A Day of Fun and Learning

The reason our 4-H day camp program is called Summer Fun is because it is in the Summer and its lots o fun!  A call went out for an unscheduled day of summer fun to take place at the 4-H office.  Everyone met for the first time and set the tone for the day.  After a few team working games and name games it was time to have fun.

Some friends from Campbell Soup working with different United Way organizations joined us for the experiential activities and together we had a ball!  We had several stations set up and let our guests pick any station they wanted.  We had robotics, health and fitness (Twister was involved), science, plant science, and a community service section making bookmarks.  Every 10 minutes we switched stations and had a ball!

  When our special guests left we settled in for a snack then headed back out to the activities.  About 4 o'clock we settled in for a few more games like the Hershey's personality test and two truths and a lie. Of course the biggest hit of all of our day camps is the silent game.  This was a highly competitive group, some had to forfeit when their adult arrived to pick them up.  However everyone got a little present when they left.

  It was a lot of fun and a great way to ring in the United Way Campaign that is going on right now in Robeson County.  If you would like to know more about giving to United Way please contact our 4-H staff at (910) 671-3276 or the United Way of Robeson County at (910) 739-4249.

Getting our Thumbs on the Pulse of Creativity

  The second Tuesday of the each month marks the monthly meeting for the Dirty Rascals Junior Master Gardener 4-H Club.  This one was one to put in print.  The group called their meeting to order and then shared all of their summer experiences.  Boy did this group have a lot of fun!

  When it came time for the activity Mrs. Tanya, the club leader worked with the group on really cool Butterfly facts.  Do you know if butterflies eat?  How fast do they fly?  Well our JMG's are just about experts.

  After learning the facts it was time to get down to the messy business of fun.  Using handkerchiefs, paint, fabric markers, and our thumbs we created our own, one of a kind bandannas.  Using different color paints. Used our thumbs to leave paint prints that would make bees, flowers, hearts, ants, ladybugs and other cool stuff.  Using the fabric markers. Filled in the details and no two bandannas were alike.  The club members did an awesome job!

  The club will meet September 10th at the 4-H office.  If you would like more information about tis or any other club please contact the 4-H Staff at (910) 671-3276.

Educating with a New Partner

                             

It was a Saturday like any other in Robeson County with one exception...a new business in Lumberton created an awesome opportunity for Robeson County 4-H one that has the chance to grow into a great partnership.

Tractor Supply Company opened a new store in Lumberton at the end of March, just in time to take part in the company's 4-H paper clover campaign.  The national company holds a campaign from May 8-19 offering customers a paper clover that they can write their names on for a dollar or five dollar donation at the register.  There is a complicated splitting of the funds but essentially the funds go to National 4-H, to the two land grant universities in our state (N. C. State and A&T University), State 4-H, and a portion of what is raised in this store will come back to our local county program.  The paper clover campaign happens twice a year and is a great way to not only fundraiser but market our 4-H program.

Being the first time out the staff of the local store asked if we would come out and raise awareness for the campaign and our program by conducting an activity at the store.  We must say thank you to the members and volunteers of the All Around All Stars, Titans, Dirty Dozen, Dirty Rascals, Doin' it Big, Inspirational Youth Leaders, and Young Leaders 4-H Clubs for coming out to help.  Also County Council Officers Shabreya Vample, Dillion McCartney, and Alexus Jones for helping lead the activity during the day.  In keeping with our hands on educational teaching method we decided to conduct a plant people activity with each of the you who came out to the store.  Each child made their own person with the help of the officers and members who were there while the adults talked with the parents about the 4-H and overall Extension Program.  

The benefits of the day are long ranging.  Yes, paper clovers were sold but even more importantly we were able to teach youth about plant science, introduce hem to 4-H, and members were even recruited for some of the clubs.  Clubs who had representation at the event for a two hour shift will be able to claim this as a community service project.  Parents are now familiar with Extension and 4-H and we had a great time while we were there.  The staff of Tractor Supply could not have been nicer and took great care of all of us.  We are looking forward to working them again with a mutual partnership that benefits not only their business but our program and ultimately the community.  

Again thank you to everyone who came out and made this day a great success!

Pine-ing Away for a Basket

Tonight marked the official April meeting for the Dirty Rascal Junior Master Gardener 4-H Club. Club Leader Tanya Underwood kicked off the club meeting in. Official fashion by having Layla Locklear and Tristan Page lead the pledges. Then she got down to serious business by offering shout outs to those who participated in the 4-H Talent Showcase, and those going on to District Activity Day.
Club members took a moment to check out the progress of their herbs in the hydroponic garden. This year the Master Gardeners have chosen not to have a plant sale so the Junior Master Gardeners are exploring other options for herb distribution this year.
After the formal meeting Connie Locklear, Master Gardener and Layla's grandmother, showed us how to make pine needle baskets. She brought some long pine needles from a tree at her house and got everyone started with the project. All they needed were tobacco twine (used for tying up tobacco leaves for curing back in the day), a large eyed needle, and many long leaf pine needles. Mrs. Connie said the hardest part is starting, and she was right. It took two good fold overs and wrapping the folded needles tightly with the tobacco twine to hold the beginning in place. Then she showed us how to add a few needles at a time and start the turning process for the base of our baskets. The key is to make us you continue sly add needles and you pull the twine as tightly as possible as the needles start make a flat circle. It was really cool, and some thing fun to learn. She also showed us some baskets she has made. She said you could use green or brown needles when working.

When we ended the meeting several people took home their projects to continue at home. Tristan finished his, making it a coaster. It was a really neat project.
The next club meeting will be held May 14th at the 4-H Office. If you would like more information about this or other clubs please contact the 4-H Staff at (910) 671-3276.