School enrichment programs enliven classrooms in Nuckolls, Thayer counties

Kristen Sindelar
Jun 16, 2026
Jun 16, 2026

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Not everyone gets to go from candling eggs in one school, to delivering caterpillars to another, to handling Madagascar hissing cockroaches in another. Yet this is all in a day’s work for extension educator Jenna Gilbert. These are just a few examples of the many interactive school enrichment programs she teaches students in Nuckolls and Thayer counties.

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Nuckolls County 4-H 1.jpeg — School enrichment programs offered by Nebraska Extension are designed to engage students while reinforcing classroom learning.
Submitted photo

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Nuckolls County 4-H 2.jpeg — Extension educator Jenna Gilbert interacts with youth during a school enrichment program in their classroom.
Submitted photo

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Reporter Kristen Sindelar has loved agriculture her entire life, coming from a diversified farm with three generations working side-by-side in northeastern Nebraska. Reach her at Kristen.Sindelar@midwestmessenger.com.