What a Talented Bunch

  Day four of Betsy-Jeff Penn 4-H Camp and we can't believe how time has flown by.  This morning we were all dragging a little as the excitement, exercise and heat of the past days sort of kicked in.  However our breakfast with french toasts sticks certainly didn't hurt jump starting our day so that we could experience things we hadn't seen before.
   After flag raising our inspectors went to the cabins to inspect for the cleanest cabin while our campers worked on their daily schedules.  There was creek stomping, fishing, arts and crafts and pool this morning.  Our campers had smiles wherever we went and were having fun, or making their own fund along the way.
  Time seems to be going by faster each day.  Before they knew it, it was time for lunch.  Chicken sandwiches, fries, salad and more.  Each camper has a chance to be table waiter.  They set the table, sit at the head, bring in the food on platters (they eat family style), get to serve themselves first, and help with cleaning up at the end of the meal.
  After lunch and a little rest it was time to hit the camp trails again.  Hiking to the beaver pond,  doing a little Yoga stretching, and for the Trekkers and Adventurers...time to strike out on a very different activity.
  Our Trekkers head to pilot mountain for canoeing and Rock Wall Climbing. This is a great test of teamwork and building self esteem and confidence.  For our Adventurers they headed to outpost to pitch tents, cook their own dinner and have their own activities.  Unfortunately a brief storm brought the Adventures back into camp where they had to eat dinner with the others and then enjoyed part of the evening activity until they headed back out, just before 8 pm.
  Speaking of the evening activity, tonight was the talent show.  We have a lot of talented kids at camp but from our group tonight we had singers, tumblers, and some dancers.  Very impressive acts.  Speaking of impressive the counselors had their own shtick going tonight.  They did comedy acts, rap takedowns,  and some impressive duets.
  After the evening entertainment the campers headed back to their rooms and grabbed showers before hitting the hay.  It will be our last full day of activities and we can't wait to see what is in store for them.

Getting Settled In

  It is hard to believe that when we woke up this morning it was already Tuesday and we were staring down our third day at BJP 4-H Camp.  It was a beautiful and cool morning as our campers got up and cleaned up cabins and headed to breakfast.  On the menu this morning were eggs and bagels, as well as a few other goodies.  Campers are settling in to the schedule but a little sleepy after having such a full day yesterday.
   Before they knew it it was time to trek out on a new adventure with lots of great activities.  At the arts and crafts area our campers decided to do some painting.  Some painted with a realistic tone in mind while others worked with pour paint techniques to create a new type of modern painting.
  At the same time we had campers having a ball in the pool and trying out the canoes.  Because everyone gets in the water everyday at camp.  There is just something really fun about that.  Other campers tried out the boulder wall, and horses today.
  While all of this activity was going on our Trekkers made it up to the ropes course to work on their skills before going on their trip tomorrow.  The ropes course helps challenge campers and learn to work together as a team.  They have to trust and support each other through the process and be able to adapt to challenges that may present themselves.  The campers had a great time with the different obstacles and really enjoyed the experience.
  After lunch our campers enjoyed more of the actives switching off to experience everything the camp has to offer.  Before they knew it dinner time had arrived.  We had barbecue chicken, corn bread, and veggies for dinner.  Some of our campers will tell you it was finger licking good.
  After dinner our youth who took part in water sports last night did games at the pioneer cabin tonight and the other campers got a chance to take part in water sports tonight.  Needless to say it was a fun evening for all.
  After returning to the cabins our campers took showers and turned in for the night.  They need to get lots of rest because tomorrow holds new activities, adventures, and displays of talent.  Stay tuned for more...

