|
Cloverbud campers get creative
 | | J.R. Chaney, Jake Johnsen, Cullen Bendel; third row: Jason Johnsen, Andy Shell, Sydney Armstrong, Josey Bolling (hidden), Zo' Bendel, Jesse Johnsen, Anna Armstrong; fourth row: Christine Hodges, Andy the horse, Kari Obaugh, Sam Leech, Lori Beverage. Not pictured are Extension staff, Paxton Grant and Tiffany Ryder. (Photos courtesy Highland County Extension) |
|
MONTEREY - Seventeen children, ages 5-8, participated in the Summer Cloverbud 4-H Camp in Monterey last week. The camp, sponsored by Virginia Cooperative Extension, was held over three days.
Extension staff and senior teen 4-H members Lori Beverage, Kari Obaugh, and Sam Leech served as camp counselors.
The camp began on Wednesday with several games to help the campers learn others' names. To help, the group's first project allowed them to make identification necklaces and bracelets with their names on decorative lettered beads.
For their second art activity, campers painted creative landscape and abstract works. They learned about mixing primary colors to develop other colors for their palettes.
 | | Josey Bolling (right) helps Charlotte Shell finish putting the beads on her decorative necklace. |
|
In the afternoon, campers rotated through stations, learning to prepare healthy snacks. Each camper got to make two different types of snack mixes, one sweet and the other seasoned with spices. Refreshing and ice cold fruit drinks were also made to order and taste tested.
Thursday, campers enjoyed an art project using various craft materials to design their own animals. Later in the morning, the group beat the heat by playing several water balloon games outside.The games dissolved into a water balloon fight with campers chasing and soaking each other and their counselors
For their afternoon project, campers created their own homemade musical instruments. They first assembled and played a trumpet made of cardboard tubing and wax paper. They then learned how to make a whistle from a small raisin box. The last instrument created was a three-string banjo made from a large metal can, a short broomstick, and plastic string. As the day closed, the group had a chance to tune their instruments and do an impromptu jam session.
 | | Clay Shell of Monterey strums the three string tin can banjo he made at Cloverbud 4-H Camp. |
|
The last day of camp started by focusing on science. Campers wrote secret messages in invisible ink. They then observed raisins bobbing up and down and dancing in carbonated water. Taking their experiments outside, the group made erupting volcanoes and then watched a bottle of cola shoot a geyser of soda over six feet high. For their final science project, campers decorated, assembled and launched small balsa wood model planes.
Following lunch, Zoe Bendel of McDowell provided a vocal performance, receiving great applause from her fellow campers and staff.
To conclude the camp, campers were treated to a horse ride. Sarah Chaney of McDowell presented a short program on horse anatomy, grooming, and tack. Each camper received a ride around the grounds and earned a camp horsemanship ribbon.
The 4-H Cloverbud program is open year-round to area youth ages 5-8. The Highland Cloverbud 4-H Club meets monthly in Monterey. For information on joining Cloverbuds or the 4-H program, contact the Highland County Extension Office at 468-2225.
|
)
)
)