Passport to the World!

Sixty-eight

4-H youth and certified volunteers presented their passports at 4-H Clover Customs this summer at Camp Rotary near Monarch.  The 

4-H camp, which offered a global perspective and three-day whirlwind tour of the world, was planned by sixteen 4-H teen camp counselors who were supervised by two camp directors, Marla Holmquist and Lynda Allen, and by the two MSU Extension agents in Teton County, Brent Roeder and Jane Wolery.  The teens developed the camp theme, planned the activities, taught the classes, and supervised younger 4-H members throughout camp.  The sixteen counselors this year included Hanna Antonsen, Katelyn Antonsen, Daniel Asselstine, Delaynie Beadle, Cassidy DeBruycker, Michaela Gunderson, Honoré Holmquist, Nicholas Konen, Hannah Konen, Rebekah Major, Brigid Miller, Caroline Roeder, Watson Snyder, Zane Somerfeld and Annie Townsend. The Teton County 4-H Camp is open to    4-H members in Teton County, as well as non-members. 

Honoré Holmquist and Caroline Roeder taught about the refugee situation around the world from a child’s perspective and led the campers in creating emergency relief hygiene kits that included a thin towel (easier to dry), soap, toothbrushes, combs and nail clippers.  The kits will be donated through a world relief program.  Michaela Gunderson taught an African plant art class featuring the cassava plant and African symbols.  Nicholas Konen led a longitude and latitude string art workshop, and Cassidy DeBruycker told the legend of the Japanese lantern and guided youth in making their own lanterns.  Kirtland Briscoe taught a very fun four-person German dance, followed by Daniel Asselstine and Delaynie Beadle teaching Western two-step and jitterbug classes.  Brigid Miller taught youth how to finger knit and discussed where in the world knitting might have originated and why.  Caroline Roeder gave some earthly etiquette lessons to help 4-H members learn proper customs around the world.  Campers enjoyed an opportunity to use a bow and arrow in an archery session led by Watson Snyder.  4-H members donned gumball leis that Rebekah Major taught them how to make, along with learning the Polynesian art of hula dancing.  Hannah Konen helped youth learn recycling and paper making skills, along with some global communications games.  Youth were able to sample an important world protein source, crickets, during Hanna Antonsen’s class on planet proteins.  Youth also learned about pulse crops and that this is the Year of the Pulse.  Katelyn Antonsen taught youth to make dream catchers, a Native American tradition.  To provide fun, active breaks, Kirtland Briscoe taught some games from around the world, and Annie Townsend coordinated a version of 4-H Olympic Games.  Kirtland Briscoe also taught a class on packing for a variety of adventures.  Zane Somerfeld showed campers how to make pizza planets, which campers enjoyed as they departed camp.

Photo courtesy Daniel Asselstine

Photo courtesy Daniel Asselstine

This whirlwind tour also included stops at flag ceremonies to develop citizenship skills, campfires, singing, vespers and cabin activities.  Each cabin was based on a country, from England to Australia to India and Russia, and counselors planned activities for their cabin based on the country.  Of course, a large portion of the world is made of water, so camp included a water fight.  The camp also included a few 

international flavors and foods.  Camp would not be possible without the adult volunteers, including Lynda Allen, Brad Asselstine, Cathy Campbell, Marla Holmquist, Carolyn Major, Leona Somerfeld, Katie Townsend and Tammy Townsend.  Each adult plays a vital role from camp cook to nurse and everything in between to support the camp counselors as they develop their leadership skills. 

Strike It Rich with 4-H!

Three Teton County 4-H youth were among the 185 people who recently attended the Montana 4-H Rec Lab in Livingston, Montana, March 27-29.         

Delaynie Beadle, Michaela Gunderson and Brigid Miller attended the training accompanied by Extension Agent, Jane Wolery.  The 4-H members learned a variety of recreational games and mixers that can be used when they lead group events.  The first night they were welcomed by Todd Kesner, Interim Director of the Montana 4-H Center, who spoke on opportunities available in 4-H where members can find their bonanza.  Bonanza, the event theme, is a situation which creates sudden increase in wealth, good fortune or profits – like 4-H! 

 

4-H members work to build and program a robot cowboy.

4-H members were able to take a variety of classes and the Teton County delegation participated in Cashing in on Your Personality Style, Laser Maze Bonanza, Making Food Fun, Tall Tales Are Pure Gold, Learn to Zentangle, Fill Your Loop Making Rope Baskets, Quick Draw Cooking, Robot Cowboy, Crochet Headband and more. 

Cowboy robot maze.  Did they build and program correctly?

In addition to games, dances and classes, two excellent keynote speakers shared their messages.  Deidre Combs, from MSU, spoke on positive thinking, dreaming, planning and living well.  She shared many lessons from her own life and research as well as some great opportunities for youth.  James Brown, Montana 4-H Alumnus and current Cargill US Dairy Product Line Manager, spoke about how to strike it rich in your life through persistence, networking and goal-setting.    

Building rope baskets.

Gunderson said that one of the key components she took away from the conference was to be more aware of and open to opportunities.  Beadle relayed that she enjoyed the personality workshop and the benefit of recognizing a variety of strengths among people and using those strengths on team projects.  Miller really enjoyed meeting new people from across the state and was excited to learn how to make rope baskets.  Wolery remarked that statewide 4-H events, such as Rec Lab, offer 4-H members a chance to learn a wide variety of skills, practice their leadership and build their confidence.  

Filling Your Loop!