Lake County 4-H Teaches Team Building

Partner Report Bringing Knowledge to Life! Lake County

915 Michigan Ave. E-mail: [email protected] Baldwin, Michigan 49304 Fax: 231-745-6213 Phone: 231-745-2732 Web: msue.msu.edu/lake

February 2009

Lake County 4-H teaches team building The chaperones pointed out that they saw smiles and heard laughter from some of the youngsters for the Baldwin Community Schools and Lake County 4- first time in a long time. H sent about 40 elementary and high school students to the 4-H Kettunen Center (a statewide All the feedback from the teachers, chaperones and educational facility near Tustin) to learn about the students was positive. A similar program is already environment and team building. The elementary in the works for 2010. group included participants in Project Focus, an after-school program, and the high school students “I had such a good time and learned so much about were from Baldwin High School. my classmates that I want to do it again,” one student said. The event gave participants the chance to learn about the environment and team building in an The program was supported by a grant from Yoplait interactive learning experience away from the to the Michigan 4-H Foundation classroom. Students learned how to work as a Contact: Seth Hopkins team, recognize good character and strengths and weaknesses in themselves and others and Strategic priorities for Michigan discussed working together, sharing and positive character development. MSU Extension conducted a statewide process in 2006 to identify issues that Michigan residents In addition, they went on hikes, participated in wanted to see addressed through educational outdoor activities and learned about northern programs based on university-generated knowledge. Michigan’s aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. The priorities that were identified are: They explored the plant and animal communities in the ecosystems and what they can do to protect – Developing entrepreneurs our natural resources. – Promoting healthy lifestyles – Paving the way for the bio-economy through In the process they looked at natural habitats and research and education wild and edible plants during hands-on activities. – Educating and supporting decision makers All of the students learned more about science, – Building leaders for today and tomorrow natural history, outdoor recreation, team-building and life skills.

MSU is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity employer. Michigan State University Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, religion, age, height, weight, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, family status or veteran status. Issued in furtherance of MSU Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Thomas G. Coon, Director, MSU Extension, East Lansing ,MI 48824. This information is for educational purposes only. Reference to commercial products or trade names does not imply endorsement by MSU Extension or bias against those not mentioned. Baldwin Elementary students climb the food guide pyramid Tour enhances garden workshop series Lake County MSU Extension educator Kilah King recently completed a five-week nutrition series Demonstrations and hands-on experiences are often with third and fourth graders in the Baldwin effective teaching strategies. It doesn’t matter if the Elementary School’s after-school program, Project student is a child or an adult; the learning experience Focus. is long-lasting when a person is engaged in the subject matter. During the first session, the youngsters discussed MyPyramid, the U.S. Department of Agriculture The Lake County MSU Extension Master Gardener food guide pyramid, and the importance of eating Committee and Connie Theunick, Lake County a balance of the five main food groups. MSU Extension director, decided to integrate a horticulture tour into the schedule of annual garden They used the food categories to create nutritious workshops. The committee members did an breakfast, lunch, dinner and snack plans. “I know excellent job of developing the tour stops and that I need to eat more fruits and vegetables to organizing the event details. stay healthy and not get sick,” one student said. “When we talked about the food groups, I learned Thirty individuals took the tour, which went into about new fruits and vegetables that I would like Osceola County to Morgan’s Composting in Sears to try to see if I like them.” and to the Evart High School’s new greenhouse.

During another session, King showed the children The participants learned that the family owned how to make milkshakes using skim milk, bananas composting business purchases animal manure that and frozen strawberries. She pointed out how is processed into a material, which is sold in bag or using ripe bananas would take the place of sugar bulk form. They viewed a short video on the to make the drink sweet, but natural and without manufacturing of the product, named “Dairy Doo.” added sugars. A walk through the property showed the observers The lessons included recipe demonstrations. The the raw material and the composting rows, where students learned how to make homemade they took the temperature of the compost. At the cinnamon apple sauce with very little added sugar. holding bins, they investigated the material used to Several students said that they didn’t realize how makeup the variety of compost and topsoil that is easy it was to make and that they were going to used for gardens, lawns and landscapes. ask their families to make it at home. One youth also commented, “This tastes just like apple pie At Evart High School tour participants saw the without the crust.” greenhouse and student vegetable projects featuring different growing media, including compost. The “We really appreciate having you to come and individuals were very impressed with both tour sites. teach our students how to make healthier choices,” said Howard Perry, the Project Focus coordinator. The participants gained a new appreciation for “More and more frequently, I see youth eating composting and how to improve the soil in their healthier foods and being more physically active.” gardens and landscape projects.

Contact: Kilah King Contact: Connie Theunick

MSU is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity employer. Michigan State University Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, religion, age, height, weight, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, family status or veteran status. Issued in furtherance of MSU Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Thomas G. Coon, Director, MSU Extension, East Lansing ,MI 48824. This information is for educational purposes only. Reference to commercial products or trade names does not imply endorsement by MSU Extension or bias against those not mentioned.