Blog

We're looking for a few good counselors...

2012-05-03T15:29:03Z

We are looking for outstanding 4-H Camp counselors to participate in a unique camp experience this summer. The 4-H Center is proud to be hosting Camp Corral, a unique summer camp opportunity for children of military families whose parents are, or have been deployed. This camp, sponsored by Golden Corral Restaurants, seeks to provide the "week of a lifetime" for the families of military heroes.

If you have been, or will be a teen counselor at 4-H Camp this summer and are 16 or older, we want you to be part of this experience. In addition, we will provide a $100 stipend to counselors who are selected.

In order to be part of Camp Corral, just fill out the application here and have your 4-H Extension Agent complete this reference form. If you are selected, you will need to attend a mandatory training at the Northern Virginia 4-H Educational Center on July 10. You will also be expected to participate in the entire Camp Corral program, July 29-August 3.

We hope to see you at camp!

Cloverbud Camp!

2012-03-09T15:22:05Z

We're excited to announce Cloverbud Camp dates for 2012. This summer, we'll be hosting a parent/child Cloverbud camp July 16-18. This camp is open to children ages 5-8, and is specially designed for them to enjoy with their parents or another trusted adult.

For more information, download the brochure and registration form here: http://bit.ly/cloverbud12

14th Annual Charity Golf Tournament

2012-02-28T16:23:30Z

The Front Royal Rotary Club and Northern Virginia 4-H Educational Center will again be co-sponsoring its 14th Annual Golf Tournament on Monday, April 9, 2012, to benefit the 4-H Educational Center and Rotary’s Educational Scholarships. We will be having the tournament at Bowling Green County Club North. Registration begins at 11:30 a.m. and play will start at 1:00 p.m. The entry deadline is April 5, 2012.

Funds will benefit the 4-H Educational Center in Front Royal and the youth educational awards given by Rotary. The 4-H Educational Center provides summer camping opportunities for 18 Northern Virginia counties attended by over 10,000 youths each year. Rotary contributes over $25,000 annually to local charitable organizations and will award several scholarships to High School Seniors from its proceeds at an Awards Banquet. The banquet will be held on May 11, 2012 at the Holiday Inn.

The support of the community enables us to help these causes each year. Without the support of the generous individuals and businesses like yourselves, it would be impossible for us to continue. Please sponsor a hole this year. If you have any questions about this golf tournament and/or would like to sponsor a hole, feel free to contact Nora Belle Comer at (540) 635-7171, Byron Pitts at (703) 409-6639, Buck Smith at (540) 247-6695. An entry form can be downloaded here: http://www.nova4h.com/storage/2012%20Golf%20Program.pdf

Assimilation

2012-02-13T14:18:58Z

I am back at NOVA, and I am not sure where to begin. The 22^nd Annual International ACCT (Association for Challenge Course Technologies) Conference met and exceeded my expectations. I was able to network with others who do what I do, and discuss tricks of the trade such as putting a new spin on old favorites and expanding our current offerings. I was able to meet the presidents and founders of the companies whose products we use every day on the course and see the application of new technologies and their relevance to our course. It was especially exciting to meet the folks from Austria, Japan, New Zealand, Canada, and Russia and hear about the similarities and differences in how they run their programs. My “wish list” of books and gear items that I was able to browse through on display in the exhibit hall has grown exponentially.

Programming here has always focused on the growth of the individual, on leadership development through the use of challenge course programming and reflective activities. In the coming year, I feel our participants can expect a greater emphasis on the sequencing of initiatives, a more participant-driven approach to the reflective process, more activities with a focus on anti-bulling and inclusion, and better transitions between activities. I am excited to start mapping this out and training the very gifted facilitators we have currently.

Being a part of the largest gathering of challenge course professionals in the world today was uplifting, exciting, mind-blowing, and inspiring. It is a lot of information to assimilate and I am sure it will take time.

