From archery to pontoon boat rides, 4-H Day at the Lake provided a strong roster of activities and memories to be made on Wednesday and Thursday at Lake Wapppapello, according to 4-H specialist Emily Doosing.
Doosing explained the event was made possible through a grant from the Missouri After School Network. The grant statewide totaled $400,000. The local chapter of 4-H applied with the University of Missouri Extension for a sub-grant from this fund totaling $4,200.
The money provided supplies for each of the stations including the pontoon boat ride, fire safety, Mingo National Wildlife Refuge exhibit, archery, water safety, boat safety, a survival course, and classes on healthy snacks, soil and a brain health. The grant also provided a backpack with supplies for safety and preparedness to each child. Some items included shirts, visors, water bottles, sunscreen, sunglasses, magnifying glasses, and a compass.
“These are things kids need to know,” Doosing said, emphasizing water safety.
4-H Youth Program Associate Kim Allison commented the event was a huge success. “I think it’s going great,” she remarked.
Doosing and Allison both highlighted the importance of the 4-H program in providing positive youth development with adults who care. Macie Winkler, a youth volunteer leader for the summer, said the experience has been a rewarding way to spend her time.
“I really like working with the kids,” she stated.
Winkler hopes to take the experience from 4-H to eventually become an agriculture instructor.
4-H field specialist Brad Coleman enjoyed taking the participants out on the pontoon boat and letting each of them take the helm for a short time.
“They love it,” he added.
Youths Leo Tipton, Miles Fuller, and Axel Laker all replied enthusiastically and in union when asked what their favorite part of the day was: “The boats.”
They also looked forward to the group event with Dexter Funky Foam. Allison said the kids would run relays and play in large clouds of foam later in the day.
“We wanted to give kids back what they lost from COVID,” Doosing explained. She said the restoring of safety and security in relationships was an invaluable part of the experience of events like 4-H Day at the Lake.