Five maps depict our current efforts. (Click the links below to view the maps in PDF format.)
Local Food Initiatives
Statewide, Cornell Cooperative Extension is involved in a variety of initiatives to promote the sustainable production and consumption of local foods in our communities.
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What is Even Start?
The purpose of the Even Start Family Literacy Program is to help break the cycle of poverty and illiteracy by improving the educational opportunities for families. This is accomplished by integrating early childhood education, adult literacy and adult basic education, and parenting education into a unified literacy program.
Even Start is a national program that supports approximately 800 sites (including 1 million parents and children) across the United States.
How long has it been in Oswego County?
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oswego County and Oswego County B.O.C.E.S. worked together to bring the highly successful Even Start program to this area in 1999.
How does it work?
Trained Even Start educators visit the homes of participating families in the Fulton, Oswego, Sandy Creek, Parish, and Williamstown school districts. Together, the educators and families work to improve literacy and open new doors for the family. “Field Trips,” occasionally held at area attractions and events, enhance the educational experience for both children and adults.
Want to find out if you qualify?
Call the Oswego County Even Start Program at 315-963-4267.
Quick facts on Even Start…
- Even Start has been providing family literacy programming to Oswego County since 1999.
- Even Start staff visit you at your home or other convenient location to assist you and your family
- Even Start is currently available in the Fulton, Oswego, Sandy Creek, Altmar, Parish, and Williamstown School Districts.
- Even Start is a partnership between Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oswego County and Oswego County BOCES.
- Call for more information at 315-963-4267.
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Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oswego County offers a number of educational programs on nutrition for every age group. Preschoolers learn the value of the Food Guide Pyramid through puppet shows; older audiences attend classes that focusing on canning and preserving homemade products.
These programs are available in group, or in some instances, one-on-one settings. If you would like more information on any of our programs, please call 315-963-7286 or contact Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oswego County.
Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) Targeting a Limited Resources Audience EFNEP brings free nutrition information to families and young children in Oswego County through one-on-one, groups, mail and phone.
Programs include:
- Stretch your food dollar
- Wise food choices
- Identify key nutrients in foods
- Plan and prepare nutritious meals
- Store foods to prevent spoilage
- Add variety to meals with new foods
- Computer analysis of your diet
Eat Smart New York! Trained Nutrition Program Educators work with individuals who receive food stamps and groups to determine needs and goals. Sessions are conducted at homes, community centers, work sites, or other convenient locations.
Eat Smart New York! participants learn to:
- Plan thrifty menus
- Stretch food stamp dollars
- Read food labels
- Budget households finances
- Use the My Pyramid
- Plan nutritious meals for pregnant moms, infants, and children
- Meet the nutritional need of seniors
- Prepare healthy meals in a flash
- Serve healthy snacks for kids
- Cook for one or two
- Cook from scratch
- Use leftovers creatively
- Store and prepare food safely
- Grow a vegetable garden
- Preserve food by canning or freezing
A.P.P.L.E.S. (Adopting Positive & Practical Lifestyles for Eating Services) (A Program of Eat Smart New York!) A.P.P.L.E.S. series helps participants learn about food safety, addingfruits and vegetables to your diet, wellness, shopping with a budget, and cooking health recipes.
Upon graduation of A.P.P.L.E.S., participants will receive tools to practice and continue the education process. These tools include refrigerator and meat thermometers and other kitchen tools.
Project Stork: Prenatal Nutrition Home Study Program Each week, for eight weeks, mothers-to-be receive, in the mail, a packet of important nutrition information. Take your time to read it over in the comfort of your own home.
Each mailing will be followed later that week with a friendly phone call from a Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oswego County Nutrition Educator. She will be able to answer any questions that you have about the information.
It’s that easy! There is no cost for this program. No one will come to your house. And the eighth mailing will actually
be our gifts to you … a certificate of completion and a baby grow chart!
New mailing sessions begin the first week of each month, with room for only ten moms-to-be per session. Call 315-963-7286 or email Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oswego County to register!
<font size=”4″ color=”#ccoooo”It is no secret that it is important to maintain a safe and healthy lifestyle. But how?
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oswego County, through a variety of nutrition and family, can help answer the questions you have on providing a healthy lifestyle for your family.
Our program specializes in providing educational information on nutrition, and family literacy. Educators are available to meet in your home or at your group meeting.
Please feel free to look around our web site, or contact us at 315-963-7286, oswego@cornell.edu, for more information.
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More information coming soon!
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Join 4-H!
Are you interested in getting involved with Oswego County 4-H? Youth, ages 5-19, and adults are encouraged to assist or start new clubs!
Want to register??
Call Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oswego County’s 4-H Program at 315-963-7286.
