Belknap County Programs
UNH Cooperative Extension provides Belknap County citizens with research-based education and information, enhancing their ability to make informed decisions that strengthen youth, families and communities, sustain natural resources and improve the economy.
4-H Youth Development - Becky Levesque
Youth and adults will adopt 2 behaviors to improve the overall quality
of their diet - 19 girls and 10 boys completed the foods and nutrition
project. 10 youth (5-11) made a nutritional snack and menu demonstrating
their knowledge of the food guide pyramid. Older youth could also articulate
the number of servings needed in their favorite food. 8 youth (12 & Older)
set goals and completed their demonstrations for an audience of 25 people
showing their knowledge by answering questions about nutrition, food preparation,
and identifying additional ways their nutritional food could be used.
Youth and adults will adopt 2 behaviors to improve the safety of their food supply - Distributed “Safe Food Handling”, “Pot Luck Suppers”, and “Food Safety for Exhibitors” fact sheets to 123 families. 12 youth demonstrated knowledge learned by tying their hair back, using an apron & plastic gloves, and keeping the work table clean when giving Food & Nutrition presentations. These skills were demonstrated when serving food at the 4-H Fair food booths and transporting foods to events.
Youth and Adults will learn and practice skills in goal setting and attainment; accepting differences; communication; community service volunteering; marketable work skills and leadership. 16 youth accomplished their goal to participate in Fashion Revue where all received top scores and were invitation to participate in state & regional events. 2 teens attended the “Marketing You” resume clinic and have begun working on their 4-H Resume. 1 teen attended the “Leader in Training” 4-H camp and served as a 1/1 Aide for disabled youth. Another teen attended the Teen Institute training. 16 Horse Science participants demonstrated their knowledge at various Horse events. 37 youth exhibited communication skills at County Activity Day. 21 4-H teens, 3 youth from the Teen Center, and 1 from Juvenile Justice, attended the NH 4-H Teen (Leadership) Conf.
One leader reported, “Our group of five members is a very diverse group of children of all abilities. It is so nice to see how well they get along and how well they work together. They are patient & understanding of each other’s differences. It is a joy working with these children.”
Youth and Adults will increase positive interaction
2 youth and 1 adult completed the Youth and Adult Partnership training. 5 adults and 10 teens completed the “Health Rocks” substance abuse prevention training and plan to re-teach the curricula to other youth. The Teen Club planed, organized, and implemented the 4-H Jubilee program (Honors). 1 high risk youth was elected by their peers to serve on the 2005 NH Teen Council. His parents reported, “He is dong great in school and has improved academically!” 15 After School Directors were trained in Positive Youth Development and the Experiential Learning Model. 85 volunteers worked with 163 youth in the traditional club setting. 13 new volunteers have been recruited & screened.
Communities will develop, implement, and sustain action plans addressing priority issues - The 4-H Educator collaborated with Alton Central School , Plus Time NH, and community members to establish a 4-H after school program at Alton Central School where $7,000 was secured through the Rural Youth Dev. Grant. The Educator gave presentations at the Domestic Violence Conference, Foster Grandparents program, Laconia After School, and New Beginnings Crisis Center , increasing awareness of Cooperative Extension in the county. The 4-H Educator serves on the Lakes Region Comm. Service Council & Lakes Region Mentoring Work Team. Discussions continue with Barnstead to hold a Community Profile. $1,500 was raised through the cookie sales to support 4-H activities. 4-H Teen Club partnered with the community to help reclaim Sanborn Park from vandals.
Top of pageAgricultural Resources - Amy Ouellette
The Agricultural Resources program provides information on agricultural
topics including fruit and vegetable production, ornamental horticulture
and turf, equine, dairy, forage crops, fertilization, pest control and
agricultural business management. The Ag Educator conducts educational
programs and answers questions from farmers, greenhouse operators, landscapers,
town park & recreation departments, schools and homeowners.
Some Agricultural Resources Program Highlights in 2004:
Four workshops were held in March for equine owners focusing on the following topics: Facilities and Barns, Equine Business Management, Health and Nutrition, and Equine Breeding. Forty three horse owners attended these workshops including 31 from Belknap County .
A workshop entitled “Planning for a Successful Fall at the Farm Stand” was held in Alton on April 1. This workshop focused on ornamental vegetable and flower crops sold during the autumn farm stand season. Twenty six participants learned about mum production, growing disease resistant pumpkin varieties, managing cash flow and cut flower preservation.
