Join us for an egg-citing episode of Energy Express! Mark Swiger, director of WVU Extension Service’s Energy Express program, will kick off the episode by reading us “The Good Egg.”
Next, we will “peep” over to Tasha Harris, agriculture and natural resources agent in Upshur County, and Jesica Streets, agriculture and natural resources agent in Tucker County, to learn all about eggs.
Then, Craig Presar, 4-H youth development agent in Upshur County, will need help figuring out how to tell if an egg is raw or cooked.
To end the episode, our family and community development agent in Putnam County, Tim Sayre, and his son Michael, will show us a super yummy deviled egg recipe! For this recipe you will need 12 eggs, mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, salt, pepper and optional toppings.
Tuesday, June 22, 2021, 9 a.m.
Sometimes, we have to take the time to stop and breathe, smell the flowers and learn more about the things that grow in nature.
This episode will start with Lorrie Wright, 4-H agent in Mason County, showing us how to make pressed flower art. For this activity, you will need several heavy books, newspapers or tissue paper, scissors, glue, fresh flowers or leaves, waxed paper, a small paint brush, and paper or card stock.
Alex Coffman, Grant County 4-H agent, will use mindfulness to help us take a break and relax with some breathing exercises.
Did you know there are two types of strawberries? Learn more fun facts like this from our agriculture and natural resources agent in Barbour and Randolph counties, Jody Carpenter. He will teach us all about fruit production on the Sickler Farm.
Wash those hands and get ready to make a yummy and nutritious BLT lettuce wrap with our Kanawha County Family and Community Development agent Kerri Carte. For this recipe, you will need lettuce, tomato, bacon, mayonnaise, cucumber, green onion and low-fat mayonnaise.
Wednesday, June 23, 2021, 9 a.m.
TIIIIMBER! It’s time to go exploring in the forest to learn about the plants and creatures we can find there.
Join our enthusiastic WVU Extension Service Wildlife Specialist Sheldon Owen and his colleague Dave McGill, a forest resources specialist, as they teach us all about rotten logs, forest habitats and the creatures we might find lurking on the forest floors.
Then, we’ll head out to Mason-Dixon Park to learn how to make a fairy garden from our Monongalia County 4-H Youth Development Agent Becca Fint-Clark and her daughter Rory. For this activity you will need various items found around your house, like a plastic flowerpot, plastic bottles, permanent markers, paint and other craft supplies.
We’ll learn even more about local wildlife and nature from Erin Smaldone, the education director at the West Virginia Botanical Garden, when she sits down for a chat with our Forest Resources Specialist Dave McGill.
Wash your hands and grab that apron! To finish out this episode, Putnam County Family and Community Development Agent Tim Sayre and his son Michael return to make some super yummy and nutritious stuffed mushrooms. You will need mushrooms, vegetable broth, chopped garlic, garlic powder, salt, pepper, Parmesan cheese, cream cheese and cayenne pepper.
Thursday, June 24, 2021, 9 a.m.
This episode starts with our friend Meshea Poore, vice president for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at West Virginia University, talking to us about ableism and what that means.
Next, STEM Specialist Jen Robertson-Honecker and her son Ben will teach us how to make our very own LED flashlights. This activity should be done by older children with the supervision of an adult. For this activity, you will need jumbo craft sticks, LEDs, coin cell batteries, jumbo paper clips, copper tape, masking tape and scissors.
To have good friends, you need to be a good friend. West Virginia 4-H’ers go over the qualities of a good friend.
Craft time! We are making our own stained glass with Family and Community Development Agent Angela Lawrence. For this activity, you will need a household window, washable glue, paper plate, paint brush and tissue paper squares.
Friday, June 25, 2021, 9 a.m.
For Friday’s episode, we’ll spend our time with WVU Extension Service Family Nutrition Program experts to learn all about nutrition and gardening.
Amie Tutor will teach us all about crookneck squash and explains My Plate. She will go over the different food groups and explain what foods we can eat to give our bodies what they need. Then, Amie will read “Up, Down, and Around”— a book all about growing and eating food.
Susan Lilly will whip up some crookneck pasta salad. For this recipe, you will need crookneck squash, mayonnaise, mustard, basil, garlic powder, pepper, orange juice, pasta, carrot, spinach, and cubed cheese.
Then, we head over to Shannon Ritchie to get our heart rate up with some physical activity doing a seated workout.
And to wrap things up, Tracey Valach from our Family Nutrition Program gives us some tips when gardening in recycled containers, like plastic containers, milk jugs, egg cartons or even newspapers.