UF IFAS Extension Hamilton County 4-H & FCS

06/15/2026

06/12/2026

Day 3 of our Wildlife Camp focused on Florida alligators!
Thank you to FWC Todd Nichols and Dwain Mobley for bringing a live gator for the campers to see. The children had many great questions for our guests about the 2-year-old gator and staying safe near water.

After the visit, youth finished building their dioramas.
Keep an eye out at the fair for 4-H dioramas! Several youth plan to enter their work in the N. Florida Fair this fall!

06/10/2026

Wildlife Camp!
Day 2 - 4-H day campers learned about Florida Panthers! Key concepts included endangered species, habitat, carnivore, etc. Campers played panther tag, tried pouncing from a standing position and from a running jump, and continued work on their dioramas.

Special guest Mary McGraph from Department of Health shared the importance of limiting sugary drinks and brushing twice per day to limit cavities. Each participant received a toothbrush kit!

06/07/2026

Wildlife Day Camp!
Day 1 - 4-H day campers learned about Florida's Black Bears! Key concepts included protected species, habitat, predator & prey, foraging, omnivore, hibernate, etc. Day campers leaned that a mamma bear is a sow, a male bear is a boar, and that cubs are born weighing approximately 1 lb. each! Campers played foraging games, examined bear prints, a pelt, claws, and teeth. We tested our sense of smell by identifying different fruits while blindfolded! Bears have a superpower - their sense of smell! They can smell scents over a mile away!

Each youth began building a diorama - selecting the black bear, Florida panther, or alligator as their special species for designing their habitat.

Special thank you to the Florida Youth Conservation Center Network (FYCCN) for loaning us the "black bear kit!" We also received a generous loan of wildlife pelts, prints, and s**t from FYCCN.

05/31/2026

Check out the cool items on display for our 4-H wildlife camp! 4-H day campers, ages 5 - 9, will attend camp this week to learn about some of Florida's native wildlife species.

05/30/2026

On May 13th, 5th grade students from Hamilton County Elementary School dissected owl pellets in science class as part of a 4-H school enrichment project. Youth examined bones and fur with a hand lens and with microscopes. Owls cannot digest the fur, feathers, or bones of their prey. They "cough" up a pellet that contains these undigested parts. Owl pellets are purchased from a biological supply company after they are sterilized. Fifth graders reviewed the energy pyramid and predator-prey relationships then they worked in pairs to dissect their owl pellet.

11/16/2025

Sheriff Creech spoke to our Lunch & Learn guests on November 3rd at the UF/IFAS Extension Office. He spoke about modernizing the HCSO to better serve the community. He shared with our seniors a new program called Vials of Life for emergency agencies to locate vital information during a home call. Sheriff Creech and his staff visited with guests to answer questions and concerns.

Thank you to HCSO for your service to our community.
The next Lunch & Learn program will be on January 16th and will feature a guest speaker from the Alzheimer's Association.

For more information, contact Beth Kerr at 386-792-1276.

11/10/2025

Special thanks to Dr. Jeffery Williams, Assistant Professor of the University of South Florida, for visiting Hamilton County School District on November 3rd. Dr. Williams provided a presentation on preventing and managing hypertension and gave each participant a blood pressure cuff. The blood pressure cuffs were provided to 86 attendees from a grant by the American College of Cardiology.

Hypertension is known as a "silent killer." It is estimated that 47% of American adults have high blood pressure. Hypertension increases your risk of serious health problems (stroke, heart attack, kidney disease). Hypertension can silently damage organs over time. Participants were encouraged to monitor their blood pressure and to consult their physician for care if their blood pressure is elevated.

For more information, contact Beth Kerr at 386-792-1276.

11/06/2025

Members from the Explorers' 4-H club and the 4-H Archery club worked together to design and enter a fair booth at the North Florida Fair in Tallahassee.