Extreme Degrees of Learning

  We were all business on day two of our 4-H Biotech day camp.  Today all four counties met at the 4-H office for some teen lead science experiements.  After learning how to make a lava lamp, make milk colorful, squish marshmallows without touching them, and imploding a can with air preasure we had our snack and then loaded up for a day of science and learning.
  Our first stop was U. S. Cold Storage in Lumberton.  We were met by Steve Musselwhite, the plant manager.  He told us that U.S. Cold storage flash freezes fresh foods for transportation around the state, country, and even world.  We learned that there is not a spot on the globe that they don't transport to (trust .  As part of learning about their business we also got donned in heavy parkas as we hit the storage areas and saw just how cold their day is.  Not only do they use science to make things cold (actually they don't make things cold they extract heat which makes things cold), but they use technology to flash freeze items, store food, and to track where every package goes.  We took turns touring the loading dock, becuase we needed the big coats to survive.  When all 40 of us had done the tour, we gave our sincere thank yous, and loaded up in the vans.
  Our next stop was Golden Corral for lunch.  We had a little bit of everything and a really good time getting to better know our friends from other counties.  After lunch we hit the road again to head to St. Paul's.  There we met the folks from Prestage and FLS Energy.  Prestage farms produces and processes poultry and pork to feed the world.  While FLS Energy is a full service solar company offering alternative energy solutions to home owners, business, agri-business, government and more.
  Our mission today, thanks to Summer Lanier, the Public Relations Director of Prestage, was to tour the largest hot water solar farm in the nation.  That's right in  the nation.  Scott Kelly with FLS explained how the solar pannels work, while Michael Pope explained how the solar farm project was put together, and how much money and energy it is saving Prestage.  Not to mention how much less impact they are now making on the environment with their carbon foot print.  Our youth learned how the hot water travels between the plant and the solar panels getting heated by the sun.  The plant usues a large amount of very hot water for their chicken processing operation and the solar energy is making a tremendous difference for their business.  The youth also learned how the same technology can work for their homes and other power projects.
  If you thought today was about the bottom dollar, wait until you see the monkey business we have in store for tomorrow.
    

It's a Wonder We Didn't Learn More

  It's probably the most popular week of our 4-H Summer Fun Program each and every year.  That's right it's Biotech day camp!  This year we are calling it 4-H Bio-tech 4 the Quad experiment.  It is a week full of new and exciting opportunities based on science!  For those of you not familiar with this award winning program, the premise is quite simple.  Youth from four counties (10 youth from each) get together to go to the science experts.  This is not a lecture series.  Everywhere we go is full of fun, hands on opportunities, and the chance to learn how things work in everyday life so they can use that knowledge to build on for their lifetimes.
  Our first day this week started with a very early morning and a trip to Wonder Works in Myrtle Beach, SC.  It was very exciting as we entered the topsy turvey building to begin a day of exploration.  After making it through the spinning walkway we walked into a severe weather room.  There was a hurricane shack where you could try to stand up to gail force winds, stick your hand in the freezing waters that surrounded the titanic on the night it sank, and even check out how rain falls, or does it?
     After being whipped around by the weather it was time for our youth to do a little whipping up of their own, in the sports fields.  You never really know how much science is behind anything until you see something like this.  From measuring the speed of a baseball pitch to playing virtual air hockey the science principles where everywhere.  They learned about their ability to jump and how to measure it, the kinetic energy involved in playing basketball, how levers and pulleys can make life easier.  Then the X-factor kicked in.  Our youth had the chance to get on two person cycles and pedal to turn them in a complete 360 degree circle, essentially turning themselves upside down.
    After wearing ourselves out on the first floor we climbed the steps to increase our level of hands on fun and excitement.  On the next floor there were mirrors, a bed of nails (that yes they actually laid on) lessons on probability, electromagnetism, mind control, and convex as well as concave curves and how they can change your visual impression.  Our youth had the chance to experience a virtual roller coaster and even check out the bubble room making bubbles that were truly larger than life.
   After all of that fun and excitement we headed to the party room for lunch.  We sat down to enjoy some pizza for lunch and made friends with all the folks from the other counties.  We also plotted and planned our next moves becuase we only had two hours of fun left at Wonder Works.
   After lunch we hit floor two (for those who were not finished) and floor three.  Floor three had a lot of space and aircraft simulators.  It also had space suits and the opportunity for our youth to become pilots.  the biggest attraction on the top floor, the ropes course.  This isn't a wall that you climb up and down, this is an entire floor of its own, except it doesn't have a floor.  Confused?  So were we.  Our youth got harnessed in and walked up to a course that was made of steel beams and ropes, walking up and down and all around while holding on to a safety rope that moved with them.  It was amazing as they maneuvered from one end to the other and back again.
  After testing their muscles, including their brains, it was time to load up and head home.  We hit the trail and  headed home, so we could have another day of fun tomorrow.  Wondering what our business will be tomorrow?  Stay tuned this is only going to heat up and get better.

