Training familiarizes early childhood teachers with SmartJr

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Mississippi 4-H is developing new programs incorporating ScratchJr, an introductory computer programming application for children ages 4-7, and an instructor with the research group that created the software recently visited Mississippi State University to train educators on its curriculum.

Madeline Nievera, an instructor with the DevTech Research Group at the Lynch School of Education and Human Development at Boston College, trained 4-H agents with the MSU Extension Service and early-childhood educators in Mississippi during the Coding as Another Language Professional Development Workshop Sept. 9-10.

A free programming language, ScratchJr was co-developed by professor and DevTech director Marina Bers through support from the Scratch Foundation and the National Science Foundation. It was released as a free smart device application in 2014 and had more than 45 million users as of 2023.

The SmartJr app uses block programming to control the actions and interactions of various animal characters in front of environmental settings the user may choose, such as a pasture, cityscape or beach. The original Scratch program was designed for an older age group, and ScratchJr differs in that the blocks do not have words, making it more accessible to younger children who are just starting to learn how to read.

Kim Thomas-Cain, outreach learning and engagement manager for the Scratch Educational Collaborative, said the technology was developed to prepare children to be fluent in digital literacy while introducing them to science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM, concepts.

“The curriculum and application serve as an age-appropriate introduction to the concepts that provide a foundation for computer science, including algorithms, design processes and control structures,” Thomas-Cain said. “We’re not so much trying to push young people to become able to code as adults as we are trying to show basic skills and concepts so they can engage with technology not just as consumers, but creators.”

The program is also used above its intended age group for English language learners or students with disability needs.

The Coding as Another Language for ScratchJr curriculum includes lessons that are “unplugged,” or taught without a smartphone or tablet, as well as some that use the application to create projects.

“This goes beyond kids getting a tablet and playing with an app,” Thomas-Cain said. “The real difference here is that they’re not consuming technology where the app is in the driver’s seat. With ScratchJr, the kids are in the driver’s seat. They are the maker, and that’s very different. It’s similar to them painting or writing a story or drawing something but using technology to create it.”

Mariah Morgan, interim director of the MSU Extension Center for 4-H Youth Development, said getting programs like ScratchJr in the hands of more of the state’s educators is necessary to help children here keep up with their peers around the world in their familiarity with STEM.

“Extension’s mission is to bring the best in research to the people of Mississippi,” Morgan said. “DevTech is an internationally known pioneer for children’s digital literacy. The training helps our agents and teachers give the youth in their community access to coding literacy and help them learn digital literacy for whatever jobs may be out there tomorrow. Our children need to have the same access to this literacy as other children throughout the world.”

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BugFest 2024 offers hands-on learning

PICAYUNE, Miss. -- School groups, nature enthusiasts and the public can enjoy two fun-filled days of celebrating the environment, ecosystems, wildlife and insects at the Mississippi State University Crosby Arboretum in Picayune.

BugFest is set for Sept. 20 and 21. The event offers insect-related displays, interactive exhibits, games and crafts. Biologists, naturalists, entomologists and other experts from Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama will host booths and give presentations on butterflies, bats, caterpillars, pollinators, spiders, crayfish, native plants, native and exotic arthropods and more.

New activities this year include racing Madagascar hissing cockroaches, Saturday’s high fashion Bug Brigade and the bat trail -- a nature trail celebrating the importance of bats.

The event is open only to school groups on Sept. 20 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for an educational field day. All school groups can preregister by calling the arboretum at 601-799-2311, ext. 0. Admission is $2 for students and free for teachers. Chaperones and families attending with students pay public admission prices.

The public is invited to attend the afternoon of Sept. 20 from 12:30 to 4 p.m. Attendees can visit insect-related displays, talk with educators, view ambassador wildlife, hike the arboretum trails, enjoy insect-themed arts and crafts, walk the bat trail, watch Madagascar hissing cockroaches perform on their very own racetrack, view the photo gallery arthropod display, and visit the gum pond, pitcher plant bog and pollinator garden.

