May 2015 Inside this issue: Welcome Back! 1 Rhodes to Retire on July 1st 1 The Crop Rotator 1 A Summer Reading Perspective 2 Summer Screening Dates! 2 60 Minutes of Play a Day 3 Project CENTRL in Washington DC 3 Casa Grande Summer Meal Program Dates & Locations 4 UACE Map 4 Incredible Edible Egg 5 Eggshell Planters 5 Water Festival Update 6 Tips on Preparing for Kindergarten 6 Correct Irrigation of Landscape and Garden 7-8 Pinal County 4-H Camp: July 5-9, 2015 9 Statewide 4-H Summer Camp 9 You may have seen UACE Pinal here… 10 Preventing Teen Pregnancy with LARC 11 Daffodils: Pretty But Poisonous 12 Teens Hike the Grand Canyon 13 UACE In the News 13 Upcoming Events 14 Find Us on Social Media 14 The ABCs of Cooperative Extension 14 Volume , Issue Welcome Back! We’re pleased to share with you the May issue of our Pinal County Cooperative Extension newsletter. As part of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at the University of Arizona, our mission here at Cooperative Extension is to bring to you information that is tried and tested for our local conditions and situations. There are many websites that provide information on different topics, however, sometimes the information may not be completely right for the conditions in Arizona. We strive to make sure that what we share with you here has been tested locally so you know it’ll work. We hope you enjoy the timely and research -based tips, the updates on past and future events, and the tidbits of news that are shared in this newsletter. Thank you for all you do to support our programs. —Rick Gibson, County Director Rhodes to Retire on July 1st Everett Rhodes has announced his retirement from UA Cooperative Extension effective on July 1, 2015. Everett’s lifelong career in agricultural education started in 1972 as an Ag Teacher and FFA Advisor at Casa Grande Union High School. His 29 years of service with Pinal County Extension began as a 4-H Youth Development Agent in 1986. Everett graduated from Project CENTRL Class III in 1987 and became their Director in 1997, a position he held for 16 years. Everett is currently serving as an Agriculture Agent in Pinal County. “In many ways, my Extension career has made a full circle in life”, stated Everett. “My first date with my high school sweetheart, Linda, was a trip to 11-Mile corner to show her my 4-H pig at the Pinal County Fair. Linda and I both graduated from UA and have been married for 44 years. As a past member of 4-H, FFA, and Project CENTRL, it has been most rewarding to be a professional in all three organizations and to know firsthand the lasting legacy of leadership the many graduates of these programs continue to give back to their community and to agriculture. Since growing up on a farm near Coolidge, I’ve always enjoyed home gardening. With our rapidly growing population, there is also an increasing demand for local fresh foods in Pinal County. These past few years as an Agriculture Agent have brought me closer to my “roots” with the opportunity to help develop school and community gardens and an emerging local fresh food industry in Pinal County.” “As I leave Extension, I extend my heartfelt appreciation to the many who have touched my life and contributed to so many fond memories of my work in Pinal County.” The Crop Rotator Pinal County agriculture contributes significantly to the regional economic base and this year promises to be a productive one! During the growing seasons, growers receive a weekly newsletter, called “The Crop Rotator”, containing temperature, rainfall, and heat unit accumulation data, key information for producers. In addition, timely articles help producers stay up to date with new research. Links for the newsletter, can be found here for: Coolidge, Maricopa, Pinal County, and click here for Cotton Advisories. Volume , Issue Page 2 A Hero Emerges: A Summer Reading Perspective Masked vigilantes and caped crusaders will be in full force this summer as the Casa Grande Library celebrates their annual summer reading program to encourage people of all ages to read. In effort to create more real-life superheroes, the library hopes to boost self-confidence through reading and lifelong learning. Because, as we all know, “heroes are not born, they’re created”. Through the completion of the quests and by overcoming obstacles, those participating in the summer reading program will have a sense of accomplishment and belonging. Summer reading will lay the ground work for young Bruce Waynes and Tony Starks of the world to pursue higher education and future employment. The United States is