We're Proud, We Were Loud, & We're Home!

  Friday was our last day at camp and full of mixed emotions.  Honestly, just like our safety officer for the day, Damien,  we didn't know whether to hug everyone and everything, laugh or cry.  Our tired and tuckered youth packed up their things and dragged their stuff up to the luggage drop off points around the camp.  We also enjoyed our last meal together at breakfast.  From there our normal daily schedule took another turn.

  We all headed to the rec hall for the official lost and found auction.  You would be amazed at what gets left around the camp.  Then it was time for camper awards.  Each cabin counselor called their cabins up and gave awards to each camper, from the swag award to the super camper, and even the questionator the awards were matches for each camper while they were enjoying their week of camp.  After the awards and before the goodbyes we had one more surprise.  It was time for the slide show.  Parents you have had a chance to see the photos all week, our youth however, have not seen a one.  So this brief slide show was a chance to see the photos and relive the events of the week.  It also gave everyone a chance to laugh, say, "Awwwwhhhhh,", and even shed a tear or two.  After that we dismissed by county and headed to our vehicles for our ride home.  As we hugged our counselors and hated leaving it was time to return to the ones who let us have this great opportunity.
  Thank you to all who made this happen, our parents, scholarship donors, Indian Education, and of course the staff who took such good care of us.  Stay tuned because sometime in September we will announce the dates for camp in 2013.  That will let everyone who wants to go back to go ahead and plan in advance for more fun at Betsy Jeff Penn and with 4-H.  If you would like to become more involved in 4-H give us a call at (910) 671-3276.

Singing and Dancing is Our Whole Life....

  When you think camp you might think about camp fire songs, but rarely, outside of maybe a square dance do you think of dancing.  However on our last full day of camp there was a whole lot of singing and dancing going on and we will get to that in just a minute.
  Our day started much like our others with breakfast, cabin cleanup, and figuring out the schedule of events. While our youngest campers headed toward the pool, lake, and archery range, our middle aged campers hiked up to the high ropes course.  There they had a chance to climb a rather tall pole and jump off (while safely harnessed in and attached via safety ropes to the ground), and climb up to walk across a horizontal pole and or a rope bridge.  Our adventurers were waking up at the outpost and the Trekkers made their way to Pilot mountain after canoeing the river the day before and camping out.
  Back at camp our campers had a satisfying lunch and moved on to play games, go horse back riding, try out the boulder wall and more.  Our youth who had been climbing on the ropes course were enjoying a little pool time and the Adventurers had a chance to canoe one last time.  The Trekkers left Pilot Mountain and made it back just in time for their last camp store.  Then they headed to the cabins for much needed showers (trust me they were well needed), while our other campers finished out their schedules with crafts, fossil hunting, horses, games, archery and of course the pool.

  After dinner the air had a different smell to it as our boys and girls got ready for the farewell dance.  Everyone got dressed nicely and headed to the rec hall to enjoy the music and dance.  For those who really don't like dancing there were plenty of other things to do.  The L.I.T.'s were making icees for anyone who wanted them.  There were games like corn hole, jump rope and even football going on, and just friends hanging out together enjoying the night.  I have to admit the dance was something special, becuase not only did they have music from their favorite camp D. J., Dr. Jacobs, but they had fun dancing together, putting their spin on old and new dance moves throughout the night, and just enjoying time together with friends.
  The dance marked the last activity before the closing campfire.  Everyone gathered for skits, laughs and a whole lot of smoke as the fire did its best to extinguish itself.  When it was all said and done the campers headed back to their cabins to shower, change, and start packing up.  By 10:30 it was time for lights out as our youth can dream about all the fun they had today.
  Tomorrow we will head home and may we suggest calling you local Extension office to determine what time your favorite camper will get in.  In the meantime we will let our exhausted children sleep, get them packed up and fed, and ready for our last few moments at a place they will remember a lifetime, Betsy Jeff Penn 4-H Educational Center.

