Washington County Extension hosts day full of projects for 4-H’ers

4-H is all about giving kids new opporunities to learn. On Saturday, Dec. 1, there will be a day full of interesting, unique tasks for kids to try. The project extravaganza has been a staple for the last three years and will feature some favorite activities and some new ones as well.

Beginning at 9 a.m., 4-H age kids will have the chance to sew, paint, create glass art and decorate Christmas cookies. Amy Green, 4-H and youth coordinator at the Extension office, said this full day of projects is designed to get kids excited about trying new things and learning trades they would not have the opportunity to otherwise.

'The idea is we have a lot of different projects going and there's something for everyone, so they're all excited to come in and try something new,” she said.

A favorite workshop of 4-H'ers is the welding workshop sponsored by Kirkwood. The class has already filled, but those enrolled will get to learn the basics of welding.

Beginning at 9 a.m., the Hats for Heroes sewing project will begin for students fourth-grade and above. Those interested will sew child-sized surgical caps to be donated to the U of I Children's hospital. Participants are asked to bring their own supplies.

Also at 9 a.m., Kelly Ross will be teaching an acrylic painting workshop for students fourth-grade and up. Green said this is a great opporuntity for kids to try something that they would not normally try on their own, and getting to keep the canvas they create is an added bonus.

At 10:30 a.m., students age sixth-grade and up will have the opportunity to create glass snowflake ornaments. This workshop is brand-new this year and will be taught by a local volunteer. Green said adding in something new and creative was important for the day because this is the age where students let their creativity flow and begin thinking about their future.

'It might spark an interest for a possible career,” she said. 'They're at that stage where they're thinking about that and this is a place they can come and learn.”

Also at 10:30 a.m., a decorating cookies workshop will be open to students fourth-grade and up. Students will learn to use frosting tips, create designs and enter a decorating contest at the end of the session. At the end, they get to take home their treats, tools and tips they've learned.

'Each kid gets to take home their own frosting tip and frosting bag so they can continue that at home,” she said.

Green says an added bonus of the project extravaganza is that all projects they create are eligible for entry into the County Fair next summer. She said sparking kid's interest in something and encouraging a love for learning is what 4-H is all about.

'Our projects range from food art to visual art to communications and metal working,” she said. 'Depending on a kid's interest, they can explore and grow whether it's communication skills or community service or leadership. All the workshops we offer connect to some area.”

There are openings in all workshops except welding. To register, call Amy Green at the Washington County Extension office at 319-653-4811.