June has been a busy and fun month for our 4-H members. We have had at least one event happening every day this month.
Last week, our 4-H members participated in our Adventure Day Camp. Thirty members between the ages of 5 and 14 took part. We had an exciting week where we learned first aid, taught by John Costan, our local community educator with Durango Fire Protection District. We also learned about leathercraft by decorating coasters, bracelets and key chains with 4-H Club Leader Teddi Baird-Tharp. Kelly Sutherlin, another 4-H club leader, taught us archery and range safety.
Thursday was filled with arts and was quite messy; we started with tie-dying T-shirts, then made and painted wind chimes and ended the day with cake decorating. We also had a day learning about STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) at the Powerhouse Science Center and then we cooled off in the pool at the Durango Community Recreation Center.
Last weekend we had our community garage sale and fundraiser for a medical clinic in Ukraine, and we raised over $5,200! Mercy Health Foundation is helping us by sending the money to Clinica Angelia, their partner medical clinic in Kyiv. My 4-H’ers and I were amazed with the overwhelming support we received from our community. You really delivered when we asked for donations and showed up to shop. I thank you all from the bottom of my heart. We are so lucky to live in this giving and supportive community.
Later this week, we have the Natural Resource Camp. This camp was very popular when I was in 4-H and I am thrilled we get to do it again. Our participants are between the ages of 8 and 13 and our senior members get to be the camp counselors. Our camp programs will be: STEM activities, games, swimming in the river, arts and crafts, hiking, other group activities and traditional camp programs.
On Monday, our Livestock Judging Team will head to Scotland for the International Livestock Judging Contest. They qualified for the 2020 contest but it was delayed in 2020 and 2021 because of COVID-19. So, it has been a long-awaited and much-anticipated event. This is not only a huge success to have qualified for the contest, but will also be a fantastic learning experience.
They will get a chance to see breeds that they haven’t seen before, tour farms and learn farming practices from other countries, and visit some beautiful Scottish castles. Our team is so smart and talented they do not need luck, but I do wish them well on this grand adventure.
All of our 4-H events are fun learning experiences for our members, and I couldn’t do any of it without the help of our wonderful 4-H leaders, members, alumni and community members. I would like to especially thank both of my interns, Kayla Stevens and Halle Moore, for their hard work and the positive impact they have on the La Plata County 4-H program.
Angela Fountain is the La Plata County 4-H youth development agent. Reach her at angela.fountain@co.laplata.co.us or 382-6460.