Reliving Good Times? Maybe Old Times....

   How much fun can we have at camp?  Well in present times, apparently only so much but when you go back in time, at camp, it is a lip smacking, corn bread cracking, pioneer kind of a good time.  You guessed it there was something new and different on the schedule today, a visit to the colonel village.  Okay maybe not a village, but here at Betsy Jeff Penn 4-H Educational Center there is a section with an old log cabin, wood shed, campfire, and garden that will make everyone feel like they are back in the 1700's.  Our youngest youth had the chance to make cornbread over a campfire, and make their own candles, hand dipping the wicks in wax over and over to make them bigger.  They also learned about different tools that were used in the pioneer days and experienced a little bit of the life style.  Another new thing for our youngest campers today was fossil collecting.  Of course we had our usual activities such as pool time, crafts, and kickball.  Travelling back in time was a really neat adventure for these younger youth.
  Of course with our older youth they had the chance to rotate through other activities that they might not have done yet such as hiking to the beaver dam, archery, crafts, making ice cream, rock wall climbing, canoeing, horses, and more.  As you might have guessed we keep them pretty busy and active around here.
  Our adventurers worked on gps technology, prepped for their outpost trip and had a chance to work on fire building (without a Zippo).  Our trekkers had a chance to head to the hills, well actually the river.  They are headed out to canoe down a river, climb real rock walls, and sleep out in a national park.  We will not see them until Thursday afternoon.

  Of course during flag lowering the ever competitive and important gold facet and silver toilet seat were awarded to cabin three (gold) and cabin 7 (silver).  Our understanding is some young men will be getting up early to make doubly sure they win the competition tomorrow.  
After dinner it was time to make our way to the rec hall for the annual Talent Show!  Not only did we have singers, rappers, dancers, gymnasts, and karate demonstrators, but we had some humor as well.  As a testimate to how incredible wonderful this staff is, they made sure to entertain the audience between acts.  At one point one of the counselors dressed like a chicken and even pecked at some of the agents.  That was right be fore the chicken fact act got up to do her thing.  At another point some of the brides maid fashions of the camp director appeared on the make staff members in honor of, well we have no idea, but it was very entertaining, and brave of those guys to appear in peach and purple.
  After the talent show it was time to head back to the cabins, take showers, and lay heads on pillows.  It was a long day of new adventures and we are looking forward to what our last full day has in store.  Mom and dad not to worry we will be home soon, but we are having a ball in the meantime, and we will tell you all about it when we return.  

Slip Slidin' Away

  If you thought Monday was fun, watch out!  Tuesday at Betsy Jeff Penn 4-H Camp was jam packed with new challenges, new friends, and some wild activities that might have gotten our campers a little wet.  Our second day of camp started with our younger campers participating in morning activities such as; canoeing, shooting arrows at archery, making ice cream, swimming in the pool and making crafts.  While our middle aged campers (makes them sound like they are in their 30's and 40's doesn't it?) jumped in the pool and rode horses.  However it was our adventurer and trekkers that hiked up to the ropes courses to test their mental and physical strengths, challenging themselves on the ropes course.

The ropes courses are really neat and hard to visualize through photos.  There are a series of different challenges, all rather high up in the air.  Please don't worry, each camper is wearing a helmet and a harness with multiple safety lines, as they climb telephone poles, trees, and ladders to reach these challenges. One challenge involved the campers climbing a telephone pole, standing on the top of it, and then jumping off to try to catch a swing, and swing in the air.  Other challenges include the youth climbing up to walk on a variety of rope bridges between the trees.  Their absolute favorite, is the zip line.  Youth climb a tree to a platform and get hooked to a rope.  They push off and slide down a rope tied between trees often yelling at the top of their lungs, as well as some of our 4-H Agents.  Feel free to check out the videos posted on our You Tube page.



