Submitted
July 3 through 12, nine 4-H members and two chaperones from District 35 experienced an amazing opportunity through 4-H Canada. Nine members and two chaperones from Oxford County, Ont., came to stay with the District 35 members.
We had many things planned to show them about our province and history.
The first day, we had a fun day for the members to be able to get to know everyone. We played some games like the Amazing Race and tug of war and a question and answer session about ourselves.
On the Sunday, we had a branding and lake day. The members from Ontario learned how to put a brand on a calf and ear tag it. We then went canoeing and had supper.
As part of the exchange, we were required to show them a piece of our history. We took them to Frenchman Butte where we toured the museum and the other sites there. They all found this quite interesting.
On another day we went to Blue Mountain just outside of North Battleford. This is an amazing place to go. They got to do the obstacle course, archery and axe throwing, team building course and last, but far from least, the zip line.
Another thing we were required to do was a community service event. We had chosen to get together with the Olive Tree in Lloydminster and the Lloydminster exhibition and help them out on the first day of the Lloydminster fair. The Olive Tree had us run the booth they had set up for the parade route. The members sold drinks and chips and also handed out popcorn. We also helped them sort clothing. They also gave us our tour of their building and explained what they all did to help out the less fortunate. That was an eye opener for all the members.
We then went to the exhibition and all the members had different jobs to do to help out there. Afterwards, the exhibition gave them passes to the pit area of the Monster Trucks.
The last full day they were here we showed them the border markers in Lloydminster and they got to go to the fair and spend the day on the rides and watch all the events that were happening there.
Aug. 8 through 17, our nine members and two chaperones went to Oxford County, Ont. We had a busy schedule there. We toured dairy, chicken, goat and hops farms. We went to Jakeman’s maple syrup factory and a cheese factory. They took us to Boler Mountain, which was full of in the air obstacle courses and zip lining. It was a blast!
For our part of history, we went to the Ingersoll Cheese Museum where we learned all the history of that area of Ontario and the members made cheese from scratch.
On our community service day, we all got together and made blue jay and duck houses. We also painted garbage cans. The members worked well together cutting and building the birdhouses.
We also went to Toronto to see a Blue Jays game and tour the CN tour.
Our second last day we went to the Welland Canals and Niagara Falls. We toured Niagara Falls and then went on the Maid of the Mist. What a beautiful place to see.
This was an amazing opportunity for the members to see a different part of our country. They learned how similar but different it is in another part of our country. They made lifetime friends, which would have never happened if not for this trip and the 4-H programs.
Thank you to 4-H Canada for having trips like this for our members to experience. We would also like to thank Canadian Heritage for sponsoring this trip.
