Youth Get A Taste Of 4-H Through Summer Intro Club

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Vermilion and area youth had the opportunity to discover a different side of 4-H this week as the 4-H Alberta Intro Club Summer Sampler brought four afternoons of hands-on activities, creativity and learning to the community from August 17 to 20.

Designed for youth ages nine to 15, Intro Clubs give participants an opportunity to experience 4-H without committing to a traditional year-long club. Following the 4-H motto, “Learn to Do By Doing,” the program allows youth to try new activities, meet others and explore different interests while learning more about what 4-H has to offer.

The Intro Club program began three years ago as a pilot project in Calgary and has since expanded with the support of government funding, reaching families in Calgary and Edmonton before moving into additional communities including Vermilion and Bonnyville.

During the school year, Intro Clubs generally run for two hours a week over six weeks. Vermilion’s Summer Sampler condensed the same 12 hours of programming into four afternoons.

For Program Manager Lori Nielsen, bringing the program to Vermilion was also an opportunity to make the experience distinctly local.

“We really wanted Vermilion’s Intro Club to feel like a community program,” said Nielsen. “There are so many people here with interesting skills, businesses and experiences to share, and we were fortunate to have local businesses and organizations open their doors and welcome our youth.”

Those partnerships gave participants a wide variety of experiences throughout the week.

The program kicked off Monday with healthy snacks, physical activities and line dancing. On Tuesday, youth visited Backyard Blooms for a Micro Urban Flower Farm Experience, where they learned about growing and harvesting flowers before creating fresh arrangements of their own.

Wednesday brought an afternoon of art and wellness, with Alicia from Spare Button Studio leading participants through a hands-on printmaking workshop, while The Nest Project provided yoga, meditation and creative wellness activities.

The final afternoon began with a behind-the-scenes visit to The Old School Cheesery, where participants learned more about cheesemaking, followed by additional activities and a chocolate tasting back at the Vermilion Regional Centre.

Nielsen said the variety was intentional.

“It gave the kids a chance to try things they might otherwise never experience,” she said. “We want kids to try 4-H, have fun and see where it takes them.”

While livestock and agriculture remain an important part of 4-H, the organization offers opportunities extending well beyond horses, cattle and sheep. Projects and activities can involve food, science and technology, arts, health and wellness, the environment, leadership and many other interests, and youth do not need to live on a farm or have an agricultural background to participate.

For Joanne, an Innisfree parent, that variety was particularly welcome. She noted that finding activities for youth in this age group can sometimes be challenging, especially for children who are not interested in traditional sports, making the Summer Sampler a welcome addition to the community.

A Vermilion mother, whose family had previously joined a traditional 4-H club with little knowledge of how the organization worked, said the Intro Club offered the kind of introduction they wished they had received at the beginning of their own 4-H experience.

“The Intro Course provided exactly the kind of foundation we had been missing and made 4-H feel accessible rather than intimidating,” she said. “It was organized, coherent, welcoming and genuinely fun.”

Along with trying new activities, participants were introduced to some of the skills that are central to 4-H, including communication, record keeping, teamwork, problem-solving, critical thinking and leadership.

Josh, a member of the Intro Club team who travelled from Calgary with Nielsen to help deliver the Vermilion program, said the experience is meant to give youth a starting point.

“Intro Club is a chance to try 4-H and see what you think,” he said. “You get to try different activities, learn new things and meet people. And if you enjoy it, a traditional 4-H club is where you can keep going, get more involved and really make it your own.”

Intro Clubs are intended to complement rather than replace traditional 4-H clubs. While the Intro Club is a one-time experience, traditional clubs allow members to spend months developing projects, friendships and leadership skills while participating in presentations and community service.

Crystal Boorse, Northeast Regional SALTT Representative and Provincial SALTT Representative, said the program can also help introduce new families to existing clubs.

“I would recommend the Intro Club to anyone who has an interest and is not really sure what 4-H is all about,” said Boorse. “Clubs can easily integrate the Intro Club into their club to help with membership and potentially help grow their clubs.”

And while the adults had plenty to say about the benefits of the week, participants Reese and Thane managed to sum up their experiences much more simply.

“Join 4-H, it’s fun and you learn a bunch,” said Reese.

For Thane, one part of the week stood above the rest: “Awesome smoothies.”

Participants also had the option of wrapping up their Summer Sampler experience on August 21 with a bonus tour of Lakeland College’s dairy farm, where they could see a working dairy barn and learn more about modern agriculture and where their food comes from.