The 23^rd annual ACCT conference? Red Rock, Las Vegas!

The Last 24 Hours...

2012-02-11T17:51:42Z

Only 24 hours left.

This morning’s presentation, Beyond Facilitation, was presented by Jamie Barrow from Trinity Western University’s OMANDA Teambuilding program. The theme was the purposeful development of new skills in a group using a variety of learning models; about intentionally processing so that the group/individual continues to change positively months after the teambuilding program. It is very process driven as opposed seeing a task/initiative to completion.

I have two classes this afternoon. The first, The Danger of Expectations, sounds very intriguing to me. It is about the nuances of expectation; about setting boundaries without imposing on high expectations. The presenter, Jeff King, consults and trains nationally on group dynamics and social-emotional intelligence in leadership. The last class is called Managing Difficult Behavior and is presented by Sam Peitrzak, the Director at Ramapo for Children which serves children with special needs.

This evening is the closing ceremony. I have 23 hours and 46 minutes left to learn from this amazing assembly of educations, practitioners, builders, recreational therapists, directors, course managers, vendors, and facilitators.

The countdown is on. (Avery)

Spring is just around the corner!

2012-02-10T14:47:58Z

The 4-H Center is in full prep-mode for a great spring and summer season of programs. You can tell by Avery's recent posts that she's been working hard to build an even better challenge course program for our school groups and campers. We've also been priveleged to interview a great pool of candidates for summer camp staff, with a terriffic team being put together. Keep an eye on this space as camp grows closer for introductions to those dedicated folks.

It hardly feels like winter this February, and the warm temperatures are making us even more excited for the coming spring and summer. We can't wait to welcome all the youth, volunteers, teachers and parents who will see the exciting things we've planned for them.

Conference Happenings

2012-02-10T03:42:07Z

How do I decide what classes to take tomorrow? With topics including, “Subtle Facilitator Behaviors that Put Participants at Risk,” “Facilitating Self-Efficacy,” “3 Strand Rope Splicing,” “Building Successful Learning Communities, “ and “Creating Programs to Meet your Client’s goals,” I am feeling both empowered and overwhelmed at the same time. These are just a small sampling, not at all inclusive, of the more than 120 workshops offered at this year’s ACCT conference.

I have chosen at least the first and last workshop’s I would like to attend tomorrow, the first being, “7 Great Corporate Portable Initiatives,” and the last being “Moral Dilemmas as Group Initiatives.” In addition, my service crew duties tomorrow involve working the registration desk for 2 hours followed by working the Challenge Olympics for 2 hours, which I have no idea exactly what is involved but I have been told it is highly competitive and skills-related (you have to sign a waiver to participate).

The expo itself, which opened this evening, is row upon row of organizations dedicated to promoting best practices, policies, training, tricks, course construction, research, and facilitation. I hope to spend several hours meeting many of the folks that I have talked to on a regular basis for the last few years but have never met personally. They are all here!

I am astounded and humbled by the expertise, talents, conviction, and dedication of so many of the industry’s leaders. I feel very much like the proverbial tiny fish in a huge sea, and it is a wonderful feeling to have so many mentors to learn from. (Avery)

Reflect, Rekindle, Renew

2012-02-09T13:22:50Z

The 22^nd Annual International Challenge Course Conference and Exposition

The mission of the ACCT (Association for Challenge Course Technology) is to establish and promote the standard of care and measure of excellence that defines professional practice and effective challenge course programs. ACCT develops, refines, and publishes standards for installing, maintaining, and managing challenge courses as well as provides forums for education and professional development. They are recognized as the leading professional resource for those who strive to create safe and effective challenge course programs. The ACCT is known, respected, and trusted for the reliable delivery of quality services, ethical professional practices, promotion and advocacy on behalf of the industry, and their depth of knowledge and competence.

There are over 900 in attendance at this year’s conference in Boston, with close to 120 different class selections, making it the largest conference to date.

