Hey, Watch This!

 Tuesday saw high flying action, underwater adventures, and a little meditation, after breakfast that is.  As always our day starts at 7 am with our youngest campers heading straight to the dinning hall after getting dressed.  For breakfast today we had bagels and bacon and scrambled eggs for our youth to get their start on.  Of course there is also an offering of ceral every morning if our youth prefer and a fresh fruit bar.

  After flag raising our youth were hitting the water in canoes on the lake, in our pool, and taking a hike to the beaver pond.  Our older youth headed to the high ropes course to give it a shot and get some confidence built of before their off site trip.  Some of our campers found themselves at a camp favorite location, archery.  Throw in the arts and crafts shed and you have a really good idea of what our youth were up to this morning before lunch.  

Lunch offers not only sustenance but also a little air conditioning repreive  Our youth have responsibilities at meals such as setting the tables, being table waiters, and clearing the tables.  It is a well oiled machine to get all 160 youth fed, hydrated, and cooled off before afternoon activiites.  Today, lunch was a crowd favorite of burgers with all the fixings and french fries.

  After lunch our campers went to the boulder wall, played Gaga ball, and played camoflauge which is a really cool compass course.  While some of our campers got a chance to stomp in the creek others were fishing at the lake to see what they could get.  Today some of our campers got a chance to check out a book from the BJP library and enjoy a little yoga/meditation down time.  Our older campers started getting ready for their trip.

  Afternoon is also a time for camp store.  At the camp store each youth gets a chance to purchase a drink and snack (chips or ice cream) with their camp store money that is part of their camp fees.  Our youth also have downtime to play, read, dance, and spend time with friends in the rec hall each afternoon which they love.  After camp store they have a chance to finish activities before heading off to their cabins to get ready for dinner.

  For dinner we had BBQ chicken, mac and cheese, green beans and corn bread.  Then it was time for flag lowering and the golden faucet awared for the cleanest cabin.  After all that fun it was time to head out for their evening activity.  Our youngest campers enjoyed landsports and s'mores.  Our next oldest campers got a chance to enjoy watersports which included the lake, pool, and waterslide.  Our adventurers headed out tot the outpost and our trekkers did a little raft building.

  Before they knew it it was time to head back to the cabins, shower, and lay their heads down to dream of the adventures of Wednesday.  Almost halfway down with our time at camp but we can't think about that yet, becuase we're having too much fun!

To see more of today's fun check out all our photos by clicking this link.

Presidential Challenge

 

Students and educators can participate in a unique opportunity to advance AI education for American youth!

 

The Trump Administration is launching a year-long challenge for K-12 students across the country to spark interest in Artificial Intelligence, promote creative thinking using AI tools, and demonstrate how AI technology can be used in beneficial ways. Early training and experience in responsible AI use can demystify the technology and support America’s youths in cultivating skills and knowledge necessary to thrive in an AI-driven workforce.

 

Students who join the Presidential Challenge can access training and resources to help them complete a project that can either be a study or development of an AI method or tool to solve a local community problem. Educators are also invited to participate and focus on creative approaches to teaching or using AI technologies in K-12 learning. Participants can choose to enter their projects into a competition for the chance to showcase their work at a White House event next summer.

 

Registration for the Presidential AI Challenge will open to students and educators in late August 2025. Organizations may also pledge their support for advancing AI education for American youths.

 

Find the fact sheet and flyers here:

• AI Challenge Fact Sheet
• Flyer for Students
• Flyer for Educators

 

More information to follow. Visit AI.gov to learn more.

 

Martha Ray Sartor

Acting Division Director, Division of Youth and 4-H

 

Keeping it Hot at Camp

   Our first full day at Betsy Jeff Penn 4-H Educational Center (BJP 4-H Camp) and we were raring to go.  Everyone woke up at 7 am and our youngest campers got dressed and headed to the dinning hall for breakfast.  Our older youth took time to complete chores.  Chores include making their bed, cleaning the bathrooms, sweeping the floor, etc.    

