Hello Everyone! My name is Clifford, and I am the calf here at Michigan State University’s Tollgate Education Center. I just moved in yesterday and Mr. Alan told me I was in for a treat this week. I am so excited to be part of this year’s 4-H Green Science Adventure Camp! The first week’s campers were here today and we all had a blast!
When each camper arrived they were assigned to a Pepper Group: Green Peppers, Yellow Peppers, Orange Peppers, and Red Peppers. Once everyone was here, the peppers (campers) met with friends, old and new, and designed some pretty awesome flags to represent each pepper group. Throughout the day I could see the flags raised high on the pepper’s wagons, so I always knew where my new friends were.
The morning was spent exploring the farm and gardens and making delicious salsa in the kitchen. Mr. Alan took my new friends on a hayride. I wish I could have gone! The peppers learned that honey bees won’t bother them unless someone is trying to steal their honey, and that their “hay” ride was actually a straw ride. Straw is used for bedding and other purposes. Hay is to be eaten. It would be so silly if peppers were sitting on animal food! When Mr. Alan found a nice, shady area, the peppers took a break from the hayride and played with a parachute. Each pepper held a handle of a parachute and lifted it up and down. I could hear the peppers making rain and thunder sounds all the way from my pen! In the garden, the peppers found some horse radish, cilantro, peppers, and even a frog! The peppers spent time weeding their garden plots and learning about the different plants. In the kitchen, Ms. Katie taught my little friends the importance of washing their hands before dealing with food, the proper way to peel, and how to safely cut up veggies. They made homemade salsa and had it for a snack. I could smell it all the way from my pen! It made me soooo hungry! You can try to make homemade vegetable salsa at home, too. Find the recipe, here. After all the morning excitement I relaxed during lunch and watched the peppers eat and hang out.
After lunch, the peppers made bark rubbings, tie-dyed t-shirts, did a scavenger hunt in the Children’s Garden, and blended some Green Garden Dip. The counselors showed each pepper how to identify different types of trees by their leaves and bark. Maple trees were the peppers’ favorites because they were the easiest to identify. Afterwards, each pepper had a chance to tie-dye their camp t-shirt. There were so many different colors to choose from, and they all did a fantastic job making their shirts look awesome! In the Children’s Garden, the peppers did a scavenger hunt seeking out purple beanstalks, coy fish, licorice smelling plants, and so many other interesting plants. It started to rain a little during the scavenger hunt, but none of the peppers wanted to go inside because they were having so much fun! In the Garden Kitchen, Ms. Katie showed the peppers how to make an alternative to ranch dressing. The mixture was a green color and had a delicious pesto taste! The peppers enjoyed this delicious dip with carrots and cucumbers that they peeled themselves! Try the Green Garden Dip at home. Find the recipe, here.
I ended the day with a good bottle of milk and grain. I loved having my new friends spend the day with me and I can’t wait until tomorrow! Take a look at our day together in the pictures below.
Until Tomorrow,
Clifford the Calf
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