Careers Slide In

This is one of the days that has mixed blessings. Our cloverbuds are completing their week of Summer Fun and we will miss them but at the same time we are excited that they have learned so much and are a little better prepared to start back to school.

Today started with our typical coloring but then after learning about the schedule changes we settled in to work with Mrs. Tameka and Professor Popcorn. We reviewed the different food groups and what foods belong in which group. After playing a game with hula hoops it was time to jump into the kitchen and make our morning snack. Today they were particularly yummy as we made our own fruit kabobs. We could use kiwi, pineapple, grapes, and strawberries to create our edible works of art. After a few photos it was time to dig in and start enjoying all the naturally sweet goodness. We have really enjoyed the treats we learned to make with both Mrs. Tameka and Mrs. Janice.

After that it was time for a little science project. Miss Shea Ann wanted to show us what a temperature reaction can do. For an example we took all the broken crayons and peeled the paper off them them and placed them in muffin tins. Miss Shea Ann put them in the oven and they melted down. When they cooled we had each created our own crayon that we could take home with us. In some cases the colors blended and in others the colors didn't so when we use them the colors will be truly unique.

Chris and Megan, our wonderful teen leaders lead an Arts and Crafts activity for us. We each got to make finger puppets. Some of us made dogs, pigs, elephants, lions and more. It was a lot of fun gluing all the pieces together and learning how to follow instructions.

When we got done doing that (and washing our hands) there was a big surprise waiting for us. Mr. Larry, who is a Sergeant with the Robeson County Sheriff's office, and a 4-H Volunteer brought his patrol car for us to see. We climbed through it, played with the radios and buttons, tried on his hat and his bullet proof vest (it was really heavy). We found out that if you are in the back seat and close the door that you can't open it from inside. We asked him all sorts of questions about his job and what he does and we even asked him to join us for our special pizza lunch. Guess what? He did! Before he left he gave Miss Shea Ann official Sheriff office pencils that change colors when they get hot for each of us to take home. It was really neat and fun.

After our special lunch and a little play time for being so good Miss Shea Ann had a really special surprise. We got to see a slide show of all of us during the week. After the slide show she had one more surprise, we got to make our own ice cream sundaes (with a little help from Mrs. Penny). It was so good and we could pick anything we wanted to go on top. Then we went back in to the carpet and took group photos and asked to watch the slide show again. It was really neat to see ourselves on the big screen.

We had a blast during Cloverbud Day camp, we are just sad to see it end.

Growing in Science through Plant People

Day four of Cloverbud Day Camp was all about growing healthy. We started the day in the usual way coloring up a storm. Then we reviewed our schedule, who would be visiting, and what we would be doing before we voted on the games we would play. Then we got down to serious fun as we played Mother May I and the alarm game.

After our morning snack, which is always yummy and gives us a chance to chit chat, we got down to serious business with Mrs. Janice and Miss Shea Ann. With Mrs. Janice we got to use a sticky wall and put up all the things we learned about while cooking with her. We also got to make some more really yummy cookies that we will take home with us.

Miss Shea Ann had another science experiment for us that we will get to take home and try. We made our very own plant person. All plants needs sun, water, and food which they get from soil to grow. We recycled knee high pantyhose and placed grass seed in the toe and then added just enough soil to make a small, medium, or gigantic head. With the help of small hair bands we made noses, ears or other features. We added google eyes and with a sharpie we got a mouth and other features like eyelashes, eyebrows or even freckles. When we get home the tail will float in a jar of water and the head will be balanced on top where it can get light and within a week we should see 4-H green hair growing. It was all sorts of fun giving our plant people personality and we are looking forward to cutting their hair or styling it as it gets longer.

After we all had a chance to work with Mrs. Janice and Miss Shea Ann it was time for lunch with Mrs. Penny. One of the 4-H volunteers brought us a special treat for lunch, watermelon. We enjoyed digging our teeth into the juicy melon which is fun to eat and good for us.

After lunch Mrs. Jane joined us we we got to play with foam art. We made nameplates, and door hangers that we decorated ourselves. Chris and Megan helped us pick out the letters for our names so that we could put our names on them. It was really lots of fun playing with the squishy art stuff and lots of glue.