the only free market country where the current generation is less well educated than the previous one. To combat this fact, the library will offer various activities to beat the boredom and expand the mind. The Summer Reading Program prevents the common student “brain drain” stigma many educators lament about at the beginning of the school year. If children and adolescents continue to read during the summer months, not only will they be better able to maintain the knowledge they acquired during the previous year, but they’ll also be quicker to pick up new material when the new school year starts. Everyone is encouraged to partake in the super hero theme fun for six weeks this summer. The library activity schedule will be packed! Free books are given to the super heroes in the making at the end of the summer reading program. Science books for the emerging Bruce Banners, foreign diplomacy and international espionage for the Natasha Romanovs, and hundreds of other non-fiction and fiction titles for the Peter Parkers! Holy Smokes Batman! Get to the Casa Grande Library and sign up starting Saturday, May 30th at our Super Hero Carnival! — Dee Dee Davis, Librarian Get your child screened during the summer, to be on track for the fall! Have you ever wondered if your child can see the whiteboard or the book you’re reading to him? Can they hear you when you explain “Why the sky is blue”? Are you wondering if they are on track to be ready for school? Even if your child seems years away from school, they are learning every minute. Don’t let them miss a minute of it, early intervention is the key! Summer is a great time to have your child screened for vision, hearing, and development. The Sensory and Developmental Screening teams will be at these events to help you make sure your child is on track and ready for school. Children between 2 months and 5 ½ years can have their vision, hearing and development screened at these events. If you are unable to attend any of the listed events, please contact Jennie Treadway or Robyn Powers at (520) 836-4651 to schedule an appointment in Pinal County. May 26th, 9-1 Apache Junction Library Summer Reading Kick-Off May 30th, 11-1 Casa Grande Main Library Summer Reading Kick-Off May 30th, 10am-4pm Robson Ranch Health Fair June 10th, 10:15am Coolidge Library Health Heroes Storytime June 18th, 9:30am Casa Grande Vista Library Health Heroes Storytime June 24th, 10:30am Casa Grande Vista Library Health Heroes Storytime July 9th, 10am-12 noon Casa Grande Main Library Super Health Heroes Storytime University of Arizona, Cooperative Extension, Pinal Page 3 60 Minutes of Play a Day Physical activity and movement are an important part of development, learning, and the growth of young children. During the first six years of life, infants, toddlers, and preschoolers will develop gross motor skills (like kicking and throwing) and learn healthy habits by participating in physical activities. Physical activity should take place both indoors and outdoors, according to sun safety recommendations. Decreasing sedentary time is important because it is associated with increased risk of obesity and related health problems. Project CENTRL in Washington DC! Project CENTRL Class XXIII traveled to Washington DC April 19 - 24, 2015 for Seminar 8 of the one year leadership program. It was a successful trip including visits with Senator Flake, Senator McCain, Congressman Schweikert, Congresswoman Sinema, and Congresswoman Kirkpartick. Agencies visited included US Department of Agriculture, Environmental Protection Agency, and American Farm Bureau. Class XXIV is selected and waiting to start their leadership journey on June 26, 2015. For more information about how to protect against norovirus visit CDC’s website. Find previous CDC Food Safety Announcements here. Interested in having a teen pregnancy prevention program at your child’s middle or high school? Talk to your principal about partnering with UACE and email [email protected]! And for more information on adolescent sexual health follow Pinal County Teen Outreach Program on facebook! Volume , Issue Page 4 Casa Grande’s Summer Meal Program is here! Summer is back! And so is Casa Grande Elementary School District’s Summer Meal Program! This program provides breakfast and lunch for all children, ages 1-18, all summer long. Find out more information here. If you come eat on Thursdays, you’re in for a treat; we’ll be holding nutritional demonstrations and providing a snack! Interested in finding a program in your area? Check out our map! It shows you where to find our