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Summer 2007
What
Do You Mean, My Cloverbud Can't Show a Dog?
Summer
is upon us, which means that county fairs and competitive events are not
far behind. During the up-coming competitive season, it is important to
remember that, according to Cloverbud policy, Cloverbud activities and
events are to be non-competitive. Cloverbud activities are age appropriate
for the children who are enrolled in the program, which means that activities
are designed to be non-competitive and group centered. Participation in
these types of activities allows our Cloverbud youth to feel good about
themselves and to learn to work with others.
Many
other organizations offer competitive activities for Cloverbud-age children.
These activities may include pee-wee shows at county fairs or classes
for younger youth offered during a horse show. A parent may want their
child to participate in these types of activities, and they certainly
have the right to do so. However, children participating in these events
are not competing under the umbrella of the 4-H Cloverbud program. Under
no circumstances should any 4-H program include competitive activities
for Cloverbud youth. Likewise, Cloverbud youth should not be training
a horse, dog or other animal with project-based, older 4-H youth. You
can include some fun “animal shows” for your Cloverbud youth.
These might include making stick horses and having a “horse show.”
Or having your Cloverbud members bring their favorite stuffed animal and
having a pet parade. The possibilities are endless.
So, the next time a parent asks you, “What do you mean, my Cloverbud
can’t show a dog?”, explain that the Cloverbud program is
age appropriate by being non-competitive, and is helping children to develop
a healthy self-esteem.
Rhonda Williams
Extension Educator, 4-H Youth Development
& Community Development
Ohio State University
Extension, Darke County
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Concrete
Stepping Stones
Materials:
Bag of Quikrete or Sackrete
Concrete Mix **
Bag of Quikrete or Sackrete Mortar Mix **
1 cup measuring cups
Plastic mixing buckets (ice cream buckets work great)
Paint stirring sticks
8” round aluminum cake pan or other mold
Marbles, gems, or other items to decorate the stone
Latex gloves
Water
Directions:
1.) It is recommended that members wear protective latex gloves
when mixing and handling
concrete.
2.) Measure out 3 cups of concrete mix and 2 cups of mortar mix
into a plastic bucket. Make
sure the measurements are as accurate as possible.
3.) Pour one cup of water into the bucket. Again, measure as accurately
as possible.
4.) Stir the concrete mixture thoroughly. Make sure all the dry
powder is mixed in from the
bottom.
5.) Scrape the mixture into the aluminum cake pan. Pick the pan
up by the edges and gently
pound it on the table a few times to settle the mixture until it looks
smooth on top.
6.) Decorate the stone with marbles, gems, shells, etc… Push
the items down into the
concrete slightly so they will hold once the stone is dry.
7.) Let the stone dry for approximately 24 hours before removing
from the pan.
Cheryl Goodrich
, FNP Program Assistant and
Bruce Zimmer, Extension Educator, 4-H Youth Development
Ohio State University Extension, Monroe County
** No product endorsement is intended or implied!
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Teaching
Cloverbuds Proper Hand Washing
What does the song “Mary Had a Little Lamb” have in common
with clean hands? When you wash your hands, you should scrub for as long
as it takes to sing this popular children’s song (about 20 seconds)!
But how many people really wash their hands like this? A study of
305 school children found that youngsters who washed their hands four
times a day had 24% fewer sick days due to respiratory illness and 51%
fewer days due to upset stomach.
Teach your Cloverbud members how to wash
their hands using a six-step process: 1) Wet hands with warm water, 2)
Apply soap, 3) Rub hands for 20 seconds, 4) Don’t forget to scrub
fingernails, 5) Rinse away soap, and 6) Dry hands with a paper towel or
warm hand dryer.