From 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Sept. 20, participants can take part in special activities, which include using a blacklight to search for bugs, identifying insects, looking for bats and talking with experts. These are no-kill activities. Please bring a flashlight.

The event again opens to the public Sept. 21 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Attendees can enjoy insect programs and exhibits, pollinator tours, vendors and more. The Bug Brigade will perform at 10:30 a.m. and again at 12:30 p.m. at the pavilion. Following their performance, the BugFest Photo Competition awards will be presented. Admission is $5 for adults and $2 for children 12 and under.

On Saturday, multiple vendors will be on hand, including Backhouse Garden with native plants for sale, the Gum Drop Shop with special BugFest candies and Blue Boy Herbs with their products as well as food trucks.

This project is supported by the MEMBERS of Coast Electric through Operation Round Up and their community trust in partnership with the Gulf Coast Community Foundation.

MSU is an equal opportunity institution. For disability accommodation or other information, contact Barb Medlock at 601-799-2311, ext. 0.

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Mississippi 4-H foresters win another national title

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Ashlyn Henderson can now lay claim to two Super Bowl wins -- one as a competitor and another as a coach.

In July, the Mississippi 4-H Forestry Judging Team won its second national championship in three years at the National 4-H Forestry Invitational, also referred to as the Super Bowl of 4-H Forestry.

Team members included Mississippi 4-H president John Clayton Kitchens and fellow 4-H’ers Samuel Davidson, Joy Kitchens and Josie Thompson. The team is based out of Lauderdale County.

Henderson was on the team that won in 2022. This year, she was an assistant coach with her father and team coach Ray Henderson. She said she was involved in a wide range of 4-H projects throughout her term in the youth development program, but forestry judging was the one she enjoyed the most.

“When I competed at Nationals in 2022, all of my team’s hard work and hours put into studying paid off, and we came out of the competition with a national championship and memories that would last a lifetime,” she said. “This year, my father encouraged me to mentor these 4-H’ers as an assistant coach by using my experience. I quickly dove into helping them prepare, sharing with them tips and tricks I learned over the years.”

At the invitational, 4-H foresters participate in several forestry skills and knowledge competition categories including tree measurement and identification, compass orienteering and topographic map use. The invitational is designed to help 4-H’ers develop an appreciation for the importance of conserving forestland and learn leadership skills as well as forest management skills.

“When competing in tree identification, we were expected to identify different trees based on leaves in an indoor and outdoor setting,” Kitchens said. “The most fun was the forestry bowl where we competed in a game show-like setting and had to buzz in before the other team with the correct answer.”

Kitchens said the team prepared all day, every day this summer leading up to the championship, which is held each year in Weston, West Virginia, at the Jackson’s Mill State 4-H Conference Center.

“Hard work pays off, and we were challenged every step of the way,” he said. “We all had drive and commitment as we met often to study and studied at home. As we became closer as a team, we didn’t want to let each other down. We all knew we had to stay focused if we wanted to win.

“In the end,” Kitchens added, “we not only learned practical forestry skills but also citizenship and leadership skills.”

Henderson said being involved in the team’s efforts as a coach was an experience she had dreamed of after competing on the 2022 title team.

“Growing up, I always heard of the exciting times my dad had while competing at State and Nationals in 4-H Forestry Judging,” she said. “There was always something so thrilling about his stories, and I wanted to experience this excitement for myself one day. I wanted to gain new friendships and have memories for myself in 4-H Forestry Judging like my father had over the years as a 4-H’er and coach.

“This experience was nostalgic for me and allowed me to pass down my love for 4-H forestry to these 4-H’ers,” Henderson added.

Ray Henderson said the team’s dedication to the project was a major factor in its success.

“The way the scoring works at the national competition is they count the top three scores in each event,” he said. “Our team only had one member to finish in the top 10, but each teammate contributed to the scoring by excelling at their strongest events. They also scored the highest score in the team forest evaluation category. Bottom line, these four sacrificed several hours of their summer studying and preparing.”

Mariah Morgan, interim head of the Mississippi State University Extension Center for 4-H Youth Development, praised the team for its dedication and strong performance at the contest.

