GSAC 2 and Horse Camp- Day 1

Welcome to Green Science Adventure Camp and Horse Camp!

Each morning, both camps gather together to say the Pledge of Allegiance and the 4-H pledge.

Campers can practice the 4-H pledge 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, my community, my country, and my world.

There are 8 groups on site this week- 4 green science groups and 4 horse camp groups. Each group rotates through activities throughout the day and sometimes the 2 camps do activities together.

Meet the green science red pepper group. They love to tie-dye!

All of the groups took turns making tie-dye t-shirts.

Some of the groups finished tie-dye early and played with the parachute.

All of the groups also helped with animal chores. A pasture chicken got out of the coup and the campers held hands in a circle to help herd her back into the coup. Was this successful? What could have been done to make this task easier?

This group fed the layer chickens in the tractor coup. How many eggs did the campers collect today? How often does a chicken lay an egg? (every 26 hours).

This group cleaned out the water trough in the goat pen. Why is it important for our animals to have clean water?

These boys helped muck out the barn. They brought the old bedding from the goat pen to the compost pile. What decomposers will help turn this dirty bedding into fertile soil?

The green science campers went canoeing in the afternoon!

Staff gave a brief explanation of paddling before campers loaded into boats on the water.

The campers waited to unload the boats at the end of the activity.

These teen volunteers helped campers canoe all afternoon.

Horse campers learned how to groom a horse today. This brush is called a curry comb. The campers learned to move this comb in a circular motion across the horse’s hair. This loosens dirt and other material caught in its hair.

This hard brush is used after the curry comb to brush off all of the loosened dirt and debris. Campers flicked their wrist with the brush in the direction of the hair.

Campers braided the horse’s tail and mane. Why is the horse’s tail important? Why do some riders braid the horse’s tail while others do not?

The horse campers practiced riding skills today. What did your camper learn?

All campers participated in garden kitchen today. In the morning, they made chocolate shakes. In the afternoon, they made tacos.

Here are the recipes:

Morning: Chocolate Shake

2 cups rice milk
2 frozen bananas
4 dates
½ tsp ground cinnamon
2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder

Place all of the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.

Afternoon: Quinoa Taco Mix

2 tbsp olive oil
½ medium onion, chopped
1 red bell pepper, diced
1 jalapeno, seeded and minced
2 cups cooked quinoa
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tbsp chili powder
½ tsp ground cumin
¼ tsp smoked paprika
1 ½ cups cooked black beans, mashed
1 tbsp lime juice
2 tbsp soy sauce

To make the filling, warm the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion and bell pepper and sauté until the onion starts to brown, about 5 minutes. Add the jalapeno, quinoa, and garlic and cook for another minute. Sprinkle in the chili powder, cumin, and smoked paprika and stir until everything is coated, then cook for another minute. Fold in the mashed black beans, lime juice, and soy sauce, and cook for another minute while lightly stirring. Remove from heat and assemble in a lettuce leaf or corn tortilla with desired toppings (such as pico de gallo, avocado, onion, lime, etc.)

Here is the lost and found items collected this summer. Does it belong to your camper? Please come pick it up!