Popcorn

This article was written by our own Shea Ann DeJarnette for the Robesonian and can also be located on our website.

I wanted to do something light to start off the new year.  A coworker suggested an article on popcorn.  Although I always love a challenge, I really wasn’t sure where to go with that.  However, the more I thought about it, the more it became an analogy for our youth in 4-H.  So if you can bear with me, I think you will receive that satisfying, buttery, salty crunch by the end of this article.

Popcorn is considered a whole grain and, depending on how you make it, can be considered healthy.  Robeson County 4-H is a bit like that; we actually teach our youth how to make healthy food choices.  Over the years, some of my favorite E-mails or calls have come as a result of our Expanded Foods and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP).  Tamika McLean, Youth EFNEP Associate with North Carolina Cooperative Extension, Robeson County Center, goes into classrooms and works with youth on making healthy choices, increasing their physical activity, and letting them sample and even make their own healthy snacks.  I love opening my E-mail or getting a call from a parent who tells me their child “took” them to the grocery store to buy all the ingredients to make a snack for the entire family at home, and it was good.  Now the entire family will be eating a little healthier.

This amazing snack food is also versatile.  It can be used for decoration in its popped and un-popped states, and some folks use it for packing material (seriously, that’s why the styrofoam peanuts are referred to as popcorn).  Robeson County 4-H is also versatile.  For some youth, the traditional year-round club is a staple in their lives; others work primarily with our summer or school enrichment programs.  What they all have is a key for success, which is caring, highly trained adult volunteers who nurture them and give them opportunities to learn and provide research-based, hands-on curriculum that is makes learning fun.  So really, 4-H can be anything you want it to be.

Do you know the science behind the agricultural commodity of popcorn?  If the kernel, which is grown on a cob, is put in an environment where it is heated to 180 degrees Fahrenheit, the steam builds up inside of the kernel and the hull ruptures allowing a hard starch to pop out.  With our youth, we expose them to all sorts of life skills such as communication arts; goal setting; decision making; and science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), allowing them to find what works for them.  As they go through the program, they gain confidence and self-esteem.  Essentially, they pop out of their shells and grow into successful adults who give back to their communities.

So the question is, are you hungry?  Are you hungry for some wonderful popcorn? Or maybe you’re hungry to help youth become the best they can be through 4-H?  It’s a new year – maybe it’s time for you to pop into a new role?  If 4-H interests you, give us a call – we can pop some popcorn, sit down, and talk about it.

For more information, please contact Shea Ann DeJarnette, Extension 4-H Youth Development Agent with North Carolina Cooperative Extension, Robeson County Center, at 671-3276, by E-mail at Shea_Ann_DeJarnette@ncsu.edu, or visit our website at http://robeson.ces.ncsu.edu/.  North Carolina State University and North Carolina A&T State University commit themselves to positive action to secure equal opportunity regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, religion, sex, age, veteran status, or disability.  In addition, the two Universities welcome all persons without regard to sexual orientation.

Update from our Friends at the 4-H Equine Program

The December 2016 Issue of the NC 4-H Horse Program Newsletter is now available.  Please share this link with all youth, parents, coaches and leaders that have an interest in 4-H Horse Program events, activities and contests.  Several important deadlines and event details are described in the newsletter! 

Wet, Wild, and Wacky Wednesday

 Hard to believe it is already Wednesday here at Betsy Jeff Penn 4-H Center.  Our campers are having a ball and suddenly realizing it won't be long until we come home.  So they are trying to speed things up so they can do it all.  Can you blame them?
  Our day started like the last few with a wake up call at 7 am and breakfast starting at 7:30.  On the menu today?  Bagels, eggs, and bacon.  Yummmmmmmmmmy!  Then it is out to the flag pole for flag raising, cabin cleanup and headed out to activities.  On the agenda for our younger youth today; bugs, pool, canoeing, and crafts.  Not all at the same time however.  Our Sun group started with archery and bolder wall climbing before jumping in the pool.
Some folks have asked in the past what the difference is between the rock wall and the boulder wall, and there is actually a difference.  Both are man made climbing walls.  The rock wall you climb vertically while the boulder wall you are a few feet off the ground climbing horizontally.  Our youth love both walls and find them both very challenging.  Our adventurers found themselves learning how to use an old fashioned compass today as well as gps while the oldest group of campers, the trekkers traveled to the Dan River for their offsite trip.
  After a tasty lunch of meatball subs, and mozzarella sticks our campers hit the dusty trail to try their hand at fossils, kickball, and much more.  Our adventurers got to get crafty and start prepping for their trip to the outpost.  The outpost is away from the main campus of the camp and the youth have the opportunity to cook their diners open an open fire and sleep in tents, which they help set up
  You may have noticed that there is one activity not mentioned on our blog and that is high ropes.  The ropes course is a favorite of campers and we even mentioned it before we left.  What we did not know until we got here was that a devastating storm came through the camp two to three weeks ago and pretty much destroyed the course.  The camp has started the long and arduous process of getting the course fixed and safe again, but it will not happen this week.  Instead our youth have had a chance to do other activities such as kickball, and fishing (we think the only thing they have caught is the rumor of a 9 lb bass).  Can't really beat that.  Mother Nature did show her wet side again today with a brief thunderstorm.  Fortunately things cooled off just a bit making it perfect weather for what was ahead.
  After a nutritious dinner that included teriyaki chicken and rice, it was time to get ready for the big event of the evening.  It was talent show time!  Hosted by the triple mint triplets we had a blast enjoying the talents of our youth.  They sang, danced, cracked jokes, tumbled, demonstrated shadow puppets, did bird calls,
and yes even solved a rubrics cube all in the name of entertainment.  Everyone had a blast and enjoyed a night of incredible talent.  After all of that it was time for showers and bed.  One more full day before we head home and we
plan to make the most of it.