Getting Our Feet and Everything Else Wet

It was a cool morning as our campers tried hard to stay in bed, on their first full day at Betsy Jeff Penn 4-H Camp.  However what they found, after getting up, and making their beds was that breakfast was waiting.  Who can resist pancakes and sausage for breakfast when the temperature outside is a mere 67 degrees?
   After breakfast groups finished cleaning cabins and did their best to be prepared for cabin inspections.  This is a very serious matter at BJP.  After all the golden faucet, silver toilet seat, and bronze toothbrush are up for grabs.
  Our campers are broken into groups by age.  Our youngest campers are the head, heart, hands, and health groups while the middle age campers are in Earth and Sun, and the oldest are in Adventurer and Trekker.  The younger campers split up among the activities and may have taken part in Archery, crafts, fishing, Horses, Creek Stomp, Kickball, Boulder wall, Canoeing, and a Beaver Hike.  Our Trekkers spent the morning in canoes on the lake while our adventurers worked on teams courses and ground initiatives.   Everyone also got a chance to jump in the pool which is probably everyones favorite activity, especially when the mercury climbed to 100 degrees.
  Lunch was a big thrill for everyone as they had pizza, pepperoni and cheese.  So there was something for everyone.  After a morning out and about our campers were starving.
  In the afternoon our groups split up again into activities that they had not done that morning.   This time in the afternoon their break included the camp store!  Campers got to choose from a variety of drinks (Powerades, water, sodas, and juices) and snacks (chips, popcorn, various ice creams and popsicles) to enjoy.  As soon as they were done snacking their could play a variety of games in the rec hall.  That always provides a certain sense of frenzied fun.
  After finishing activities for the day it was time for the older campers to take a little rest while the younger campers headed to dinner.  On the menu tonight?  We let's call it taco Monday.  Big platters with everything you need to make your own taco passed around on each table and all the campers got a chance to fill up before a busy night. After diner was over the younger youth got a chance to rest while the older youth ate,
  Flag lowering marked the beginning of evening activity.  But before we can do that we have to announce the winners of the cabin inspection.  In third place winning the bronze toothbrush was Cabin 7, in second place winning the silver toilet seat was cabin 4, and in first place with the cleanest cabin at camp and winner of the golden faucet....Cabin 3.  Just to give you a little more clarity cabins 1-4 are on the girls side while cabins 5 are on the boys side.
   On the agenda tonight for our younger campers?  Water sports.  It is hard to say if the slip and slide, relay games,  lake swim or pool swim was their favorite.  After a wet and wild evening of rolling down hills and jumping and running it was time for evening snack and then off to the showers (because apparently they hadn't had enough water yet).
  It didn't take long for showers and even less time to hear snoring after their heads hit the pillows.  Knowing good and well they will be dreaming of their adventures tomorrow.

So, What Did You Do Today?

  Yes, it is July.  Yes, it is Sunday.  However don't let those two facts let you jump to the conclusion that we didn't do anything in 4-H today.  As a matter of fact it was quite the opposite as today was the first day of 4-H week long overnight camp at Betsy-Jeff Penn 4-H Educational Center in Reidsville, NC.
  It was an early morning of anticipation for our 4-Her's as they arrived at the office around 8:30 to get registered.  Although a little nervous at first, they hug in through the checking in and orientation process and finally, around 9:30 it was time to board the busses.  As we made sure we had everything, said goodbye to our loved ones and struck out on a new adventure on a really big bus.
  So when we left the office we had Robeson and New Hanover Counties.  Our first stop was in Rockingham to pick up seven campers from Richmond County.  Now we had a good crowd to get to know as we travelled further up the road to Asheboro.  We stopped at Golden Corral for lunch and made sure we filled up our plates and stomachs.  We got several compliments on how well behaved we were and our waitress even said she would be happy to adopt some of us as grandchildren...we figured we must be doing something right as we boarded our bus again for the last leg of our journey.
  After a little more than an hour we pulled up at camp, grabbed our stuff, and got checked in.  Miss Shea Ann was right about how nice the staff is and we quickly found our cabins.   We unpacked, made our beds and it wasn't long before we took a tour of the camp and then headed to dinner in the big field.  We had hot dogs, chili, slaw, potato chips, watermelon, and cookies.  As soon as we finished our groups played games, and as soon as everyone was done we played huge field games to work off some of the energy we had been storing since this morning.
  We went to the Rec Hall and met all the staff, LIT's (Leaders In Training), and agents.  Then we headed to the campfire where we learned new songs, new skits, and just had the chance to be loud and silly.  It wasn't too long before we found ourselves in our cabins, getting showers, and creating our evening routines.  As we climbed into bed we barely had time to think about everything we experienced today as we drifted off to sleep.
  Oh, but what will tomorrow hold if today was this much of a fun adventure?  Guess you will have to tune in and see.

The Summer Slide

The following article was written by Shea Ann DeJarnette for local newspapers.  It can also be located on the NC Cooperative Extension, Robeson County Center Web page.

When I was young, summer didn’t mean vacation to me – it meant arguing with my parents for more time at home. In case you are wondering, I lost that argument every year. As soon as school was out my schedule was busy with swim lessons, tennis lessons, babysitting, and let’s not forget camp. My schedule was way more hectic in the summer, and I was sure my parents didn’t understand that this was my vacation time, time to relax, which to me meant vegging in the air conditioning, napping, and watching TV.

What I know now that I didn’t know then is my parents were smarter than I gave them credit for. You see, there is this thing called the Summer Slide, an actual study that proves a two-to-three-month loss in reading and other knowledge skills with children who aren’t engaged in the summer. Many experts say reading is the key to maintaining and increasing knowledge over the summer, while other studies show being engaged in non-formal youth development opportunities will also help stop this backslide.

