Summer is a busy time for 4-Hers in the area, and a lot of that activity took place Wednesday at the Scioto County fairgrounds.

The Cloverbud Day Camp, using the theme “Down on the Farm,” provided 67 children ages 5 to 8 with a full day of fun.

“The first thing we did this morning was take a group picture, then half the group saw a farm safety skit while the other half saw a presentation on soil conservation by Jeff Montavon,” said Jo Williams, extension educator for 4-H Youth Development.

In the second session, some of the children played on the inflatable, bouncing playground toy and others learned how farmers grow pizza. That was in reference to the growing of tomatoes for the sauce.

After lunch, water games kept kids busy until they worked on farm animal crafts and made their own homemade ice cream.

Haylie Musser, a second-grader at South Webster, enjoyed the water relays the most, while the bouncing game was the favorite of 8-year-old Kaylin Seiler, of Lucasville, and Noah Bisden, who is a home-schooled 6-year-old.

“We get plenty of help from our teen volunteers every year,” said Williams.

One of those volunteers was Ryan Ross, 16, of South Webster.

“I like volunteering here,” Ross said. “When I was a kid, I always came to the Cloverbud Day Camp, and I looked up to the people who ran the camp. Now I can be the one they can look up to.”

Ross said that a lot of his summer is spent on 4-H projects including two weeks of summer camp and the every- day care of his animals.

“I had the grand champion steer at last year's fair,” Ross said.

Nicholas Kimble, 14, who goes to school in Minford and lives in Lucasville, said he volunteers for the children.

“I like to help them learn teamwork,” said Kimble.

Some 1,200 young people and 300 advisers in Scioto County participate in 90 4-H clubs.

“The 4-H program is designed to engage young people in hands-on learning, under the guidance of a caring adult volunteer,” said Williams. “The young people then develop skills in leadership, citizenship, confidence and knowledge of the subject matter.”

Williams said that anyone who wanted to learn more about 4-H may call the OSU Extension office at (740) 354-7879.

FRANK LEWIS can be reached at (740) 353-3101, ext. 232