Wrapping up the Fun

As I write this I am thinking of the fun we have had this week and all the work ahead of us in the next few hours. But I digress. Let us share what happened today before we talk about tomorrow.

We started this fantastic day with our traditional breakfast and flag raising before heading off to the days activities. With the trekkers making their way back to camp and the adventurers waking up at their camp site the rest of the campers had a special treat. A hay ride to the home of Betsy and Jeff Penn, our 4-H camp's namesake. Their historic home which is right around the corner from the camp is called Chinqua Penn Plantation. It was built by Betsy and Jeff Penn in the 1920's and is filled with artifacts from all their travels around the world. Photos can not be taken in the house but outside, around the grounds is another story. This is considered one of the top ten best preserved historical homes in the state. Both Jeff and Betsy are buried on the grounds of the home they loved so dearly. The Penn's had no children together but loved children so after Jeff's death Betsy ultimately donated the property for the camp we are attending this week. After touring the immense house, the youth took a hike back to camp which highlighted the farming operation of Chinqua Penn.

After the tour it was time for lunch. What more could a child want other than corn dogs at camp. After that it was time to go back to some of our favorite activities. Some people took to the rock climbing wall while others were horseback riding, swimming in the lake, or even line dancing. The day was filled with everyone's favorite activities. Of course we can't forget our final camp store session where everyone got to spend all their money left on their cards.

To wind the day up we had a special dinner. Barbecued chicken, fresh corn on the cob, carrots and peas, creamy scalloped potatoes and rolls were the first course of our final dinner. You would think it couldn't get any better, but you would be wrong. It was followed by fresh peaches served over yellow cake with whipped cream on top. It was so good some of the campers were begging for more.

After dinner we were begging for the rain to stop. It seems after a nearly perfect weather week mother nature decided right before the dance to open up and douse everyone with a much needed storm. Not that it seemed to dappen the campers spirit any becuase they were dancing up a storm. However Morther Nature must have been thinking of the campers because within an hour the storm had passed and we were still able to have our final campfire.
It wouldn't be camp without a traditional camp fire.

Then it was off to the cabins to shower and start getting their gear in order. Many campers were exchanging phone numbers and collecting addresses so they can keep in touch after camp. In the morning we will be tired of packing, excited to come home, and sad to leave all our new friends. It will be a long ride back but we will all have some new memories to share with our loved ones at home.

Stay tuned because there are still a couple of things left to do Friday before we board the buses and we wouldn't want you to miss them.

Middle of the Week Definately Not Middle of the Road

We might have hit the middle of the week but our activities are anything but ordinary today. We started early this morning with a hot breakfast of french toast, sausage, and fresh fruit. As our volunteer Missy said, "it was pretty darn good." Then after our flag raising and cabin cleanup (by the way cabin 7 won the golden faucet for the cleanest cabin, and cabin 3 won the silver toilet seat for the second cleanest cabin) it was off to a day of activities.

The Trekkers, our oldest campers, headed to Pilot Mountain for their overnight adventure. They will have the opportunity to hike, river canoe, repel, and sleep under the stars. Not to mention cook a real campfire dinner over a real wood fire. The adventurer group, the next oldest group of campers, is camping out here at camp. They also had the added opportunity to work on GPS tracking today and Geo caching. Camp has gotten so high-tech.

Tonight our regular campers had the opportunity to take part in our annual camp talent show. We were treated to story telling, duck calls, violin playing, singing, dancing, karate demonstrations, double jointed displays, and much more. Our event was hosted by a pirate, then crashed by yet another pirate who agreed, after a dance, sword fight and parli to agree to share the hosting duties.

After our evening snack some of us had the chance to visit the moon. Staci and the camp staff set up a really neat telescope so that we could view the moon which was very visible in our evening sky. After talking with the man on the moon we headed for the showers. As the campers settled in for a good night's sleep and the counselors settled in for a well deserved rest so that we can get ready for our last full day of adventure.

