayle Whitworth
May 29, 2026

Summer’s long, bright days are a perfect canvas for curiosity—especially when your kids have no school and only the sky to keep them company. Rather than waiting for the next organized camp or program, you can turn everyday moments into ... READ MORE

Category: 4-H & Youth, Community Volunteers, Conservation, Health & Nutrition, Money Matters, Relationships & Family
Tags: 4-H, Learning, Life Skills, Summer, Youth
An apple on a dry cracked desert soil. Water shortage, food insecurity, crisis, hunger and agriculture concept.

The Hidden Struggle for Healthy Food in Leon County

by Suzanne Holloway
May 22, 2026

Food is national security. Food is economy. It is employment, energy, history. Food is everything. - José Andrés, chef and humanitarian Imagine living in a neighborhood where fast-food chains and liquor stores outnumber grocery stores. Snack ... READ MORE

Category: Community Volunteers, Health & Nutrition, Money Matters, Relationships & Family, UF/IFAS Extension, Work & Life
Tags: Food Access, Food Apartheid, Food Desert, Food Insecurity, Food Security, Food Swamp, Living Well In The Panhandle

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