North Carolina Cooperative Extension partners with McDowell County to deliver education and technology that enrich the lives, land, and economy of North Carolinians. Keep up-to-date on agriculture and natural resource, family and consumer science, and 4-H and youth news in McDowell County.
Friday, May 27, 2011
Monday, May 23, 2011
McDowell County 4-H Summer Discovery
McDowell 4-H Summer Discovery
McDowell County 4-H is currently registering youth for our Summer Educational opportunities. 4-H Summer Discovery is a collection of educational workshops, field trips, and hands-on activities positive learning opportunities and focus on developing life skills. Spots are filling fast and will be reserved on a first come first served basis. Please contact Chad Ray at 828-652-8104 with any questions. Complete brochure can be found at http://mcdowell.ces.ncsu.edu
Fun in the Kitchen
June 14, 2011 9:00 am – 3:30 pm
Ages 8-18
Class Limit 10 Cost: $ 5.00
Workshop Location: Cooperative Extension Conference Room
Come join Family and Consumer Science Agent, Kristin Mart, for a day full of fun in the kitchen. Youth will make fruit roll ups and will learn from chefs with the Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Program about how to properly cook fresh vegetables.
What to bring: Bagged lunch and wear closed toe shoes
Manna Food Bank and WNC Nature Center
June 16, 2011 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Ages 5-18
Class Limit 12 Cost: $7.00
Join us as we start out volunteering at Manna Food Bank. Participants will learn about the largest food bank in WNC and help pack kits that will benefit kids all over Western North Carolina. We will then go to the WNC Nature Center where we will have a picnic lunch and tour the facility and see all the exciting animals.
****Participants must wear closed toe shoes at Manna Food Bank****
What to bring: Bagged lunch…Optional items: Camera and Back pack
Fish On!
June 17, 2011 8:30 am - 2:30 pm
Ages: 5-18 (under age 8 must be accompanied by a parent)
Class Limit 12 Cost: $5.00
Who wants to go fishing? Participants will get to try their hand at trout fishing in the mountains. This is always an entertaining fun filled day. Participants will go with Molly Sandfoss, Extension Director, to see who will catch the biggest or the most. This is a great trip for both experienced anglers and first timers. If you are 18 or older you must have a valid North Carolina fishing license to fish!!!
What to bring: Bag lunch, rods, reel, tackle (hooks, sinkers, and bobbers), stringer, and cooler so you can take your catch home. ***Closed face reels are much easier for youth to use. 4-H will provide bait.
Oconaluftee Indian Village and Western Carolina
July 7, 2011 9:30 am – 5:00 pm
Ages 8-18
Class Limit 12 Cost: $10.00
This will be a full day event as we travel to the Cherokee Indian Reservation to see the Indian Village of Oconaluftee. Participants will get to see how the Native Americans lived in colonial times and learn about their rich cultural heritage.
After a picnic lunch we will travel to Western Carolina University to visit the Mountain Heritage Center and learn about how the people of Western North Carolina lived in the 1700’s. We will then finish the day with a guided walking tour of Western Carolina University.
What to bring: Comfortable walking shoes, money for souvenirs and a bagged lunch.
Linville Mountain Gem Shop and Linville Falls
July 14, 2011 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Ages 8-18
Class Limit 12 Cost: $7.00
Come join as we go looking for authentic gems in McDowell County. We will travel to Linville Mountain Gem Shop where each participant will receive a bucket to search for their treasures.
Afterwards we will travel on up the mountain to Linville Falls where will we have a picnic lunch and hike down to the falls.
What to bring: Comfortable hiking shoes and a bagged lunch.
Whitewater Rafting on the Nantahala River
July 27, 2011 8:30 am – 6:00 pm
Ages 12-18
Class Limit 12 Cost: $35.00
This is going to be the most adventurous trip of the summer! We will travel to the Nantahala Outdoor Center and spend the day forging the river. Everyone will go through a safety/instruction class, so don’t worry if you have never been.