programs & who to contact if you have any questions. University of Arizona, Cooperative Extension, Pinal Page 5 The Incredible Edible EGG! While eggs are the perfect food all year round, they are How to Cook the especially popular in the spring and summertime when Perfect Hard-Boiled celebrating special occasions. They can be used as a main Egg ingredient in cooking festive dishes, or hard-boiled, cooked 1. Wash hands with over-easy, or scrambled with your favorite veggies for a warm water and healthy breakfast! soap. 2. Lay the eggs in a The Pinal County SNAP-Ed Program is “egg-cited” to share single layer in a with you why eggs, at less than 15 cents apiece, are large saucepan. considered one of the healthiest natural foods, packed with 3. Cover eggs with important nutrients, and only containing 70 calories! Check cold water by at out the nutrition facts below: least 1 inch. 4. Bring to a simmer over low heat and Eggs are naturally high in protein. cook for 1 minute. A large egg has less than 2 grams saturated fat. 5. Cover with a lid, turn off the heat and allow the eggs Eggs are a source of 11 vitamins and minerals. They to sit for 15 minutes. are a good source of vitamin B12 which may be lacking 6. Rinse with cold water. in some vegetarian diets. Eggs are a source of Iron. Iron is best absorbed from food when Vitamin C is also present so combine your Did you know . . . eggs with a glass of orange juice for even better nutrition. Egg Trivia: ‘World Egg Day” is celebrated every year Eating 2 eggs per day will not affect LDL (bad) blood on the second Friday in October. The occasion recognizes cholesterol for people with a normal blood cholesterol the global appeal of the billions of nutritious eggs level. produced worldwide. Egg-producing countries all over the Eggs are included in the “Protein” section of MyPlate and are a great alternative to meat. world celebrate the event in different ways. Eggshell Planters Biodegradable eggshell planters are a Turn upside down to drain. Let dry. fun way to make seed starters. Once (To make bleach water combine 1 quart the plants begin to outgrow their shells, of water with 1 teaspoon bleach.) transplant them to soil—shell and all! DYE or decorate eggshells as desired. What You Need Let dry. Empty eggshells PLACE cotton ball in the bottom of the Bleach water eggshell. TOP with planting soil. Egg dye or acrylic craft paint Cotton balls SPRINKLE seeds over soil. Planting soil PLACE filled eggshell in egg carton. Herb seeds WATER seeds and place near sunlight Empty egg carton as recommended on seed package. Instructions RINSE the inside of the eggshell with bleach water to make sure it is clean. Extras: Make faces on the eggshells so that when the herbs start to grow it'll look like hair! Volume , Issue Page 6 Water Festival Update! With a sizeable contribution from the local Nissan complex in both funding and volunteers, this year’s Maricopa Water Festival hopes to improve on last year’s success. There are still many positions available and people needed, if you’d like to volunteer at the Maricopa event. Training will be provided, and lunch is always included for volunteers that work the Water Festival. If you’d like to play a part in this community event, contact Chuck Dugan, the Pinal County Water Programs Coordinator by email at [email protected], or call 520-836-5221 x210. Building on the Florence Water Festival completed in November 2014, the new academic year is off to a great start for Pinal County fourth graders! Following up on the 600 students that took part in the Florence event, Casa Grande put up an even bigger number… over 700 local fourth graders attended the annual event held on February 19th at Mesquite Elementary. To support these 28 classes, it took 40 volunteers and two festival sessions – one in the morning, and one after lunch. Several UofA Extension Office employees took part as volunteers, and with additional support once again from the Casa Grande-based AmeriCorps Team the 2015 CG Water Festival was a huge success. Don’t miss this chance to help our local 4th graders learn more about water! Next up is the Apache Junction Water Festival scheduled for April 23rd, and the second annual Maricopa Water Festival on May 7. Summer is the Ideal Time to Prepare for Kindergarten Success! For young kids entering kindergarten, summer is the ideal time to instill the skills that are needed to make a smooth transition to school. First Things First has a list of simple things parents and caregivers can do this summer to help kindergarteners prepare for their big day. Some