What is great about non-formal youth development opportunities is that kids are having fun and learning at the same time. For example, let’s look at our recent 4-H Jr. Chef Day Camp. Our youth were learning how to cook, and gained knife handling skills and knowledge about farm-to-fork movements. Essentially, they had fun working in the kitchen making their own snacks, practicing math and reading skills by reading and calculating recipes for different numbers of people than the recipe was intended. At the end, our youth evaluate the program. Did you know while they were having “the most fun ever” that 100 percent of the youth increased their knowledge in the kitchen? Also, 100 percent of our youth reported that they tried a food new to them. What is even more important is what they plan or aspire to do, and 100 percent of our day campers feel they have the skills to cook for themselves or cook for others, like their family. They are confident in these skills and excited to practice at home with their parents. This is the part my parents always knew: the kids sitting at home in front of a TV did not learn these, or any other skills.

These skills may not seem like they will help with schoolwork or tests, but they do help in a less direct manner. The youth are practicing their math and reading skills. They are applying these skills to a necessary part of life – eating. They also gained information on nutrition and healthy cooking and made choices demonstrating that they understood this information. They gained self-confidence that they know this information, that they can contribute to their families with these skills, and that they can apply the skills for a future job if they need to. That means the excitement, confidence, and willingness to learn will transfer to the classroom, and essentially break the summer slide. Our youth are the future, that’s why they deserve to have us keep them off the slide this summer.

For more information, contact Shea Ann DeJarnette, Extension 4-H Youth Development Agent, at 910-671-3276, by email at Shea_Ann_DeJarnette@ncsu.edu, or visit our website.

NC State University and N.C. A&T State University are collectively committed to positive action to secure equal opportunity and prohibit discrimination and harassment regardless of age, color, disability, family and marital status, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, political beliefs, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, and veteran status. NC State, N.C. A&T, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and local governments cooperating.

Going for the Gold at 4-H Congress

  4-H Congress is hard to explain to those who haven't attended.  I ask my youth each year to give me their thoughts and usually I get words like fun, awesome, incredible.  However that doesn't quite explain the quintessential importance of this 4-H event.

  To start with Congress is kicked off by 4-H State Presentations competition.  This take place in three buildings, and a courtyard, at NC State University (NCSU).  These are the youth who won first or second place in their subject category and age division.  This year we brought 6 youth to compete and they definitely left a mark.  Ava Monroe, a member of the Inspirational Youth Leaders 4-H Club took gold in public speaking in the 8-10 age division.  Jada McKinnon, also with the Inspirational Youth Leaders 4-H Club took third for her presentation in Careers and Entrepreneurship in the 11-13 age division.  Taylor Hunter, with the Young Leaders, took second in her first ever presentation in the electric category.  Jordan McKinnon, with the Inspirational Leaders 4-H Club not only took home gold in Turkey BBQ, but qualified for nationals.  Aaron Johnson, with the Inspirational Youth Leaders 4-H Club placed third in the senior division of Science and Technology.  Special shout out to Camri McKinnon, also with the Inspirational Youth Leaders 4-H Club, who competed in Health and fitness.

  After all the awards the 4-H Congress delegation, which is made up of 4-H members 14 and up, got settled into the hotel and checked in at the McKimmon Center on NCSU's campus.  Our delegation this year is made up of Inspirational Youth Leaders 4-H Club members Jordan McKimmon and Arron Johnson; Dirty Rascal Members Kennedi Lyons and Maggie Underwood; Explore NC 4-H Club member Brooke Canady; Horsin' Around Club member Tristan Page.  Canady and Underwood are also members of the Dirty Dozen 4-H Shooting Sports club.  McKinnon, Johnson, and Page are veteran Congress participants, while Canady, Lyons, and Underwood were undergoing their first experience.
  Kennedi Lyons and and Brooke Canady volunteered to be members of the media committee, taking photos of the things they saw during the week.  This is an awesome experience for first time attendees to document what they see and give us feedback on what they like and don't like via a photo.

  That evening we attended the opening of 4-H Congress where welcomes are made, the counties are introduced, and tradition is announced.  One of those traditions is 4-H Honor Club Tapping.  This is a tradition where 4-H members 16 and over can apply to be members of Honor Club.  The application is a list of a members 4-H work.  4-H members must have at least 300 points to be considered for admission.  Only 10% of those who apply are admitted.  Who is admitted is top secret until a ceremony at Congress.  Current 4-H Honor Club members enter the back of the room with candles and a name.  They find the youth they are tapping for admission and give them a candle and pass the flame to them.  If a candidate who is being tapped does not attend, they will not be allowed admission into the prestigious service club.  This year there was an exception to that rule.  A young 4-H member in Davidson County passed away this year after she was accepted into Honor Club.  She was posthumously inducted, with an empty chair with a candle representing her place in the club.
  This year Robeson County 4-H member DJ Rogers was tapped into 4-H Honor Club by his mother, Debbie Rogers, who is an honor club member.  Also attending the ceremony was Robeson County 4-H Alumni Alex Evans who tapped a new Honor club member also.
  When we got done at the McKimmon Center we headed back to the hotel and made a plan for tomorrow, because we will hit the road running.