Terrific Tuesday

  Tuesdays are great days at Betsy Jeff Penn (BJP) 4-H Center because our campers are pretty confidant that they know what they are doing, where they are going, and they can let loose and have even more fun.
  Our campers got up bright and early to get dressed and do their chores before heading to breakfast.  There they were greeted with pancakes and sausage.  We also have a cereal and fresh fruit buffets for those who are not into other breakfast foods.  After stomachs were fueled for a busy day our youth paused in the pits for flag raising then it was off to a day of fun.
  Our younger youth hit the lake for canoeing and then ran up the hill to enjoy the pool.  Other campers enjoyed the boulder wall, archery, and the beaver hike all before lunch.  The older campers had a morning on the horses, rock wall climbed, fished, and even had time to get a little crafty.  All of this before lunch.
  Lunch seemed to make everyone happy with a make your own chicken sandwich, tator tots, and of course the salad bar.  Mom's and dad's don't worry we are eating well.  Some of us eat so well we just have to have a nap, even before we get back to the cabins.
  After lunch it was time to hit the activities we had not done yet.  So for those who had done it all we threw in the compass course, kickball, and the ever popular trip to the outpost (which was primarily for our Adventurers).  Camp store gave us a chance to talk to everyone and enjoy and cool beverage and a snack.
  As we began to wind down we headed back to our activities and then it was time to think about food again.  Tonight's dinner was BBQ chicken, green beans, mac and cheese, and corn bread followed by chocolate pudding.  After which Mother Nature must have been a little upset that we didn't save her anything because she made sure that flag lowering happened in the rec hall and we learned some new dance moves.
  As soon as she was gone we headed to our evening activities which included water games, campfire smores, and for our trekkers they had the opportunity to get ready for their big trip which we can tell you more about tomorrow.
  After all that fun we retired to our cabins for showers and to hit the hay.  Can't wait to see what Wednesday has to bring.  

First Day Down

  Our first full day at Betsy Jeff Penn 4-H Camp and we started the day by jumping up, cleaning up, and heading to breakfast.  Once our stomachs were full with biscuits, bacon, and eggs.  Then it was time for flag raising.  A very important part of our tradition at camp is raising the American, North Carolina, and 4-H flags.  Once that is done it is a signal to head a variety of directions for our daily activities.

  First up, for our youngest campers there was crafts and pool.  Who doesn't want to jump into that refreshing water when your morning starts around 80 degrees?  Those crafting were using paper plates to make a very decorative flying saucers.  While our younger campers were enjoying those activities the older youth were at the horses and enjoying the boulder wall.  The adventurers and Trekkers were working on teams courses, ground initiatives and canoes.
  Needless to say our campers worked up quite an appetite.  So they were ready when lunch came around and even happier when they found out lunch was pizza.  To go with it was a veggie tray that included carrots and celery for everyone.
  After lunch our youth got a chance to rest before heading back out in the heat and working their way through their list.  For the younger campers Archery, boulder wall, Horses, and crafts were on the agenda.  For the older youth the beaver hike, and pool were on tap.  The trekkers, our oldest campers, had the opportunity to work on the teams course.