Amy worked with Laconia High School in the spring to establishment of new turf on the football field by the start of the football season in September. The condition of the field has been improved substantially.
Two fruit pruning demos were attended by 86 homeowners and commercial fruit growers.
Two demonstrations on container gardening and maintaining houseplants were conducted for elderly and disabled residents of Laconia public housing.
Amy worked with six new agricultural businesses in Belknap County on business plans, pest management, marketing, fertilization and crop production.
Thirty six Master Gardener volunteers served their communities through garden projects and educational events in 2004. New gardens were planted in the back central courtyard at the Belknap County Nursing Home. Wheelchair accessible raised beds were built and planted with herbs and flowers. A perennial garden located under three birch trees was renovated with perennials and a new lily garden was created. A memory garden with engraved stepping stones and arborvitaes was introduced. Young people from Restorative Justice assisted Master Gardeners with the Nursing Home project.
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Nutrition Connections - Brenda Carey
Nutrition Connections is a grant funded program that reaches limited
income families, groups and individuals in Belknap County , teaching basic
education in the areas of nutrition, money management, food safety, menu
planning and smart shopping. 250 youth and 73 families with 209 family
members enrolled in the various programs provided by Nutrition Connections
over the past year. Approximately 67 seniors participated in a variety
of senior programming.
- Planning Ahead Staying Ahead : Provided lessons in both money management
and nutrition. 7 people completed this program. This program was offered
at the Belknap County House of Correction.
- Building a Healthy Diet, Eating Right is Basic and the
Food Stamp Nutrition Curriculum: The Salvation Army, Belknap County
House of Correction, Lakes Region Community Services, and the State
Prison co-sponsored nutrition series with Nutrition Connections. Home
visits were also offered. 37 people enrolled in this program in order
to improve their basic knowledge related to food and nutrition.
- Smart Eating for Less (Home Study Course) : 26 people completed
this program.
- Great Beginnings (Nutrition Curriculum for Pregnant and Parenting Teens): One teen mother participated.
Additional Adult Activities : 9 adults at the Tilton Head Start participated in a nutrition program. 7 nutrition classes involving a total of 21 individuals were taught to LEAP participants on food stamps. 10 adults involved in the ESL classes at the Laconia Congregational Church participated in a 4 week nutrition series co-sponsored by Lutheran Social Services. The participants were from Bosnia , China , Vietnam and Mexico .
Senior Activities : Twenty seniors participated in one or more sessions at the Laconia Senior Center in a 7 month nutrition series. The Belmont Senior Center concluded a six month series in 11/03 with 23 seniors participating. A special program on “Eating during the holidays” was offered in 12/03. Topics included the food pyramid. Food labels, whole grains, fiber, 5 a day, calcium, food safety, strategies for not gaining weight over the holidays and fitness. Fourteen seniors at the Belknap County Nursing Home had a class on the food pyramid and how to get more fiber in the diet. Ten seniors at Sunrise Tower and The Stafford House participated in a lesson on “5 a day” and eating more fiber.
Youth Programs : 250 youth received lessons in improving their nutrition. This included 87 pre-school age children at Head Start and Woodland Heights School , 115 first graders at Woodland Heights and Pleasant Street School , 20 children at Pleasant Street and Elm Street after school programs, 11 teenagers from the Restorative Justice Program and 17 teenagers from the Laconia Teen Center . A program called “Cultural Cuisine” was introduced to a number of the classes.
Social Marketing : As a result of a social marketing statewide campaign approximately 1702 food stamp households in Belknap County received three “Smart Choices” nutrition newsletters. In addition three thirty second TV commercials featuring “Miss Smarty” have aired on cable and commercial television.
Other accomplishments : 46 volunteers donated approximately 201 hours assisting in adult and youth programs. They assisted with marketing, teaching, classroom assistance, transportation, copying, cleaning, shopping, and cooking.
A total of 447 adults and youth had face to face contacts in Nutrition Connections either for educational or marketing purposes. Out of this total, 4 were African American, 15 were Hispanic, and 22 were Asian and 1 was American Indian. Numerous refugees from Bosnia were involved in programming.
Approximately 40 different agencies were contacted this past fiscal year. These contacts involved passing out literature, sharing information, promotion of programs and marketing.
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