  At 8 am everyone met at the flag pole for flag raising.  Each day we put the American Flag up and say the Pledge of Allegiance as well as raising the 4-H Flag and saying the 4-H pledge.  After that roles are flip flopped and our youngest youth head to the cabins to do the chores and our older youth got a chance to eat breakfast.  Today for breakfast it was a campr favorite with pancakes and turkey sausge.  Yum Yum!

  After breakfast it is time for our campers to head out for activities.  Each group has different activities each day.  For example our youngest campers hit the arts and crafts shelter this morning for some creativity and then got to hike out to the beaver pond.  Some of our campers headed to play the Ga-Ga Pitt and climb the rock wall.  Our Hands group went fishing and canoeing before lunch and our health group hit the water in the canoes followed by the pool.  That's how you stay cool at camp.  Archery was also on schedule for some of our campers today while our adventurers and trekkers started working on team challenges and canoeing.    All of this fun was before lunch.

  One of the great things about BJP is that meals are served in air conditioning.  So our campers enjoyed their chicken nuggets and french fries for lunch in the cool air.  Also youth have lots of access to water to stay hydrated and although there are other options at lunch, after one glass they are encouraged to switch to water to make sure we have no issues with the heat.

  After lunch we added in the creek stomp, camoflauge, and the boulder wall to the schedule of activites.  The difference between the rock wall and boulder wall is one is vertical while the other is horizontal.  So much fun and different muscles for our campers to use.  This was also the first time our campers got to take part in camp store.  That's where they get to purchase a drink or snack to enjoy each afternoon and take a break inside from the heat outside.

  After finishing our activities our youngest campers enjoyed a Taco Monday with ground beff and all the taco fixings, chips and dip.  Our campers ate it up!  While the youngest campers were chowing down our older youth had a chance to take a break and rest from the days activities before getting ready for dinner.  

  Just before 7 our youth took part in flag lowering and the all important cleanest cabin contest.  The agents judge the cabins first thing in the morning after the campers have had a chance to clean up and the winner of the cleanest cabin is announced that evening.  Competition for the golden faucet, silver toiler seat, and bronze toothbrush is very reall and our campers and staff work hard to earn it each night.

  Tonight the evening activity was watersports for the youngest campers.  That means time in the lake, pool, and the ever popular water slide.  Our campers had a ball slip sliding away tonight.  

  The oldest campers enjoyed landsports and s'mores.  Because a little melty, chocolatity fun never hurt anyone.  

  After finishing the fun for tonight everyone headed back to their cabins for showers and to hit the hay.  It wasn't long before quiet snoring filled the air and our campers are dreaming of their adventures coming up tomorrow.

  To see all of our hyjinx from today, please click this link.  

Dr. Kim Ingold 4-H Photography Contest

 

Dr. Kim Ingold

Dr. Kim Ingold developed her love of photography while a member of Stanly County 4-H. Throughout her 4-H career, she was involved in county, district, and state events, which developed her photography skills.
Kim was a valued member of the 4-H Honor Club and believed in its mission of giving back to her community. When Kim aged out of 4-H, she became a treasured 4-H volunteer, attending most state-level 4-H events to capture our memories through her photography. She was passionate about educating youth in any way she could. Kim was always there with a camera in hand and, more importantly, there with a smile, a kind word, and a hug. In 2019, we lost Kim in a tragic car accident, and she will forever be missed in our North Carolina 4-H family.  

Purpose of this Contest

• To showcase the accomplishments of North Carolina 4-H members and adults in photography. The winning entries will be displayed on this website, in a Showcase during National 4-H Week, and at the NC State Fair, alongside the NC 4-H Exhibits, in October.

• Encourage creativity through the 4-H Photography Curriculum.

• Inspire learning of great photo techniques.

• Motivate members to practice and take lots of photos.

• Offer expert tips from a professional photographer.

• Have fun building photography skills!

