Welcome to the first official day of camp! We had an awesome day packed full of activities!
First, the campers gathered in their pepper spots: green peppers, yellow peppers, orange peppers, red peppers, and purple peppers. They played a name game to learn about their new friends. Does your camper remember the names of their new friends?
Then the campers gathered at the flag pole to raise the flag, say the Pledge of Allegiance, and the 4-H pledge. Here is the 4-H pledge to practice at home!
“I pledge my head to clearer thinking, my heart to greater loyalty, my hands to larger service, and my health to better living. For my club, community, country, and my world.”
Campers gathered in the field for time with the parachute and tie-dying tee shirts.
In the afternoon, campers paddled around the pond in canoes. They practiced paddling skills and teamwork to steer their canoe!
Track traps were also made and placed around the farm. Each group filled a tray with dirt.
Then they placed vegetable scraps on the dirt to attract animals.
The animals will track across the dirt to get to the food and leave their prints for campers to find later in the week! 
The purple peppers went on a long hike through the forest to set their trap.
On the way, they saw animal tracks, a fawn, and maple sugar equipment. 
They also learned about poison ivy.
The week-long activity this week is “Sustainable Farming.” Sustainable means making something last.
The campers listened to a story about how farmers can use diverse plants, rotation of animals, and water conversation to control pests and diseases for years to come. 
Garden kitchen was a huge hit today with Ms. Shea! The campers made sweet potatoes and salsa for a snack!
Chopping up the ingredients.
Smelling fresh cilantro.
Pressing the garlic.
Pulsing ingredients in the blender.
In case you missed the recipe card, here is the recipe for the sweet potato and salsa snack!
Mexican-style baked sweet potato
Morning: Make the salsa
4 whole tomatoes with juice
Handful of chopped cilantro
½ small onion
1-1½ cloves of garlic
Pinch of salt
Pulse the ingredients in a blender until reached desired consistency
Afternoon: Assembling the dish
Sweet potato
Coconut oil
Corn
Black beans
Fresh lime juice
Homemade salsa
Chop the sweet potato and cover with coconut oil. Place on baking sheet and bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for about 30 minutes (after 20 minutes flip them over for the remaining 10 min). Assemble with salsa, corn, black beans, and squeezed lime juice on top.
Have a great evening! Tomorrow will be another fun-filled day at camp!