A Trip to the Theater

Our third day of 4-H Creativity Day Camp brought a whole new experience for our young campers.  We headed to the Carolina Civic center this morning for a whole new type of fun.  We were greeted at the historic theater by the artist in residence Kendrix Singletary.  There is gave us a tour of the theater and a bit if it's history while educating our day campers about the theater.  After the tour our youth got, what they were really hoping for, their chance at the stage.  Lead by the Artist in Residence our youth all spoke from the stage, worked on acting, loosening up, and had a ball with their various improve games that were lead.  Some of them really surprised us as they came out of their shells and became entirely new characters and evoked a great deal of energy.  We had such a good time at the theater that our campers didn't want to leave.  After promises of a chick fillA  lunch we finally pried them off the stage and into the vans.

After a wonderful lunch and fairly animated conversation over lunch our actors and actresses took on a new role, that of student.  Joined by 4-H Volunteer Jane Hurst our youth got the opportunity to learn how to finger crochet and arm knit.  Each youth made different types of neck swag.  From chunky infinity scarves to necklaces our youth left with really cool projects that they made on their very own.  

All in all it was a day that we stitched up, tomorrow? Well that's something we will throw down on tomorrow.  All we know  ow is that we need to take a brief spin.  Stay tuned....

Tying Up the Drama

Day two of 4-H Creativity Day Camp allowed us to do some colorful and sticky things.  We started our Tuesday off by tying up the loose ends of handkerchiefs and doing some seriously bright tie dying.  We learned how the different ways we tie things up would determined the pattern on our handkerchiefs.  As we had at it with rubber bands ands and a whole lot of twisting and turning we took our time creating our unique patterns, only to realize as the dye took over it would create its own pattern.  After brightening it all up we put our creations in plastic bags and let it sit outside until the end of the day.  Then it was on to the next project.

This is where things got sticky.  As we broke out the duct tape we did our best to make a material out of the duct tape so we could make our own bookmarks.  We made big ones with fringe and used paper clips as bookmarks and duct tape fringe. We had so much fun playing with the sticky rolls that we made bunches of the to take home.

After getting out of this sticky I situation it was time for a lunch break.  After our stomachs were full we headed back in to break up in groups and write and direct our own movies.  The topics were varied and the direction ranged from simple to complex.  We had one movie base on bullying at school, another one was a comedy based on generational differences.  One group took on a dramatic fight scene based on Greek mythology.  Of course their favorite part was filming, with each group having different ideas on what they would be shooting and how it would look.

  After our film experience we sat down to enjoy a well deserved snack and some entertainment.  Our bright colored entertainment had to do with the unveiling of our tie dyed creations.  It was like the Fourth of July as we opened up each handkerchief.  The ohhhhhhssss and aaaaahhhhhssss were tremendous as each unique design was unfurled. 

  When we got done it was time to go home.  We all knew the fun was just beginning as we prepared for a whole new creative experience tomorrow.

Generating Creativity by Reducing and Reusing

  Today marks the first day of 4-H Creativity Day Camp and the last week of summer fun for our 9-13 year olds.  Our campers started the day with creating a few rules to make sure everyone had a good time then got down to business and literally buttoned up our first project.

   With a blank canvas in front of them, thousands of buttons (that's right buttons, like on your shirt, button up your blue jeans, buttons) and a bottle of glue we told them to get their juices flowing.  The youth looked a little stunned but then after spending a few moments playing with the buttons they were off and running.  Pencils sketched out their preliminary plans and buttons were flying as sizes and colors were picked out.  We had everything from the most abstract of designs to top hats and dolphins.  Our youth really took to the project, and those who protested in the beginning were asking if they could do another.

  It didn't take long for us to load up and head to Fayetteville for lunch.  Golden Corral was our stop for to today and our youth found plenty to eat.  A they split up at tables they got the chance to talk and get to know each other which made our next stop even more fun.

  Fighting Fayetteville traffic we headed to Just Clayin' Around.  This is a little shop that offers stoneware (ceramics) to be painted.  Our youth chose everything from tiles to airplanes, puppy dogs to unicorns to paint.  While they were painting they received quite an education.  They learned the difference between green ware and stoneware, how to fire items, and how their figurines were made in molds.  They also learned that to have bright colors they have to paint three coats of their paint.  Although our pieces look neat now, we can't wait until next week to see what the final finished product will look like.  Wee really appreciate The owner, Stephanie, taking the time to talk with us and telling us how she got involved in this business and some of the tips that she has had to make her business successful.  It is obvious that she loves what she does and we love spending our afternoon with her.

  Today was a little sticky and required a great deal of vision.  Tomorrow will require a moving vision and  faith in our projects as we tackle some new creativity.  Stay tuned.

