The Prairie Heritage Center in O’Brien County was the host location for the 2009 4-H Winter Wonder Camp on February 14. Over sixty 4th – 6th grade youth from Sioux, O’Brien, Plymouth, Osceola and Lyon counties participated in the day-long event. Charlene Elyea, O’Brien County Naturalist, trained twenty 4-H Youth Council members from Sioux and O’Brien counties on Friday evening to lead the Saturday workshop sessions. The junior 4-H’ers were able to experience hands-on activities in archery, astronomy, recycling, pottery and outdoor hiking and spear tossing. Several unique opportunities were given to the youth. In the spear tossing session they were taught how to use the atlatl, an ancient apparatus that extends your arm to help you toss the spear greater distances. They were told the record for tossing the spear with the atlatl is ¼ of a mile and hit a deer target. Although none of the junior 4-H’ers achieved that distance, many were able to successfully toss the spear. In the pottery session they used local clay soil to replicate the type of pottery made by local Native Americans. The recycling session involved a Mini MRF (Manufacturing Recycling Factory - pronounced mini-murf). The 4-H’ers took turns running a conveyor belt and sorting trash as it came past them, learning how to recognize recyclable materials. In addition to all of the things learned in the sessions they were also able to experience the many activities and learning stations at the Prairie Heritage Center and enjoy the viewing deck where bald eagles soared above and nested in the nearby trees. Extension staff Cindy Cleveringa, Sioux County, Kris Keene O’Brien County, Ann Schoenrock, Plymouth County and Amy Fuglestad, Youth Field Specialist supervised the day. For information about this or other 4-H programs contact your local county Extension Office. Sioux County Extension can be reached by calling 712-737-4230 or email Cindy at clever@iastate.edu
Cindy Cleveringa
2/19/2009