7/14/17 @ 3:45 p.m. - On Saturday, July 15, 2017, the Nassau County Extension Office will be holding an indoor yard sale and craft sale at the Multi-Purpose Facility located at 543350 US Highway 1 (next to the fairgrounds in Callahan). The event will take place from 8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. and will feature a variety of gently used items including household goods and clothing, as well as unique crafts and gifts. All proceeds benefit the 4-H Program.

If you have any questions, please contact Amy Bell at (904) 530-6350 or via e-mail at amy.bell@ufl.edu.

-Sabrina Robertson
 County Manager's Office

5/12/17 @ 4:55 p.m. - The County Extension will be holding a plant sale tomorrow from 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. at the James S. Page Governmental Complex located at 96135 Nassau Place, Yulee, FL 32097.

This event will feature unusual perennials, natives, trees, and shrubs at great prices! Master Gardeners will also be onsite to provide you with advice on proper plant care, disease management and insect control. All proceeds benefit the County Extension's Master Gardener Program.

We hope to see you there!

-Sabrina Robertson
 County Manager's Office

5/16/17 @ 9:10 a.m. - It is believed that children learn best through hands-on projects in areas like science, health, agriculture, and citizenship. Give your child a chance to learn in an environment where they receive guidance from adult mentors and are encouraged to take on proactive roles through 4-H Summer Day Camps.

Love a Horse
Spend 3 days learning the basics of horses with the last day being a group trail ride.
Dates: June 6-8, 2017
Times: 9:00am-2:00pm
Cost: $60
Ages: 8 and up

Exploring 4-H
Spend a week exploring all that 4-H has to offer
Dates: June 26-30, 2017
Times: 9:30 am - 2:30pm
Cost: $40
Ages: 5-10

Food, Fun & Fitness
This camp focuses on healthy lifestyles such as cooking, eating nutritious foods, and being active. Participants will visit a farmer's market and grocery store, cook and play lots of games.
Dates: July 11-14, 2017
Times: 9:30am-2:30pm
Cost: $50
Ages: 8 and up

4-H: Sew Much Fun
Learn the basics of sewing through hands-on, fun projects. All supplies and materials are provided and completed projects are yours to keep.
Dates: July 18-20, 2017
Times: 9:00am-2:00pm
Cost: $40
Ages: 8 and up

Wild Hearts Summer Spin Club
Learn about protecting exotic wildlife while attending exciting field trips. Youth will design a conservation plan for any animal they choose.
Dates: June 19th, June 26th, July 3rd, July 10th, July 17th and July 24th (every Monday for 5 weeks)
Times: 9:00am-4:00pm
Cost: $75
Ages: 13 and up

If you have any questions or for information on how to register for any of these exciting day camps, please contact the County Extension Office at (904) 530-6353 and ask for Kelsey Irvine or Kristen Poppel.

-Sabrina Robertson
 County Manager's Office

4/18/17 @ 10:30 a.m. - The Nassau County Extension Office will be providing a nutrition and movement program for second grade students at Southside Elementary as part of Every Kid Healthy Week which is observed the annually during the last week of April. This YUM (Youth Understanding MyPlate) event will take place on Wednesday, April 26th and will involve a six lesson curriculum designed to teach children the message of MyPlate, a national initiative which focuses on adding healthy choices to your plate for every meal. Attached is a flyer with additional information.

In addition to the special event at Southside Elementary, the Florida Department of Health WIC Program is promoting healthy eating and physical activity to parents with young children that participate in the WIC Program. For additional information about this program, please call Tiffanie Newman Kennedy at (904) 530-6873.

-Sabrina Robertson
 County Manager's Office

4/4/17 @ 9:15 a.m. - The Nassau County Extension's 4-H Program, along with 4-H Programs from around the State, organize annual camping trips to the beautiful Camp Cherry Lake where children can enjoy a variety of activities including kayaking, swimming, and fishing while making life long friends. Child Development Experts agree that summer camp also fulfills a basic need for belonging, acceptance, and humility while boosting self-esteem. 

Many parents desire to provide their children with the opportunity to attend summer camp, however some can't afford it. Nassau County Extension 4-H has established a program in which citizens can sponsor a local child to participate in their year's trip to Camp Cherry Lake which will take place July 12-16, 2017. The cost is $250 for a full scholarship or $125 for a half scholarship.

If you are interested in sending a deserving child to camp, please see the attached flyer or contact Nassau County 4-H Extension Agent, Keley Irvine, at (904) 530-6350 or via e-mail at kelseymirvine@ufl.edu. The deadline to sponsor is June 1, 2017.

