Rensselaer County 4-H wrapped up an exciting slate of summer trips with its members from across the county. These trips included the annual Cornell Career Explorations, the Rensselaer County 4-H “Pre-Teen Adventure,” and the Rensselaer County 4-H “Cloverbud Outing.”
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Thirty teen members of Rensselaer County 4-H participated in this year’s “Cornell Career Explorations” trip from June 30 to July 2. Teens participated in a variety of Career Pathway experiences facilitated by Cornell University faculty, staff, and students. Participants also had the opportunity to meet and network with hundreds of other teens from across the state. The purpose of Cornell Career Explorations is to provide teen participants with the opportunity to have hands-on learning experiences in career fields, and allow them to discover their passions for career and learning opportunities.
Thirteen “pre-teen” members of Rensselaer County 4-H participated in the Rensselaer County 4-H “Pre-Teen Adventure” on July 9 at the Dyken Pond Environmental Education Center in Cropseyville. Youth had the opportunity to learn and practice a variety of outdoor skills including: Archery, Kayaking and Fishing. Dyken Pond Environmental Education Center is located at 475 Dyken Pond Road in Cropseyville. Dyken Pond operates as a low-use recreational area that offers visitors the opportunity to experience 33 ecological communities. Dyken Pond is open to the public every day during daylight hours. For more information on the Dyken Pond Environmental Education Center and the programs that they offer, please visit their website at dykenpond.org.
Seven “Cloverbud” members of Rensselaer County 4-H participated in the annual Rensselaer County 4-H “Cloverbud Outing” held on July 16 at the Dyken Pond Environmental Education Center. Cloverbuds are members of Rensselaer County 4-H who are 5 to 7 years of age. These young members participated in a pond study where they collected insects, amphibians, and other aquatic life so that they could learn more about their aquatic ecosystem. They also did a nature walk where they learned about forest ecosystems, and made “plaster tracks” to help them identify various animal tracks that they find in nature.
These trips are offered annually through Cornell Cooperative Extension 4-H Youth Development, along with a variety of other programming related to National Mission Mandates including STEM, Citizenship and Healthy Living. Cornell Cooperative Extension 4-H Youth Development is an equal opportunity organization that teaches youth life skills in a positive learning environment. For more information about Rensselaer County Cornell Cooperative Extension or 4-H Youth Development, please call 518-272-4210.[/private]