Inaugural LEAF Junior Class Scheduled for May 4th

JAMESTOWN, NEW YORK (April 24, 2019) – Cornell Cooperative Extension’s 4-H Youth Development program has a new opportunity for youth: LEAF Junior! The LEAF, (Learn, Empower, Achieve, Farm), series was created by Katelyn Walley-Stoll, Farm Business Management Educator with Cornell Cooperative Extension. Katelyn’s classes focus on beginning farming and homesteading topics for adult learners. LEAF Junior will offer similarly-styled classes that cater to all ages 5-18. Enrollment in 4-H is not necessary.

The first LEAF Junior class will take place on Saturday, May 4, 2019 at 10:00am at the Ag Center located at 3542 Turner Road, Jamestown. Youth will learn about wool and will make a wool-felted soap bar. This class is appropriate for youth of all ages and abilities. Participants can put their creativity on display as they use water to mold colored wool around a bar of soap in unique patterns and designs. This process can get a little messy but it is a lot of fun! Participants are encouraged to wear clothes and shoes that can get wet.

This project is great to take along camping this summer as it is a soap and washcloth in one. Wool is said to have natural antibacterial properties and the wool will shrink with the soap meaning you will be able to use it for the duration of the soap. The wool can be reused again and again.

Kim Witherow of Sherman will be teaching the course. Kim is a 4-H volunteer, homesteader, and self-described “fiber fanatic.” She has Masters Degrees in Engineering and Business Administration and currently teaches at Jamestown Community College.

Pre-registration is required for the course to prepare educational materials. The cost for the class is $10.00 per participant which includes wool, a bar of mild, unscented soap, and light refreshments. Participants are welcome to bring their own soap. Youth who are not enrolled in 4-H and all youth ages 5-8 must have a parent or guardian accompany them for the entire duration of the class. There is no additional fee for parents or guardians unless they would like to make their own felted soap.

Register for the course by contacting the 4-H Office at 716-664-9502 ext. 214 or emailing kde32@cornell.edu.

To learn more about the LEAF series including the upcoming 100th LEAF Celebration visit www.cce.cornell.edu/chautauqua/leaf2019.

The 4-H Youth Development Program is one of many programs offered by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County (CCE-Chautauqua). CCE-Chautauqua is a community based educational organization, affiliated with Cornell University, Chautauqua County Government, the NYS SUNY system, and the federal government through the United States Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture. For more information, call 716-664-9502 or visit our website at www.cce.cornell.edu/chautauqua. Cornell University Cooperative Extension provides equal program and employment opportunities.

Last updated April 24, 2019