Nebraska Extension in Thurston County

06/18/2026

Water Wonders! Drip, pour, and watch water move across dirt, rocks, and leaves. Children explore absorption, flow, and sound while learning how water supports plants and nature.
Book suggestion: Water Is Water by Miranda Paul beautifully connects water play to the natural world.
Download the guide at – go.unl.edu/lgo_water

06/15/2026

How to Build-a-Bird Feeder Workshop (this workshop replaces the Surprise Workshop)

Join us for a fun, hands-on workshop where youth will create their own bird feeder using simple craft materials while learning about local birds and their habitats.

Clover Kids will enjoy interactive activities, games, and bird-themed crafts, while older youth will take on additional design challenges and discover ways to attract, observe, and identify birds in their own backyards.

Register online at: https://go.unl.edu/thurstonsummer26

06/15/2026

Reminder that 4-H Enrollment due TODAY to be eligible for county/state fair; along with your livestock affidavits, DNA envelopes, and state fair nominations. Our office is open until 4:30 pm. There is a drop box available to leave your documents if delivering them outside of work hours. Contact us at 402-385-6041 for questions or concerns!

Any youth planning to participate in a county fair or the Nebraska State Fair must be enrolled by June 15! To learn more about enrolling, visit 4h.unl.edu/enroll ⏳

06/15/2026

There’s still time to sign up for our Build-A-Bird Feeder Workshop! We are offering a session in the morning for ages 5-7 and an afternoon session for ages 8 and up. Contact our office if you have any questions at 402-385-6041. Link to sign up in the post below.

How to Build-a-Bird Feeder Workshop (this workshop replaces the Surprise Workshop)

Join us for a fun, hands-on workshop where youth will create their own bird feeder using simple craft materials while learning about local birds and their habitats.

Clover Kids will enjoy interactive activities, games, and bird-themed crafts, while older youth will take on additional design challenges and discover ways to attract, observe, and identify birds in their own backyards.

Register online at: https://go.unl.edu/thurstonsummer26

06/13/2026

Cheer for your favorite team and keep food safety on the field of play. Safe food makes every World Cup gathering a champion! Visit these websites for recipes and for more tips and information on keeping your food safe:
Gameday Buffalo Chicken Dip : https://food.unl.edu/recipe/gameday-buffalo-chicken-dip/
Game Day Food Safety Tips : https://www.foodsafety.gov/blog/game-day-food-safety-tips
Keep Food Penalty-Free at Your World Cup Party : https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2014/07/world-cup-food-safety/

06/13/2026

Keep your food safe: from the refrigerator/freezer — all the way to the picnic table. For more information on keeping your family healthy: https://go.unl.edu/food-in-hot-weather

06/12/2026

Next to water, tea is the most widely consumed beverage in the world. Here in the U.S., about 85% of tea consumed is black tea and iced. The heat of the summer is the perfect time to enjoy a tall glass of refreshing iced tea, but how you brew it is an important step to keeping you safe. https://go.unl.edu/suntea

06/12/2026

Youth will explore heritage and everyday life skills and build meaningful keepsakes while learning more about themselves and their connection to home.

Register online at: https://go.unl.edu/thurstonsummer26

06/11/2026

Our Animal Science Lab gave youth an up-close look at the fascinating world of animal vision! 👀🐄They started with an "Eye Spy" challenge, where participants examined close-up photos of animal eyes and tried to match them to the correct animal. From there, they explored how different animals see the world through hands-on activities focused on predator and prey vision, dog vision, and nocturnal vision. The highlight of the workshop was a cow eye dissection, where youth investigated the structures of the eye and learned how each part contributes to vision. From solving eye mysteries to dissecting real cow eyes, participants spent the morning discovering how animals use their unique vision to survive and thrive in their environments!

06/11/2026

Our Nature Science Explorers workshop was full of outdoor discovery and hands-on learning! 🌿🔍 Youth explored nature through a scavenger hunt, created their own nature-inspired picture frames, and learned how different bird beaks are adapted for finding and eating food. They also got their hands dirty planting marigold flowers and catalpa tree seeds to take home and watch grow. Thank you to all the youth who joined us for a fun day of exploring, creating, and connecting with nature! 🌼🌳🐦