Dutch Palace Happenings

Winner of the Bluegrass Guitar Raffle

ciden@vt.edu (Kevin) — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 21:09:00 +0000

Congratulations to Dr. Brian Calhoun of Blacksburg, VA, the winner of the Southwest Virginia 4-H Educational Center's Bluegrass Guitar Raffle! Brian's name was drawn from over 600 tickets to win the guitar signed by Bluegrass legends including Ralph Stanley and Larry Sparks. Brian is pictured above receiving the guitar with Dr. Alan Grant, Dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Virginia Tech. Upon winning, Brian has generously returned the guitar to the 4-H Center for future fundraising activities.

Thank you to everyone who purchased tickets in support of the 4-H Center and watch for more exciting opportunities coming your way soon!

Win a one of a kind guitar

ciden@vt.edu (Sam) — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 13:56:00 +0000

Here is your chance to win a One of a Kind Guitar!

The 4-H Center is selling tickets to raffle off a one of a kind guitar that is signed by over 50 Bluegrass Legends. Legends such as Dr. Ralph Stanley & the Clench Mountain Boys, Larry Sparks, Dailey & Vincent, Blue Highway, Tim White, Lonesome River Band, Grasstowne,

III Tyme out, Seldom Scene and many more!

Tickets are $5 for one or $10 for three. You may obtain these great tickets by contacting the 4-H Center at: 276-676-6180, e-mail: safishe3@vt.edu, or contact you local extension agent. The winner does not have to be present to win.

Drawing will be held on October 29th at the 4-H Centers Pumpkin Walk.

All proceeds will go to the 4-H Center Capital Campaign

Model Horse Show 2011

ciden@vt.edu (Sam) — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 18:49:00 +0000

The Annual Model Horse Show took place on Saturday, Feb. 19th. There were fifteen enthusiastic contestants; they were able to expand their knowledge of horses from the experienced judges and volunteers that were eager to answer any questions the children had and offer advice. These youth also enjoyed showing their horses to each other and making new friends.

Pumpkin Festival

ciden@vt.edu (Sam) — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 13:11:00 +0000

Join us for a fun weekend of activities. Bring your own pumpkin or carve one of ours on Friday October 29 from 4-8pm. Come back on Saturday October 30 between 6 and 9pm and take a walk through the lighted pumpkin path! We will serve hot chocolate, cider and popcorn. Event is sponsored by the Washington County Farm Bureau and is FREE and open to the public!

4-H Center Celebrates 50 Years of Service

ciden@vt.edu (Sam) — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 15:54:00 +0000

August 7, 2010 - 50th Anniversary Celebration at the 4-H Center.

What a fantastic weekend with great weather, good friends and supporters, great music and storytellers and an awesome auction. Happy Birthday 4-H Center. Thanks to all for making this event a great success!!!!!!

Cake by Graceful Cakes of North Carolina.

Summercamp 2010

ciden@vt.edu (4H Campers) — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 19:27:00 +0000

This week at summer camp, it was awesome! We came on Sunday and went straight to the pool. We met lots of cool people and did fun things. Puddles, Tango, and Fanny Pack acting like Barbies' at campfire was hilarious.
The kitchen staff here made great food and they should be chefs. Our favorite part about camp was swimming, and the skits were funny too! Wednesday we went to the Barter Theater, and the carnival too! The dance was fun. We had a great week!! CAMP ROCKS!!

Dickenson & Lee County

ciden@vt.edu (4H Campers) — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 19:16:00 +0000

Camp was a blast this week! We had so much fun in the pool, recreation, and in my classes!! We can't wait for next year!!!

Russell/ Scott County

ciden@vt.edu (4H Campers) — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 19:06:00 +0000

Camp this week was so much fun! We had a few rainy days, but we just kept on singing in the rain! We can't wait for next year!!!

