Kentucky Youth Invited to Become 4-H Junior Master Naturalists
LEXINGTON, Ky. (July 23, 2021) — Young people who enjoy being outdoors and learning about nature can join the Kentucky 4-H Junior Master Naturalist program. The deadline to register is Aug. 1.
In the yearlong program, 4-H members, ages 9-12, will participate in monthly virtual meetings and at-home nature challenges that help them learn more about their natural world.
Monthly virtual meetings will begin on Zoom starting in September and will occur on the first Tuesday of every month at 6:30 p.m. EDT.
In addition, youth may choose to attend four in-person nature outings throughout the year. These outings are tentatively scheduled for the Boone County Arboretum in Union on Oct. 8, Lost River Cave in Bowling Green on Jan. 14, Lake Cumberland 4-H Camp in Nancy on April 29, and the University of Kentucky’s Robinson Forest in Clayhole on July 8.
“We hope that young people walk away from this program with a greater appreciation for all of Kentucky’s natural resources,” said Ashley Osborne, Kentucky 4-H youth development specialist in the UK College of Agriculture, Food and Environment. “By having virtual meetings, at-home nature challenges and in-person outings, our plan is for youth to not only learn about natural resources but also have an opportunity to apply what they learn.”
Interested individuals can register online at https://tinyurl.com/JMNreg or contact their local office of the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service. The cost to participate is $25 and includes a Junior Master Naturalist kit. Parents should mail checks payable to the Kentucky 4-H Foundation to KY 4-H, c/o Ashley Osborne, 212 Scovell Hall, Lexington, KY 40546.
As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.
In 2022, UK was ranked by Forbes as one of the “Best Employers for New Grads” and named a “Diversity Champion” by INSIGHT into Diversity, a testament to our commitment to advance Kentucky and create a community of belonging for everyone. While our mission looks different in many ways than it did in 1865, the vision of service to our Commonwealth and the world remains the same. We are the University for Kentucky.