PALM BEACH, Fla. – Need a replacement for camp? How about a Camp to Go kit keeping your summer-bound students busy with enriching, hands-on, healthy living and STEM-based, screen-free activities throughout the summer?
Florida 4-H Youth and Development leaders at UF/IFAS Extension Palm Beach County have your backs – parents and caretakers.
Free Camp to Go kits stuffed with more than 20 activities in each bag are being assembled just for Palm Beach County youth ages 5-18. All parents need to do is register online by June 8 on the following link (https://forms.gle/7o61NiPo6d7MYGMm8). Parents will pick up the kits at one of two designated drive-thru locations on designated dates that they select during the online registration process. The pick-up dates and locations to choose from are:
- Cooperative Extension Belle Glade office,
2976 State Road 15, Belle Glade, FL 33430,
Friday, June 12, from noon to 1 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
- Cooperative Extension Palm Beach office,
559 N Military Trail, West Palm Beach, FL 33415,
Saturday, June 13, from 10 am. to 11:30 a.m.
“While we are offering one Camp to Go kit per child, we will assemble as many kits that are signed up for as long as parents register online by June 8,” said Noelle N. Guay, 4-H agent at UF/IFAS Extension Palm Beach County. “The goal is to sign up at least 250 campers as a starting point.”
With most summer camps closed in South Florida, stay-at-home parents and in-home caretakers are looking for activities that will keep the kids off the couch and engaged outdoors, while still abiding by social distancing guidelines. This was a call to action for the 4-H agents and program assistants.
“We wanted to give the campers both activities that promoted STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) and healthy living,” said Guay. “The STEM activities are those we conduct frequently with our 4-H youth and for youth in other community programs. We were also looking for simple materials that we could easily and inexpensively provide so families could easily replicate these activities on their own.”
Here is a partial list of the 20 activities with materials included in each Camp to Go kit:
STEM Activities (10)
Seed necklaces
Bridge-building
Balloon rockets
Catapults
Make Your Own Harmonica
Healthy Living Activities (10)
Make your own exercise dice
Agility challenge cards
Exercise Tic Tac Toe game
Water Challenge
Dress to Impress Sun safety game
“The main takeaway for parents is that the kits are a snap-shot of the activities we do with youth in 4-H to teach them problem-solving skills, critical thinking, communication, and healthy living best practices,” added Guay.
To get involved with UF/IFAS 4-H in Palm Beach County email fourh@pbcgov.org Want to help Florida’s youth on their journey? Your support of 4-H provides opportunities for youth to grow as leaders and responsible citizens while fostering the community and support they need. If you or your organization would like to discuss partnering with 4-H, please contact Caylin Hilton at grow4h@ifas.ufl.edu or 352.392.5432.
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By: Lourdes Rodriguez, 954-577-6363 office, 954-242-8439 mobile, rodriguezl@ufl.edu
The mission of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is to develop knowledge relevant to agricultural, human, and natural resources and to make that knowledge available to sustain and enhance the quality of human life. With more than a dozen research facilities, 67 county Extension offices, and award-winning students and faculty in the UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, UF/IFAS brings science-based solutions to the state’s agricultural and natural resources industries and all Florida residents.
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