Swinging into Action on Tuesday

As if yesterday was not enough fun for our campers we had to change things up today. Up being the operative word, as you will see in a moment. Our campers had a traditional breakfast with eggs, bagels and bacon before hitting the road for a whole new set of activites. Of course we had our traditional horses, canoeing and archery activites. Some campers had the chance to hit the arts and crafts shelter for some creative and bizarre tye dyeing fun. Then there were trips to the rock wall, Beaver Pond, and of course the Ropes Courses.

The agents and volunteers took a few moments out of their busy schedules to help shuck fresh corn for Thursday night's dinner and we even got a chance to make our own tye dyed t-shirts. I think they will look awesome.

There are two sets of ropes courses at Betsy-Jeff Penn a low ropes and a high ropes courses. the low ropes course allows youth to work together and develop team working skills to complete tasks. The high ropes courses allows youth to face their fears and try some really neat stuff, about 20 plus feet in the air (they are safely harnessed the entire time with an entire team anchoring them so they can not fall and hit the ground). They have one challenge that allows the youth to climb to the top of a telephone pole and jump to a swing. Another challenge has them climb up to a telephone pole that is horizontal and walk from one end to the other. Also there is a zip line which is really cool watching them fly by. The youth had so much fun and really faced their fears.

After a dinner of chicken pot pie and fresh biscuits, we headed to the flag lowering ceremony. The formal event was done by our youth who read passages about the flags and then had them lowered in an official manor. After flag raising one group headed to the pool area for water sports fun...while the others had campfires and s'mores. Once again it was an action packed day that ended with everyone in a sound sleep as I write this. Can't wait to see what tomorrow brings.

Day 1 at Camp Slides By

It was a busy day as our campers hit the ground not necessarily running but sliding by. The morning started with a hot breakfast and flag raising. After it was off to activities. Some campers climbed to new heights on the rock wall while others climed onto horses and galloped off (to the other side of the ring). Our older youth took to the woods for orientiering, canoes for canoeing of course and then there were those who felt swimming in the lake was the way to go. We had swimming tests in the pool, archery and hopefully some rest time.

After a delicious make your own taco dinner it was time for water sports. There were relay races where the youth had to spin around five times, grab a water filled sponge and race down the hill to squeeze the water into a bucket. First team to fill their bucket wins. There were relay races in the swimming pool and a wet parachute game or two. The real event of the night was the slip and slide. As youth hit the plastic sheet they sailed down toward the cabins with water hitting their bodies and grins on their faces. There were shreks of laughter everywhere as everyone played until they were exhausted.

As I type everyone is tucked into their sleeping bags and should be sound asleep resting up for all of tomorrow's action. Stay tuned for more fun notes and photos as we head into our next day of camp.

We're Back!!!!

Robeson County descended on Betsy Jeff Penn Camp Sunday afternoon and we made our presence known. When the buses rolled up, we rolled out and grabbed our stuff and checked in. We had already made new best friends within our group and among the Richmond County 4-H group which picked up along the way.

After moving into the cabins we made our way to the ball field and played all sorts of games to get to know each other. While one group played duck duck goose, another played an updated version of red rover and another played a murder mystery game. We played, ran and laughed until it was time to eat. The counselors cooked hot dogs with baked beans, chips, watermelon and chocolate chunk cookies. It was YUMMMMMMMMY!

After dinner it was time for intros of all the staff and volunteers. We learned some very interesting things about the counselors and had a lot of fun cheering on our county volunteers and agents. The Heritage Dance took the next portion of the night as everypne learned a new version of the Virginia reel and we had fun kicking up our heels. After that it was time for us to drag our weary bodies to the campfire where the counselors sang for us and presented some really funny skits. Then off to bed we went, except for one cabin that had a birthday to celebrate. The girl adventure/trekker group celebrated the birthday of Jasmine Jacobs. She turned thirteen on our first day of camp so we had an ice cream party to celebrate.

At last check all was quiet, everyone was curled up in their beds, sound asleep waiting for the next day of camp to begin.

