A Busy Summer Ahead for Chester County 4-H

While you’re making plans for activities to do this summer, don’t forget all of the fun camps you can attend through Chester County 4-H! The most attended events of the camping year are Junior Camp (for 4th-6th graders enrolled in 4-H) and Ed-Venture Camp (for 6th-8th graders enrolled in 4-H) and they will be held, again, at WP Ridley 4-H Center in Columbia, TN. Last year was the first year Chester County 4-Hers went to Ridley, as the Buford Ellington 4-H Center is now closed. Campers thoroughly enjoyed their new location and many have already been in our office to sign up for camp this year!

Academic Conference is a chance for 4-Hers to visit our campus at UT Knoxville, participate in hands-on workshops that focus on their specific project area, to socialize with other 4-Hers from across the state and to enjoy a day at Dollywood. This is a competitive camp and potential participants must submit an application to us by April 1st, 2010.

Participants who go to Electric Camp will attend all day programs that are hands-on, where they learn more about electricity, technology, and energy. Campers will enjoy their time at UT Knoxville as they get to stay in the dorms, eat in the food court, and go to the campus swimming pool. Did I mention a day at Dollywood is also planned?

In addition to the traditional 4-H Camp, there is also a camp that will strictly focus on becoming better at shooting sports. At Target SMART Camp, 4-Hers will choose which discipline they want to become proficient in: rifle, shotgun, muzzle loader or archery. They will also learn proper safety measures and care required when handling those tools.

4-Hers who are interested in arts & crafts and sewing will be busy completing their projects at Line & Design camp at our Martin campus of UT.

New this year is OWL Camp, which is for participants who like wildlife, outdoor cooking, and learning more about our environment. OWL stands for Outdoor Wildlife Leadership.

All of these activities are open to young people who are enrolled in Chester County 4-H. Please call our office for age requirements, fee information, and deadlines for signing up for these activities: 989-2103. We are also on Facebook (Chester County 4-H) and can be contacted through our web site.

Camp Group Shot

We had a terrific time at Junior 4-H camp! The weather was great - for the most part. It did hail on us one day. :( And our pool times got canceled a few times because of thunder & lightning - but we did not want to be in the pool during those times! The camp staff had a neat zip line set up at Ridley & we were busy at the craft house, making cool crafts and t-shirts. (Mary Beth, you rock!!!) Crazy Critter guy kept our attention with all the fun events in the Wildlife House, on the Creek Stomps, and Tubing!! We even had a few campers try archery and rifles for the first time. The Talent Show was entertaining - there were quite a few campers from Chester County that were brave enough to get up on stage! I'm so excited that I get to go again in 2 weeks! :D

The Standards are coming!

No, not the British this time, it's The Standards. And we are welcoming them!!! If you've never heard them perform, you are missing out!! Don't despair, they'll be here in Henderson on the 20th, at 7pm, at Freed-Hardeman University Auditorium . Tickets are only $10.00 and children under 3 are free as long as they sit in someone's lap. The concert is a benefit concert to help raise money for a handicap accessible playground in Henderson. What a great cause!

Please come out and enjoy a night of fun and wonderful Christmas music. You can check out the group at www.thestandards.com. I have had the wonderful opportunity to see their concert they do for middle school children and it is one I won't soon forget. Even the Chester County High School students are still talking about how much they enjoyed the high school show. This is a wonderful, down to earth group that actually stayed after the school concerts and talked to each and every student that wanted to meet them. I can't say enough good things about this group. You definitely won't regret coming out on the 20th! Hope to see you all there!

Call Katrina at 607-7933, Heather at 989-5148, or me to get your tickets!

We have a Winner!

Ha! Everyone is a winner in 4-H! But seriously, first place in the Trash 2 Treasure contest is ... Jacob Massengill! Woo hooo! Congrats Jacob, your sock puppet is quite adorable - you even used CCJHS colors! Great job, I'll be calling on you this Summer to help with the art workshop - plan on it! :D

Just so everyone knows, there are 7 more school days left in 2008 (only 4, if you're at CCJHS and can exempt your exams! What are your plans for all that free time? Leave a comment about what you plan to do over the Christmas holidays & a random poster will win a prize!

Chester County Photography Contest

OK, as promised. I'm posting the results of the County-wide 4-H photography contest. We have all the first place photos from your class contests, photos in your grade were judged by employees in the Chester County Executives Office for the county contest.

There were four categories: Building, People, Animal, and Landscape. Every 4-H member was able to submit one photo per category. In some categories there were only 1 or 2 entries in the whole grade (usually 7th & 8th grade, so you see only 1 or 2 county winners! Which means ... there were plenty of spots for your entries, we just lacked entries!

All of the photographs will be up on display during our County 4-H Public Speaking contest in January or February 2009. Family & friends will be able to vote for one photo per category that they consider is "Best Of Show". We'll remind everyone as the time gets closer and you'll be able to pick up your actual photos and ribbons that day too!

Food 4 Friends food drive ...

Some of the 4-H clubs at CCMS are having a canned food drive and are going to donate to The Carl Perkin's Exchange Club for the Prevention of Child Abuse in Henderson and the Gleaner's House. Follow this link to another site that is encouraging the collection of non-perishable foods for the donation to community food pantries!

Another Trash 2 Treasure Project

Here is an example of how you can re-use cans. I got the ideas from you! CCMS students use plastic tumblers, Velcro-ed to their desks for pen & pencil holders!

First Example of Trash 2 Treasure

OK 4-Hers, here is an example of a Trash 2 Treasure item. I'll post more examples, so be sure to check back. If you was to submit a photo of your work, contact me!

Welcome to the Chester County Bleed Green Blog, where information about 4-H in Chester County, TN can be posted and discussed. We'll post pictures of various activities and add a calender of events (as soon as I figure out how! LOL!).

We're going to form a Technology Project Group for savvy 4-Hers in CC who will be responsible for helping to keep up this blog and contribute articles about their 4-H related activities.

We don't guarantee spelling or grammar - not so strong in that area - but we will provide a place for promoting CC 4-H and getting you all the information you need to make decisions about our program!