Virginia Cooperative Extension Albemarle/Charlottesville 4-H

Thanks to the incredible generosity of our community, we’re closer than ever to securing a new van that will support our 4-H youth, volunteers, and VCE Agents. During the whirlwind 24 hours of Giving Day, 139 donors came together to make an impact—unlocking a $2,000 challenge gift from an anonymous donor! But that’s not all… 🏆 3rd place out of 108 VCE Units = $750 in additional funding 🥇 1st place in VCE Beat Your Best = $1,750 more We are beyond grateful to everyone who gave, shared, and supported this effort. Your generosity is driving opportunities forward! 💜🍀

Giving Day ends today at Noon. Make your tax-deductible donation now: https://lnkd.in/e72TJC8P #VTGivingDay

For the next 24 hours, we are taking up a collection to replace our van to provide reliable transportation to our educational events and outreach. Make your tax-deductible donation now! https://lnkd.in/e72TJC8P Giving Day is 24 hours of giving for Virginia Tech programs, which includes Virginia Cooperative Extension local unit offices, and runs from noon February 19-noon February 20th. As our Albemarle/Charlottesville 4-H Program continues to grow, these funds make a impactful difference. Last year, VCE Albemarle received 114 generous donations on Giving Day! We won the Beat Your Best Award and came in 3rd place in the VCE Unit Leaderboard, which awarded us an extra $3,250 of funding in addition to the generous donations made by our supporters. These unrestricted funds in 2024 helped us to: Bring life sciences to classrooms with new incubators for our 4-H embryology program, allowing students across public, private, and homeschool settings to experience the magic of hatching baby chicks. Enhance our Master Gardener Help Desk with a high-powered microscope, improving our ability to diagnose plant diseases and identify invasive insects. Introduce hands-on learning with our first-ever sewing camp, where kids developed practical skills and explored their creativity. Provide meals to our Teen Leadership 4-H Club Meetings (sooo much pizza). This year, we’re dreaming even bigger. We are excited and fortunate to have a new challenge just for our VCE Albemarle Unit: if we reach 100 donors, an anonymous donor will contribute an additional $2,000 to our Extension Unit Fund! Our top priority is replacing our aging 2012 van, which has over 150,000 miles, to ensure safe, reliable transportation for our educational programs, 4-H events like Day at the Capital and State 4-H Congress, and agricultural outreach. We are hoping to raise $40,000–$50,000 to purchase a van that will service our Unit. Looking ahead to the next decade, we are dreaming to build our own green certified Extension Complex, complete with a teaching barn, meeting space, demonstration garden, teaching kitchen, and adaptable programming areas that our volunteers can access—creating endless opportunities for learning and community engagement. We are hoping to build relationships throughout Albemarle County and Charlottesville City to help make this dream a reality, just imagine the impact. Will you help us reach our goal? From Noon today to Noon tomorrow Feb 20, you can use this link to make your donation: https://lnkd.in/e72TJC8P And please help us spread the word with your networks – the more donations we receive, the more bonus funding we can win! Your generosity fuels the future of 4-H and the youth we serve. Together, we can drive change—one mile at a time! (see what I did there?) Thank you for your support, we could not do this without you. -Sarah

Albemarle/Charlottesville 4-H youth took on Richmond on Wednesday for Virginia 4-H Day at the Capitol! 🏛️✨ We had the unique opportunity to meet with Senator Creigh Deeds, Delegate Amy Laufer, and Delegate Katrina Callsen, discussing civic engagement and leadership in the Commonwealth. From experiencing the Senate floor firsthand to learning about the legislative process and the importance of advocacy, our youth gained invaluable insights into how they can be active participants in shaping their future. We are #BeyondReady - Ready to Lead, Ready to Serve, Ready to Build. A huge thank you to our legislators for their time and to all the dedicated parents and volunteers who made this experience possible. Here’s to empowering the next generation of leaders! 💚🍀

Get ready for a festive morning filled with crafts, cheer, and holiday fun! We are thrilled to partner with James Monroe Highland to present Holly Days at Highland. When: Saturday, December 14 Time: 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Where: James Monroe Highland, 2050 James Monroe Parkway Charlottesville, VA 22902 Cost: $6 per participant Visit highland.org/hollydays for more information and to purchase tickets. This hands-on holiday family friendly workshop is the perfect way to kick off the season! Join us to: - Create a seasonal centerpiece while learning about native Virginia plants with the Piedmont Extension Master Gardeners! - Craft a felt ornament and try your hands at wool felting with Albemarle/Charlottesville 4-H and local felting expert! - Stop by the colonial games table and make a set of historic toys to take home! - Create healthy sugar plums with Courtney, our VCE Family and Consumer Science agent! - Enjoy holiday reading and coloring activities! Enjoy cozy beverages, create memorable crafts, and soak in the joyful atmosphere. Tickets are on sale now! Don’t wait to secure your spot—space is limited. We can’t wait to celebrate the season with you and your loved ones. Let’s make this holiday unforgettable!