All entries are due by September 15, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. EST and must be submitted online at the link below. All participants must be enrolled and approved in 4-HOnline.
To enroll in 4-HOnline, please visit this link. 4-HOnline Enrollment

Click here to submit your entries.
North Carolina 4-H reserves the right to use any photographs received for educational purposes.

PARTICIPATION CATEGORIES (4-H Age as of January 1st)

• Cloverbud: Ages 5-7
• Junior: Ages 8-13
• Senior: Ages 14-18
• Adult: Ages 19+

SUBJECT CATEGORIES 

• Cloverbud, Junior, and Senior
  • 4-H in Action (Include an official 4-H Clover in the picture)
  • Nature’s Beauty – No Animals
  • Animals
  • Black and White
• Adult
  • 4-H In Action (Include an official 4-H Clover in the picture)

All entries are due by September 15, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. EST and must be submitted online at the link below. All participants must be enrolled and approved in 4-HOnline.
To enroll in 4-HOnline, please visit this link. 4-HOnline Enrollment

Click here to submit your entries.
North Carolina 4-H reserves the right to use any photographs received for educational purposes.

Rules & Registration Information

Judging

Frequently Asked Questions

Tips on How to Take Your Best Photograph

• Understand Your Camera: Learn the features and settings of your camera or smartphone to maximize its capabilities. Also, make sure your lens is clean.
• Focus on Composition: To create visually appealing images, pay attention to composition elements like framing, leading lines, and the rule of thirds.
• Find Good Lighting: Opt for natural light when possible, such as during the golden hour (early morning or late afternoon), and avoid harsh midday sunlight. Experiment with different lighting conditions to see how they affect your photos.
• Experiment with Angles: Don’t be afraid to crouch down, climb up, or move around to find interesting angles and perspectives for your shots.
• Keep it Simple: Avoid cluttered and distracting backgrounds. Focus on your main subject to create a clear and impactful image. Remember to keep your camera still – try using a tripod.
• Tell a Story: Consider what story or message you want your photo to convey, and use elements within the frame to help tell that story.
• Practice Patience: Sometimes, the best shots require patience. Take your time to observe your surroundings and wait for the perfect moment to capture your image, or take lots of shots and delete all but the best.
• Edit Wisely: Use photo editing tools to enhance your images, but be careful not to overdo it. Enhance the natural beauty of your photo rather than drastically altering it.
• Learn from Others: Study the work of other photographers, both professional and amateur, to gain inspiration and learn new techniques.
• Practice, Practice, Practice: Like any skill, photography improves with practice. Take every opportunity to shoot and experiment with different subjects, styles, and techniques. Take lots of photographs to determine your best one.

We Made It!

   

We left on our adventure a little after 10 this morning and what a great kind of adventure it was.  Our bus pulled out full of campers, Leaders in Training (LIT's), and 4-H staff ready to go to camp.  It was a great day for travel and we were tickled at how well the air conditioning worked, and how fast our trip went.

Halfway through we stopped in Asheboro at Golden Corral to get a bite to eat.  We were a large group but did our best to mind our manners and it must have worked becuase as we enjoyed our lunch we got compliments from patrons and staff alike.  They also said something about keeping our adults in their prayers...which they seemed to appreciate.  

  After lunch we boarded our bus and headed to camp.  It was about an hour drive from where we were and we made sure that we got all our things off the bus and started the next phase of our adventure, finding out where we would live for the next several days and meeting our cabin mates.  We moved into our cabins and found out what groups were are in.  Our groups and cabins are determined by ages so the youngest campers are in Head and Heart, as they get older they are in Hands, Health (in case you were wondering-those are the 4-H's), and then folks grow into Earth, Sun, Adventurers and Trekkers.

  Once we got moved in we got a little tour of the camp and part of the group jumped in the pool for the swim test while others headed to the ball field for all camp games.  We had a cookout for dinner of hotdogs, chips, cookies....and a little more.  After dinner we headed to the rec hall for introductions and other introductory information.

