Participating in 4-H Before Phase 4
An Important Message from Nancy Deringer, State Program Leader for 4-H Youth Development
Updated May 19, 2020
Dear 4-H Community,
We hope you are continuing to stay safe and healthy during this uncharted time. We are as anxious as you are to once again meet face-to-face, but we also know that ensuring everyone’s good health and safety is critical and our first focus. Of special concern is making sure our high-risk populations remain protected and safe.
Thank you for sharing many of your heartwarming stories and creative ways about how 4-H clubs are connecting with each other online, by phone, and by mail. It continues to be extremely important for our 4-H youth to find virtual ways to connect with their 4-H leaders and 4-H clubs to maintain their sense of belonging, so thank you all for your extra efforts during this time.
We know how difficult it is to hear about fairs being canceled or postponed. For an alternative, we have a team of 4-H faculty, staff, volunteers and youth creating guidelines so counties can host a Virtual 4-H Showcase Event. It is important to give our 4-H youth the opportunity to highlight mastery in their project area(s), demonstration speeches and other creative displays online. If you have any questions regarding what this may look like in your county, please reach out to your county 4-H staff through their website, email or phone.
For our 4-H Youth Development re-opening plan, originally we were following Governor Inslee’s plan for the K-12 community, and June 19th was the last day of school. Now the mandated guidance states all government entities must follow Governor Inslee’s Safe-Start four phased plan. This plan allows for rural counties to move through the phases at different times based on population of county (those under 75,000 approved to move first), while making sure that during each phase no one tests positive for COVID-19 for three consecutive weeks.
At this time, the recommendation for the 4-H Youth Development Program to meet face-to-face will be for that to occur when your county reaches Phase Four. For the five counties that were allowed to move to Phase Two on May 6, the earliest they could potentially begin Phase Four is June 19 if they do not have any positive COVID-19 cases before that time and meet the other published requirements. Please consult with your local health department and County Extension Office for when your county may be allowed to move to Phase Four.
We are developing a sequenced re-opening plan for the 4-H Youth Development program intended to help mitigate possible spread of the virus for use when your county has reached Phase Four. Please know that we appreciate your continued patience and your focus on health and safety of our entire 4-H family.
Please take care, and stay healthy.
Thank you,
Nancy
Updated April 20, 2020
Dear 4-H Families, Volunteers and Members:
In consultation with WSU Extension and the WA State Dept. of Health, all 4-H programming will be conducted virtually, postponed or cancelled, effective immediately. In addition, all WSU County Offices will be closed to PHYSICAL PUBLIC ACCESS; however, 4-H Faculty and 4-H Staff will continue operations. By taking this action, our 4-H community will do our part to help stop the spread of COVID-19.
Your health and safety are very important to us, so we are prepared for this temporary face-to-face suspension to remain in place through June 19 (following school closure guidance) AND until Governor Inslee declares it is safe to meet in groups of ten (10) or more (if the group size is 10 or more). The WSU Extension team will be consulting with WSU administration and public health officials and re-assessing safety guidelines regularly to make decisions that are consistent with updated information.
The 4-H Youth Development Program will be working in different ways virtually online and/or through telephone conferencing and mailings. Your county 4-H Faculty and 4-H Staff will be reaching out to you, so please join us, and think creatively during this time!
***Here is a website put together by our King County 4-H educators that lists a variety of exciting learning activities that can be done at home! https://extension.wsu.edu/king/learning-links-4-h-and-more/ If you find another awesome research-based learning SITE that you’d like to share, please let us know and we’ll add it to the website!
Stay tuned to your County 4-H website, Facebook, and e-mails for ongoing information. We will be flexible together and make smart, safe choices. We will get through this, together!
Sincerely,
Nancy
March 17, 2020
Dear 4-H Families, Volunteers and Members:
In consultation with WSU Extension and the WA State Dept. of Health, all 4-H programming will be conducted virtually, postponed or cancelled, effective immediately. In addition, all WSU County Offices will be closed to PHYSICAL PUBLIC ACCESS; however, 4-H Faculty and 4-H Staff will continue operations. By taking this action, our 4-H community will do our part to help stop the spread of COVID-19.
Your health and safety are very important to us, so we are prepared for this temporary suspension to remain in place through April 27 or until K-12 schools resume. The WSU Extension team will be consulting with WSU administration and public health officials and re-assessing safety guidelines regularly to make decisions that are consistent with updated information.
The 4-H Youth Development Program will be working in different ways virtually online and/or through telephone conferencing. Your county 4-H Faculty and 4-H Staff will be reaching out to you, so please join us, and think creatively during this time!
***Here is a website put together by our King County 4-H educators that lists a variety of exciting learning activities that can be done at home! https://extension.wsu.edu/king/learning-links-4-h-and-more/ If you find another awesome research-based learning SITE that you’d like to share, please let us know and we’ll add it to the website!
Stay tuned to your County 4-H website, Facebook, and e-mails for ongoing information. We will be flexible together and make smart, safe choices. We will get through this, together!
Sincerely,
Your Regional 4-H Team
Missy Cummins, 4-H Youth Development Regional Specialist
Clark, Klickitat & Skamania Counties
missy.cummins@wsu.edu
Kelli Whidden, 4-H Program Assistant
Clark County
kellian.whidden@wsu.edu
Abby Brandt, 4-H Program Manager
Klickitat County
abby.brandt@wsu.edu; abbyb@klickitatcounty.org
Somer Meade, 4-H Program Coordinator
Skamania County
somer.meade@wsu.edu
Extension programs and employment are available to all without discrimination. Evidence of noncompliance may be reported through your local Extension office. If you require special accommodation, call WSU/Clark County Extension 360-397-6060 two weeks prior to the event.