Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is

Armchair quarterback is a favorite pastime while reading the paper or watching the news for many of us. How often have you read a headline or a story and come up with a suitable form of justice or prevention for a societal problem? For example, I had a supervisor who used to ask me why 4-H had not been a part of the life of any teen accused of a crime on the front page of the paper. Hypothetically, there are lists of answers I can give, but there is no way to know if any would actually be appropriate for that person’s situation.

The reason 4-H and other nonformal youth development organizations exist is because we know, through research and evaluation, our programs make a difference in the lives of youth. We know not every child will have the chance to be a part of these programs due to time, cost, and support. So we offer a variety of programs, including a short program with big life-changing impacts known as camp.

Week-long overnight 4-H camp takes place July 13-19 at Betsy-Jeff Penn 4-H Educational Center in Reidsville, N.C. For many youth who attend from Robeson County, this may be their first time out of the county and away from home. At camp, they do fun things, like rock wall climbing, archery, and canoeing, but the activities are a small part of what they learn. Being away from home, this is the first time they are responsible for themselves. They have to make their beds, get dressed, and follow directions without parents there to watch them. Granted, they are in a safe and nurturing environment where failure is not an option, but they don’t know that. When they get home, they demonstrate responsibility, respect, decision-making skills, and teamwork. Skills they need to develop to be successful adults in this ever-changing global society. Skills they gain while at camp. Skills that enhance their lives.

Sounds like a magical program? Wonder why hundreds of youth don’t sign up for this opportunity every year when it can give them a head start on life? Even with the reduced cost from our United Way funding, the cost for a week of camp (includes meals, transportation, lodging, etc.) is $400. Let’s be honest – that is a lot of money. So I would like to challenge anyone who has been an armchair quarterback to stand up and take the ball. Consider giving a full or partial scholarship for a child whose family can’t afford to attend camp this year. Put your money where your mouth is, make a difference in the life of a youth, and keep them out of reach of the headlines.

For more information, please contact Shea Ann DeJarnette, Extension 4-H Agent with North Carolina Cooperative Extension, Robeson County Center, at 671-3276, by E-mail at shea_ann_dejarnette@ncsu.edu, or visit our website at http://robeson.ces.ncsu.edu/. North Carolina State University and North Carolina A&T State University commit themselves to positive action to secure equal opportunity regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, religion, sex, age, veteran status, or disability. In addition, the two Universities welcome all persons without regard to sexual orientation.

It's Time to Think SUMMER FUN!!!!!

Finally, my heat is off and the air conditioning is on at my house. That is a sure sign that spring is here and summer is not far away. Another sure sign is that the 4-H Summer Fun Brochure is out and sign-up has begun! Needless to say, as the Extension 4-H Agent in this county, I am slightly biased and very excited about the offerings we have this summer. Parents, that being said, even if our program is not the one for your child, I would like to encourage you to sign them up for some type of experiential learning opportunity this summer.

Why sign them up for something other then chores, T.V., and video games? The reasons are enormous. Being a couch potato is physically and mentally not healthy for them. The longer they sit inactive, the more likely they are to eat more because they are bored. Eating more can result in weight gain that could lead to serious health conditions. It is also the time risky behaviors, such as smoking, drinking, and making poor decisions, begin. Also, when their brain is not challenged during their summer months, it makes that transition back to school even more difficult. When they are in a structured summer program, they will have the chance to interact with other youth, have hands-on learning opportunities, and be active.

For example, let’s take a look at one of our 4-H Day Camps, Biotech. This is the sixth year for this camp, and it involves everything science. A lot of youth will tell you they hate science. As a child when my parents talked about atoms and molecules, I would give them a dirty look like they had said very bad words. However, during this camp, we go somewhere different each day to learn about energies, bio fuels, animal sciences, and more. At the end of the camp, 100 percent of the youth demonstrate an increase in knowledge and state there is some aspect of science they really like. During the camp, they have hands-on experiences, like crabbing or building robots, that give them insight into the types of careers they may or may not want to further pursue. Careers are growing faster in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (S.T.E.M.) fields than anywhere else. Why not give your child the chance to be exposed to these careers, get out and make new friends, and be active while they learn?

There are lots of great summer options in our area. Organizations like the Robeson County Partnership for Children, the Public Schools of Robeson County, and Indian Education share as many youth opportunities with the public as possible, from a variety of organizations. If you are interested in learning more about the 4-H Summer Fun Program, you can download our brochure from our website at http://robeson.ces.ncsu.edu or come by our office to pick one up. Registration is currently open to 4-H members and will open to the public on May 1. No matter what you and your children do this summer, I hope you stay cool and have a lot of fun!

For more information, please contact Shea Ann DeJarnette, Extension 4-H Agent with North Carolina Cooperative Extension, Robeson County Center, at 671-3276, by E-mail at shea_ann_dejarnette@ncsu.edu, or visit our website at http://robeson.ces.ncsu.edu/. North Carolina State University and North Carolina A&T State University commit themselves to positive action to secure equal opportunity regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, religion, sex, age, veteran status, or disability. In addition, the two Universities welcome all persons without regard to sexual orientation.