Washington County

ciden@vt.edu (4H Campers) — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 18:56:00 +0000

Tazewell County

ciden@vt.edu (4H Campers) — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 23:05:00 +0000

This week, at Tazewell County 4-H camp, we have had a blast. The cabin colors were named by elements. Blue was rain, yellow was wind, green was earth, and red was fire.
We had dances every night! Mondays theme was Hollywood night, Tuesday's theme was toga night, Wednesdays theme was masquerade night, Thursday was island night. After each dance we went to campfire. We had two special campfire ceremonies, one Monday night and one Thursday night.
During the day, we took classes such as: Camp News Network, swimming, archery, horsemanship, cooking, and many more. We had rec time so we could play gau-gau, four square, or tether ball. Also, when it gets hot, the lifeguards open the pool!
Camp was so much fun, and we can't wait for next year!

"Happiness is within. It has nothing to do with how much applause you get or how many people praise you. Happiness comes when you believe that you have done something truly meaningful."
Martin Yan

Smyth County

ciden@vt.edu (4H Campers) — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 22:47:00 +0000

Smyth County week was full of fun! It was rather hot, with some rain mixed in. We didn't let the weather stop us, though! The theme was "Hillbilly Hoedown." We saw a lot of cowboys and cowgirls throughout the week, including the opossum players. The weeks evening programs included skits, a share the fun talent show, and dances. We all had lots of fun, and will never forget it!

"All of nature begins to whisper its secrets to us through its sounds. Sounds that were previously incomprehensible to our soul now become the meaningful language of nature. "
--Rudolf Steiner

Wythe & Bland County

ciden@vt.edu (4H Campers) — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 14:41:00 +0000

Fourrrrrr square!!
Her name wasn't Mr. Ed!
Three best friends.
Leather craft class working hard!
Minute to win it!
St. Patrick's Day celebration.
Bring it on..
Practicing for the share the fun show!
I'm feeling a little dizzy..
Pin the patch on the pirate.
Nella loves to be loved!
A little birdie told me...
Swimming, swimming in the swimming pool.

Wise & Buchanan

ciden@vt.edu (4H Campers) — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 13:13:00 +0000

"Don't be afraid your life will end; be afraid that it will never begin."
-- Grace Hansen
Bandannnnnnaaa!!
Magic act on crazy hat night.
Doing the funky monkey.
Strumming out, and about.
Fun for all.
Just chilling at the talent show.
Oh boy, a song!

Playing in la la land.

1, 2, 3--JUMP!

She went off the "deep end."

Carroll & Grayson County

ciden@vt.edu (4H Campers) — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 14:25:00 +0000

We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit.
Aristotle

I feel good, Oh I feel so good!

She did it, she made it to the top.

Puddles...

T-shirt art! Yay!

Camp News Network, Class two.

Helping observe for "the bomb."

Low ropes, transfering "the bomb."

Ashleigh, making some good eatin'.

Gabe, pond-ering, waiting on a fish. (Get it?)

Making Duct tape wallets.

Grayson was the king of four square!

Cha Cha sliiiiddee.

Face being, well, Face.

Getting ready for campfire.

Mike TV doing his suspender dance!

Got gau gau?

Camp Center Training

ciden@vt.edu (4H Campers) — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 17:32:00 +0000

"Only those who dare to fail greatly, can ever achieve greatly." --Robert F. Kennedy

"Nick"

"Wiggy" (&Puddles foot..)

"Sam"

"Puddles & Cactus"

"Tango, Paul, & Weezy; at flag lowering."

"Cha Cha"

"Fannnnyy Packkkk"

"Weezy-wee"

"Danga Mike"

Birthday celebration for "Face!"

Camp Center Training

ciden@vt.edu (4H Campers) — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 17:27:00 +0000

During a practice run of the Multimedia Arts class, Samantha took this picture of Wiggy!

Camp Deadline Extended

ciden@vt.edu (Kevin) — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 18:00:00 +0000

The 4-H Summer Outdoor Adventure Camp deadline has been extended to MAY 15th! This is to allow all you teens out there time to be able to turn in your registrations!

Click on the headline and download your brochure and registration. Remember MAY 15th!

FFA Banquet

ciden@vt.edu (Sam) — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 18:08:00 +0000

FFA Banquet at the 4-H Center tomorrow night (Thursday, March 25). Frances is making her famous "Dirt Pudding"!