Today, I will be spending 7 hours in a class called “Positively Impacting Schools Through Experiential Anti-Bullying and Diversity Programming” which is being presented by faculty from the University of New Hampshire’s Browne Center. After that, I will be attending the Opening Ceremony with Jim Davidson, climbing expedition leader, facilitator, and mountaineering survivor, as this year’s keynote speaker. Lastly, I will be working the Registration Deck for 2 hours as part of my Service Crew duties, followed by a tour of at least part of the massive exhibit hall.

World War II War Dog trained at the 4-H Center Remount Depot

2012-02-01T20:30:41Z

During World War II, the Front Royal, Virginia, Remount Depot raised, trained, and shipped Horses, Mules, and Dogs with handlers for military use. Of all these animals trained during the second world war, Chips was probably the most famous. Chips entered military service at the age of two. He was a mix of German Shepherd, Collie, and Siberian Husky, and he belonged to Edward J. Wren of Pleasantville, New York. The military needed dogs to aid in the war effort, so they asked people to loan the War Department their dogs to be trained as War Dogs. Chips was a well-loved family pet but he was very protective of the Wrens’ two daughters, Gail and Nancy. In his role as family guardian he was known to be aggressive. After biting a local garbage man, the Wren family decided that perhaps the right thing to do was to let Chips be trained by the military. Chips was accepted into the Army, and he went to Front Royal, Virginia to begin training as a sentry dog.

Chips was trained at the Front Royal Remount Depot in 1942, and was among the first dogs to be shipped overseas. Chips and his handler, Pvt. John P. Rowell were assigned to the 3rd Infantry Division and served with that unit in North Africa, Sicily, Italy, France and Germany. His assignments included high level security duty at the Roosevelt-Churchill conference in Casablanca in January 1943. While in Italy, Chips and his handler were on the beach when out of nowhere Italian soldiers started shooting at them from a hidden pillbox. Chips and Pvt. Rowell couldn't go anywhere because they might get shot if they moved. In an act of bravery, Chips broke loose and ran to the pillbox to attack the soldiers thus forcing their surrender. Chips received a minor head wound in addition to minor powder burns. Later that same day, he helped his platoon capture 10 more Italian prisoners. He was also credited by the units to which he was assigned as having been directly responsible for capture of numerous enemy combatants by alerting to their presence.

In recognition of his service Chips was awarded the Silver Star and the Purple Heart, both of which were later revoked due to politics.

When the war was over, Chips was re-trained for civilian life at the Front Royal Remount Depot. Chips then received an honorable discharge and went home to live with the Wren family. Sadly, Chips only lived a few months after he got back home. He passing away at age 6 due to complications from injuries he had received in battle and kidney failure. He was buried at The Peaceable Kingdom Pet Cemetery in Hartsdale, New York. Later on, a book, Chips the War Dog, was written about his service. In 1990 Walt Disney Television produced a TV movie about him called "Chips the War Dog".

Today, all branches of our Armed Forces, Police Departments and the Department of Homeland Security use trained working dogs to take part in patrols, guard bases, perform security duties, and aid in the protection of the United States and those who serve our country.

Text courtesy of Phil Gibbons, 4-H Center Animal Committee, Remount Depot Historian

Be sure to download the latest newsletter for images of Chips!

A Special Entry on Leadership by Kendall French

2012-01-09T14:18:44Z

Hi my name is Kendall French. I am 16 years old and have been going to 4-H camp every year starting when was nine years old making this upcoming summer my ninth. If involved in it this summer as I hope to be it will be my fifth year involved in the Ropes Course.

4-H has always been the highlight of my summer and not only have I made lifelong friends, but I have learned many life lessons from working with people of all ages, and the experiences cultivated here at 4-H.

