4-H lets kids explore MSU

By Jesse O'Brien | Originally Published: 06/22/11 10:43pm |Modified: 06/22/11 11:34pm | No comments

Matt Hallowell | The State News

Monroe resident Dillon Van Stone, 14, does sit ups while Monroe resident Richard Bell, 17, times him Wednesday afternoon at the Operation: Military Kids class. The class which offered participants a taste of what it is like to be deployed by the U.S. military was offered as part of the annual 4-H exploration days.

Lisa Campion was once an 11-year-old girl attending her first session with 4-H Exploration Days at MSU.

Through five or six years with the 4-H Exploration Days program and her continued participation with 4-H, Campion learned about her love for environmental sciences, something that helped her decide what she wanted to do with her life.

Campion, now 24, graduated from MSU in 2007 with a degree in environmental science and management and a degree in fisheries and wildlife. She said her experiences with 4-H Exploration Days helped to shape who she is now.

“All the experience from 4-H, especially Exploration Days, helped me realize and lay the foundation for where I went in my life,” Campion said.

On Wednesday, more than 2,500 participants, aged 11 to 19, were given the same opportunity as Campion by attending the 42nd annual 4-H Exploration Days on campus. The program runs from Wednesday until Friday afternoon and houses the participants in several residence halls on campus. 4-H Exploration Days features 200 sessions that participants can take part in.

Judy Ratkos, senior extension program leader, said participating in 4-H Exploration Days was a good way to expose children to a college atmosphere earlier.

“It gives kids a chance to play mini-college student for three days,” she said.

Campion said the program helped her to meet many of the faculty she interacted with during her time at MSU.

“Just meeting (faculty members) and learning what programs MSU offers was really helpful,” she said.

Associate program leader Kendra Moyses is in her second year with 4-H Exploration Days and led a session titled Operation Military Kids: Boots On, which is designed to give the participants an idea of what happens when military personnel are deployed.

“We’re going to talk a lot about what military culture is, and (the participants) are going to get a taste of what it is actually like to get deployment orders,” Moyses said.

Zane Carey, a 13-year-old participant from Mecosta County, Mich., decided to take the session because he is interested in going into law enforcement. He said, so far, the session is his favorite part about 4-H Exploration Days.

“I like seeing what they do in the military and meeting new people,” he said.