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.

Photo CDs from camp are ready for pick-up!

Yes - that's right, over 600MB worth of a VARIETY of photos from the 2009 Junior 4-H camp at WP Ridley 4-H Center in Columbia, TN are available for purchase at the 4-H office in Henderson! Give us a call before you come to the office so we can have your CD ready. You'll need to bring $5.00 and we won't be able to mail these out because we'll need your parents to sign a form - (just saying that none of these photos will be posted around the WWW). Our office hours are M-F, 8am-5pm. If you need to make other arrangements, just give us a call. I'm usually in the office late on Wednesdays.

For a $2.00 DISCOUNT - tell us about your best experience at camp this year (in 3 sentences or more)! This only applies to 4-Hers who went camping June 1-5, 2009 at Ridley! ;)

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 Beloved 4-H Junior Camp Schedule for June 1-5, 2009!

OK - here is the schedule for 4-H Junior Camp this year. If you print out the pages on LEGAL sized paper, put the pages together (non-printed sides together) and fold in 3s, you'll have your camp schedule as you'll get it on Monday! So - you really don't have to print it out, just look at it. Hey - while you're at it you can book mark the site & you can visit us more easily!!

We're going to give each camper 1 schedule to keep for the week - we only have a few so if mom or dad want one, just give them this blog addy! :)

We are busy getting ready for Monday ... and Mr. Brian and I are so excited. We're gonna have a terrific time!!! :D :D :D

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Make Something Cool!

Isn't this great? I though so ... A way to recycle those old cassettes mom and dad have stashed away somewhere! I even added the sites button to our blog! Go to their site: Dollar Store Crafts. It's on the lower right when you scroll all the way down - maybe you can look through the site & come up with all kinds of busy summer activities or ideas for programs/demonstrations for next school year? It'll be here before you know it!

Get Ready For Camp!

OK - the deadline to sign up for most 4-H camps is this Friday, May 15th. Please call our office if you need us to stay open later than 5pm - that's when we close up for the weekend!

For those of you who are signed-up and ready, we'll be mailing out health forms and parent letters very soon. You can always download an Activity and Event Acceptance Form. A list of what to bring (and what NOT to bring) is here. The Parent meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, May 26th at 6:30pm at Henderson City Hall.

The Buford Ellington 4-H Center in Milan is closing down so we'll be going to the WP Ridley 4-H Center in Columbia.

Former TN 4-Her Wins National Debate

OK, so if Public Speaking is such an important life skill, then why is speaking publicly also the #1 phobia? Seriously, this is a skill that everyone will use - regardless of what they do in life. Whether your job is very public oriented or you choose to do something that limits your interaction with people - getting your idea across in a way that everyone understands is crucial!

Not to mention that being able to give a good speech and support your ideas in a debate can = scholarship $$! Later in life this can translate into getting a job over other applicants, getting a raise or promotion, successfully solving a customer service issue, or helping to lead a 4-H public speaking group for your child!

A former 4-Her from Sevier County has done well in a national debate:

"Former SHS student and freshman at the University of the Cumberlands, Seth Stoffle can lay claim to a title few people obtain but many covet – a national championship.

Stoffle and debate partner Katie Riley were recently named the Christian College National Champions after winning the Novice Duo Parliamentary Debate at the Christian College Forensics National Invitational Tournament at Biola University in California. The duo took 1st place after shutting out top-seeded Bethel University (Minn.) in the semi-finals and then going on to defeat Pt. Loma University (Calif.) for the championship."

Read the full article here!

Bread Baking Contest Rules

OK - the contest for the 4-H Club Meetings for March is Bread Baking!! There are only 2 categories: biscuits and cornbread. So, this contest is designed to give you some basic practice in baking/cooking - there's no fancy category for this contest. It's OK to get help - just make sure you are doing most everything related to baking your bread.
You can always call our office if you have any questions. I'm posting the rules, right out of your yearbooks - just in case you (gasp) lost or misplaced that invaluable piece of 4-H memorabilia! ;)

Chester County 4-H Public Speaking

This post is long overdue - the county Public Speaking contest was February 7th at the Brown-Kopel building at Freed Hardemen University. It was just the beginning of a very bad sinus infection for me - that's why the photos are not posted! I missed the window of opportunity to update our blog with Public Speaking pictures - sorry!