Lighting Up the Next 100 4-H Years

Thursday is bittersweet when it comes to 4-H Congress. It is the last day that we are together and we know things are winding down. However it is also the day the allows the youth to demonstrate and celebrate their leadership skills, which is why we come to Congress in the first place.

Our morning started with inspiration as our keynote speaker inspired our youth to think of others. After that there were workshops which included topics like ethics and working with youth of different ages and stages.

After a brief lunch break the youth reconvened their meeting for the purpose of state officer elections while the adults met to tied up loose ends and talk about our third year of celebrating our centennial. With 11 running for various offices it was not surprising that two races, President and Reporter, went to a run off election. In the end the youth elected; La as President, as Michael Drake as Vice President, as John Norwood as Secretary and Ann Margaret as Reporter.

As soon as the election was decided we rushed back to the dorms to get ready for the closing banquet. The Robeson County delegation mad either presence known at the banquet as possibly the best dressed 4-H delegation in attendance. At the closing banquet the state officers made their final remarks and welcomed the incoming district and state officers. Then it was off to the Dorton arena for the oaths of offices and candle lighting ceremony.
This traditional event begins with each of the state officers lighting a candle as they take their oath and passing the flame on to district officers and they pass the flame to each youth member in attendance. When they are done passing the flame the candles make up a huge 4-H clover which ushers in the beginning of our new 4-H year.

Of course we can't just end there, we had to celebrate. So to celebrate our outgoing officers, the election of our new state officers, and usher in the next 100 years we had to do what young people like to do best...we had to dance. Everyone kicked off their shoes and enjoyed time with their old friends, new friends, and even their 4-H Agents and Volunteers. It was a celebration to remember as the delegation returned to the dorms around midnight and started packing up. Several members of our delegation are planning to return to Congress next year, wouldn't you like to be part of the fun?

4-H Makes a Difference Everyday

Wednesday is traditionally the hands to service day for 4-H members attending State 4-H Congress. This year was no different as hundreds of 4-Her's from around the state descended on a variety of nonprofit organizations and did anything and everything they could to leave a positive impression on each organization, their clients, and all the citizens of North Carolina.

Robeson County had the opportunity to join forces with Rowan, Polk, Rutherford, and Harnett Counties to make a major difference for UNC-TV. UNC-TV is a public television station located in Research Triangle Park. Like other public television stations UNC-TV is funded through contributions from viewers, corporate sponsors, and volunteers who give their time for various opportunities. Our rather large group took over several areas of the station to lend a whole bunch of hands. In the conference room we took over stuffing envelopes, and getting ready for a mass mailing. In the library we helped arrange books. In the office we helped make copies, and collated paperwork. Outside we washed vehicles, mats and 'lil Roo. For those of you who have been to the state fair you have probably seen the gigantic inflatable kangaroo that greets folks at the fair. Yes, every once in awhile that kangaroo needs a bath, and we had the fun of doing that as part of our service.

Before we left we presented several UNC-TV employees who helped us get the job done, centennial pins and took a group photo of the entire gang. They gave us all water bottles and thanked us for a job well done. Let me also add I was particularly proud of our youth who took part in this project. All day they smiled, asked what else they could do, and had the best attitude of any Congress delegation I have been a part of. They got the job done and left the impression that Robeson County youth are polite hard workers who want to make a positive difference in their world and learn while they are doing it. It was truly a privilege working with them as they accomplished a great deal today.

The afternoon contained one of the youth's favorite activities, free time. They voted to go to the mall and shop and look. After free time we travelled to Johnston County to enjoy a performance by the 4-H Performing Arts Troupe. The Troupe is made up of 4-H members from around the state and they only had six days to practice and put together an original musical performance. The performance highlighted the incredible history and present of 4-H and was absolutely incredible. Robeson County will be purchasing a recorded copy of the performance so that we can share this remarkable performance and talent showcase with all of you.

Stay tuned because we aren't done yet...it is going to be one heck of a celebration on Thursday and we have a lot of business yet to complete.