tips include: Read to your child at least 30 minutes per day. Talk to your child; make up stories or songs. Play games about colors, numbers, and shapes of objects. Point out letters and repeat them. Encourage your child to draw on plain paper with crayons. Make sure that all immunizations are current and have your child visit the dentist. Start talking to your child about the change that is coming when they start school. Be positive. Talk with your child and set an example of sharing and putting things back where they belong. Talk with your child about a typical school day. The more your child knows, the less anxiety they’re likely to experience. Do a test-run of the new routine, including laying out clothes the night before, waking up with enough time to get ready, and eating breakfast. Give your child a family picture for their pocket or backpack; reassure them about what time you will be back to pick them up. Most importantly, celebrate and enjoy this milestone with your child! Even if you don’t have kindergarteners this year, it’s never too early to start helping kids prepare. Children who have positive early childhood experiences tend to score higher on school readiness assessments and are more likely to do well in school and graduate. By turning everyday moments into learning moments, we can send our children to school with the skills – and the love of learning – that will help them succeed in kindergarten and beyond! Additional tips can be found at azftf.gov in the Parent Section under Early Education. Page 7 University of Arizona, Cooperative Extension, Pinal Correct Irrigation of Landscape and Garden Plants Hot weather has arrived and irrigation is critical for the good health and survival of our landscape plants. Let’s review the basics. Unlike many parts of the country where home yard irrigation is simply a matter of waiting for the rain clouds to appear, irrigation in the desert is a definite must-do task in order to keep plants healthy and vigorous. In Southern Arizona, one fact of weather is certain: sooner or later, it’s going to get hot. The 100 plus temperatures will arrive! In order to keep outdoor plants thriving in the heat, it is important to irrigate each plant appropriately. in two connected chambers. Okay, let me see if I can make that a little easier. Consider a bottle of perfume. There are a Summer weather in the desert starts out hot and dry, from late lot of little perfume molecules crammed inside a perfume May to mid-July, or hot and humid, from mid-July to early bottle, all in liquid form. If I take the lid off of the bottle and September. When the weather is hot and dry, Arizona will leave it off, the liquid inside begins to evaporate and exit the experience high temperatures and this is when plants have the bottle. This process will continue until the number of molecules highest potential for death, unless proper irrigation is of perfume in the air of the room equal the number inside of performed. Monsoon season brings higher humidity and the the bottle. Since there is a lot of space in the room and only a chance of late afternoon thunderstorms makes for muggy tiny space inside the bottle, the process will usually go forward weather, but it is much better for plants. until the bottle is empty. In science, this is called the principle of diffusion. Here are two rules of thumb you will want to remember in regards to weather and the relationship between plants: (1) The same thing happens to water vapor in a leaf. The fewer the hotter and dryer the weather, that is, the higher the the number of water molecules in the exterior air around the temperature and the lower the relative humidity, the more leaf, the faster water inside of the leaf will try to exit to make difficult it will be for plants to obtain sufficient water to keep equilibrium. Because there is a lot of space outside the leaf themselves alive; (2) the higher the humidity, the easier it is on and only a tiny bit of space inside, the process of evaporation all plants in hot weather. and loss of water vapor from the leaf will continue until the plant runs dry and dies. Plants cool themselves through the process of transpiration; water is absorbed by the roots, moved up through the roots to Because of this, the stresses experienced during the hot, dry the stem, or trunk, and up the stem to the leaves. In the leaves period often cause severe, long-term health problems, the water evaporates and exits the leaves through tiny holes especially if the stresses are coupled with improper called stomata. This exiting of water acts like an