On behalf of the Botetourt County 4-H Program, we would like to update you on our current programming efforts.
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, 4-H programs across the state have been affected for the foreseeable future. As we have transitioned into the summer, aspects of 4-H programs are still suspended that include face-to-face 4-H club meetings, as well as local, regional, and state activities and events.
One of the biggest changes that we are adapting to for the summer of 2020 is the cancellation of 4-H Camp across the state. This affects approximately 230 annual participants in Botetourt County’s annual week of 4-H Camp that was scheduled to take place this week.
Although we are unable to attend 4-H Camp in-person, the W.E. Skelton 4-H Center as well as 4-H Centers across the state have transitioned to virtual 4-H Camp for the summer. All six of Virginia’s 4-H Centers are collaborating for a week of virtual camp that is called “Camp Across the Commonwealth” that will take place June 22-27. Each 4-H Center will have a featured day that will showcase activities and events specific to that 4-H Center.
If your child is interested in participating in one or multiple of the remaining virtual camp offerings, please contact Tyler Painter (tpaint85@vt.edu) for additional information.
This week, we will be officially announcing a virtual summer program opportunity for youth ages 9-13. As a collaborative effort with Bedford County 4-H, we are offering a summer dramatic reading program that will allow participants to submit their own dramatic reading project for judging. In the coming weeks, we will be releasing videos on our social media channels that explain what dramatic reading is and provide tips and advice for participants to use in their projects.
Dramatic reading is a program that we introduced to several of our public schools throughout this past school year that allows participants to become more comfortable with public speaking and develop skills that will assist them in the future. Please tune in to our Facebook page (@BotetourtCounty4H) for the official flyer and information sheet for more details. If you do not have access to social media, please contact Tyler Painter for the official rules and guidelines.
Members of the 4-H Teen Leadership Club will have the opportunity to participate in the annual Virginia 4-H Congress, which will take place virtually in the coming weeks. These participants will have the opportunity to compete in a variety of workshops, classes, and other educational activities.
In the absence of face-to-face programming, several of our community club members are still working on projects for the remainder of the 4-H year. There are even club opportunities that are taking place by utilizing the Zoom teleconferencing application, as well as other virtual programming efforts.
We encourage you to follow our social media channels for educational content that is still available through the summer. We can be found on Facebook at Botetourt County4-H and Instagram at Botetourt4H. If you have ideas for virtual activities or programs that you would like to see, please let us know. We have many ideas for future posts and we are excited to share those with you.
Folks can also utilize program activities and resources that are being shared daily by Virginia 4-H. If you are a youth member that is looking for a 4-H project to work on during this time, please feel free to reach out to us for suggestions and ideas.
For more information on Botetourt County 4-H or the programs we offer, please contact Tyler Painter (tpaint85@vt.edu) at 540-473-8260.
-Tyler Painter
Extension Agent