The Sub-regional 4-H Public Speaking contest is tomorrow night in Jackson at 4pm. Representing 5th grade will be Mary Emilee Lussier, representing 6th grade will be Talia Hinson , representing 7th grade will be Jessica Lindsey, and representing 8th grade will be Rachel Leach. Good Luck everyone!

Summer Camp 2009

Some of you may have heard that the 4-H Center in Milan is closing. This is true.

However, we will still get to go to camp this Summer - in Columbia, TN instead!!

The W.P. Ridley 4-H Center is beautiful!! Check out their site
http://www.utextension.utk.edu/ridley4hcenter/

Also, the date has changed to the first week of June for 4th-6th grades. 6th-8th grades can also go to Junior High Camp that first week of July.

We're really excited about getting to camp in our new location. The price should be about the same - close to $210.00

Our bus ride will be a bit longer though - about 2 hours!

We'd like to hear your opinions about it!

FYI – Germs are everywhere! And a Prize opportunity!

That’s really not new news as the 8th grade 4-H Clubs at CCJHS got to see today. Students got to participate in a hand-on demonstration to determine what was best way to get germs off our hands.

1st, I made them listen to me as I lectured them about germs; how most are harmless or helpful and only a small amount of germs (environment-wide) are pathogenic – aka “bad germs”. They learned that all it takes is 1 bad germ to get inside you & when that 1 bad germ turns into a few hundred a few hours later, you can get very sick.

Ignorance is bliss, but when it comes to germs and keeping your hands clean, ignorance can kill you. We used Glo Germ powder or Glitter Bug Potion and a blacklight to “show” us where germs like to hide and to show how easy it is to spread germs around. First we all took turns looking at each other with the powder/lotion all over us. Then, the class split into 3 treatment groups:

1. This group washed their hands by quickly rinsing in cold water & towel dried their hands.
2. This group washed with cold water (we wanted to use warm, but there was no warm water in the school) soap, rubbed for 20 seconds, and then towel dried their hands.
3. This group used 1 squirt of hand sanitizer.

The 4-Hers came up with their own conclusion as to the BEST method for REMOVING germs that may be on your hands. So find an 8th grade CCJHS 4-Her and ask them!!



I have a 4-H prize for anyone who can answer these questions correctly about today’s activity (you can work in groups too – no more than 5 people to a group). Everyone is welcome to try, just send me an email with the answers, the name of the people in your group, and your address if you’re not local!

1. How many germs, per square inch, can there be on your body?
2. How fast is a sneeze? (MPH)
3. How many people can you infect (potentially) from one sneeze?
4. What is the #1 way to prevent the spread of germs?
5. How long can germs live on inanimate surfaces?

Good luck 4-H fans!

4-H Time on Stage!!

Do you want to see your name in lights? Auditions for the 2009-10 Tennessee 4-H Performing Arts Troupe are coming up this spring. 4-H members in grades 8-11 are encouraged to apply. The categories for applicants are vocal and dance. There are also technical positions (i.e. sound and lighting) available.

There are two ways to apply for the troupe:
1. Schedule a live audition. All live auditions will be held on Saturday, March 28, 2009, from 9:30 a.m. - 12:00 noon at the War Memorial Auditorium in Nashville. To schedule a live audition, applications must be received by March 13, 2009.
2. Submit a video or DVD. The video or DVD must be postmarked by April 17, 2009, and sent to: Justin Crowe, Extension Specialist, 2621 Morgan Circle, Room 205, Knoxville, TN 37996-4510.




Each vocalist must have at least one selection with musical accompaniment. A dancer or vocalist may also include a group performance where the individual is clearly identified. It is desirable for all vocal applicants to include at least one selection that includes movement and dance.

4-H Across the WWW

So, today I was searching for other 4-H blogs and found many from North Carolina! I went into where I could edit things and figured it out (again)! So now there's a link to those North Carolina 4-H blogs and I found 1 in Washington. If y'all know of some more, let me know and I'll link those up as well!

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!

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!