Cooperative Extension Association in the State of New York

Follow Cornell Cooperative Extension of Nassau County’s (CCE-NC) Executive Director, Laura Hunsberger, as she trains for “The Survival Race,” the original family-style 5K obstacle course and mud run. Your support will help to directly provide a variety of health and nutrition programs, environmental horticulture, urban forestry and Master Gardeners, as well as youth leadership development through 4-H programming provided at the historic Dorothy P. Flint 4-H Camp!

Over the next 6-weeks, Laura is training to raise awareness about an array of issues that affect Nassau County residents. The 2008 Ironman Finisher (Lake Placid) will blog regularly about her experiences, exercise regimen, safety tips, food choice information and recipes from her training diet. An experienced triathlete who is currently juggling the challenges of job transition, moving to a new household and assuming new responsibilities with Cornell, her approach to training is likely to be appreciated by seasoned and aspiring athletes alike.

Laura is being trained by an international best-selling author of over 26 fitness books, James Villepigue. His flagship book series, “The Body Sculpting Bibles,” adds another volume in December 2012, “The Obstacle Race Training Bible – The #1 Resource to Prepare For & Conquer Any Course!” A substantial portion of Laura’s training regimen was designed based on information from the upcoming new book. Villepigue’s “14-Day-Body Sculpting Program” is the backbone of his fitness series, will definitely put Laura through her paces. His system is based on the principles of periodization training which involves progressive cycling of various aspects of a training program during a specific time period.

CCE-NC provides an application of Cornell University-based research and knowledge in understandable resources and programming for the betterment of Nassau County residents. CCE-NC offers its programming and educational resources at a number of facilities, the most prominent of which are the East Meadow Farm and New York’s first 4-H camp, but we cannot do it alone, we need your help!

CCE-NC is committed to building healthy lifestyles and communities by conducting educational programs that connect Cornell University resources to community needs for all people in the county. Nutrition programs such as SNAP (Food Stamp Nutrition Program) and EFNEP (Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program) reach resource-limited families and teach healthy living practices, physical activity and assist in making healthy food choices. Obesity and diabetes are among the critical health challenges many in Nassau County, and America, face these days and CCE-NC is dedicated to improving the health and sustainability of our community. Support from people like you makes it possible, and makes Nassau County a safer, happier and healthier community.

The East Meadow Farm is a 2.5 acre farm on Merrick Avenue in East Meadow acting as the operating base for horticultural experts to share research-based information on limiting pesticide use, drip irrigation and water conservation as well as tips on sustainable gardening. Community garden plots are also in place. While the farm is not part of a farmland preservation program, it is covered under the Nassau County Environmental Bond Act and has been preserved from development by entrusting it to CCE-NC. Funds raised by Laura will be used, in part, to develop new community programs and provide more access to gardening resources for people throughout Nassau County.

The Dorothy P. Flint (DPF) 4-H Camp located on Sound Avenue in Riverhead is the oldest 4-H Camp in New York , a 140 acre residential camp located on Long Island Sound. It is committed to offering campers high quality educational programs, while achieving the same level of excellence as our partners at Cornell University. Our main goal at the 4-H summer camp is developing tomorrow’s community leaders through programs such as: archery, arts and crafts, horseback riding, environmental science, high ropes climbing, outdoor cooking, rocketry, and kayaking. DPF campers hail from all over Long Island and represent a socio-economic and cultural “melting pot” experience during which they gain confidence and skills and learn to socialize with peers in a safe, fun and challenging setting. We offer a number of summer camp scholarships to those kids whose family budget does not have room to afford “sleep-away camp,” but who demonstrate through an application essay their potential to become good community citizens. Your support can positively impact our community by giving kids a once-in-a-lifetime experience in the fresh air, learning to become our future community leaders.