  After lunch the younger campers went on a hike to he beaver damn, went swimming, workout on the boulder wall, and well had cabin choice on what activity to do.  As the afternoon went on there was also a compass activity, teaching them how to use a compass, and one of their favorites, kickball.  After camp store the Adventurers had the opportunity to go to the outpost and cook their dinner over a campfire.  The trekkers continued practicing their skills by getting in the lake with the canoes.
  After dinner some of our campers went on a night hike and enjoyed a campfire, complete with s'mores.  While our middle age campers enjoyed water sports.  There was no rain tonight so they had the chance to be in the pool, swim in the lake, and enjoy the slip and slide.  
The slip and slide is nothing more than a humongous sheet of plastic that is wet and made slippery with liquid dish detergent.  The camper get a running start and slide down on their stomachs.  Needless to say some wanted to see how fast they could go, while others were going for distance.
    By the end of the night everyone was exhausted and ready to hit the showers and their beds.  Wednesday is a whole new day of activities and possibilities, so it is time for sweet dreams for everyone as we make the halfway mark of our time, which is also slip slidin' away, at camp.  It won't be soon before we are thinking about heading home.

Our Very First Day...

Monday marked our very first and very full day at Betsy Jeff Penn 4-H Camp.  We started early with breakfast and flag raising and after our stomachs were full and the official duties were finished our campers hit the camp hard.  Our younger campers started with Arts and Crafts making their very own spirit sticks.  They also had a chance to hit the archery range, learn safety rules and take their first shot at the target.  Some of our lucky campers started their day in the pool which made them very happy.  Others started by hiking to the beaver dam, riding horses, and of course our oldest members hit the lake in canoes.
  After 10 everyone switched activities and they even added a little kickball, boulder wall, and ice cream making into the schedule at this point.  I have to interject that the boulder wall is brand new at BJP.  It is different from the rock wall in that the rock wall allows a youth to climb up and repel down (the rock wall is on the water tower if that gives you any idea of how tall it is.  The boulder wall is only about six to seven feet tall but 30-40 feet long.  The youth get a workout looking for holds so they can move from one side of the wall to the other without touching the ground.
  By 11:30 our youngest members were enjoying a pizza lunch while our older campers were working on canoeing skills, team working skills on the rope course and horse back riding.  Then it was time for the older youth to enjoy lunch while the younger campers took to the boulder wall, had a free choice for activity, and made it out to the archery range while the rest made it to the craft shelter to work on their spirit sticks.
  By 1:45 they were switching activities again, making sure everyone had a chance to do everything today.  2:45 marked time for camp store (ice cream, drinks, chips, and a little free time socialization).  Then it was off to finish up the days activities before dinner.
  The younger youth enjoyed taco night while our older campers had a chance for a rest.  Several of our campers (and even an LIT) said that they took a well deserved nap, and really enjoyed it.  Then the groups switched and the younger youth rested while the older ones enjoyed dinner.  By 7 pm everyone made their way back to the flag pole for flag lowering and the announcement for the cleanest cabin.  You see this is a competitive award between the cabins.  Each morning the campers make their beds, clean up their spaces, mop the floors, clean the bathrooms and do their best to have the cleanest cabin.  While everyone is at the first activity the 4-H agent go through each cabin (with a score sheet) to determine the winner.  The first place winner gets the coveted gold faucet, while the second place winner receives the ever popular silver toilet seat (honest I am not creative enough to make this up on my own).  Today the first place winners were cabin one (the youngest of the girls) while second place went to cabin 5 (the youngest group of boys).
  After cheering and jeering it was time for the majority of campers to head to the evening activity of water sports, while the Earth and Sun groups prepared to camp out and the adventurers and trekkers hit the boulder wall.   Water sports involve pool games, a slip and slide and swimming in the lake (with a life jacket on).  Unfortunately, just a few minutes in the thunder started so everyone headed to the recreation hall for games.  With a little patience, some really cool games, and some cooperation from mother nature about 20 minutes later we were able to resume our fun.  Unfortunately due to the new time line the slip and slide was taken out of rotation and we just enjoyed the pool water and lake water.
  After being a little water logged, and having our evening snack (as one camper said, we sure do eat a lot here) it was 9:30 and time to head back to the cabins.  Tired feet shuffled across the camp and made their way back to the cabins for showers, making sure suits and towels were hung up and then the heads hit pillows and gentle little snores (and some not so gentle) could be heard coming from all the cabins.
  It was a fun day and there is no doubt there were dreams of the fun that was had and the fun that is coming in the days ahead.