The ropes course is unlike any other experience. I have always loved adrenaline fueled activities but this is so much more than that. When up on the ropes by yourself, although there are others around such as the staff member waiting on the platform or the spotters who helped you get up there in the first place, there is just this completely blissful feeling of being alone and at one with the world. The ropes course is a place where you have to be responsible and trusting in everyone who is around you. Whether on high ropes you are the one climbing or only spotting it is important that both ways you use your voice. You have to become a leader in order for the environment to be as safe as possible.

The most rewarding experience I’ve had on the ropes course so far came two summers ago. A girl who signed up for the course did not think she would be scared of the high ropes but became terrified at the thought of being so far up in the air once she saw them. Everyone in the class was very encouraging and kept attempting to persuade her but she wouldn’t budge. I couldn’t stand to see her frightened of something that had given me so much joy over the years and helped me learn so much about myself and really emerge as a leader. Over the final few days of camp I made a deal with her, if I would attempt the vine walk blindfolded and make it across then she would try the ropes of her choice and see if she could also get across. The Fauquier County agent Doug Harpole came down on the day that I attempted it blindfolded and got pictures of the ordeal. The following day the girl attempted the eagle walk and to her delight found that the ropes were not so scary at all and made it across. The most rewarding part for me was to see this girl who seemed so shy at first and not very social get such joy out of overcoming her challenges and when she got down get the complete support of the entire class and finally seem at ease in the presence of the boys and girls she saw just a day before as so courageous to a level that she achieve.

The amazing part about a thing such as ropes is that no matter whether it is high ropes or low ropes it can turn even the bitterest of enemies into best friends. Through the low ropes there is usually an objective such as getting through a spider web or swinging over an imaginary fire on a rope that has a surprise twist at the end. With nobody expecting it, it takes everyone to work together to think of a solution. Through my observance it seems that the answer is not usually from one particular individual, but a combination of most of the people who have put input in.

Through 4-H I have grown as a leader for myself, my community, and my society. As a person I have grown to stand up for those who can’t stand up for themselves and try to be kind to all I come in contact with. In my community, I try to lead the underclassmen during sports season. I have been a varsity athlete from freshmen year on in all my sports. Going from being the youngest on the team to one of the oldest reminds me in ropes course of being the camper and looking up to the older counselors who lead the class to becoming one of those counselors and trying my best to be a good role model. In my society I not only volunteer with 4-H in working with young kids but often participate in community service. I volunteer at the Blue Ridge Hospice thrift store to help raise money for families of those who are seriously ill. Through working with 4-H in the ropes course I have realized how much I love working with kids in athletic settings. I consider myself an athletic person and love seeing the kids getting involved in physically exerting activities such as on the ropes course trying out the rock wall or the zip line. I have taken this experience and found something close, where I volunteer at a local elementary school week day mornings at different sport clubs such as running club and jump rope club.

I think the different programs that could become available to youth would be a life changing experience. The after school programming would be a fun way for youth to spend their time after school in a safe environment. The impact I believe would be substantial. The community programming would allow it to have less restrictions and get people more involved. Team building is no question when it comes to the ropes course; it isn’t an option to work together here. If you want to overcome your challenges you must have the help of your peers. Not only will these programs be in place but the fact that the participants will be out identifying community needs and satisfying those needs shows the impact that the program will actually have. It will not only benefit the youth participating them but all members of the community as well.

The program at 4-H has been life changing to me and the amazing number of other people who have participated over the years. The ropes course aspect is also, in my opinion, one of the most impacting elements of the program by bringing people together and helping them emerge as leaders not only here at 4-H but in society as a whole. Looking at the meaning of the program which is about education and leadership I could see no better fit for the LEAP program then 4-H.

(Avery’s note: the LEAP program Kendall mentions is a potentially new program the Center is currently seeking grant money to fund. Kendall, along with Leisha, Ryan, and Farrell, helped make a presentation this past Saturday to 5 members of the grant committee. The above entry was Kendall’s part of the presentation. We thought it was too impactful a story to keep to ourselves).