4-H Green Science Adventure Camp: Week 2, Day 1

Hello 4-H Green Science Adventure Camp peppers, friends, and family! My name is Clifford and I am the calf here at the MSU Tollgate Farm. During a typical day on the farm, I spend my time grazing and hanging out with the sheep and goats. Today was not a typical day. Today was the first day of the second week of the 4-H Green Science Adventure Camp, which brought new pepper friends, science experiments, and delicious snacks. I know this week will be packed with fun, and I am very excited to learn and explore with my new pepper pals.

Hi, I’m Clifford and this is Mr. Alan.

To start off the day, the peppers gathered in the kitchen for a pepper party (moo!). During the party, the peppers made new friends, reconnected with old friends, and decorated flags to represent their pepper groups. The peppers are very talented artists and the flags came out looking fantastic!

Orange Peppers making their flag.

After making flags, the pepper groups went on a wagon ride to explore the farm. The peppers learned that the farm is huge, 160 acres to be exact, and that everything on the farm has a purpose. The trees in the woods provide maple syrup,  bees provide honey, and grass from the field provide food for the animals. Mr. Alan also taught the peppers the difference between hay and straw. Hay is grass as well as food for the animals. Straw is grain and used for bedding. Mr. Alan and the counselors are very excited to share all their knowledge of everything that lives on the farm with the peppers this week!

Green Peppers on a wagon ride.

The wagon ride also included some special stops for bonding activities. During one stop, Mr. Alan explained that every pepper at camp was participating in a 4-H program. Congratulations new 4-Hers! 4-H is a community of young people across America (and the world!) who are learning leadership, citizenship and life skills through experiential exploration. To celebrate the occasion, the peppers learned the 4-H pledge.

Mr. Alan teaching Peppers the 4-H pledge.

After the wagon ride, the peppers made a snack in the Garden Kitchen with Ms. Robbin and Ms. Katie. Ms. Robbin explained the importance of hygiene in the kitchen such as washing our hands. After all the peppers were cleaned up, they learned how to safely chop vegetables such as peppers (real peppers from the garden, not my pepper friends!) and tomatoes. The peppers made homemade salsa and homemade tortilla chips. Yum!

Yellow Peppers eating their salsa!

Following snack, the peppers spent time in the garden. Each pepper group has its own garden plot. Today the peppers spent time weeding and harvesting radishes. They also planted some corn in the garden. It’s no surprise each little pepper has a green thumb. They experimented with the plants to determine if plants breathe (they do!), and identified different plants like basil. The peppers did a rain dance during the wagon ride, so hopefully it brings rain to water their new plants!

Red Pepper looking at a radish.

The morning sessions were all over, but the afternoon brought just as much learning and fun! In the afternoon, the peppers spent more time learning about the different parts of a plant, such as the root, stem, and leaf. The peppers made tree bark rubbings and leaf drawings to demonstrate their knowledge of the different trees on the property. Now they all know how to identify a maple tree, which will be very helpful when they explore the process of making maple syrup later this week!

Red Pepper making a tree bark shading.

The peppers also spent time in the Children’s Garden doing a plant scavenger hunt. The clues were really tricky, but the peppers did a fantastic job at finding the different animals and plants in the garden.

Green Peppers hearing clues for the scavenger hunt.

After exploring plant life, the peppers received their camp t-shirts and their counselors taught them how to tie dye. Some peppers tied their shirts into swirls and others didn’t tie theirs at all. Each camper had his/her own color design in mind and they will all turn out looking great. Can’t wait to see all the peppers wearing them on Friday.

Yellow Peppers tie dying their t-shirts.

The peppers ended the day in the Garden Kitchen for another session with Ms. Robin. This time the peppers made a snack that included 3 food groups: fruit, grain, and dairy. The peppers made Yogurt Granola Parfait and I could hear all the peppers indulging in their treat! One pepper even said that it was better than chocolate! I hope one day the peppers share a treat with me!

Orange Pepper mixing the Yogurt Granola Parfait.

After snack time, the peppers went home to rest after a long day of learning and exploring. I hope you all get a lot of rest, little peppers, for tomorrow is Chicken Day and I know Mr. Alan and the counselors have many new friends for everyone to meet tomorrow! While you’re relaxing in your cool houses, take some time to explore our fun day together in the gallery below!

Until Tomorrow,

Clifford the Calf

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2 Responses to 4-H Green Science Adventure Camp: Week 2, Day 1

  1. Shireen Ghandhi says:

    Thanks for sharing. The boys loved day one and could not stop talking about their fun filled day from the time I picked them up until their dad came home for dinner at the dinner table. They are now fast a sleep and ready for day 2!!

    • TollgateProgramsMSU says:

      We’re so glad to hear it Shireen! Hope you’re excited to hear all about the chickens on the farm tonight when the boys get home from Chicken Day!

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