After we got done working with Mrs. Jane it was time to spend time with Mrs. Tameka and Professor popcorn. We got to do a little movement exercise today and then it was time to make our afternoon snack. Today we made the most beautiful yogurt parfaits. They had vanilla yogurt, strawberries, and granola crunchies. They were really pretty and simple enough that we can go home and make them for dessert with our families.

We have had fun all week and Miss Shea Ann said there is a big surprise in store for us tomorrow. We can't wait to see what it is.

Cooking up a Healthy Storm

We are very very busy in Cloverbud Day Camp. Day three had us cooking up all sorts of treats and scientific concoctions. To better understand our day you need to realize we have a complex schedule that starts at 8: 30 am and continues until 3 pm. It is almost like being in school but a whole lot more fun.

We began our day with our favorite thing...coloring. Each morning we make a color art piece to take home with us. Then we sit down on the carpet and go over our schedule for the day. Then it is game time. It gives us a chance to work on team work, sportsmanship and play one of our favorite games, the alarm game. We can't share the rules with you but we can tell you it is a whole bunch of fun.

After our morning exercising, we work up an appetite for our morning snack. After enjoying that it was time to kick back with Mrs. Janice and Miss. Shea Ann. Mrs. Janice had really cool worksheets for to do to review our measurements, we also got to smell our pyramid cookies cooking. Miss Shea Ann had a similar theme because we got to use cookie cutters for this exercise. She showed us how to make our own paper pulp out of used paper and water in a blender. then we took the mush and made shapes out of it with the cookie cutters. Then we added seeds to make them grow cards. What happens is when the cards dry we can give them as gifts to people and let them plant them. The paper will act as a biodegradable mulch and help the seeds germinate and grow. It is really fun to do.

After all of the cookie fun we had lunch with Mrs. Penny. After lunch Mrs. Tanya came and we had story time with her. She read us great stories then we did dot art with her and it was colorful fun. After we worked with Mrs. Tanya it was time for Mrs. Tamekia and Professor Popcorn. After reviewing different types of food in different types of food groups it was time to start cooking. We made our own individual pizzas with really neat ingredients. We put our own sauce and cheese on them and then a variety of veggie toppings. They put them in the oven and we had a neat treat to eat before we went home today.

We had all sorts of fun today and can't wait to see what is in store for us on Thursday! No doubt it will be more Cloverbud fun!

Getting Crafty About Planning

Just because we have summer programs going on doesn't mean club work has stopped. Oh contraire my friend. Tonight the Dirty Rascals Junior Master Gardener 4-H Club met to start planning their fair booth. Now we are not allowed to give away details about fair booths but I can honestly say it was thrilling, and will probably spill over to fill an everyday 4-H role.

In other business, the club also officially welcomed co-leader Tanya Underwood to the club. She brought all the youth a special gift of gigantic 4-H stickers to celebrate their hard work brainstorming fair booth ideas. She also had a homework assignment for each of them to go along with the fair booth theme.

Many of the club members met the youngest honorary member of the club Sammie. Sammie was born to 4-H volunteers Missy and Jeff Wright in June and she really seemed to enjoy her first official club meeting. Mrs. Tanya also seemed to enjoy rocking her as everyone had verbal social interaction. Without further business, club President, Dillon McCartney adjourned the meeting.

The next club meeting date is September 13, at 5:30 pm at the 4-H office.

Blowing Up and Slimming Down

Our second day of cloverbud day camp was, to say the least exciting. We found out how to blow things up and slim ourselves down in a tasty and fun ways. Of course our morning started with one of our favorite morning activities, coloring. Then we played games, working on our reflexes and team working abilities until it was time for morning snack. After a little munchie we headed back to work and split up into two teams, one stayed in the kitchen with Mrs. Janice and the rest of us went in to work with Miss Shea Ann.

Working with Mrs. Janice we learned about measuring. Did you know there are different measuring cups for dry ingredients and liquid ingredients? We learned where a quarter of a cup is and how to add things so we can cook at home and help our parents. We also measured all the ingredients for a special cookie that we will get to eat later.