What to bring: Water shoes and appropriate water clothes are required. You must have shoes that strap on your feet, sandals are not permitted. Also everyone will need a change of clothes and a bag lunch.
McDowell 4-H Shooting Sports Camp
August 2 and August 3, 2011 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Ages: 9-18
Class limit: 10 Cost: $10.00
Learn how to shoot archery and rifle safely. This is a two day event. We will spend the first day learning about basic archery technique and safety. Participants will have the chance to shoot and learn about how a bow and arrow works.
The second day we will learn about rifle shooting and participants will have the chance to shoot .22 rifles.
All gear and safety equipment will be provided.
4-H Summer Camp
August, 7-12 All Week
Ages 8-14
Class limit: 10 Cost: $175.00
We will be going to Betsy-Jeff Penn 4-H Camp for a week long residential summer camp experience. Youth will spend the week swimming, canoeing, horseback riding, exploring nature, doing arts, and crafts, and learning archery. There will definitely be lifetime memories made this week. For more information about the camp please visit www.bjpenn4h.org.
Jellystone Waterslide
August 16, 2011 12:30 pm – 4:00 pm
Ages 5-12
Class limit 12 Cost: $9.00
Location: Jellystone Campground 1210 Deacon Dr. Marion NC 28752
Transportation will NOT be provided for this workshop.
Come join us as we go to Jellystone Campground here in Marion and have a day in the sun in their pool and on their waterslide. This is a younger kid’s activity and we are asking that parents join in on the fun so we have plenty of supervision.
Carowinds
August 18, 2011 8:00 am - 8:30 pm
Ages 8-18
Class Limit 12 Cost: $35.00
This is our end of summer celebration trip. We are going to spend all day at Carowinds theme park in Charlotte. Carowinds has an amusement park and water park in one great location. For more information about Carowinds please go to their website at www.carowinds.com. This will be an all day trip and participants will need money for food and souvenirs. 4-H will pay for dinner on the way home.
***This is our annual Honor Club trip so 2010 Honor Club members will get to attend for $15.00.
What to bring: Comfortable shoes, bathing suit if planning on using water park, a bag lunch and sunscreen.
McDowell County 4-H Presentation Workshop
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
HOT Topics!! Colorado Potato Beetle
It appears that the Colorado Potato Beetle has become somewhat resistant to our traditional methods like Sevin. A newer insecticide, spinosad seems to be an effective control. It is sold as Captain Jack's Dead Bug Brew, Greenlight Lawn and Garden Spray with spinosad. There may be other brand names as well. You want to apply the product according to the label directions. The eggs and larvae are the stage where they are more susceptible to insecticides. Spinosad does break down fairly quickly so it should be reapplied every 5 days for effective control.
You might also consider manual removal although time consuming, it is effective. Go through your potatoes every 2 days and drop the adult and larval potato bugs into a jar of soapy water. Squish the eggs.
The Colorado Potato Beetle also may feast on your tomato, pepper, and eggplant so keep an eye on these plants as well. Good luck in controlling this pest!
HOT Topics!! Ground Dwelling Bees
It's Spring and all is a buzz in our lawns and gardens, literally. Quite a few people have been inquiring about a swarm of bees in their lawn. These bees are known as Ground Dwelling Bees. These are a "solitary" bee as opposed to a "social" bee like the Honey Bee. Ground Dwelling Bees dig holes in the ground for their nest. They emerge in March and April and reproduce from March until May. The female will dig a burrow at night, and during the day, she will collect pollen and nectar. She sticks the pollen and nectar into her burrow. She then will lay an egg on the pollen and nectar where the larvae will feed until they emerge as adults next March or April. These bees are not aggressive.
The holes in your yard are unattractive, but on the positive side, it does help to aerate your lawns. The Ground Dwelling Bee likes to nest in bare dry spots. Water this area and plant some vegetation to reduce the likelihood that the bee will nest. If you have a spot that grass is difficult to grow, call the office 652-8104, and we can discuss different ground covers that might work better in that location.