Note: The Nassau County Extension is a joint partnership between the University of Florida and the Nassau County Board of County Commissioners. For more information related to the County Extension and programs/services they offer, please visit their website.

-Sabrina Robertson
 County Manager's Office

12/21/16 @ 11:15 a.m. - At today's Board of County Commissioners meeting, County employee Winifred Favors, was recognized for 28 years of service to Nassau County.

Winifred began her employment in August 1988 as a 4-H Program Assistant/Secretary II where she mentored hundreds of 4-H youth while planning, developing, and conducting County sponsored 4-H programs. During her employment, she was promoted to an Administrative Assistant II in 1999 and later to an Office Manager position in 2005. Winifred was always looking for opportunities to expand her knowledge of County Extension services and completed both the Master Gardener Program and the Master Food Edcuator Program.

Winifred announced her retirement effective December 30, 2016. Nassau County has truly benefitted from her service, strong work ethic, good nature, and compassion. She will be greatly missed by those who had the honor to work with her, as well as the citizens of Nassau County.

Congratulations Winifred! We wish you continued success, happiness, and health in the years to come.

-Sabrina Robertson
 County Manager's Office

The national 4-H organization was formed in 1914, when the United States Congress created the Cooperative Extension Service of the USDA by passage of the Smith-Lever Act of 1914. Early programs and clubs focused on agriculture, home economics, and related subjects and even though different activities were emphasized for for boys and girls, 4-H was the first youth organization to provide equal attention to both genders.

By 1924, 4-H adopted their logo, the four leaf clover which represents four personal development areas of focus for the organization: head, heart, hands, and health. Though most people know 4-H to be a program that focuses on agriculture, today's organization focuses on citizenship, healthy living, science, engineering, and technology programs. There are currently over 6.4 members in the United States, from ages 5-21, and approximately 90,000 clubs.

In May 2015, Nassau County celebrated the 100th Anniversary of Cooperative Extension in Nassau County which includes a myriad of services and programs for Nassau County residents, including the local 4-H Program. Project areas for Nassau County's 4-H includes animals, forestry, marine science, cooking, sewing, plants and gardening, robotics, leadership development, public speaking, healthy living, photography, shooting sports, and astronomy. They also offer a summer camp at the beautiful Camp Cherry Lake where program participants will enjoy many activities such as kayaking, swimming, archery, and much more.

Attached is a flyer that provides information on Nassau County's 4-H Program. You may also visit the County Extension's website for more information about Cooperative Extension services and programs offered to our community. Lastly, here is a link to a short video about the importance of 4-H, brought to you by the Florida 4-H Statewide Youth Development Program.


-Sabrina Robertson
 Nassau County Manager's Office

Did you know that the Nassau County Extension Office offers 4-H Summer Camps? Below are the exciting camps being offered for the Summer of 2016:

Love a Horse Day Camp
Learn about the types of horses and everything you need to know about horse care. Participants will also go on a trail ride.
When: May 31-June 2, 2016
Location: To be determined
Ages: 8 and up
Cost: $60

Old McDonald Had a Farm Day Camp
We all know that Old MacDonald had a farm, but what else do we know about farms? Check out the farm animal day camp to learn about how farms work and the types of animals you find on a farm. There will also be special animal visitors!
When: June 7-10, 2016
Location: Nassau County Extension Office, 543350 US Highway 1, Callahan, FL
Ages: 5-9
Cost: $40

Where the Wild Things Are Day Camp
Do you love the outdoors? If so, join us as we explore various aspects of nature: forestry, wildlife, and aquatics. Participants will make crafts, play games and go on daily field trips including a nature hike, the Jacksonville Zoo, and kayaking. Sunscreen and insect repellant are required each day, in addition to a bag lunch and water bottle.
When: June 14-16, 2016
Location: To be determined
Ages: 10-13
Cost: $60

Discovering 4-H Day Camp
What is 4-H? What types of activities do 4-Hers participate in? Come to our Discovering 4-H Day Camp to learn the answers to these questions while having a blast. We will cover a range of topics including agriculture, science, the environment, and community service.
When: July 19-22, 2016
Location: Nassau County Extension Office, 543350 US Highway 1, Callahan, FL
Ages: 7-11
Cost: $40

Camp Cherry Lake 4-H Residential Camp
Join us for a week at the beautiful Camp Cherry Lake. Activities include singing songs, kayaking, archery, swimming and much, much more!
When: July 5-8, 2016
Location: Madison, FL
Cost: $225 for 4-H members; $250 for non-members

For more information regarding Nassau County Extension's Summer Camps for 2016, please call (904) 530-6353.