This Giving Tuesday, inspire the future! When you invest in Albemarle/Charlottesville 4-H, you're doing more than giving – you're empowering young people to dream big, achieve their goals, and thrive in a changing world. Your generosity provides essential resources for youth to stay connected, engaged, and inspired. Together, we can sow the seeds of success and grow the next generation of leaders. Give today to make a difference for tomorrow. Every gift counts! bit.ly/Albemarle4H

Our volunteers are the heart of 4-H, empowering youth and creating lifelong impacts in our community. Their dedication makes everything we do possible! If you’re passionate about making a difference, consider becoming a 4-H volunteer. It’s a rewarding way to inspire and shape the leaders of tomorrow. Learn more by visiting our website: bit.ly/Albemarle4H

🌿Do your kids have the day off of school on Monday? Join us at Home Educator Day at James Monroe's Highland! 🌿 On Monday, November 4th, from 9 AM to 3 PM, families are invited to step into history and explore the life and times of President James Monroe. 🏛 Walk through the Presidential Guesthouse, meet historical figures James and Elizabeth Monroe, and enjoy a day filled with unique hands-on activities! 📜 Featured Activities 📜 📖 9:00-11:00 AM: Create a Highland Trail Journal 🐴 9:00-11:00 AM: Meet a special miniature horse guest with us, Albemarle/Charlottesville 4-H! ✒ 9:00 AM-1:00 PM: Practice Historic Handwriting with Elizabeth Monroe 📸 9:00 AM-3:00 PM: Snap a photo in Highland's historic photo booth with costumes! 🐑 10:00-11:00 AM: Wool processing and spinning demo 💫 11:30-12:30 PM: Cross-stitch sampler-making …and so much more! All students and families are welcome—homeschool, public, and private! Admission is just $10 for participants and adult chaperones, with FREE entry for kids under 4 and Monroe’s Farm Friends members. Don’t forget to pack a picnic to enjoy a memorable day at the home of America’s 5th president. Link for tickets: https://lnkd.in/eZJkjWCK

We are proud to share that the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors has unanimously proclaimed October 6th-12th as National 4-H Week in Albemarle County in recognition of the remarkable contributions of 4-H members, volunteers, and leaders in empowering youth through hands-on learning experiences. 4-H Professionals Sam Leech and Sarah Brown, along with our dedicated 4-H members and volunteers, had the privilege of thanking the Board for their continued support of our programs. The Board's encouraging words about the importance of community connection, leadership, and addressing critical issues like environmental protection highlight the transformative impact of 4-H. Special thanks to: Supervisor McKeel, who praised the involvement of our youth and emphasized 4-H’s role in preparing the next generation for future challenges. Supervisor Pruitt, who spoke on how 4-H fosters the strong community connections that make Albemarle County a place where people want to live and give back. Supervisor Gallaway, who commended the commitment of 4-H members in an age of technology, stressing the importance of hands-on skills. Supervisor LaPisto-Kirtley, who admired the leadership and citizenship skills fostered by 4-H, with over 1,800 local youth participating. Supervisor Mallek, who shared a heartfelt story about her daughter’s 4-H experience, highlighting the lifelong value of hands-on learning. Supervisor Andrews, who fondly recalled the impact of 4-H in his own community and encouraged current members to embrace the journey. We are deeply grateful to the Board of Supervisors for recognizing the value of 4-H in shaping engaged, resilient youth. Thank you to all of our members, parents, volunteers, and leaders for your dedication and continued contributions to the Albemarle community. Read the proclamation: https://lnkd.in/ensYuVPv View the meeting: https://lnkd.in/eUB5-yrR

Enrollment is OPEN! All Albemarle and Charlottesville youth age 5-19 are invited to join a 4-H Club today! Visit our website to learn more about our Clubs: https://lnkd.in/eh2AbcGy Then enroll in 4-H Online https://lnkd.in/ejrcEe4b