Leaving Our Mark, Our Grill Mark

Its our last day of  of 4-H Jr. Chef Day Camp and the pressure is on.  Today we practice the skills we have learned under the watchful eye of our adults.  It is also our last day together with our BFF’s for a week and we want to leave a lasting impression.  So we needed to get at it.
  We started by prepping the food.  We ground up 7 pounds of  sirloin and two pounds of bacon from the Surf and Turf Market that we visited yesterday.  With our ground beef looking perfect we jumped in to prep veggie skewers.  We made them with onions, mushrooms, bell peppers, and pineapple.  On top of that we will have fresh jalapeño pepper poppers and French fries to make for our lunch.
   Once we formed the patties we took our creations to the grills.  We had three grills, three adults and two burgers per grill.  It was a flipping frenzy out there but we checked the temperature and finally moved our burgers/cheese burgers inside and got ready to chow down.
  After adding condiments to make our own perfect burger we finally got to eat the vain of our existence for the last week.  Our day campers described the burgers as amazing, delicious, best burger ever, heavenly, and more.  We think it is safe to say that they liked them.  Even youth who normally wouldn’t eat a hamburger ate their burgers today and really enjoyed them.
  After lunch we took a few moments to rest, then worked on nutrition with Mrs Katie.  She went over the food groups with us and let us relays.  Then we had to work on paperwork. We did a post test, and completed an evaluation.  That allowed us to show off what we learned and give suggestions for future camps.
   When that work was done we got to make ice cream sundaes.  That was a really sweet way to wrap up.  From there it was time clean up.  Like all good chefs we needed to get our kitchen in order.  We learned about cleaning tables, mopping, a made sure to not only clean but sanitize all the surfaces.
  Finally we settled in for one last round of the quiet game.  When our campers get home they will have gotten a 4-H bag filled with goodies like a 4-H apron, -H hand sanitizer, a 4-H cup, and let’s not forget our personal nail brush and our Jr. Chef Cookbook.  When we get home we can cook up some great receipts and remember this week fondly.

Getting Our Q On

 Time is winding down as we enter our fourth day of Jr. Chef Day Camp.  So it is time to buckle down and start cutting away at the fat and go straight to the meat of this program.  What better way to do that then to go to on a field trip to the meat market?
  We jumped in the vans and headed to the Carolina Surf and Turf Market In Lumberton and met with the owner.  He was kind enough to talk to us about the different cuts of meats, his favorites, best sellers, and we even took a look at the seafood side of things.  Probably what was most important was learning how he got to where he is and why he opened his own business.  Where he went to find the expertise to start a business and that yes, our youth can do that to.  Now that is empowering.
  After placing our meat order for lunch the next day we headed to Pinehurst for lunch.  One of the newest Pinehurst resort restaurants has an inedible outdoor kitchen and they even have their own greenhouse.  We met the man who smokes the meats and the man who handles the wood fire brick oven.  We talked wood, specifically hickory, oak, and pecan.  Did you know the types of woods you use not only effect flavor and meat color?  That is one of the many things we learned today.  We also found out that how this restaurant supports the local agriculture community is impressive.  Not only do they use local produce but they harvest herbs from their own greenhouse, and they work with a local producer and serve as a pickup point for a local CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) opportunity.  It’s really a neat idea.  From there we had a most delicious lunch and tried more brisket, chicken, and great BBQ samples.
  Of course after a filling a delicious lunch we needed to have something a little sweet.  What a better top off to lunch then Yum Yum Chocolates.  This is another local delicacy, from a small business created to fill a need.  This company delivers to local gift shops and stores in the Pinehurst area and their cake bites dipped in chocolate, are according to our 4-H members delicious!  We tried carrot cake, cookies and cream, lemon, chocolate, white cake and chocolate, and other combinations that made us very happy.
  With a little time left in the day we pulled out the games.  This might not seem like much to you but it allows our youth to build team building skills, forge friendships and have another chance to practice problem solving,  and strategy building skills.  You would be amazed at all the skills our youth get by being able to play old fashioned games like connect four, tic-tac-toe, and Jenna with each other.
  Today has been good and tomorrow we will grind into all our skills and knowledge to learn if we are truly grill masters.  Stay tuned!