COLLEGE STATION – This year as part of National 4-H Week and One Day 4-H, the Texas 4-H Youth Development Program will partner with the Texas A&M Forest Service to help celebrate that agency’s 100th anniversary of protecting the citizens of Texas and the country.

Each year, National 4-H Week is held so local and county 4-H clubs and groups throughout the U.S. can showcase what they have gained from 4-H membership through their many programs, community activities and events. This year, National 4-H week will be from Oct. 4-10 and One Day 4-H will take place Oct. 10.

“One Day 4-H is a special day set aside each year for 4-H members, parents, leaders and volunteers to step out and provide service to their communities and counties as a means to say thank you for their support of the 4-H program,” said Dr. Chris Boleman, director for Texas 4-H and a member of the National 4-H Council board.

Boleman said for the first time in the seven-year history of One Day 4-H, Texas 4-H will have a “featured service project.”

“This year that project is designed to help celebrate the Texas A&M Forest Service’s centennial anniversary,” he said. “For 100 years, the service has been helping protect and save the lives of Texans and others through its many efforts. We hope that we can have at least one 4-H club or group in each county in Texas participate in this 2015 One Day 4-H special service project to make it a historical milestone for both agencies.”

Service is at the heart of the partnership between 4-H and Texas A&M Forest Service, said Tom Boggus, Texas A&M Forest Service director, College Station.

“One Day 4-H is the perfect opportunity to teach fundamental lessons about the stewardship of our natural resources and caring for our environment,” Boggus said. “By being active in their communities and learning about their natural surroundings, students can become better stewards of the earth. Giving 4-Her’s a way to learn about trees and the benefits they provide helps them grow into future decision-makers who are knowledgeable about, and appreciative of, our environment.”

Boleman said to help celebrate the anniversary, the Forest Service is providing one bur oak tree — one of the only trees that can grow successfully in all 254 counties of Texas — to each county to be planted in a courthouse square, on city hall grounds or at some other notable public venue where it can be seen and appreciated by those in the community.

“This project will be an educational opportunity for 4-H members to work with their respective county commissioners or city officials to secure a location, invite the community to the planting and educate attendees on the importance of the Texas A&M Forest Service and Texas 4-H,” Boleman said.

To help 4-H clubs and county 4-H councils coordinate a tree-planting, a project guide is available as a resource. The resource is also applicable for 4-H clubs and groups that would like to adopt a project in fire safety and prevention.

To access the guide, go to: http://bit.ly/1Jzcx1J.

“4-H and Texas 4-H Youth Development emphasize community service as part of youth character development,” Boleman said. “In the 4-H pledge, members pledge their hands to greater service — and One Day 4-H is a focused and coordinated way to help fulfill that service learning aspect of 4-H.”

He said each year during National 4-H Week and One Day 4-H more than 12,000 Texas 4-H youth participate in more than 200 service projects statewide.

“I think it’s particularly appropriate that we’ve chosen the commemorative tree planting as this year’s special project, ” Boleman said. “Not only does it celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Texas A&M Forest Service, but it’s also symbolic of the fact that Texas 4-H is dedicated to helping young people develop deep roots into their communities so they may grow into productive adults.”

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Article By:

Paul Schattenberg, 210-859-5752, paschattenberg@ag.tamu.edu  

Contact:
Dr. Chris Boleman, 979-845-1211, cboleman@ag.tamu.edu

Linda Moon, 979-458-6600, lmoon@tfs.tamu.edu