This document printed from the University of Illinois Extension Macoupin County at http://www.extension.uiuc.edu/macoupin/
Teen View
Why I Love 4-H
The Power of Youth
Many people used to think that 4-H was only for farm kids, but today there is something for everyone. 4-H has done a lot for me in my life by helping me in life skills.
Every year each 4-H member has to do a demonstration and a talk or speech. When a member does a demonstration they must show the other members how to do something. It could be about one of their projects or just a cool craft. When a member does a talk they have to tell the other members about something. For me this has made me a better public speaker. I still get nervous but my speaking has improved greatly.
Every summer the 4-H clubs participate in their county fairs. Clubs in the county show their projects and can receive awards. There are many project areas like photography, visual arts, clothing, foods, and agriculture along with many more. Kids take their projects in front of a judge who asks them questions about their project and project area. If the member does really well they can receive a trophy or go to the State Fair. If they are chosen to go to the State Fair, their projects are sent there and then judged. At the State Fair the member can receive a superior if the project is good enough. I think that this will help me in the future when I get interviewed for a job.
Each club meets once every month and they at least have one leader. As a member you can hold an office such has president or secretary. The offices I have held have taught me to be responsible and to be a leader.
Along with all this each club usually does many fun activities. Clubs usually go different fun places or on different tours. My club has been to the City Museum in St. Louis, The Great Godfrey Corn Maze, and we have gone eagle watching.
4-H clubs and members also do a lot for their communities. My club has planted trees all around the town and each member has to take care of a few. We also held a bake sale for Hurricane Katrina victims. My club usually does the local Secret Santa and buys gloves and hats for the needy.
Whether you are a city person, a farm kid, or anything in between, 4-H is a fun activity that you, just like me, will love!!
Submitted by Ashley Heyen, Gillespie Four by Four 4-H Club
The New Salem Apprenticeship Experience
About two years ago I went to my first New Salem day camp. I was thrilled at the idea of working in the village. Ever since I had been a little girl I had always been fascinated with pioneers, and I loved going to New Salem. I always found myself jealous of the kids that got to dress in the period clothing, talk, and work as if they lived in the village. But eventually, I had my turn as well.
Before some friends had told me about the camp, I didn't even know it existed. I had never really known that the kids and teens I had seen in New Salem dressed and working there were actually part of a day camp put on by Illinois College.
After talking with my parents, we decided that my little brother and I could go to the camp. Though the drive there and back everyday would be a long one, we figured that it would be worth the experience. Luckily, we figured right.
On our first day of camp my dad drove my brother and I to the place where the van would pick us up to take us to New Salem. The driver was very friendly, and I found myself comfortable immediately. I met many good friends my first year there, and continue to keep in touch with them.
Once we arrived at the New Salem Wagon Wheel (which is pretty much the hub of the camp), my brother and I separated into the different groups (he was in the younger group of campers, and I went with the teens in the apprenticeship camp).
The first day of camp was spent getting to know everyone, playing games, and learning about what we would be doing that week. Each teen in the group had an apprenticeship they would be learning in the village in period attire. The options for girls were hands-on activities like knitting, quilting, spinning, cooking, weaving, store keeping, and learning the skills of being a doctor. Boys had the choices of being a blacksmith, a cooper {barrel maker}, a store keeper, a doctor, and a cobbler {shoe maker}. During the week of the camp you would go in the afternoon and work with an adult who would teach you the trade you had picked. For my apprenticeship I had picked spinning, so from Tuesday until Friday I learned how to spin with a spinning wheel and a drop spindle, and how to card wool. Then the next year I went to camp I learned how to knit.
The part I found most interesting while working in the village is the tourists. While you are learning your apprenticeship you are also interpreting what you are doing to the public. You have to be ready to talk about the history of the cabin you are in, and answer any questions they may have. You could almost say you become somewhat of a celebrity while you are there working. As soon as you put the 1830s clothes on people treat you differently. It's like you are a walking piece of history itself. People ask to have their pictures taken with you, watch you as you pass by, and overall just seem fascinated by what you are doing. While I've been there working I've met people from Great Britain touring the states, and some women that looked like they might be from somewhere like India, which I found fascinating.