Did you know?

ciden@vt.edu (Unknown) — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 15:35:00 +0000

Did you know that you can support the 4-H Center when you do your taxes, and it doesn't cost anything extra?

If you use TurboTax online to prepare and file your taxes, iGive will donate 6% of your purchase price to the Southwest Virginia 4-H Educational Center. All you have to do is go to the iGive website and search the iGive stores for TurboTax.

Or just click directly on this link: TurboTax.

Remember, you must have an iGive account and select the Southwest Virginia 4-H Educational Center as your charity before you can help!

New Summer Camp for Teens!

ciden@vt.edu (Kevin) — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 20:51:00 +0000

Are there any teens out there that love 4-H Camp? If there are then let me tell you about a new 4-H camp for teens ages 13-17. Its the Summer Outdoor Adventure Camp. This camp is brand new this year and I'm super excited about it. Campers who sign up will go out and camp on top of the mountain and learn survival skills, GPS, forestry, teambuilding, etc. All this while taking adventures like hiking, trailblazing and sleeping under the stars. This is truely an opportunity that one should not pass up. For more information or to sign up take a look at our BROCHURE.
Space is limited so sign up today!

Bluegrass Jam!

ciden@vt.edu (Unknown) — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 19:23:00 +0000

The 4-H Center is having it's first-ever youth Bluegrass Jam! If you play an instrument and are between 9 and 13 years old, we invite you to register. On the weekend of March 12-14, we will have instructional clinics in guitar, banjo, mandolin and bass. Bring your instrument and spend the weekend learning and jamming!

If you don't play an instrument, join us for a storytelling workshop instead. You'll learn all about storytelling - traditions, history, new stories, old stories, and a whole lot more. And on Sunday, you'll join the pickers for a group performance in front of an audience!

Register today, we expect this one to fill up quick! Download your registration form here.

New Job Opportunities!

ciden@vt.edu (Kevin) — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 19:57:00 +0000

The 4-H Center is excited to begin taking applications for staff to lead our new Outdoor Adventure Program. In this program, staff will be leading trips and camping under the stars. The staff will also be creating new activities for this Adventure Program. So we need people with strong outdoor camping skills and experience working with children. If you are ready to step up to this challenge please look at the Job Description and APPLY TODAY!

Intermediate Weekend

ciden@vt.edu (Unknown) — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 16:33:00 +0000

Do you like quilting and scrapbooking? How about LEGO and robots? Register for our upcoming Intermediate Weekend for youth in grades 6-8! You can choose from quilting and scrapbooking or LEGO robotics, and there will be lots of other fun stuff to do.
Download a registration form and brochure with more information here.

A holiday shopping reminder

ciden@vt.edu (Unknown) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:46:00 +0000

As we begin this holiday season, we wanted to take an opportunity to tell everyone about a great way to support the 4-H Center that's free and easy.

When you sign up with iGive, you can shop at all the websites you usually use and a portion of your purchases is donated to us! All you have to do is visit those websites from the iGive page (and be signed in of course). If you've never done your holiday shopping online, this is a great excuse to give it a try, it's so convenient. And the best part is, you can use this site to raise money for the 4-H Center all year long!

And that's not all. You can also donate money to the 4-H Center by using iGive to search on the web. That's right, all those web searches you do every day could be earning money for the Center! Check out the top left corner of this blog, under the banner, for a special link to use your web searches as a fundraiser.

Free Choral Concert

ciden@vt.edu (Unknown) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:43:00 +0000

Next week, the 4-H Center will host folks from all across the country for our annual Choral Elderhostel. Participants will spend a week with us, rehearsing and polishing a choral program to be presented to the community on Friday, November 20 and everyone is invited!

The program will be held at St. Thomas Episcopal Church on Main Street in Abingdon at 7PM and is free and open to the public. So come enjoy some great music on Friday night!

What: The Southwest Virginia 4-H Center's Elderhostel Choir, under the direction of Andrew Walker
When: Friday, November 20 at 7PM
Where: St. Thomas Episcopal Church
124 E. Main Street
Abingdon, VA 24210