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LAPLACE — Joshua Bigham knew what he had to do when he spotted trash in a neighbor’s yard.

Being part of the St. John Parish 4-H Program has given him a heart for helping the environment, and he did not hesitate to remove the litter with a trash grabber.

Joshua recently finished his sixth grade year at Ascension of Our Lord Catholic School. While in quarantine from March through May, Joshua supplemented his school lessons with educational videos posted to the St. John Parish 4-H Facebook page.

Labeled “Virtual Daily Recess,” these videos help children grow into well-rounded individuals by teaching them to sew, cook and take care of their communities. Joshua enjoyed virtual lessons dealing with STEM, baking and the environment.

“When I saw the trash, I wanted to pick it up because it is hurting the Earth,” Joshua said. “It’s important because you’re saving the Earth, keeping the environment clean and making it look better than it was before.”

St. John 4-H Agent Ashley Terry said it made her heart happy to see that Joshua was inspired by what he’s learned in 4-H. While agents have continued to work remotely through the month of May, educational outreach has continued in innovative ways.

Terry added that the skills learned from virtual lessons are applicable to adults as well as children.

“I’ve learned stuff from some of these videos. I just started a garden during quarantine, and the videos about gardening taught me a lot about using the resources I have here and taking better care of my plants,” Terry said. “I don’t know how to sew a lick, so videos about sewing buttons have encouraged me. I feel confident enough now to try it myself.”

Last week’s virtual cooking lessons included step-by-step instructions on making a Big Easy breakfast, crawfish etoufée, one-pot pasta, pizza pockets and tasty blueberry muffins.

Other activities included science experiments using household items. One demonstrated the process of ocean acidification.

Families were invited to stop by the Fast Food Farm in St. James Parish to pick up a mini greenhouse kit to grow their own seeds. Holiday-themed projects have included painted rocks for Mother’s Day and a patriotic paper lantern to honor fallen soldiers on Memorial Day.

“We’re trying to keep kids and adults engaged and not just stuck inside,” Terry said. “Some of the virtual lessons have been community oriented, encouraging kids to write letters to nursing homes. We encourage them to go out in their community, as safely as possible, and contribute that way.”

For more information, visit lsuagcenter.com. Educational videos can be viewed on the St. John Parish 4-H Facebook page.