“These 4-H foresters and their leaders were outstanding representatives of Mississippi 4-H on a national stage,” Morgan said. “4-H programs have helped thousands of young Mississippians learn life skills, and it’s an added bonus when any of them excel the way these two national title teams have.”

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4-H Shooting Sports continues to grow

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- The 4-H Shooting Sports program in Mississippi recently hosted district competitions and will hold its state championship in July, but Reid Nevins is quick to point out the project’s true mission.

“This is a youth development project and not a competitive shooting project,” said Nevins, 4-H environmental science and education specialist with the Mississippi State University Extension Service. “We have plenty of kids in this program that never sign up for a contest and just come to the shooting practices.”

In Mississippi, the program currently boasts around 3,500 participants from the ages of 8 to 18 across nine disciplines, but Nevins wants to keep it growing.

“One of my goals is to steadily build on that number,” he said, “but that means we will also need more volunteer instructors to help our agents get certified to deliver the program safely and effectively.”

Ellen Russell, MSU Extension agent in Covington County and coordinator of shooting sports for the Southeast district, has seen firsthand what the program can do for young people of all backgrounds. Marion County 4-H Shooting Sports member Colsten Belk, who has special needs, competed at the Southeast District Shoot for the first time earlier this year.

Russell said Belk’s mother met with Amanda Woods, MSU Extension agent in Marion County, to discuss his ability to compete. Russell and Woods worked to make accommodations to allow for his participation.

“Colsten was born with cerebral palsy, which affects his motor skills on his left side,” Russell said. “He is an avid hunter and loves the outdoors and shooting, but his family was concerned that his physical limitations would limit his participation in our program, but we made it happen.

“He felt a sense of accomplishment, belonging and acceptance he has never felt before, thanks to 4-H,” she added. “He loves being able to just be a kid and shoot bullseyes. It makes him proud to see how well he can do.”

Beau Varner, MSU Extension agent based in Attala County, said the safe environment the program offers fosters teamwork, leadership and respect for firearms while promoting outdoor recreation.

“I have seen youth participate in Shooting Sports that were not able to show proper technique when holding a firearm or hit the target multiple times when first starting to practice,” Varner said. “After practicing consistently, they become more confident and improve their skills in both technique and hitting targets.”

Bringing history to life

Mississippi’s 4-H Shooting Sports program has nine disciplines, including .22 pistol, air rifle, archery, muzzleloading and shotgun, among others. The newest one, and the one getting the most buzz, is “Western Heritage.” What sets it apart from the other categories is its period specific attire and format.

“The Western Heritage discipline brings history to life for our 4-H members,” Russell said. “It is a living history depiction of the West from 1860 to 1900 using historically accurate firearms, clothing, and accessories. Participants dress in historically accurate attire from this era for the three-part contest.”

The first part features a public speaking component. Contestants take on a historically accurate persona and undergo an interview, answering questions about their persona’s attire, living accommodations, daily activities and firearms. The second phase is a test with period-specific questions about notable historical figures, locations and firearms. The contest concludes with a live-fire, timed competition.

“4-H members shoot period specific firearms such as rifles, pistols and shotguns at steel targets,” Russell said. “In true western fashion, the fastest time wins.”

Nevins said the category originated more than 10 years ago in Montana’s 4-H Shooting Sports program.

“What I like about it is there’s a lot more to it than our standard shooting disciplines,” he said. “You are developing a lot more than just your aim and knowledge of the firearm and how to use it safely. You’re learning history and building social skills that will help in adulthood.”

Safety first

Two of the program’s foremost objectives are to teach the safe and responsible use of firearms and archery equipment, and to promote the highest standards of safety and sportsmanship.

Each of the program’s volunteer leaders is trained by Level II state instructors with national certification. Adult volunteers receive training in shooting sports at state and regional workshops to become qualified instructors.

“Our instructors are more than just volunteer leaders,” Russell said. “They are technical experts in their discipline and dedicated mentors and role models for 4-H Shooting Sports youth.”

Varner added that volunteers are more than just coaches.

