Challenges - Updated June 15, 2009 with Going Green Challenge information

Family and Consumer Science subject matter based Challenges are a way for you to apply what you've learned in your 4-H projects to a real-life situation. The Challenges involve 4-H'ers working in teams, solving problems and applying subject matter knowledge to a specific situation. For example, in the Wardrobe Challenge you might use your creativity to select as many different outfits based on the needs of the situation and your budget.

New this year:  4-H'ers are given the opportunity to participate in the pilot challenge "Going Green."  Recently a lot of emphasis has been placed on conservation and improvement of the environment; as a result the "Going Green" Challenge was created. In this challenge, 4-H'ers addressed ways they could make a positive impact on the environment and "Go Green" through ideas such as recycling at home and purchasing energy star appliances, just to list a few!  

Your team will have 30 minutes to develop your response to the Challenge Question. After that, you will present a presentation (5-7 minutes) that outlined your solution to the Challenge to a panel of two judges. This presentation will be open to parents and others who are interested, so you'll be able to practice your communication skills as well! Once you've completed your presentation, you can watch the other teams present.

Your Challenge Team can have two, three or four members. If you can't find someone in your county who is interested in being on your team, your county extension office will help you find someone from a surrounding county. Your county office will also have "sample" Challenge packets so you can practice before you get to the state event. The top teams in each Challenge area will be recognized during the Award Ceremonies on Monday evening and Tuesday afternoon.

The Challenges in each area will involve information from 4-H project manuals. The following list of manuals should help you prepare:

Food and Health Challenge: Youth in Motion, Fast Foods, You're the Chef and Foodworks Project Manuals
Wardrobe Challenge: Shopping in Style and Attention Shoppers Project Manuals
Design Challenge: Design Decisions and Furnishings on a Shoestring Project Manuals

NEW FOR 2009: Pilot - Going Green Challenge: 

• NebGuide: Easy on Energy: Tips for Conserving    http://www.ianrpubs.unl.edu/sendIt/hef565.pdf
• Recycling: http://kids.niehs.nih.gov/recycle.htm
• Carbon Footprint: http://science.howstuffworks.com/carbon-footprint.htm
• Go Green and Save: http://www.worldwatch.org/resources/go_green_save_green

WHAT TO BRING FOR CHALLENGES:

PRODUCT BOXES

As part of each of the Challenges, participants will be asked to incorporate the items found in their “Product Box” within their response to the Challenge question. All of the Product Box items can fairly easily be found around the home. Teams will use the products in their boxes to help design their response. For example, one of the Challenges may work around a piece of clothing or a clothing advertisement that needs to be incorporated into a wardrobe.

In order to provide teams with more of a challenge, they are being asked to bring the specified Product Box for each Challenge in which they are participating. This year, teams will be using their county's Product Box for each Challenge (i.e., you will use your own box). Product Boxes will be checked at registration for each Challenge. We will have additional Product Boxes available. Product Boxes do not have to be a "box" (we know you have to fit these in your car, and some of you are bringing more than one team and each team is participating in more than one Challenge). You can bring the items is a bag, tote, whatever. You could also use the same tote for each Challenge, just switching out the products.

Product Boxes for each Challenge are listed below. Each team needs to bring one Product Box for each of the Challenges for which they are registered.

Food Challenge - Fast Foods, You're the Chef & Foodworks Project Manuals
Food item package for a food in each of the food groups - five packages total (Whole Grain, Fruit, Vegetable, Meat & Milk)

Wardrobe Challenge - Shopping in Style and Attention Shoppers Project Manuals
4 - Clothing ads or pieces of clothing that a teenager would have in their wardrobe Example: T-shirt, capris, sandals

Design Challenge - Design Decisions and Furnishings on a Shoestring Project Manuals
Wallpaper sample (4 x 4 inch square), carpet sample (4 x 4 inch square), paint sample (up to 3 color choices 4 x 4 inch sample max.) and upholstery sample (4 x 4 inch square) (if samples are unavailable, picture of any of these are fine - no size requirement)

OTHER SUPPLIES YOU CAN BRING:
Scissors – 2 pair of scissors (to cut magazines, cataloges or cut poster board)

Poster Board – Up to 4 sheets per Challenge (28x22”), any color

Markers – Up to 12 markers for writing on poster board or paper

Glue Sticks

Ruler or Yard Stick

– To challenge teams’ creativity Power Point presentations will NOT be accepted.

LIFE CHALLENGE EVENT REGISTRATION ON JUNE 29 AND JUNE 30, 2009

All Life Challenge participants should come to the foyer area inside the southeast doors of Harden Hall to register. Registration times for each Challenge are posted on the Life Challenge website available on the 4-H homepage.

Back to Life Challenge Information