All Around Resistance?

  Thursday marked the monthly meeting of the All Around All Stars 4-H Arts and Crafts Club.  Although I would love to tell you that this is one of our more relaxed clubs, I must say this meeting had a whole lot of resistance going on.  That's becuase they were working on resistance paintings.  Using doilies the members made an arrangement then sprayed it with clear gloss coating.  When it had dried the doilies were picked up, and all the holes in the doilies were preserved on the paper.  Using water paints they did a decorative painting and the paint would not stick where the gloss coat was left behind creating a new and interesting texture to their work.
  The club will meet again on September 5, at the 4-H office.  If you would like more information about this or any other club please contact the 4-H staff at (910) 671-3276.

Big Screen Science

It felt like we were on Hollywood time as we jumped in the van early today to head on our fourth day of adventures.  Today were were headed to Raleigh to meet up with our Bladen and Hoke County cohorts.  We started the day at IMAX where were got to enjoy a double feature of "Flight of the Butterflies 3-D" and "Born to be Wild 3-D".  Both movies gave us incredible insights into the importance of preserving our environment as well as butterflies, orangutans, and elephants.  According to one of our campers the movies were both "equally as awesome!"

  After a wonderful lunch at the Pogo cafe housed at the IMAX theater we loaded up and headed to the Natural Science Research Center housed at the North Carolina Natural Science Museum.  There we saw the latest research up close and personal.  We had a chance to examine items in the lab, see an examination of a snake by a vet, and do our own research using touch screen computers.  It was lots of fun and exploration.

At the end of the day we loaded back up and headed home for a quick briefing about our activities for Friday.  Stay tuned for more science fun coming up!

To Space and Beyond

We had a long but great trip to Chapel Hill today to visit the campus of the other North Carolina University (4-H is part of N.C. State University so in the spirit of our organizational entity we're playing coy).  We had the opportunity to visit Moorehead Planetarium and Science Center.  There we saw the program "Solar System Odyssey."  We learned about space exploration and the importance of preserving our planet because there really aren't any other options for colonization of other planets, or moons.

  After our excellent space adventure we attended a program on earthquakes.  We learned about plates shifting and different shifts create different land formations.  We even got a chance to create different waves (P and S waves) and create our own seismic activity.  Did you know there is an earthquake every minute of the day.  Most of them are not big enough for us to feel but they are earthquakes none the less.

  When we were done learning about the movement on the planet we are on we had a picnic lunch from Chick fillet.  By that time we had to load up and head home.  It was a long but educational day 3 for 4-H Biotech Day Camp.  We did a briefing for the fun that waits tomorrow and it sounds like another day of 3-D fun.

Finding Our Future in our Past

Our second day of 4-H Biotech day camp and we didn't have to travel to far in terms of miles for our awesome learning experience.  Our first stop was at Southeastern Community College where we met with member of their biotech team to learn about future careers and how to get degrees in these potential careers.
We also learned about micro propagation.  This is where, using scientific techniques, plants can be rapidly multiplied.  Economically it is a great opportunity and also in terms of our rapid use of plant material, such a technique can be helpful to our environment.  We saw the green houses both indoor and out that house rapidly growing violets and Venus flytraps.

  We then traveled to the landfill.  Not because we needed to clean out the vans but because that is where their latest innovation is housed.  A ginormous greenhouse sits on the premise.  A greenhouse isn't a new innovation but how it is powered is.  The heaters that keep the green house warm in the winter is run from the methane gas that is generated from the decomposing waste at this landfill.  This green house had geraniums, Gerber daisies, wandering Jews, and other great plants that will be propagated for sale at a later date.

  From the green houses we travelled to the Southern Sizzler for an incredible lunch and filled our stomachs on some fine southern food. 

  Then it was a quick jump to our last stop of the day, Lake Waccamaw State Park.  There we got a lesson on the Carolina Bays.  It is still a mystery as to how the bays were created but several still have open water, but Lake Waccamaw is probably the most unusual.  Most of the lakes have a high acidity making it tough for aquatic life to survive however Lake Waccamaw is home to limestone shelves.  These shelves neutralize the water making it home to a variety of plant and aquatic life not to mention birds and alligators.  After learning about the mystery of the Lake we headed out on their boardwalk to see trees and identify the bay trees that the Carolina bays are actually famous for.  After a great walk to see the lake and learn about the wildlife there it was time to head back into the Ranger station to check out their hands on exhibits and their whale skeleton (it's pretty cool).

After all that learning it was time to load our vans and head back home to prep for tomorrow as we go where no Robeson County 4-H group has gone before.

Striking Out

Wow!  It's our first day of our fifth year of 4-H Biotech day camp and we are once again striking out for new territory.  Our group loaded up this morning and headed for the Cape Fear Serpentarium in Wilmington.  There we met the groups from Bladen and Hoke Counties who we will be traveling with this week.  We were a little early so we did a walk on the river walk and got to see all sorts of stuff in the water and learn about the economic importance of the river area to Wilmington.

  Then it was time to head into the Serpentarium.  There we saw snakes of all shapes and sizes.  We learned about venomous snakes, constricting snakes, and other reptiles.  They had iguanas, alligators, and a ,on arch lizard to see and learn about.  We also had a lot of fun talking with the parrots in the lobby area.

  After learning new and interesting facts about the reptile world we loaded up and headed to Fort Fisher Aquarium.  After our lunch at shark bites, we headed into the aquarium to see the sites.  Whether it was petting horseshoe crabs or checking out the jelly fish we had a great time.  Unfortunately we had to jump back into the vehicles after a couple of hours to head back home and prepare for our next adventure into higher education.

Coming Home

We woke up bright and early this morning to finish packing up and enjoy our last breakfast and morning together.  When we got all our luggage hauled to the appropriate spot it was time to head to the rec hall for the awards ceremony.  Every camper got a little something, whether it was the Curious George Award or Most Courageous.  Every counselor told the stories that made everyone laugh and we all sat down to watch the slide show of our events at camp.
  When we were done Damien dismissed us by county and we boarded our buses and headed home.  It's been a long week away from loved ones but please know we had a lot of fun and will remember our time at BJP forever.
  If you are interested in attending camp next year we should have dates available in August and look forward to seeing any of our campers again.  Just give us a call at the 4-H office and we will be happy to give you any information we have.

Our Last Full Day

Thursday is our last day at Betsy Jeff Penn before coming home and we made the best of it.  We hit the ground running hard this morning doing our daily chores and having fun during our activities.  We made our last attempts at canoeing archery and rock wall climbing.  Everyone made their last round through the arts and crafts area gathering up their creations to bring home and prepared for the big evening event.
 Tonight our evening activity was a dance.  Now for those who don't
dance (which is a large number of younger campers) we had games.  Balls, sidewalk chalk, and corn hole were just a few of the things available outside while campers gathered in the rec hall for music and dancing.
  One of the things that keeps the dance moving is the heat in the rec hall.  The dancers find themselves outside a great deal to cool off.  One of the traditions of cooling off on our last night are the snow cones.  Each one made with the efforts of the Leaders in Training (LIT) and it definitely made them work up a sweat.  According to the campers they did a great job and once again showed off their dedication to the overall camp experience.

After the dance and games came to an end it was time for our final campfire.  We had songs and skits while the crackle of the flames lit up the venue.  It was an awesome closing to an incredible week.  As we traveled back to our cabins to shower and back campers hugged and had a bittersweet feeling as we get ready to go home and say goodbye to our new friends, while we look forward to hugging everyone we have missed.
  Stay tuned we have just a few more adventures before we board the buses tomorrow and head home.