  During the middle of the afternoon all the youth had the opportunity to take part in camp store.  There they could buy ice cream,  a drink, and or a snack to refresh their afternoon.  Many of them enjoyed the choices and the opportunity to enjoy some down time and talk with friends.
  After the days activities were completed it was time for dinner. Turkey tacos graced the tables and quickly found a home in our campers stomachs.  To go with it was corn as well as chips and salsa.  Needless to say our campers deserved a nap after all of that, instead we had flag lowering and the announcement of the cleanest cabin.  The winner receives the coveted golden faucet and second place received the silver toilet seat.  These are highly sought awards among the campers and they work hard to earn them.
  After dinner the campers had an evening full of activities.  For our younger campers they hit the water carnival trail with slip and slides, lake time, and pool time.  One group went to the pioneer cabin for old fashioned s'mores and games.  The adventurers worked on compass reading and the Trekkers were on the climbing wall doing a fantastic job of scaling that large structure.  Mother Nature decided to throw a bit of a fit and a small thunderstorm moved everyone to the rec hall for camp songs, snack, and music.  After a full day our campers made it back to the cabins, showered and got ready for bed.  What a day and there are still more adventures ahead.  Stay tuned for tomorrow.

Kicking It Off Right

  All I can say is WOW!  It has been a fun and full day for our 4-H campers.  We started early this morning at the Robeson County Extension office and our campers gave hugs and waved goodbye as they loaded the bus and we ventured to Betsy Jeff Penn 4-H Education Center (BJP) in Reidsville, NC.  We made a brief stop in Richmond County and picked up a few more campers then headed straight to lunch in Asheboro.  We stopped at a crowd favorite, Golden Corral, where we knew even the pickiest of eaters would be able to find something to sooth a hungry stomach.  After several compliments on how well behaved our campers were, it was time to load the bus and head to BJP.  It only took about another hour and half before we arrived at our final destination.
  The excitement of what was about to come could be felt in the air as our campers grabbed their personal belongings and headed toward the meeting zone under the flags.  As campers converged at the flag pole you could tell they were excited but apprehensive.  What cabin will I be in, will I know anyone in my group?  As they got checked in they were assigned to groups by age.  Head, Heart, Hands, Earth, Sun, Adventurer, Trekker is how they are split up for the week.  Although there were some wanting to switch before we began, I would say all of them were happy with their groups by 7:00 pm.  After unpacking in the cabins the campers had the chance to take a camp tour, meet each other and head to the ball field for an enormous cookout.  Needless to say any and all of them can bond over food.  On the menu tonight; hot dogs, chips, baked beans, watermelon, and chocolate chip cookies.  The youth devoured their meal and played games in the ball field until it was time to head to introductions.
  We all moved to the rec hall and the counselors had a chance to introduce themselves.  then it was time for a little more informal introduction among our campers as they danced.  The first dance was one they made up as part of a Get Fit campaign.  The rest was time to dance and mingle, making new friends and reuniting with old ones.
  While our campers where in the rec hall our adventurers hit the wall.  Literally.  They donned helmets, harnesses, and apprehension as they tackled the rock wall.  They started working together as a team cheering each other up the wall and helping with the safety lines.
  When they were done everyone headed to the campfire.  Youth got a chance to hear stories, sing songs, and be a part of skits.  It was a fun filled night for campers and staff alike.  After getting their fill of a real campfire, smoke, flame and all they hit the showers to start getting ready for tomorrow.  Some of our campers even got a special goodnight grandma hug from our camp director's grandma who is visiting (I think she has had just as good a time as our campers tonight).  Monday will be a fun filled day for everyone, so its time for us to get some sleep...more tomorrow.

Celebrating Independence at Millstone

  Monday may have been July 4th but that didn't stop us from having a great camp this week.  We did take Monday off for the holiday but started our our awesome camp on Tuesday.  We left the Robeson office bright and early to head to Millstone 4-H camp in Ellerbe, NC.  It is a bit of a drive but the camp experience is worth it.  To give you a better understanding there are more than 60 youth attending camp ranging in age from 9-13.  The youth come from Hoke, Anson, Montgomery, Richmond, Scotland, and Robeson Counties for this event.

  After getting checked in and getting to know each other our groups were spilt up by age into the head, heart, hands, and health groups.  Each group rotated activities between swimming, nature hike, archery, and team building.  According to our youth their favorite activity was getting in the pool and cooling off.  We have to give our campers credit, it was over 100 degrees and they were having so much fun, not a one complained about the heat.
  After a snack and drink from the camp store our youth settled in for a spirited game of capture the flag which took up the sports feild and parts of the camp.  It was a lot of fun and our youth were exhausted, staying very quiet on the way home (except for a bit of snoring).
  We are looking forward to another fun filled day tomorrow so stay tuned to our blog for more details.