April 22 marks the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, with the first Earth Day celebrated in 1970 in schools and communities around the United States as a way to call attention to environmental issues. According to the Earth Day Network, the occasion is now celebrated in more than 190 counties.

Sixty 4-H youth participated in the 2019 Georgia 4-H Wildlife Judging Contest hosted by Georgia 4-H and the Farm Credit Associations of Georgia on Oct. 26 at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia and the University of Georgia Whitehall Forest in Athens, Georgia.

Georgia 4-H inspires kids to do — to become self-directing, productive and contributing members of society by establishing personal and sincere relationships, learning life and leadership skills, and enhancing community awareness. During National 4-H Week, Oct. 6-12, Georgians will celebrate all the exceptional things these 4-H’ers accomplish.

Twenty-four Georgia 4-H teenagers spent their summer in a unique agriculture-focused student exchange program without leaving the state. Funded by the Thalia and Michael C. Carlos Foundation, One Georgia 4-H is an urban-rural 4-H exchange program designed to showcase the importance of agriculture in rural and urban Georgia.

College acceptance is not typically at the top of a middle school student’s to-do list, but preparation for higher education should begin somewhere between after-school practice and math homework at this age.

Back to school for Georgia students means reuniting with friends, reminiscing about summer and, unfortunately, sharing germs that could lead to various illnesses.

Almost any teacher in America can look at her class and know which kids went to bed too late the night before. Sometimes the students are grumpy. Sometimes they’re drowsy. Sometimes they’re just not as attentive as they usually are. The symptoms are varied, but they’re all caused by a lack of sleep.

When summer draws to an end, parents often start getting their students ready to return to school. While a new backpack and a collection of notebooks and pens might top their to-do list, students also need to prepare emotionally, said Diane Bales, an associate professor of human development and family science at the University of Georgia College of Family and Consumer Sciences.

Amid after-school activities — homework, dinner prep, baths and bedtime — it can be hard for parents and children to make time to talk.