Jefferson Community School 4-H Expedition Club visits Pennsylvania to study coal energy and culture

Shown l. to r: Gary Lilley (teacher), Jae, Django, Becca, Jesaint, Lacee 4-H assistant), Ivan,
Pamela Roberts (4-H coordinator) and Caleb.
(Click on photo to open larger format.)

Shown in front of the salmon sculpture at the WSU Jefferson County Extension office are students and staff from Jefferson Community School. They came to receive training from Pamela Roberts, Jefferson County 4-H coordinator, related to video production. They are excited about processing 8 hours of tapes they recorded while visiting Pennsylvania on a 4-H expedition to explore coal energy and culture. While there they interviewed many people related to the coal industries and history. We can't wait to see these videos!

Washington State sends a delegation to D.C. for digital storytelling training!

Shown from left to right are: Karen McCloskey, Tyris Wilcox, Hannah Tipton, and Pamela Roberts. They represented Washington State in the Digital Storytelling Training recently held in Washington D.C. and sponsored by the 4-H National Council.

Revolutionizing Food Processing, Research of WSU Professor Juming Tang

Imagine a salmon filet that looks, tastes and is as nutritious as freshly cooked salmon but has a shelf-life of more than six months. A new technology developed at WSU will make that a reality and could revolutionize how we preserve and process food.

Featuring Professor Dr. Juming Tang of Washington State University's Department Biological Systems Engineering!

Kurtis with a "K" interviews Pamela Roberts about inclusive education

Kurtis Kench of 4-H Network News interviews Pamela Roberts about inclusive education and the importance of involving learners with various strengths and challenges in our lives and in our learning. Pamela is an experienced educator - a former teacher and school administrator - who has worked with a broad range of learners, including those with profound emotional, behavioral and academic challenges. Pamela is proud that all kinds of learners have been served throughout her 20-year teaching career, including through the 4-H Network News project online!

Kurtis Kench filmed and edited this interview - he had a lot of fun exploring the transition effects between the clips and the musical segments - great job Kurtis!

The mystery of the fishmouth

A horrific event happened dating back to October 31, 2009. Unknown people placed a strange, orange object on the fish statue in front of the WSU Extension office. Brave reporter Claire Turner solemnly volunteers to investigate the tragic situation.


Some say it is a basket ball. Some say it is a giant peach; but scientists say that it is a pumpkin. We took a closer look.


How scarry! On your next visit, check this strange happening if you dare.

-by Claire Turner

H1N1 Virus: Information for Jefferson County, WA

Lacee Cline, 4-H Network News reporter, shares current information about the H1N1 virus and the vaccine availability in Jefferson County, Washington. This report is an exact reading of the H1N1 flier published on the Jefferson County Public Health website.

4-H youth video crews converge on Washington D.C.!

Participants in the October 2009
SET in Our Community -
A Digital Storytelling Project
4-H SET in Urban Communities Pilot Project

(Images have been digitally altered - click to open larger format!)

Digital Storytelling takes brain power!

Hannah Tipton (A.K.A Agent Tipton) prepares for her video role in "The Butterfly Disaster." Hannah and Tyrus Wilcox filmed this short video concept meant to entice young people to learn more about butterflies. They created the idea of a "butterfly conspiracy" with these beautiful insects invading the Atomic Bunker of the United States. Using fear to motivate their audience, Hannah and Tyrus would then add information about the migratory patterns and biodiversity of butterflies to their film, ending it with Agent Tipton disappearing and transforming into a butterfly herself! Scary! Great job guys on your plot!

Hannah is shown above with Kathryn (last name TBD), a fellow 4-H-er from Rutherford County, TN!

Digital Storytelling - a short exhibition

4-H participants in the Digital Storytelling workshop held at the 4-H Youth Conference Center in Washington D.C. join each other on stage after publically sharing their videos.

4-H coaches and mentors watch as the videos were shared.

Chad Ripberger helps lead the way with Digital Storytelling!

Chad Ripberger helped lead the recent workshop about Digital Storytelling sponsored by the National 4-H Council. The workshop brought 4-H video crews from across the United States together for 3 days to discuss and explore methods to produce high quality videos inspired by youth. These videos will help educate others about Science, Engineering and Technology content in ways that are fun for youth.

Digital Storytelling across the U.S. grows!

Kate McCloskey and Pamela Roberts, 4-H agents from Washington State, intently explore the processes related to Digital Storytelling at the recent "SET in Our Community" workshop in Washington D.C. sponsored by the National 4-H Council.

Kate and Pamela will be working with two urban communities - Spokane and Vancouver - to encourage the expansion of digital storytelling in 4-H - especially as related to Science, Engineering and Technology. They were proud to be chosen to represent Washington State at this training and to return with ideas and inspirations that they can share with other 4-H programs.

Making friends from across the United States!

Anthony Merriweather, Tyrus Wilcox and Hannah Tipton - 4-H videographers - stand in front of the Jefferson Memorial in Washington D.C. These and other 4-H youth came to our nation's capitol to learn more about digital storytelling through video. They will now return to their home states to share what they have learned and to encourage others to become involved in producing 4-H videos - especially those that teach about Science, Engineering and Technology concepts.

Tyrus Wilcox and Marquel Allen stand in front of the Jefferson Memorial in Washington D.C.. Tyrus and Marqual became acquainted during a video workshop sponsored by the National 4-H Council. Together these bright 4-H youth explored the challenges of Digital Storytelling related to Science, Engineering and Technology! (Marqual kept everyone in stitches during the training - always eager to laugh and have fun!)

Fred Powell and Tanisha English await the showing of the Butterfly videos!
Two leaders with consummate professional poise and grace.

Pamela Roberts and Richard Reeves enjoy a last laugh before heading home!
Richard has stretched everyone's knowledge of dramatic play in video with youth!

Tyrus Wilcox and Anthony Merriweather enjoyed each other's company!
Anthony was a terrific sport, who put up with lots of ribbing from older Tyrus!

Pamela Roberts and Fred Powell - a quiet respect and friendship established!
Fred kept us laughing with his butterfly character and voice over!

What 4-H Network News techies do when they fly!

Would anyone be surprised to know that our techies Hannah Tipton and Tyrus Wilcox, 4-H Network News reporters, preferred to explore their computers and the Internet, rather than go to a movie! We had to kill some time before our flight to Washington D.C. from Seattle so these computer whizzes took some time to Photoshop images and search the Net for fun!

Tyrus gives life some serious consideration.

Reading in airports encouraged for youth...

Hannah Tipton, 4-H Network News reporter, and Pamela Roberts, Jefferson County 4-H agent, celebrate the infamous and fascinating magazine, "Sky Mall." After spending countless hours while flying to D.C. recently, they became experts at all the latest gadgets. Hannah is now trying to convince Pam to purchase an underwater camera for 4-H Network News (as advertised in Sky Mall). Perhaps our next trip will be to Hawaii???

4-H Network News goes to D.C.!

Tyrus Wilcox confers with President Obama
while visiting Washington D.C.

Tyrus Wilcox, 4-H Network News reporter, shakes hands with President Obama while visiting Washington D.C. last week. Tyrus visited our nation's capitol to receive video training from the National 4-H Council related to "Digital Storytelling." Hannah Tipton, 4-H Network News reporter, also attended this workshop and is shown below with Tyrus in front of the Lincoln Memorial. (Tyrus Photoshopped the photo above while waiting in the airport to catch the early morning flight to D.C.)


Pamela Roberts and Kate McCloskey, 4-H agents, enjoy the very wet and rainy tour of the Washington D.C. Memorial sites.