And then there's the other highlight of the camp that I can't help mentioning: the food. While you work in the village you eat homemade snacks and meals that have been prepared over the fire. While I was at camp I had the best meatloaf I've ever tasted, and some amazing deserts like apple dumplings, cake, and pie. Need I say more?
A basic day at the New Salem Apprenticeship camp revolves around chores in the morning and practicing the trade you are learning with your interpreter in the afternoon. Once you arrive at the Wagon Wheel in the morning you change in to your 1830s clothes, and then head to the village. Once in the village you either help water the gardens, feed the animals, or head off to one of the cabins to start fixing lunch. Once the morning chores are done and you've eaten lunch then you start your apprenticeship. I always enjoyed doing my apprenticeship because it's almost like a rest in the afternoon. It's usually only you and one other teen and your instructor, so it's always very peaceful. One day I was simply able to sit back, relax, and knit on a bench in the village chatting with my cousin and the camp counselor all afternoon.
I always look forward to camp every year. Even though I've been several times, it still is always such an amazing experience. I've learned so much from it, and I can't wait to go back next year. If you would like to attend the camp as well, contract information is below.
Most teens dread it but some say that it is an opportunity to get away from their summer jobs. You guessed it – summer vacation. I have been subject to the family vacation for many years now and this year was no different. My family had been planning our trip to Colorado for a long time and we were finally going to go this year. I have to admit that a fifteen-hour drive from Girard, Illinois to Estes Park, Colorado did not sound all too thrilling to me.
The drive to Colorado was split between two days, which I recommend for long trips like this. My family and my uncle's family rented a modern cabin on a river that was fed by melted snow rushing down from the surrounding Rocky Mountains.
We spent a lot of time driving through Rocky Mountain National Park, which was a mile from where we were staying. There were hundreds of trails for both the inexperienced and the expert hikers. Plus, the scenery was amazing. There were lakes that had been scraped out by glaciers, aspen and evergreen forests, and majestic mountains. The most exciting thing for me was getting to see snow in June! I recommend going onto Trail Ridge Road, the only highway that goes completely through Rocky Mountain National Park. It is definitely not for the queasy, however, because there were moments where you could see valleys on either side of the road or when all you could see ahead of you was blue sky. There were also several places to get out and take pictures and stretch your legs. We even got to walk through the tundra, see herds of elk, a pika, yellow-bellied marmots and the Continental Divide.
Estes Park also had an amazing shopping district with stores to appeal everyone, from the bookworm to the trailblazer. Plus, what would a vacation be without mini-golf? You could find mini-golf, go-carts, a giant slide, bumper cars, bumper boats, and so much more at "Fun City", which is an easy stroll from the shopping district.
Family vacations are not always the way that we intend to spend our summers, but I encourage you to go into it with an open mind. You may find that you enjoy yourself. If there is no possible way that any fun could come out of it, do not drag down your family and let them enjoy their time. Sure vacations are a fantastic way to leave home and forget about your job for a while, but it is also about getting to know your parents, siblings, and yourself better.
Submitted by Alyssa Cole
Stricter Driving Laws for Teens in Illinois
When I first heard of the new stricter driving laws for teens, I have to admit I wasn't overly thrilled. The idea that getting my license was going to be a longer and more difficult process wasn't thrilling. However, once I did a little research about the new laws, and why they were going to be enforced, I was a little less annoyed about the whole thing.
The new law, that will take effect in January, has a stricter policy on the number of passengers allowed in the car of a new driver, the amount of time teens need to drive with a permit, and a shift in the nighttime driving restriction.
Unlike before, now new drivers are only allowed to have one unrelated passenger in the car with them for twelve months instead of only six. Lawmakers hope that this will lessen the distractions new drivers face by having friends in the car.
The amount of time needed to for teens to drive with a permit has also been upped from three months to nine. Lawmakers hope that this will give the student more time to learn with the help of a licensed driver. Also, this will give the student driver more experience driving through various seasons of the year, and more time driving at night.
And then there's the curfew change from 11:00 P.M. to 10:00 P.M. on weeknights, and from 12:00 P.M. to 11:00 P.M. on the weekends. This new law is one lawmakers knew would make parents, and teens, a bit discontented. However, I found that state senator John Cullerton made a good point.
"Once parents understand that fatal teen driving crashes soar after 9 P.M., those parents will probably change their minds." Cullerton said.
