About our College

A founding college of the University, we have a long tradition of excellence in teaching, research and engagement programs that benefit the health and economic vitality of Nevada. We offer programs in:

  • agriculture, horticulture, rangeland & veterinary sciences
  • biochemistry & molecular biology
  • children, youth & families
  • community & economic development
  • health & nutrition
  • natural resources & environmental science
 

Extension responds to the needs of the small business community

Virtual Town Hall conducted via ZoomCoping with COVID-19 Town Hall, April 15. 
Top left to right: Reyna Mendez, Extension business development instructor; Juan Salas, Extension business development instructor; Mike Bindrup, Extension research associate
Bottom left to right: Joe Lednicky, Extension economist; Gabriela Wyett, U.S. Bank business banking development consultant; Saul Ramos, Small Business Administration deputy director

 

The COVID-19 crisis highlighted the special need for economic and business development resources in Clark County, specifically for small businesses dealing with the implications of the pandemic. In response, Extension began offering weekly virtual town halls and webinars to provide support and guidance, as well as an opportunity to connect small-business owners with each other.

Offered in both English and Spanish, these sessions have been aimed at helping small businesses navigate these unprecedented times. Between April 15 and June 10, Extension hosted 24 programs with a total of 500 attendees via Zoom and an additional reach of 15,800 through Facebook. Topics have included delivering value to customers, finding and managing money during the crisis, and creating a reopening strategy, to name a few. These weekly sessions are planned to be held through July. Learn more about the upcoming programs or access prior sessions on our Facebook page.

 

Youth programming goes virtual

Art in the time of Quarantine submissionArt in the Time of Quarantine submission.

Despite having to cancel in-person programming, Extension has been busy making sure there are still plenty of youth programs and activities available online. In the past three months, the Nevada 4-H Youth Development Program offered 56 hours of Zoom classes with 221 registered participants, generated more than two hours of original content that was shared on Facebook and YouTube and created challenges in which 4-H members could participate, such as Art in the Time of Quarantine. 

As the summer continues, Extension's Clark County 4-H Facebook page will continue to provide valuable content, such as weekly how-to cooking videos. From June 29 to July 24, the program is also offering an at-home 4-H Summer Adventure: Family Camp. For just $10 per family, youth ages 6 to 15 can work together on four weekly projects. Each week, participants will pick up and submit materials for the camp at Extension’s A.D. Guy Knowledge Center located at 817 N St. in Las Vegas. 

Extension’s Youth Horticulture Education Program has been working hard to make sure that interested youth can still develop their green thumb. Since April, the program's team created video content and made it available through social media. Content included basics, such as “Introduction to Agave Plants Native to Southern Nevada” and hands-on projects including “Assembling a Pre-Fab Raised Garden Bed.” The team delivered 12 videos that reached more than 2,500 youth in the area. 

The program also assisted with the promotion of the Junior Master Gardener ® Program Certification for Kids through 14 Facebook Live events hosted by Junior Master Gardener ® Program. The Youth Horticulture Education Program team helped field questions through the chat during sessions for a national audience.

As the summer continues, youth programming will continue to be delivered so that young Nevadans remain engaged, educated and entertained. 

 

 

Educators provide evidence-based resources to the community

Wildfire Awareness MonthIn May 2019, Carson City Mayor Bob Cromwell presented Living With Fire and the Carson City Fire Department with a proclamation declaring May as Nevada Wildfire Awareness Month..

Continuing its work to provide trustworthy and reliable information to the community, Extension’s health and nutrition faculty shared expert advice with the public on how to stay mentally and physically healthy during the State’s stay-at-home order.

Articles provided tips on avoiding junk science amid COVID-19, how to improve your immune system through physical activity, and how to stay safe while enjoying the outdoors.

While providing resources on how to preserve health during the pandemic, Extension also worked to help Nevadans reduce their risk of a long-standing threat in the state – wildfires. As Nevada Wildfire Awareness month was observed in May, Extension’s Living With Fire program delivered an online speaker series, “Living With Fire Conversations,” which provided advice on preparing your home and property for wildfire. Learn more about this series.

 

Community partnership coordinator joins Extension in Clark County

Sheila Bray Headshot Sheila Bray offers her experience with operations of local government and higher education to advance Extension's outreach.

Extension recently welcomed Sheila Bray as its new community partnership coordinator in the Clark County office. In this role, Bray will organize outreach efforts to inform the local community of the various educational resources and services that Extension provides. She’ll work with the Nevada Legislature to increase awareness of Extension’s activity and impact in Clark County and beyond.

Since joining Extension in January, she has focused on building and engaging community relationships, identifying potential opportunities for partnership, and increasing engagement among stakeholders.

More About Sheila
 
Malloy, M. 2020, Expanding Knowledge in Clark County | Vol 20, Issue 01, Extension, University of Nevada, Reno

Learn more about the author(s)

Shauna Lemieux
Shauna Lemieux
Molly Malloy
Molly Malloy
Claudene Wharton
Claudene Wharton
 

Also of Interest:

 
Clark County, Las Vegas, Nevada 4-H 2022-2023 Program Evaluation Report
In the 2022-2023 4-H program year, the Clark County Extension team reached 9,938 youth participants, the urban Extension team reached 7,552, and the core urban 4-H team reached 2,649. The core urban 4-H team delivered 123 programs with 1,964.5 contact hours. The remaining Extensi...
 Solis-Leon, J; Luna, N; Christiansen, E. 2024, Extension, University of Nevada, Reno, 4-H Report
Clark County, Las Vegas, Nevada 4-H 2021-2022 Program Evaluation Report
In the 2021-2022 4-H program year, the Clark County Extension team reached 11,867 youth participants. This report is an overview of the evaluation.
 Luna, N. and Solis-Leon J. 2023, Extension, University of Nevada, Reno, County Report
Hoover Dam
Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) to Nevada Counties in 2021: Clark County
This fact sheet outlines the procedures for calculating the level of federal payment from the Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) Program.
 T.R. Harris, R. Chicola 2023, Extension, University of Nevada, Reno, FS-23-15
Clark County 4-H, 2020-2021 4-H Attendance and Evaluation Report Luna, Nora and Solis-Leon, Jesus 2021, Extension, University of Nevada, Reno, County Report
Gold Butte National Monument
Demographic Characteristics for Clark County, Nevada
The project focuses on providing Nevada’s counties, state and federal agencies, and their partners with quantitative and qualitative baseline data and analyses to better understand the counties’ demographic, social, economic, fiscal, and environmental characteristics, trends, and...
 B. Borden, L. Thomas, J. Lednicky 2021, Extension, University of Nevada, Reno