Fall Activities for 4-H Youth

UF/IFAS Photo by Cat Wofford

Fall Fun for our 4-H Families

In the context of 4-H, fall is an important time. A time of harvest for our hard-working agriculture industry. This fall, as Florida begins to become a tiny bit cooler, here are some activities for you and your family to participate in!

Fall Festivals

Fruitville Grove will be hosting their 37th annual pumpkin festival! These festivals are normally held every weekend in October. They have a costume contest, live music, activities, a petting zoo and tons and tons of pumpkins! Stop by to enjoy their fall fun.

Here’s a link to fun fall activities around the county: https://www.sarasotamagazine.com/advantagepoint/2025/08/have-fun-in-sarasota-this-fall

Besides that, here are some fun activities you can do at home.

Create a Nature Wreath

Materials:

Cardboard
Scissors
Materials from nature (ex: pinecones)
Kid safe glue

In Florida we have a ton of fallen pinecones and pine needles, dead leaves and twigs. Use these to create your own fall wreath. Firstly, take your kids to collect the material. That can factor in a nice, fall walk. Then, use a kid safe glue to connect your materials to the wreath. I like to take some leftover cardboard and cut a wreath shape out of it. Then, I attach my materials from nature. Lastly, use a piece of string to create a loop at the top of your wreath for hanging and you’re done!

Donation Time

Materials:

Old things your kids don’t use anymore

One thing my mom used to do with use when we were little was she encouraged us to donate. Every so often, my sister and I would go through our closet for Goodwill. If we gave away enough, she would get us something new. No matter where you choose to donate, the holidays are fast approaching during fall. Now is the time to give back to your community so more parents have opportunities to give gifts to their children. This easy activity will also help you get rid of clutter around your house!

Ghostly Graveyard Brownies

Materials:

Brownie Box mix
Brownie tray
Eggs
Oil
Oreos
Decorating icing
Candy corn
Candy eyes, bones, etc.

Now we all know that the fall season is a great time for baking. One treat I love to make every year is a brownie graveyard! My family and I will make your generic brownies from a brownie box, but the fun comes when we start to decorate! After you have taken your brownies out of the oven and let them cool, decorate them in the pan like a graveyard. I like to cut the Oreos in half and use them as headstones. Then, I take the decorating icing to write things like “RIP.” I press the candy corn to stick out of the brownies for some extra flare and so the same with the candy eyes and bones. Let your kids get creative! After all, it’s all going to taste the same in the end.

If graveyards aren’t your thing, no worries! I have an even more family friendly option for you!

Candy Corn Rice Krispy Treats

Materials:

Rice Krispies
Marshmallows
Butter
Orange + yellow food coloring
Melted white chocolate
Cookie sheet
Parchment paper
3 bowls

Start out by making your Rice Krispie mixture, adding orange food coloring, and mixing by hand in a bowl. Then, use your hands to form triangles, shaping them to look like candy corn. Let them cool in the fridge on a sheet with parchment paper.

Start melting your white chocolate. After it is melting, separate it into two bowls. Dye one yellow and keep the other white.

Now that your Krispies are cool, dip them into the chocolate to look like candy corn. The bottom of your triangle should be dipped into the yellow chocolate while the top should be dipped into the white. Put these onto a tray with parchment paper and into the fridge to cool.

Then enjoy!

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Finally, as always, make sure you are attending your 4-H club meetings! There is a lot to learn during the fall months so don’t miss out! Also we have 4-H Crafts coming up in December – https://srq4-Hcraft25.4honline.com If you have any questions as you start out your 2025-26 yearly projects, do not hesitate to reach out to 4h@scgov.net