If you have access to the internet, go
to this website for great ideas and games to help teach proper hand washing:
www.scrubclub.org There are lots of interactive options for young children
on this site. Also, check with your local Extension office to see
if they have a “Glo-Germ” box and kit that helps kids see
how well they scrub their hands. The kit contains a special lotion with
water-based fluorescent paint which they rub on their hands. Hands are
checked under a fluorescent light to see where germs can congregate. Next,
kids wash their hands with soap and water, and then check their hands
under the light again. They can see just how well they scrubbed by how
much paint they washed away.
Source: NSF: The Public Health and Safety Company’s
“Scrub Club”.
Beth D. Gaydos, MS, CFCS, Extension Educator,
Family & Consumer Sciences, Ohio State
University Extension,
Noble and Monroe Counties
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.......And
So it Grows.......Keeping Food Safe
1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64………….what
do these numbers represent? They show how quickly microorganisms can grow
and multiply in our food if the food isn’t properly cooked or handled
(they double every 15 to 20 minutes). And these microorganisms can make
people sick!
According to public health and food safety
experts, each year millions of illnesses in this country can be traced
to foodborne bacteria. While the likelihood of serious complications is
unknown, the Food and Drug Administration estimates that two to three
percent of all foodborne illnesses lead to secondary long-term illnesses.
For example, certain strains of E.coli can cause kidney failure in young
children and infants; Salmonella can lead to reactive arthritis and serious
infections; Listeria can cause meningitis and stillbirths; and Campylobacter
may be the most common precipitating factor for Guillain-Barre syndrome.
Right now, there may be an invisible enemy waiting to strike your
food. He's called BAC (bacteria) and he can make people sick. In fact,
even though you can't see BAC (or smell him, or feel him), he and millions
more like him may already be invading food products, kitchen surfaces,
knives and other utensils.
But you have the power to Fight BAC!® and
to keep food safe from harmful bacteria. It's as easy as following these
four simple steps:
CLEAN:
SEPARATE:
Wash hands and surfaces often
Don't cross-contaminate
COOK:
CHILL:
Cook to proper temperature
Refrigerate promptly
Be sure to follow these steps when you
prepare food at home, for 4-H club meetings and events, and anywhere.
Foodborne illness isn’t fun and everyone can help fight it by doing
these four things. For more information, go to www.fightbac.org
You can access lots of information from this site including information
and activities for kids.
Source: Partnership
for Food Safety Education’s FightBac Campaign.
Beth D. Gaydos, MS, CFCS, Extension Educator, Family & Consumer Sciences,
Ohio State University Extension, Noble and Monroe Counties
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Campus
Connections
Hello
Ohio CloverBudders! It feels good to make another 4-H Cloverbud Connection
with you!
Let’s talk about time, “time
flies,” “time to go,” “time is money,” “time
stood still.” You have heard all of these sayings or slogans before.
Obviously time is important. In our 4-H Cloverbud Curriculum Series I
and II, we indicate about how long an activity is supposed to take. The
activities are usually short-termed to keep the children’s interest
due to their short attention span.
I believe we sometimes get caught up in
fitting so many activities in a 4-H Cloverbud get-together that we stop
activities when the children are actively engaged in them. If the children
are constructively in the current activity, let them continue in an unhurried
manner. 4-H Cloverbud activities are not meant to be on a production schedule.
The only time frame for the group should be when the get-together first
starts and ends. Studies have shown that when a rigid time schedule
is kept, it undercuts children’s creativity, decision making, and
ownership of that activity. So let the time fly and have fun!
Until next time, take care and have fun.
Thanks for all you do as 4-H Cloverbud leaders for improving the lives
of children throughout Ohio!!
Scott D.
Scheer, Ph.D.
State Extension Specialist, Preadolescent Education
4-H Youth Development, The Ohio State University
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Watermelon
Slush
1 cup seedless
watermelon, cubed
7 ice cubes
artificial sweetener, to taste
Place ice and watermelon cubes in a blender.
Process until well blended. Add artificial sweetener to taste. Serve immediately.
Makes two small servings.
Joyce Shriner, Extension Educator,
FCS/County Extension Director,
OSU Extension, Hocking County
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