The Metcalfe County Extension Agent for FCS Education, partnered with the Metcalfe County Library 2021 Summer, Teen reading group to provide a guided tour of the Dry Fork Gorge Nature Conservancy.  This was the first visit for all of the participants, which included two library staff and 3 parents along with the teen reading group participants and younger siblings.  This Agent provided an overview of the history of the area and key elements that resulted in the Dry Fork Gorge’s protected status as a Nature Conservancy.  Educational information provided in print and verbally included: Limestone Karst topography/sinkhole overview, the local watershed the headwaters of which come out of the ground from springs in the Gorge, endangered/protected plant and wildlife species in the Gorge and overview of the Archaeological survey completed in the Gorge.  After the informational segment, participants were guided on a three-mile, 2.5 hour hiking tour of Gorge and it’s cave system.  All participants reported thoroughly enjoyed the hike and learning new local environmental awareness, gained from participation. 

FCS Agent partnered with a separate group, the Library OWL Homeschool family group consisting of 24 multiple member families, to provide five, hands on nutrition lessons. The first lesson was: dairy nutrition education with a hands – on ice cream making in a bag outdoor activity.  The second program was cooking safely with kids at home, and included a homemade cooked play-dough go program kit.  The third program included NEP grains nutrition lesson and go program chewy granola bar home youth cooking activity.  The fourth program provided NEP protein nutrition information and included a hands - on farmer cheese making at home, go program activity.  The fifth program included a herb garden seed starting/planting hands - on activity, with sampling of lemon-thyme herbed butter on homemade cornbread.  The fifth lesson included a nutrition lesson covering growing, cooking with and preserving herbs.  Each family received in-person nutrition and youth cooking safety overviews with the take home recipe kits.  92 % of families who received go program kits reported making the recipes with their children.  At 6 week post program follow - up, 74 % reported making one or more of the go kit recipes at home more than once. 

As a result of this out-reach effort, these home school families who were not previously connected with 4 - H programs in Metcalfe County, have begun participating in 4 - H shooting sports, organized a 4 - H club, several have begun participating with the Metcalfe County Piece Makers Quilt Guild (which meets at the Extension office monthly), two families are participating as producers in the Metcalfe County Farmers Market, and three families participated in the 2022 Metcalfe County Fair Floral Hall for the first time.