“They provide guidance, expertise and mentorship to 4-H’ers, helping them develop proper shooting techniques, sportsmanship and respect for firearms,” said Varner, who also leads the Shooting Sports program for Mississippi’s Southwest district. “Trained adult volunteers ensure safety measures are followed, creating a secure environment for youth participants to learn and practice shooting sports. They engage with community members and recruit participants to support involvement in the program.”

One of these leaders is Alvis McCray, who works with 4-H’ers in Covington County. The program is a family affair for him and his wife, Jessica, who has the same certification and works with air rifle participants, and his three children, each of whom compete in multiple disciplines.

McCray said spring practice season for events means lots of range time for his family and he wouldn’t have it any other way, but he enjoys being able to share his knowledge as a certified shotgun instructor with all the 4-H’ers he teaches.

“You can learn a lot from them,” McCray said, “if you just listen.”

Getting involved

Varner noted the need of adult volunteers not just for 4-H Shooting Sports, but for any 4-H program.

“These programs would not succeed without volunteers,” he said. “With all the disciplines in the shooting sports program, agents would not have enough time to provide adequate training and practice time for the events.”

Russell added that volunteers are needed to help recruit members, coordinate county programs, organize district events and help manage state events.

“Fall is normally the best time of the year to sign kids up because most of our shooting sports programs kick off in the late fall or early winter each year,” she said. “Anyone who is age eligible and interested in joining 4-H for shooting sports should stop by their local Extension office and sign up for 4-H so they can get all the updates and start times for shooting sports in their local area.”

More information on the 4-H Shooting Sports program in Mississippi is available online at http://extension.msstate.edu/4-h/4-h-safety-programs/4-h-shooting-sports.

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Sign up by May 22 for 4-H Camp Explore

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Junior 4-H members are invited to a four-day residential 4-H Camp Explore in mid-June at Holmes Community College in Goodman.

The June 10-13 camp is designed for 4-H members ages 8-13 years old. The cost to attend is $225, and registration must be made by May 22. This is the eighth year 4-H, the youth development program of Mississippi State University Extension Service, has hosted this summer camp.

“We are excited to offer this camp to our younger 4-H members this year,” said Christina Meriwether, MSU Extension 4-H agent in Leflore County and camp organizer. “Kids who participate will get to stay at the community college and participate in kayaking, water safety, archery, crafts and STEM projects.”

The camp cost covers activities, meals, lodging, 4-H activity insurance and a T-shirt.

Camp registration is limited to 44 people. Activities will be led by MSU Extension staff, and Extension agents and 4-H Ambassadors will be with the young people throughout the week.

To learn more about the program and to register, contact the local county MSU Extension office. MSU is an equal opportunity institution. For disability accommodation or other information, contact Meriwether at 662-453-6803 or http://christina.a.meriwether@msstate.edu.

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4-H livestock specialist earns awards, board term

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Dean Jousan helps the Mississippi Cattlemen’s Association select the annual winner of its Paul F. Newell Award, which honors an outstanding Mississippi State University Extension agent for serving in Extension’s 4-H livestock program.

This year, some of those recipients came back to present that award to Jousan. And that’s not the only recognition he has received lately for his work. The 4-H livestock specialist for MSU Extension was also recognized by the American Youth Horse Council, or AYHC, during its annual symposium with its distinguished service award.

Jousan was also re-elected to the AYHC board of directors. He was first elected to serve in 2013 and is currently wrapping up a two-year term as board president. He has also served as treasurer and as vice president on the council’s executive committee.

The AYHC is a national nonprofit organization that provides leadership and resources to youth equestrians.

Jousan said AYHC gives professionals the tools and resources to engage the youth they work with locally using a horse as their teaching model.

“We believe youths who engage with horses grow in leadership and life skills. By empowering adults who teach the youth about horses and connecting these adults with resources, we are fostering a thriving horse industry,” Jousan said. “It is exciting and encouraging to see the youth attend each year and become more confident as the week progresses. In my opinion, the annual AYHC symposium is the best return on investment for any youth or adult interested in horses.”

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