We Admit...It Does Smell A Little Fishy.

Mother Nature may have tried to make our last day of 4-H Biotech day camp all wet but we didn't let her get the best of us.  Our campers hit the road early today as we travelled to Fort Fisher Aquarium outside of Wilmington, NC.  On the way to our destination the skies opened up and the storms hit causing the aquarium to cancel our educational crabbing experience due to safety.  That was ok.  It just meant more time for our campers to explore the aquarium.

  We started at the entrance by introducing ourselves to an alligator and explored some native aquatic, and not so aquatic animals from there.  There were alligators, turtles, and even an eagle waiting to be seen.  A few steps further in and we were having conversations with turtles and petting stingrays and horseshoe crabs.  It was quite an adventure.  As we headed to see all parts of the aquarium we stopped by to visit with one of the divers and check out his equipment (by check out we mean try on and walk around in it) and ask all sorts of questions.  Before lunch we did have a little time to check out the educational session on sharks in the moray eel cave.  Lots of great information on our favorite predictor of the sea.

  The sunshine came out just in time for us to enjoy our lunch outdoors.  Shark Bites, the aquarium cafe, prepared a bag lunch complete with burgers, chips, and a bottle of water for each of us.  After our entertaining lunch with the birds (seriously the birds swooped down to hang with us), we were ready to head back inside.

  First on our list was cozying up to the nurse sharks as we reached into their tank to let them.  All of us came out with all digits in tact.  Of course we had to check out the jellyfish, because they are awesome, and the rest of the displays with fish, stingrays, and our favorite turtles.  At one thirty we headed back to the eel cave to learn about turtles.  Did you know that they have a brain the size of your thumb?  That's what makes it hard for them to determine if they are eating human floating trash, or their favorite food of jellyfish.  We also learned that it is important for us to recycle and keep things clean so as not to harm the environment.  

  After the turtle workshop we got ready for the main show which takes place in the main tank.  The divers went into the aquarium with all the fish, eels, sea turtles, and fish to educate a large group on the amazing feature.  We learned tha the windows are actually made from acrylic and are eight inches thick to hold in the huge amount of water used in the display.  Through technology the diver was able to talk with us from inside the tank and we even asked questions to see if we could stump the diver.  Our own Laci was able to stump both the diver and the educator, asking if sharks are afraid of dolphins.  We did learn that the reason there are not dolphins in the display is that they do not have enough room to adequately take care of them.  

  After the program it was time to head back and fill out our evaluations before saying our goodbyes.  Yes, it was a long week of travel but more importantly it was a week of fun and learning.  One suggestion from one of our campers....to have biotech for two weeks next year.  We will have to see about that.

Problem Solving at its Finest

  It gets harder each day to make sure our 4-H Biotech Day Campers have a new experience that we hope they will never forget, and along the way they just happen to learn something while having fun.  This morning we worked on our team building skills playing games like rock paper scissors (on steroids) and human bowling.  Once our counterparts from Hoke and Bladen Counties joined us we had a special guest to join us, Detective Kevin Graham from the Robeson county Sheriff's Office.  Detective Graham talked with our group about forensics, processing crime scenes, and his experiences in law enforcement.

   After a quick snack we were up and working on our problem solving skills.  Playing games that made us find a way to pass a hula hoop around a circle without using our hands, finding ways to lower a hula hoop without tipping it, using only the pads of our fingers, and other such fun that illicted smiles, and laughter to fill the entire auditorium.  It was a great morning of learning and fun.

  We took a brief break to eat (we do that a lot in a case you haven't noticed) lunch.  On today's menu, pizza, corn, and fresh watermelon.  It was a great time to sit down and share a meal with our new friends.  After lunch it was time to get down to some serious business.

  We were informed that a crime had been committed on the patio of a two bedroom, one bathroom home near the beach.  We all traveled to the crime science (out back of the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Office) and had five minutes to observe everything.  When we came back in we had to write down everything we noticed.  When we went back out our eight groups were assigned sections of the crime scene to process.  We drew sketches of our grids and collected what was the before heading back in to process our evidence.

  When we got inside our chief gave us some more information that had been collected.  Our victims body, which officers said did not have an signs of trauma or blood disappeared on the way to this morgue.  There is a rumor that the victim is not dead, and has been seen at a nearby gas station but that had not been confirmed.  We were given case files with suspects, their statements, footprints, and fingerprints.  It turns out our victim was not nice yet very rich and all of our suspects were not only with him when the incident occurred but also mentioned in his will.  Armed with this information and the evidence collected it was up to our day campers to tell us what happened.