evaporative irrigation. Many of the dead limbs and stunted growth cooler which tends to cool the leaves. If the plant is short of problems that are currently seen in area landscapes can be water the plant can overheat and die. traced directly to improper irrigation techniques and habits. In order to avoid water stress problems in all types of plants, Humidity is important, because it determines how fast water especially during times of drought, it is important to vapor will exit the leaf. All gases like to be at equal amounts understand the proper principles and techniques of desert irrigation. First, it’s important to know soil conditions. The soil is a plant’s moisture reservoir and the capacity of that reservoir is dependent upon the depth and the particle size of the soil. Soils underlain with a hard pan or caliche layer, and soils of a sandy texture will hold less water than deep or finetextured soils. The smaller the holding capacity, the more often plants must receive adequate irrigation. Continued on page 8. Volume , Issue Page 8 Continued: Correct Irrigation of Landscape and Garden Plants It is also important to know the depth and location of the plant’s root system. Root systems will differ widely depending upon the type of plant and the conditions of the soil. Turf grasses, for example, have an effective rooting depth of about twenty-four inches while tree roots, under good conditions, may descend down to sixty inches or more into the ground. The average rooting depth for other types of plants include eight inches for dichondra, fifteen inches for flowers, and thirty-six inches for shrubs and small trees. Shallow soils or improper irrigation may prevent proper root development that could cause problems like wind throw, salt burn, stunting and root constriction later on. Plants with shallow root systems should be watered frequently and lightly while larger plants, like trees and shrubs, with deep roots may need more water each irrigation, but less frequently. Next, it is important to know the water requirement for the plants that are located in the garden or landscape. Most, but not all, plants will show signs of drought when they need irrigation. Frequently, small areas of a lawn will show moisture stress early and these signs can be used as a warning. Wilting, change to a darker bluish-green or gray color, and slower growth are “need-water” signs. Timing of irrigations is best decided by watching the soil moisture levels. If you have access to a soil probe, sample the soil at varying depths of the root zone. If not, a good approximation can be developed by digging down six inches into the soil with a hand trowel or shovel. Test the soil moisture level by feeling the soil sample with your hand and determining whether it feels wet or dry. Form a ball of soil by firmly squeezing a handful of the sample. Make a ribbon by pressing the soil between the thumb and forefinger. Irrigate when the soil moisture fits the following descriptions. For sandy or coarse soils, irrigate when the soil tends to stick together slightly but will not form a ball when it is squeezed in the hand. For silty soils, irrigate when a ball forms but its strength is weak and its appearance is crumbly. For clay soils, irrigate when the soil is pliable, will form a ball, but is too dry to form a ribbon easily. Leaf temperature is also a helpful tool. The process that plants use to cool themselves is the process of transpiration and it works automatically as the plant extracts water from the soil, moves it up the plant, into the leaves, and out into the atmosphere. The leaves of trees and shrubs will feel cool to the touch when there is sufficient water available for the plant but will feel warm when the plant cannot pull enough water to meet plant needs. grass and shrubs will probably have to be flood irrigated with the hose every five to ten days, flowers every three to six days, trees every ten to fifteen days, and Dichondra every two to three days. Mature citrus trees should be watered every seven to ten days depending upon fruit load and temperature. Again, do not overstress your plants for water because permanent damage could occur if the plant gets too dry for too long. To be safe, check the soil at a depth of six inches as previously described. Just as it is essential not to under-water, it is also essential to not over-water. In addition to the danger of leaching valuable nitrogen fertilizers out of the root zone, certain soil conditions can create severe health hazards for plants when the soil is kept moist for too long. Shallow soils