Second-year attendance doubled at 4-H introductory event

posted on August 31, 2012 9:20am

Contact: Katie Alexander
517-432-1555, ext. 182

EAST LANSING, Mich. – Many area families were introduced to local 4-H activities on Aug. 14 during the second “4-H Evening in the Garden,” doubling attendance from the 2011 inaugural event.

More than 220 people met Michigan State University (MSU) Extension 4-H Youth Development staff members, 4-H volunteer leaders and youth participants at the MSU 4‑H Children’s Gardens, where they had the chance to take part in learning activities geared for youngsters between ages nine and 19.

Many of the attendees were graduate students who live on campus with their families.

Visitors had the chance to meet with current 4-H’ers and learn about various 4-H activities and projects. The free event included demonstrations and information about project areas such as 4-H science and robotics, Project FISH (Friends involved in Sportfishing Heritage), gardening, small animals, livestock, entomology, geocaching and performing arts.

While learning about 4-H and exploring the garden participants also sampled MSU Dairy Store ice cream.

“The event was created for families to explore and experience 4-H in the beautiful MSU 4-H Children’s Garden,” said Sheila Smith, MSU Extension educator. “Not only do families who attend learn about 4-H in mid-Michigan, there are also opportunities for 4-H members and volunteers to learn from each other.”

Smith said the event’s goal was to engage community members in anything that gets kids involved in hands-on learning.

“It might be making a bead bracelet,  discovering what a dairy cow consumes to produce one gallon of milk  holding a giant hissing cockroach or tarantula from the MSU Bug House, doing a shadow dance with straws or jumping into foods, fitness, and fun,” said Smith.

A 2013 event is not yet scheduled but is anticipated.

The Michigan 4-H Foundation provided funding for “4-H Evening in the Garden.” Michigan 4‑H Youth Development is an MSU Extension program.

More than 220 people attended the second 4-H “Evening in the Garden” on
Aug. 14 at the MSU 4-H Children’s Gardens. The free event was open to the
public and included a variety of activities that gave visitors of all ages to the
chance to increase their knowledge of 4-H.