The Henrico County office of Virginia Cooperative Extension is offering three 4-H programs to youth and their families that focus on nurturing community ties and respect for nature through first aid, environmental stewardship and caring for baby chickens.
The Extension Office encourages youth to participate in a variety of activities that emphasize 4-H’s “learning by doing” philosophy of youth development. The programs are backed with research-based information from Virginia Tech and Virginia State University, and facilitate experiences where young people partner with knowledgeable adults to learn together.
Registration is currently open for the following programs:
- Junior Medics Workshop;
This hands-on program for youth ages 9-12 will offer opportunities to explore the human skeletal and muscular systems, learn basic first aid, practice hands-only CPR and more.
This free workshop will be held from 8:30 to 11 a.m. Aug. 10-13 at the Henrico Extension Office, 6800 Staples Mill Road. Participants must register online by Tuesday, Aug. 4. - Growing H.E.A.R.T. at Home;
Designed for homeschool families and co-op groups, this year-long environmental education program will lead youth and their families to explore four topics: Soil health, ecosystems and wildlife, watersheds and water quality, and natural resources and environmental sustainability.
The program costs $40 for the year. The initial meeting is scheduled for 10 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 26 at Deep Run Park, 9900 Ridgefield Parkway. Interested participants must register online by Friday, Aug. 14. - Embryology Project: Hatching at Home
This month-long program teaches youth and their families about the early life stages of a chicken, from incubation to hatching. Families will receive 12 eggs and 1 pound of chicken feed. Henrico 4-H will provide incubators and hatching supplies on loan.
The cost is $30. The project is designed for children in kindergarten through fifth grade. Participants who are not able to raise the chickens after the project will be able to return the chicks into the care of 4-H.
Families are encouraged to check their localities’ permit requirements for keeping chickens if they are considering raising them after the project. Henrico residents must first build a covered structure for chickens, which requires a conditional-use permit. For more details on the requirements for keeping chickens, contact the Permit Center at 804-501-7280 or apply at Build Henrico.
Families must register online by Friday, Aug. 21.