This past week our summer intern and a group of older 4-H members hosted a day camp which focused on the four seasons.

While a small group, the day campers learned to use a sun oven to make s’mores, made snowmen and melted snowmen, learned about wind and made weather vanes, learned about pollinators and beekeeping, and built paper boats! 

From a youth development perspective, I thrive on watching the campers share and interact. However, some of the best learning happened with our older 4-H members! One of the group had translated the flyer about the camp so that it was available in English and Spanish; one was able to give a great lesson on the interaction of vinegar and baking soda as they made melting snowmen. Others honed skills on watching for a camper who was shy or didn’t understand the instructions and they were all quick to help campers stay engaged in the activities. They had to know and practice their material, and work together for smooth transitions between activities. That was some pretty exciting youth development science at work!

In addition, this was a great experience for our summer intern to plan, organize, and hold an event. There are many more moving parts and small details that must be handled for a smooth event as well as learning how to be flexible and adjust on the go.

Just like my favorite part of living in Kansas is experiencing the distinct seasons, I appreciate watching the different personalities and experience levels of our 4-H members as they work together to organize and present an event. It was definitely a Season of Learning for all of the participants!

Keep learning. Keep showing grace and kindness.

Michelle Beran is the 4-H and Youth Development Agent for the Cottonwood District, Barton County office. For more information on this article or other 4-H Youth and Development related questions email Michelle at mberan@ksu.edu or call 620-793-1910.