Though this makes sense, I still found myself wondering if police would pull over teens simply trying to drive back and forth from school events or to work? But it seems that lawmakers have thought of this. Any teen driving to or from school activities or work is exempt.
Now, as many pros there are to the new laws there are still some cons as well. Teens, of course, will be unhappy that it will much take longer to get their license. There are ways that schools can speed up the process, such as hiring more driving instructors and practice cars. This would help students get more driving time in classes. However, this solution to the problem is expensive, making schools rather reluctant towards the idea. Another problem that is going to effect me, as well as other teens I'm sure, is it that now I will not be to start working as soon because it will take longer for me to get my license.
Though I am a bit hostile towards the new laws, I do admit that they will probably be good for me and other new drivers to get more practice to prepare ourselves for the road. Hopefully these laws will help bring down the amount of teenage driving crashes, for as State Representative John D'Amico said "Practice makes perfect and that's the same thing we want to apply here,"
Well, time can only tell if the new law will make any difference. But if it doesn't, teens like me will probably be the first to point it out. J
Submitted by Haley Welch
What I've Learned from 4-H
When I first joined 4-H I have to admit I didn't really know what I was getting into. I just wanted participate in the activities because that was what my big brother was doing, so I wanted to copy him. Well, I can tell you, I soon figured out 4-H could be a lot of work. Each 4-H year I had to do one talk, one demonstration, and one special. Then at the end of every 4-H year there were records to be filled out to keep track of everything I'd done. None of the above are much fun I can tell you that. But I do admit, I've learned a lot from the more "tedious" stuff involved with 4-H.
Essentially doing a talk required me writing a paper about one of my 4-H projects. Then at the monthly 4-H meeting I would read it to everyone. Though at first this made me pretty nervous, I know now that it has helped me polish up on my public speaking skills immensely. Only time will tell how much this will benefit me, but this skill has already been extremely handy whenever I've needed to speak in front of a group. Whereas I used to be nervous to speak in front of others, now I am able to remain calm and have little trouble addressing people.
Then there are demonstrations. Like talks, these have to have something to do with your 4-H projects. One example of a demonstration is if you take cooking for a project. With that sort of category you could demonstrate how to prepare a snack, talk about cooking safety, etc. I'm not much for demonstrations, considering I mainly take projects like clothing and reading. As you can imagine, this narrows down my choices for a demonstration quite a bit. Nevertheless, it has helped me be more creative in finding simple and quick ways to demonstrate tips on my projects to others.
Specials have always been helpful for me as well. Unlike talks and demonstrations, when you have a special you're allowed to do pretty much anything. Most 4-H member's play a musical instrument, but I've also seen people sing, do karate moves, do magic tricks, and tell jokes. Usually I play the piano. This is always great pre-recital practice since you have an audience.
Then there are the oh-so-hated records. These are essential, but boring. My poor mom has to practically pull teeth every year to get us to finish our records. The purpose for records is simply to keep track of everything in a 4-H member's year. You write down the projects you took, how well you did in those projects, the community activities you took part in, charity events your group hosted, trips you went on, work shops you attended, and the names of talks, demonstrations, and specials you did. It's a lot of work if you take a lot of projects, but even I'm able to come up with something good that comes from records. One, it gives you a chance to remember all that you've accomplished in the year. And two, it teaches great organizational skills and record keeping experience you will be sure to use sometime in the future. Yes, they're a pain, but they're beneficial and relatively painless to do once you get started on them. Plus, if you do well on your records you get acknowledgement on the community's 4-H achievement night.
The county fair is always a bit of work as well, but once again they've help me with my speaking skills. By taking my 4-H projects to show to judges, I've now had practice trying to convince others that what I have to show is the best. I'm sure this sort of experience will be helpful in future job interviews.
Sure there is a lot of work involved with 4-H, but lets not forget the fun stuff! I've been to Chicago with my group, gone to swim parties, played dodge ball, roller skated, and gone bowling. I've even got to help run a bouncy-boxing booth as a fundraiser at the local Palmyra Picnic, which was a lot of fun.
So yes, 4-H does involve work. But that work is a beneficial, and can even at times be fun. I've had some great experiences with 4-H, and through it I've met some wonderful people along the way.
