The Northwestern Michigan Fair is over. The tents are folded up. The midway has moved on. The barns are empty and no more Gibby's fries until next year. For a great number of 4-H members the Fair is the highlight of a year spent raising an animal to show and possibly sell.
Until recently I thought like many others that this was the sum and substance of 4-H. Last fall I started working with Grand Traverse County 4-H as an AmeriCorps/Vista and this experience has given me a new perspective on what 4- H is all about.
The clubs whose members raise animals are still an extremely important part of 4-H. These clubs teach important lessons to the members. What better way to learn responsibility and work ethic than by raising an animal. 4-H members find out quickly that things like feeding and grooming and cleaning up will require that the 4-H'er may have to change their personal schedule to accommodate the animal for whom they are responsible.
As Paul Harvey would say, "but now the rest of the story." A large part of what MSU Extension/ 4-H does has little or nothing to do with animal rearing. Some of the programs that 4-H presents are: The Junior Master Gardener Program for elementary and middle school students, shooting sports, outdoor adventure, crafts such as knitting and sewing, and a group of activities under the initials S.E.T. (science, engineering and technology). There are many others that I haven't listed. A comprehensive list would have to come from the 4-H office.
My responsibility as a Vista is to develop after school programs that are based in the S.E.T. area of 4-H. Having had some background in the space program and still maintaining a kids love for airplanes and rockets, I decided to present an after school club on aeronautics. When I started to assemble material for a curriculum from NASA and Estes and other sources, I was surprised to find that MSU Extension already had a very good curriculum developed, printed, and on the shelf ready to go. This after school class was presented last spring and continued into the summer.
We were very successful in teaching a number of physics principles while having fun with planes, helicopters and rockets. Aerospace was chosen because of my interest and background. There are hundreds of other possible themes on which to base a 4-H club. This fall we hope to start a "mad scientist club" to explore interesting area of Chemistry, Biology, and Physics. This may not sound like the stereotypical notion of 4-H, but it can provide all the elements that 4-H stands for.
The key to successful activities for kids is dedicated adult volunteers who will step forward and be the leaders. If you have experience raising animals you could be a 4-H leader but don't stop there you could lead a club in archery, robots, LEGO engineering, cooking or any one of many subjects.
You can get more information by calling MSU Extension/ 4-H at 922-4825. Step up and be a leader. You can help define 4-H .
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