Miss Shea Ann did a little science experiment with us. We learned about chemical reactions and what can happen. She took a balloon filled with baking soda just like we use to make cookies. Then she had some vinegar in a soda bottle. What was cool was that when she put the balloon on top of the soda bottle and dumped the baking soda into it a chemical reaction happened which created a gas, specifically carbon dioxide which blew the balloon up without anyone taking a breath. It was really cool. After we did a science experiment we learned about an ancient art and craft, origami. Origami is the Japanese art of paper folding. We all got the chance to make our own cat, dog and cup that we took home with us. It was a lot of fun.

After we all got a chance to work with Mrs. Janice and Miss. Shea Ann it was time to head to the bathroom and wash our hands to get ready for lunch. Mrs. Penny is an awesome cook and everyday we have great lunches that we all seem to like.

After lunch we got a chance to have story time and rest while our bellies were full. After story time we had our afternoon time with Mrs. Tameka and Professor Popcorn. We learned about our food groups and got to try popcorn with all sorts of seasonings, whatever we wanted to try. It was really good and we found out popcorn is a whole grain snack that is good for us. It was lots of fun and we can't wait to see what tomorrow will bring.

Getting Colorfully Adjusted

This is one of our very favorite weeks of Summer Fun, Cloverbud Day Camp! Cloverbud Day Camp is for youth between the ages of 5 and 8 years old. The camp starts at 8:30 am and runs until 3 each afternoon. Our Day Campers are getting into the swing of school on this schedule and getting the chance to make new friends and do a lot of hands on learning while they are with us.
Monday's are a little unusual as we are setting our schedule for the week, meeting each other, setting the rules and learning where everything is. Don't worry by Friday they will be old pros at this.
We started our day with coloring sheets to give everyone a chance to wake up and be creative. Then we hit the carpet to make our rules. Things like have fun, be respectful, and keep your hands and feet to yourself made the list. The day campers also made the consequences for breaking the rules.
After getting all of the ground rules out of the way it was time to meet Tamika McLean, Expanded Foods and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) Program Assistant. She introduced our youth to Professor Popcorn who likes to teach youth about foods, nutrition, and exercise. Today they also did the Glo-germ experiment. The youth put a special lotion on their hands and under a black light the germs on their hands would glow. Then they would go into the bathroom and practice proper hand washing that Mrs. Tamika taught them. After wards it was time to go to the kitchen to make a special treat.

After we got done preparing our treats we headed back into the auditorium and made very special 4-H bracelets with Miss Shea Ann. Our bracelets taught us all about 4-H, the pledge, logo and motto. We also learned the the colors for 4-H are green and white. After that it was time for lunch. Mrs. Penny made us a wonderful lunch and we had a good time eating and making new friends. After lunch we worked with Mrs. Janice and learned how to use a measuring cup and spoons. Miss Shea Ann did science experiments with us and we learned how to make different colors. We learned about colors that can't be made by adding two colors together, those are primary colors. The we actually made colors with primary colors. For example we mixed red and blue and made a pretty purple. We mixed blue and yellow to make 4-H green, and then when we mixed yellow and red it made orange. It was a lot of fun making the water turn colors then we practiced the same thing with crayons on a special worksheet Miss Shea Ann made.

At the end of the day we ate our snack and gathered all of our things together. Tomorrow will be a new day with new adventures, and we can't wait to come back.

Taking a Shot in the Dark

The following is a report submitted by the Dirty Dozen 4-H Club concerning their meeting today.
"Our meeting started out overcast and a little warm and ended up overcast and HOT. The first part of the meeting was spent discussing our upcoming fair display. Dillon and Christopher, the 2 members that showed up, came up with some really good ideas. Allen was unable to attend the meeting but sent his parents in his place. Mrs. Peggy took notes and kept us inline as to our seal and project record books. (Which we need to follow up on).
Mr. George and Mr. Jake weren't left out of the action. When the shooting started they were right in there keeping up with the kids. They even helped put bullet holes in cans hanging from twine that will be used for an upcoming project that the rest of you will learn about at our next meeting.
I think they all did very well shooting the cans, (Mr. Jake even shot the string holding 1 of the cans), and paper targets considering they did it from the standing position at distances from 15 yards to 25 yards. (25 yards was Mr. George's idea).
Our next club meeting will be held Saturday, Sept. 3rd., at the 4-H office.

See you there,
--Mr. Larry"