  When we got done in the rec hall we headed to the campfire.  This is a camp tradition and lots of fun to learn skits, songs, games, and for the entire camp to have fun, laugh hard, and wind down after a long day on the road.  When we headed to the cabins it was time for showers and to start relaxing in our cabins.  Heads down tonight to rest for a busy day and week ahead.   Stay tuned for more adventures.

To see photos from today please click this link.

Youth Opportunity

 North Carolina Farm Bureau is announcing it's 2025 4-H and FFA Youth Safety Video Contest. We have increased the dollar value of the prizes for this year’s contest to help provide financial incentive for those Chapters and Clubs who participate. Who doesn’t love a little extra cash to go along with promoting safety?

 

Here is a link to the application that has all of our rules and details for submission. https://forms.gle/rFNLZWJLmzgCvm9f9 Everything is ready to share with Advisors, Agents, and Volunteers.

 

This year’s theme is SUN Safety. We hope that by advertising the contest earlier, we can receive more applicants. Last year, we had 25 submissions.

 

1. This contest is for active 4-H Clubs and FFA Chapters, collegiate organizations are not eligible.

2. Record a 30 second TikTok style video focusing on Sun Safety. Be creative - this is your opportunity to shine! Please record your video vertically.

3. Videos must be submitted by 5 pm on September 1st, 2025. A TeamWork link will be provided upon submission of this Google Form to upload your video.

4. Videos that feature, encourage, or highlight unsafe behavior or attitudes will be disqualified.

5. Winners will be announced on Wednesday, September 24th, 2025 on NCFB Social Media Platforms - Facebook, Instagram, X, and TikTok.

6. Prizes will be awarded to the Top 3 videos: 1st place - $500 for the club or chapter + swag bags for the video production team, 2nd place - $250 for the club or chapter + swag bags for the video production team, 3rd place - $150 for the club or chapter + swag bags for the video production team

Volunteer Opportunity

 Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) is a training for adults interested in learning how to help teens (age 12-18) experiencing a mental health or substance abuse challenge. Training participants learn to recognize signs and symptoms, start conversations, listen non-judgmentally, and refer to appropriate resources. 

 

WHAT: Youth Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Training

WHEN: Saturday August 2^nd from 9-4

WHERE: Red Spring Community Center 122 Cross St, Red Springs, NC 28377

WHO: Anyone working with youth.

• Teachers, bus drivers, and principals. 
• Parents, grandparents, aunts/uncles
• Community leaders, faith leaders, law enforcement, and health care providers. 

WHY: Youth are our future! This training is designed for adults who work with youth aged 12-18 and want to be able to identify signs of mental health challenges, support youth, and connect them to resources. 

HOW DO I SIGN UP: Sign up using this link Youth Mental Health First Aid Training 8/2.

 

College Cooking Essentials

 Good Afternoon,

Do you have young adults who may struggle with their first apartment and what to cook? I will be holding a three-part Zoom session before school starts to help bridge that gap. Please share with anyone in your community heading off to school!

The Eventbrite link is listed below! This will be recorded, so please register if you can't make all the sessions, and we will email the presentation.

College Cooking Essentials Do you know someone who will struggle with cooking in their first apartment? Learning to live on your own can feel overwhelming. This three-part ZOOM session can make the transition smooth and stress-free. Cooking doesn't have to mean instant ramen every night, and cleaning doesn't need to be a mysterious art form. We'll break down practical, easy-to-follow tips that will transform a young adult from a nervous newbie to a confident campus pro. From knowing how and what to pack, to mastering simple sheet pan and protein bowl meals, to keeping living spaces clean and disinfected, these skills will not only save young adults money but will also set them up for success. Learn more N.C. Cooperative Extension promotes equal opportunity and prohibits discrimination and harassment based upon one’s race; color; religion (including belief and non-belief); sex, including but not limited to pregnancy, childbirth or other related medical condition, parenting and sexual harassment; sexual orientation; actual or perceived gender identity; age; national origin; disability; veteran status; or genetic information.