with caliche underneath can cause harm to plants when they are not correctly irrigated. Under these conditions, plants tend to be extremely susceptible to iron chlorosis, especially when roots are kept too wet for too long. Root rot, the old nemesis of just about every plant, will thrive in this wet environment. Correct irrigation of landscape plants requires a knowledge of soils and plant characteristics. A good knowledge of these basic principles, coupled with a little experience, will allow anyone to accurately walk the tightrope between over-irrigation and underirrigation in our warm, desert climate. If you have questions, you can reach one of the Master Gardeners at the Cooperative Extension office, 820 E. Cottonwood Lane, There are exceptions. On windy days, the holes in the lower sides Building C, in Casa Grande. The telephone is (520) 836-5221, of leaves which allow water vapor out and air in, the stomata, will ext 204. close to prevent drying winds from pulling too much water too quickly from the leaves. Because transpiration stops, the leaves will begin to feel warm to the touch even though there may be adequate water in the soil. If there is sufficient water in the soil, it is not necessary to irrigate under these conditions. During hot weather, depending upon soil depths and textures, Page 9 Pinal County 4-H Camp: July 5-9,2015 Let the Adventure Begin! Pinal County offers a unique opportunity for 4-H members. Pine Combs 4-H Camp is a residential camp experience in an outdoor educational environment. Located in the cool pines just east of Williams, AZ, Pine Combs 4-H Camp is surrounded by a wooded setting adjacent to the Kaibab National Forest. Boys and girls can live and learn, grow and contribute, while having fun and making new friends! Youth ages 9-13 (as of January 1st) are eligible to attend camp. The preliminary program for this year’s camp includes arts and crafts, shooting sports, canoeing, fishing, hiking the Grand Canyon, swimming, bowling, and more. For more information on camp and to get the applications and necessary forms, visit the Pinal Co. 4H website at http://extension.arizona.edu/4h/pinal (click on Forms, then Programs). Download and complete the following: Camp Registration Form Medical History Form Photo Release Form Include a copy of your Health Insurance card and a check payable to the Pinal County 4-H April 20-June 15, 2015: Regular Registration - $150 June 16-July 1, 2015: Late Registration - $170 Due June 1, 2015: Counselor Application & Scholarship Application w/Member Registration For more information contact: Kimberly Gressley at [email protected] or 520-836-5221 ext. 213 University of Arizona, Cooperative Extension, Pinal Statewide 4-H Summer Camp: July 17-21,2015 From Friday, July 17th through Tuesday, July 21st, 2015, camp will be held in the cool, tall pines of Mingus Mountain near Prescott. 4-H Camp is open to all 4-H members, ages 9 to 19. Camp applications must be received by Friday, July 3, 2015 at the County Extension Office, 101 E. Beale Street, Suite A, Kingman, AZ 86401. Find out more information here. Start Planning NOW! It’s going to be a GREAT summer!!!! For more information contact Gerald Olson at [email protected] Volume , Issue Page 10 You may have seen UACE Pinal here... Connie Lorenz and Everett Rhodes working in a community garden in Eloy, AZ. Egg Extravaganza in San Tan on April 3, 2015 Pinal County Fair! CHAT students helped to clean up the fairgrounds and 4-H was a huge success! And we hope we had an opportunity to speak with you at our booth! Page 11 University of Arizona, Cooperative Extension, Pinal Preventing Teen Pregnancy with Long-Acting Reversible Contraception According to a recent CDC study the use of long-acting reversible contraception (LARC), like intrauterine devices (IUDs) and implants, by teens is still relatively low, despite their effectiveness, safety, and ease of use. In fact, IUDs and implants, are the most effective types of birth control for teens. With the use of LARC, less than 1% of users become pregnant during the first year of use, and after insertion they require no effort and can prevent pregnancy for 3 to 10 years. Some of the reasons LARC usage remains low are that most teens use birth control pills and/or condoms, both of which are less effective methods of preventing pregnancy. In addition, teens and their parents know very little about LARC and incorrectly assume that teens cannot use LARC because of their age. However, with increased education and decreased costs of LARC through Title X, IUDs and implants can become