  A our campers got up at the end of the day and delivered their scenarios, everyone had a different idea and story on how it happened, who did it, and if our victim was alive or dead.  It was a great day as they demonstrated critical thinking skills.  At the end of the day we celebrated our hard work with a snack and the. Our visiting counties headed home.  

  One more day left of 4-H Biotech day camp....what will happen tomorrow???  Hmmmmm....the answer smells a little fishy.

One Small Step for Man...One Large Step for 4-H Biotech

  Every once in awhile our best plans don't always work out.  Wednesday for our 4-H Biotech Day Camp was just that way.  However we are all in agreement that our rearranged schedule worked out just fine.  We started the day by meeting at the Robeson County Office where we played a variety of team building and communication games that would come in handy for later.
   Our first adventure of the day was to head to the Robeson County Planetarium where we took part in a program about the Hubble Telescope.  We learned about everything from stars, galaxies, and constellations, to how a telescope really works.  It was impressive knowing that science thought of years ago are helping us explore the universe today and constantly challenging our knowledge.
  After our incredible program our group was a little hungry.  So we headed to Golden Corral where everyone could find a little something to make their stomachs happy.  Our youth split up and we were no longer separated by county lines as our day campers reached out to make friends and are looking forward to seeing each other, each day.
  After lunch we loaded back up in the vans and headed to the Lumber River State Park.  There we met with Park Ranger Ronnie.  He told us all about the state park and introduced us to some of the animals that live there.  None of these animals were hunted and killed, becuase they are safe in the state park.  Some were killed by automobiles, or other instances and are now on display so youth like our day campers can learn what these animals look like (and how big they can get).  When Ranger Ronnie was finished with our youth it was time for us to do a little science at the park.
  We headed down to the Lumber River and learned all about black water rivers.  Then it was time to do a little natural magic.  Armed with mason jars, coffee filters, cups, and bowls (not to mention what was around us) we set out in teams to build water filters and filtered the river water, into what we hope would be drinkable (although we didn't try).  Our filters took many forms and we tried several types before we found something that worked.  The teams did great jobs and were able to make a noticeable difference with their filtered river water.
  After all that it was time to head back to the office and start processing what is coming up tomorrow...everyone is getting ready to bring their magnifying glasses with them as we solve the puzzle of What's Up? tomorrow.

Watch Out Raleigh

We're baaaaack!  That's right day two of 4-H Biotech Day Camp found us back in Raleigh today.  Our first stop  did not exist when we did this five years ago, Hunt Library on North Carolina State University's Campus.  Although our group was not so sure about going to a library, the first thing they saw when they got there changed their minds about libraries in general.  The book bot is a robot that fetches books from rows of stainless steal drawers.  Each drawer holds more than 100 books, cataloged with bar codes.  When a student or other library user orders a book from their smart phone (yes, the library has an app) the robot pulls the book, hands it off to a human library worker who labels it and places it on the check out shelf.  It takes two minutes from the time to choose a book to when it is available for pickup.  The book bot has access to over two million books.  Now parents if you are wondering if the Dewey decimal system still exists, well it does with about a thousand books on the shelves in the library.

  The other thing we learned about this research library is that books are just one of the many features. Did you know that the library has more than 100 different types of chairs, in more than 80 colors?  If that doesn't impress you maybe the technology room will.  This is a room where you can come and see the different technology that is available for you to check out, everything from laptops, to iPads, and even gaming systems.  Wait there is more.  They have a technology room that shows each time someone, anyone in the world makes a change to Wikipedia, and will also show newspapers from around the room.  We had to admit that was really cool but the next room was so cool it made UNC die hearts change their future school of choice to NCSU.  The gaming room can allow users to play and design games.  Classes are held in this special room that has special glass walls.  With a tap of her smart phone the librarian turned the glass white so you can not see in or out.  All the gaming gadgets in this room had our young gamers ready to submit their college applications today.

  After that technology buffet it was time go think about a food buffet.  We loaded up in the vans and headed to Fountain Dining Hall for a lunch of many choices.  We ate just like, and along with, college students.  Burgers, pizza, hot dogs, chicken, and other selections we on the menu.  The highlight was probably the NCSU soft serve ice cream, made fresh across the street.  Such good stuff.  

  After digesting it was time to head to Pullen park to meet with a mad scientist.  Truly a mad day of experiments that centered around dry ice.  Our mad scientist, with Mad Science, made George Washington shiver as he crossed the Delaware or at least while she had a quarter sitting on the dry ice.  Ice bubbles, shampoo bubbles, gasses, sublimation, and all sorts of new science terms and fun.  When our and scientist was done we each got cups to take home with us.  Our cups change color when there is something really cold in them, you know like dry ice.

  After a great day of fun it was time to head home and start thinking about our adventures tomorrow....I wonder if we will need safety gear tomorrow for experiments???