“The UOG 4-H Military Youth event was a fantastic opportunity for the students to become familiar and be connected with the environment and community here on Guam,” said Cliff Kyota, state program director of 4-H in Guam.

The youth engaged in a variety of hands-on, educational activities offered by UOG’s Agriculture & Natural Resources, 4-H Youth Development, and Family & Consumer Sciences extension divisions as well as Guam’s Department of Agriculture.

They practiced rod-and-reel fishing with 4-H and learned about Guam’s fish and cultural fishing practices. With the Family & Consumer Sciences division, the children learned how to use local mango and soursop to make ice cream. And with the agriculture team, they handled coconut rhinoceros beetles and looked at other local bugs and insects through microscopes while learning about their characteristics and behaviors. They also got to see live chickens as well as tilapia in an aquaponics system and learn about sustainable agriculture practices and eco-friendly habits. The Department of Agriculture taught the kids about local fish and wildlife and the importance of preserving and protecting Guam’s natural resources.

One child said the best part of the day was “learning that our world is beautiful.”

These types of hands-on experiences are important for children and are a key part of the 4-H program, Kyota said, as it helps them to develop new skills, build confidence, and gain exposure and understanding of certain fields that may guide them to pursue a certain career.