more widely used among teenagers. Despite the effectiveness of LARC, a scant 7.1% of teens across the country, aged 15-19, used LARC, with 2.8% using IUDs and 4.3% using implants. However, the use of LARC was higher among teens aged 18-19 years (7.6%) versus 15–17 years (6.5%). And the percentage of teens aged 15–19 years who used LARC varied widely by state, from 0.7% (Mississippi) to 25.8% (Colorado), with Arizona somewhere in the middle with 5.8%. Parents: be sure to talk to your teenagers about sex. First and foremost, encourage them not to have sex, but also encourage them to use effective birth control methods, like LARC, to prevent pregnancy, as well as condoms to protect against sexually transmitted diseases. For more information about LARC read the CDC report here or visit CDC’s Vital Signs report. Volume , Issue Page 12 Daffodils: Pretty But Poisonous Poisonous to: Cats, Dogs Level of toxicity: Generally mild to moderate Common signs to watch for: Drooling Nausea Vomiting Diarrhea Increased heart rate Abdominal pain Abnormal breathing Cardiac arrhythmias drooling. Ingestion of the bulb, plant, or flower can cause severe vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and even possible cardiac arrhythmias or respiratory depression. Daffodil ingestions can result in more severe symptoms so if an exposure is witnessed or symptoms are seen, we recommend seeking veterinary care for further supportive care. If you suspect your pet has ingested daffodils (particularly the bulbs), contact your veterinarian or Pet Poison Helpline for treatment recommendations. These flowers contain lycorine, an alkaloid with strong emetic properties (something that triggers vomiting). Crystals are found in the outer layer of the bulbs, similar to Find out more information about the Master Gardeners, visit hyacinths, which cause severe tissue irritation and secondary their facebook page or the UACE Pinal County page. University of Arizona, Cooperative Extension, Pinal Page 13 Teens Hike the Grand Canyon! Forty Healthy Living Teen Ambassadors and 13 adults experienced the magic of the Grand Canyon the weekend of April 17 – 19. On Saturday, April 18 some of them walked 9 miles to Indian Gardens, some walked 12 miles to Plateau Point overlooking the Colorado River and some trekked 17 miles to splash in its waters. These inspirational teens traveled from Pima, Cochise, Santa Cruz, and Pinal Counties, but were one big happy family by the end. The Healthy Living Teen Ambassadors from Pinal County, also known as CHAT, are volunteer students from Santa Cruz Valley Union High School and have spent the last year educating youth and the community the importance of healthy eating and encouraging increased physical activity. The Youth Summit to the Grand Canyon was a great adventure and experience for all. UACE In the News Bring in your garden harvest tastily and safely, in Maricopa the Magazine, April, 10, 2015 U ni ver si t y o f A r i zo na Pi na l Co u nt y Co o p er a t i ve Ex t e ns i o n Main Office 820 E. Cottonwood Lane, Bldg. C Casa Grande AZ 85122 Phone: (520) 836-5221 Fax: (520) 836-1750 Upcoming Events: Satellite Office 120 E. 1st Street, Casa Grande AZ 85122 Phone: (520) 836-4651 Fax: (520) 836-4233 Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Jeffrey C. Silvertooth, Associate Dean & Director, Economic Development & Extension, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, The University of Arizona. The University of Arizona is an equal opportunity, affirmative action institution. The University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or sexual orientation in its programs and activities. Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation, such as a sign language interpreter, by contacting (Cooperative Extension, Pinal County, 820 East Cottonwood Lane, #C, Casa Grande, AZ 85122, 520.836.5221). Requests should be made as early as possible to allow time to arrange the accommodation. Project CENTRL Class XXIII Golf Tournament: May 1, 2015 Maricopa Water Festival: May 7, 2015 Strengthening Families Graduation: May 8, 2015 Sensory & Development Screenings: Various Dates (see page 2) Casa Grande Summer Meal Program: Various Dates (see page 4) Citizenship Washington Focus: June 20-27, 2015 Pinal County 4-H Camp: July 5-9, 2015 Brain Builders, Payson: July 11 and July 18 Statewide 4-H Camp: July 17-21, 2015 Brain Builders, San Tan Valley: October 17 and October 24 Find Us on Social Media: Facebook: Pinal County Garden and Landscape Program Maricopa Master Gardeners Pinal County 4-H Pinal County Teen Outreach Program Child Care Health Consultation for Pinal County, AZ Twitter: @RickGibson4 Blog: ricksgardenspot.blogspot.com The ABCs of Cooperative Extension 4-H provides educational opportunities for youth to become capable and contributing members of a global community. Children, ages 5-19, learn about healthy lifestyles, animals, plant sciences, and leadership. 