Tompkins County 4-H Youth Development Program

06/01/2026

05/28/2026

Tails from the Jr. Tailwaggers:

Renee Tarantelli won Best Junior Handler at the Miniature American Shepherd National Specialty in Grey Summit Missouri.

She also got her 5th class win Qualifying her to Compete in juniors at the 2026 AKC National Championship in Orlando in December!
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Interested in joining the Jr. Tailwaggers 4-H club? Email VendaMae at [email protected] with interest!

05/27/2026

Primitive Pursuits IS LOOKING FOR SUMMER CAMP STAFF!

-Day Camp Lead Wilderness Instructor
https://ccetompkins.bamboohr.com/careers/82

-Day Camp Wilderness Instructor
https://ccetompkins.bamboohr.com/careers/83

-Extended Day Camp Coordinator
https://ccetompkins.bamboohr.com/careers/87

-Extended Day Wilderness Instructor
https://ccetompkins.bamboohr.com/careers/88

05/21/2026

We are now accepting submissions for our annual summer t-shirt design contest! The selected designs will be featured on either our Staff, Camper, or MIT shirts all summer.

-All work must be in black and white
-Please submit your drawing as a PNG
- Submissions do not need to include any words, it is encouraged to create a design that is relevant to the idea of "Taking Flight"

Please submit your work by Friday May 29th via email to [email protected]

In your submission email please include your name, age, and relationship to Primitive Pursuits!

05/21/2026

What About Ticks???
Tick Season is Here – Stay Safe Outdoors!

As we spend more time enjoying the outdoors, it’s important to stay aware of ticks and how to protect yourself, your family, and your pets. Ticks can carry illnesses like Lyme disease, but with a few simple precautions, you can greatly reduce your risk.

Tick Safety Tips:
• Wear light-colored clothing so ticks are easier to spot
• Tuck pants into socks when walking through tall grass or wooded areas
• Use EPA-approved insect repellents (like DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, etc)
• Perform full-body tick checks after being outdoors (use of a long stand up mirror helps!)
• Shower soon after coming inside
• Stick to clearly marked trails whenever possible
• Avoid brushing against tall grass and dense vegetation
• Carry a small tick kit (tweezers, wipes, and a container)- the sooner a tick can be removed, the less chance there is of tick-borne illness transference.
• Teach children how to recognize ticks and speak up if they feel or see one!

Ticks are a natural part of the environment, but with the right habits, we can stay safe while still enjoying everything nature has to offer 🌲

🔗 Learn more here at the Primitive Pursuits website: https://primitivepursuits.com/ticks/

QUIZ TIME: WHAT IS THE NUMBER ONE WAY TO PREVENT TICK-BORNE ILLNESSES WHEN ENJOYING THE OUTDOORS? Comment below!

05/21/2026

COOL SUMMER CAMP ALERT!

Primitive Pursuits
Gender Creatives Camp
For Ages 11-15
Full day camp (Mon-Fri) (9:00 AM – 3:15 PM)
Week 3: July 13-17th
$395-$495

While all LGBTQIA+ youth are welcome and invited in our programs and throughout our entire organization, this camp specifically centers around creating an intentional space and community for transgender, gender-nonconforming, questioning, or non-binary (TGQN) youth. It will be led, in part, by adult mentors who also identify as LGBTQIA+. In a supportive and fun environment, we will express our creativity as well as exploring our deep connection to nature. Singing, theater games, and artistic endeavors merge with naturalist, outdoor living, and ancestral Earth skills in this creativity-focused week. Weaving our stories together, we will create the basket that will carry us through this week and beyond.

Register Now: https://www.ultracamp.com/info/sessiondetail.aspx?idCamp=1259&campCode=PPC&idSession=565313

05/20/2026

🙌 One of our staff ducks crossed the finish line! Here our Dean of Postsecondary Success, Kris Erickson, Ph.D., holds up her prize 🥞🥞🥞🥞🥞🤤

New Roots sponsored a duck for each staff member in support of the Tompkins County 4-H Youth Development Program Duck Race, one of our community’s most beloved fundraisers 💛🍀🦆

05/13/2026

Junior Chefs - now is your chance to show off your culinary skills! Tompkins County 4-H is accepting teams of 3-5 youth aged 8-19 to participate in this Jr. Iron Chef Competition. Deadline to sign-up is May 18. Email [email protected] and [email protected]. Submit:
🍅 Contact Information for One Adult
🍅 Team Name
🍅 Name for Each Youth Team Member
There is a $25 fee for the team. Youth should be comfortable using knives, peelers, and a tabletop burner.