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Amboy 4-H Environmental Education Center
Looking for a fun activity where you can enjoy the outdoors? Visit the Amboy 4-H Environmental Education Center! We have a number of free and low-cost programs (to see our schedule, click here) and our trails are open during the day for leisure nature walks!
The Amboy 4-H Environmental Education Center, owned and operated by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oswego County’s 4-H Program, consists of 150 acres of mixed woods, wetlands, and Rowell Brook. Three miles of hiking trails guide visitors through the ecosystems and are available to the public year round, from dusk until dawn.
Throughout the year, a few of programs are made available to the public for free or a nominal fee. Please check our calendar for upcoming events.
The Amboy 4-H Environmental Education Center is also available for day and overnight use for groups. For more information on renting the facility click here or contact Linda Roll.
Directions:
From Syracuse: Take Rt. 81 North to Parish, exit 33, for Rt. 69. Follow instructions “From Parish.”
From Parish: Take Rt. 69 East for 9 miles into Amboy Center. Turn left onto Rt. 183 for 4 miles. The entrance is on the right.
From Pulaski: Take Rt. 13 Southeast into Williamstown. Turn right onto Rt. 183 for 1 mile. The entrance is on the left.
From Camden: Take Rt. 13 Northwest to Williamstown. Turn left onto Rt. 183 for 1 mile. The entrance is on the left.
From Oswego: Take Rt. 104 East to its end at Rt. 13. Turn right onto Rt. 13. Follow instruction “From Pulaski.”
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What is 4-H?
4-H is the largest youth organization in the world! In 4-H, you can have fun with:
| Consumer Education | Food & Nutrition |
| Animal Science | Clothing & Textiles |
| Natural Resources | Trips & Tours |
| Plant Science | Environmental Center |
Oswego County 4-H is an informal education program for youth ages 5-19. Designed to teach life skills, 4-H is built on the subject matter projects developed by Cornell Cooperative Extension and by the National 4-H Council. This information is used by interested adults who serve as volunteer leaders. Cooperative Extension 4-H is a joint effort of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Cornell University (New York State Land Grant College) and the Oswego County Legislature. The union of these organizations and funds provides the materials, tools, and professional staff needed to support our volunteers and family participants.
4-H is people sharing, doing, and learning together in all kinds of projects, events, and activities. Members choose projects that fit their interests and the places where they live. Group activities and events like fairs, trips, leader training, fundraising, and achievement programs provide additional opportunities and learning experiences.
4-H is open to all youth and adults regardless of race, sex, national origin, creed or handicap. Although some participants are project leaders not attached to a club, or independent members, most belong to a 4-H club. Most 4-H clubs have a business meeting for the entire membership once a month. They make decisions about projects to do, community service efforts, fundraising activities, election of officers, etc. Project meetings also involve the adults and youth who want to work on a specific topic.
The backbone of 4-H is the system of volunteer leaders who lead 4-H clubs. Don’t be surprised though if you see 4-H in other places! We visit schools, operate 4-H camps and have occasional trainings for 4-H and non-4-H youth.
Purpose of 4-H
The purpose of 4-H is twofold:
- To provide youth with fun, active, educational experiences that will help them develop life skills such as confidence, leadership, cooperation, and responsibility.
- To provide interested parents and other adults with the opportunity to grow through working with youth.
How do participants benefit from 4-H?
Youth and adults alike will:
- Have a good time by learning in new, enjoyable ways
- Make friends, belong to a group, give and receive acceptance and recognition
- Build self-confidence
- Develop a desire to learn
- Gain decision-making, problem solving, and leadership skills
- Become more interested in their community and the people in it
- Get more experience in relating to and working with their family, their peers, and people of different ages
- Learn, make, or do things that are appealing and meaningful
4-H Facts at a Glance
The Oswego County 4-H Program is available to all youth between the ages of 5-19. Just call our office find out how your kid(s) can get involved!
What programs does Oswego County 4-H offer? It’s that time of the year where we offer our youth programs in:
- Winterfest
- Horse Winter Round Up Weekends
- Horse Bowl 2003
Of course, through the rest of the year adults and youth enjoy:
- Textile tours
- Halloween Festival
- Tie Dye and Beyond
Still have more questions about Oswego County 4-H? Call the Oswego County 4-H Office 315-963-7286 to learn more about our programs, or email oswego@cornell.edu
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4-H Community…
… helps youth learn new skills, make new friends, and build the confidence they need to succeed. Whether it is practicing for the drill team or designing their own prom dress, 4-H is more than anyone has ever imagined.
4-H Clubs are located throughout the County; we would encourage you to contact your local 4-H Program Educator if you, or your child, would be interested in joining Oswego County 4-H.
Oswego County 4-H also offers a number of programs for area school-aged children, both in the classroom and at the Amboy 4-H Environmental Education Center; please contact us at 315-963-7286 for more information on available programs (a few are seasonal).
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More information coming soon!
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