4-H Contact: Kimberly Gressley at (520) 836-5221, x.213 or [email protected] Agronomic Field Crops uses research and education efforts to work to improve field crop productivity and global food and fiber supply, farm economic viability, and protecting the environment. Contact: Rick Gibson at (520) 836-5221, x.227 or [email protected] Brain Builders is a 16 hour training for child care providers and parents focusing on early brain and child development for children, ages 0-3. Brain Builders Contact: Cathy Martinez at (520) 836-5221, x.203 or [email protected] Child Care Health Consultations (CCHC) develops relationships with childcare facilities to provide training to staff that will improve their knowledge and practice in the childcare setting. CCHC Contact: Jan Jepsen at (520) 836-4651 or [email protected] Choose Health Action Teen (CHAT) is designed to recruit teens to teach younger children the benefits of healthy eating and active living. Teens also participate in community service events. CHAT Contact: Esmeralda Castillo at (520) 836-5221 or [email protected] Developmental Program reaches out to families with children, ages 0-5, to screen for early developmental milestones such as gross and fine motor skills, communication, personal-social skills, and problem solving capacities. Developmental Contact: Esther Turner at (520) 836-5221, x.211 or [email protected] Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) is a nutrition education class designed to assist limited resource families in eating smart and being active and in acquiring the knowledge, skills, and behavioral changes necessary to contribute to their personal development and the improvement of the total family diet, nutritional and physical well-being. EFNEP Contact: Esmeralda Castillo at (520) 836-5221 or [email protected] Master Gardener Program trains volunteers to provide up-tp-date, locally tested practical information to those desiring to improve the quality and effectiveness of desert gardens and landscapes. Master Gardener Contact: Rick Gibson at (520) 836-5221, x.227 or [email protected] Ms Hijos, My Kids Childcare Recruitment is designed to assist applicants in becoming DES certified to provide childcare in their home. Mis Hijos Contact: Sally Peoples at (520) 836-5221, x.224 or [email protected] Project CENTRL prepares highly motivated leaders to be more effective in meeting the growing challenges facing agriculture in rural Arizona. Project CENTRL Contact: Karen Vanderheyden at (520) 316-0909 or [email protected] Project WET (Water Education for Teachers) is a program designed to teach educators how to better integrate water education, water conservation, and best management practices for water use into their curriculums. Project WET Contact: Chuck Dugan at (520) 836-5221, x.210 or [email protected] Sensory Program provides free screenings of children, ages 0-5, for vision and hearing impairments that could affect their developmental growth. Sensory Contact: Esther Turner at (520) 836-5221, x.211 or [email protected] Soil Fertility Research and Education is a program that focuses on the development of research and education on soil testing, nutrient management, and fertilizer and animal waste best management practices. Contact: Rick Gibson at (520) 836-5221, x.227 or [email protected] Strengthening Families Program is a parenting and family strengthening program for families with children ages 3-5, that focuses on strengthening parental bonds with their children and learning more effective parenting skills. SFP Contact: Esther Turner at (520) 836-5221, x.211 or [email protected] Teen Outreach Program (TOP) is an evidence-based youth development program that is designed for youth ages 12–17 and focuses on reducing rates of school failure, school suspension, and teen pregnancy. TOP Contact: Victoria Bodanyi at (571)234-2445 or [email protected] University of Arizona Nutrition Network (UANN) is a program designed to influence healthy eating and active living in a positive way that promotes health and reduces disease among all people living in Arizona. UANN Contact: Jennifer Staples at (520) 836-5221, x.207 or [email protected]
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