-Sabrina Robertson
 County Manager's Office

The Nassau County Extension offers a variety of services to Nassau County residents on a myriad of topics including diet & nutrition, health insurance benefits, and youth development. The department also hosts many free classes related to agriculture and horticulture including monthly landscape classes, plant clinics, small farming classes, and pesticide training. Many of these classes are taught by volunteers who received Master Gardener Certifications through the University of Florida. In 2015, Master Gardeners taught 686 classes to 7,257 residents resulting in over 5,000 in volunteer hours and a cost savings of $108,132 to Nassau County residents!

At this morning's meeting, the Board of County Commissioners recognized four Nassau County residents for their volunteerism at the Nassau County Extension Office.

• Jane Brown was recognized for 10 years of service to Nassau County. Ms. Brown specializes in annuals and hosts classes related to identifying flowers that can survive the Florida heat, caring for flowers, and pruning techniques. She also specializes in growing and caring for various types of roses. In fact, she assists with caring for all the roses featured in the County's demonstration gardens.
  
• Ginny Grupe was recognized for 15 years of service. Ms. Grupe is known by her colleagues as the "butterfly lady". She holds numerous community outreach programs to teach children about butterflies, as well as classes for adults to learn how to attract more butterflies to their landscape. Ms. Grupe also hosts the annual Ag Extravaganza for all third graders in the County to learn about farming and teaches classes on Florida Friendly Landscape to help homeowners reduce water consumption and learn how to choose drought-tolerant plants.
• Bea Walker was recognized for 10 years of service. Ms. Walker promotes the County Extension's programs through various marketing techniques including articles, photos, and public relations information in the local papers, websites, and gardening magazines. These articles and photos have provided the County Extension with nearly 17 million positive exposures, providing the residents of northeast Florida with learning opportunities implemented by the County Extension Office. Fun fact: Bea Walker was selected at the Master Gardener of the Year for the State of Florida in 2009.
  
• Kathy Warner was recognized for 10 years of service. Ms. Warner spends countless hours designing and administering the County Extension website. Under her leadership in the last ten years, the website has grown from 8 pages to just over 300. The website "hits" have also increased from 610 annually to over 100,000. She is also the editor and author of the "Horticulture News", an online newsletter that provides homeowners with useful information such as how to care for grass, how to choose the correct soil, and mulching techniques. Fun fact: Kathy was selected as Nassau County's Volunteer of the Year in 2014 and was recognized at the Annual Volunteer Luncheon for her services.

Nassau County is truly grateful to these individuals, as well as all the other volunteers who sacrifice their time to make this County great!

If you are interested in learning more about the County Extension Office, please visit their website. You may also contact their office directly at (904) 530-6350 with questions or comments.

-Sabrina Robertson
 County Manager's Office

Did you know that the Nassau County Extension offers free educational plant clinics in which you can learn about proper plant care, disease management, and insect control? You can also bring samples of your diseased or insect infested plants with you and speak with experts that can diagnose your problem and provide you advice on how to correct the issue.

The 2016 schedule has been posted to the County Extension website. January's classes include the following:

Plant Clinics

Date: Monday, January 4, 2016
Time: 10:00 am-2:00 pm
Location: Yulee County Building, 86026 Pages Dairy Road, Yulee, FL 32097

Date: Monday, January 11, 2016
Time: 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Location: Yulee County Building, 86026 Pages Dairy Road, Yulee, FL 32097 


The County Extension also offers free educational classes regarding landscape maintenance. These classes include a variety of topics such as how to prune trees, how to grow roses, and attracting wildlife to your yard. January's classes are as follows:

Landscape Maintenance Classes:

Topic: Citrus, Citrus for the Home, Citrus Pest Control 
Date: Wednesday, January 6, 2016
Time: 10:00 am-11:00 am
Location: Yulee County Building, 86026 Pages Dairy Road, Yulee, FL 32097

Topic: Prunning Fruit Trees
Date: Wednesday, January 20, 2016
Time: 10:00 am - 11:00 am
Location: Yulee County Building, 86026 Pages Dairy Road, Yulee, FL 32097

If you have any questions, please contact the Nassau County Extension Office at (904) 530-6350.

-Sabrina Robertson
 County Manager's Office