|
 Patty Huffer, Program Coordinator, 4-H and Youth
Development for the University of Illinois Extension Office in
Lincoln, helps recruit teen teachers to plan and implement Cloverbud
Camps held each summer, as well as assists them with organizing
their timeline for activities and supplies for the camps.
The Cloverbud Camps are for five to seven-year-olds and planned as
part of the 4-H and Youth Development summer outreach programming.
These camps started in 2016 and have increased in popularity.
Huffer said this year’s Cloverbud Camps were held
three mornings in June and July at the Logan County Extension Office
this summer and a total of 21 youths ages five to seven participated
in the two camps. Each camp was planned and led by teen teachers and
allowed children to experience a 4-H club like environment, learn
how to do various projects, and learn more about programs offered in
4-H.
Huffer said, “June camp days focused on ‘Math Magic,’ ‘Weaving and
Dyeing,’ and ‘Personal Hygiene.’ July camp days focused on ‘Art,’
‘Science/Dinosaurs,’ and ‘Plants and Animals.’
After these camps, Cloverbud campers can bring their projects to the
fair and demonstrate some of their projects and learn what to expect
if they join 4-H. Huffer said, “The Cloverbud campers are encouraged
to participate in our Cloverbud Exhibit Day, which will be held
Monday, July 30 at 4 p.m. at the Logan County Fairgrounds.”
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Huffer said the Cloverbud campers “will be ‘judged’
by 4-H Ambassadors who will discuss with them the projects they
bring for exhibit. Being asked questions by teen ambassadors will
give them a ‘taste’ of what 4-H conference judging is like once they
are of the age to become a traditional 4-H member when they reach
the age of eight (by September 1).”
The camps are intended to interest children in
becoming a member of 4-H once they are old enough. Huffer said
“about 30 percent of youth who attend our Cloverbud Camps do go on
to become active Logan County 4-H members.”
Carissa Davis, an Extension Educator in 4-H Youth Development for
the University of Illinois Extension of Logan, Menard, Sangamon
Counties, works with the 4-H Ambassadors. These Ambassadors are from
various 4-H clubs around the area.
While the younger kids learn what to expect when their projects are
judged, the experience of "judging" the younger kids also help the
4-H Ambassadors develop skills. Davis said, “the 4-H Ambassadors,
who are typically in grades nine through 12, serve as role models to
the Cloverbud participants by actively engaging them in questions
about their project and year in 4-H. The Ambassadors develop the
skills of age appropriate communication, self-esteem building,
decision making, critical thinking, social skills and caring for
others.”
The Ambassadors ask the Cloverbuds specific questions about their
work. Davis said, “The 4-H Ambassador’s ask the Cloverbud’s how they
made their project, what did they learned by completing their
project, what was fun about doing the project and what was the best
part about the 4-H year?
Both groups seem to be enriched by the experience with the
Cloverbuds learning what to expect when they enter projects in the
fair and the teen ambassadors experiencing what it is like to
critique the projects.
[Angela Reiners with photos provided
by Patty Huffer] |
