December 8, 2014 at 2:08 p.m.
Children make holiday treasures during 4-H craft workshop
Children make holiday treasures during 4-H craft workshop
By Kayla Thomason-
The children made angel paper-clip ornaments and recycled Christmas cards, frosted snowman mason jars and constructed gingerbread houses.
The gingerbread houses and recycled Christmas cards are standard each year but everything else was new.
Megan Wehrman, a parent, liked the variety of projects for the various age groups.
"I definitely would [come back again next year]. I mean just looking around at all the stuff that they have here I'd definitely bring [my daughter, Emersyn, 1 1/2 years old] back again next year," she said.
The projects were geared toward kindergarten through fifth graders. The children could choose five of 12 stations and take photos with Santa.
"The reason we have them pick five is because a couple years ago they wanted to do all of them and then it got a little more competitive and so we thought if we had them pick five it'll be more of an even flow throughout the course of the morning," said Lynn Feldman, 4-H youth development agent. "We're not trying to limit youth in doing arts and crafts we're just trying to make sure everybody has a chance to do some."
Abbey Swenson's favorite project was the gingerbread house.
"It has a door with Skittles and it has marshmallows with a candy cane on it," she said.
The children used frosting as an adhesive.
Abbey made a chocolate spoon and wants to come again next year.
Kameron Christen, Abbey's cousin, enjoyed making the angel.
"I thought [the projects] were pretty cool and my favorite one was sitting on Santa's lap," he said.
Alan Smith, Abbey's father, said the children also made glass snowmen -- a mason jar with glue and frosted stuff on it.
"[The children] enjoyed the puppy sitting on their lap with Santa, they thought that was real nice," Smith said. "As far as the gingerbread goes they are really happy, they enjoyed eating the candy and stuff for sure."
He plans to bring the children again next year.
Another child, Isaiah Willoughby, enjoyed his first time at the workshop.
"It's pretty fun," he said. "My favorite activity was the angel paperclip [ornament]."
He also liked the snowflake ornament where they cut out a piece from a card.
Louise Perreault, operator of Old School Arts and Learning Center, said the snowflake ornament project was a way to teach children to be creative and recycle.
"They focus it for kids to come and make gifts to give, which I think is really nice," Perreault said. "It teaches kids the gift of giving, rather than just getting, and I think that's a great purpose."
The event has been such a hit in the past that families come back year after year.
"I've seen people here that I've seen for a few years now so they keep coming back," said Mary Puestow, 4-H leader and treasurer for the organization's Leaders Association.
The families aren't the only ones who look forward to all the fun crafts.
"This is just something we look forward to each year because we get such great participation and to do this right before Christmas this is a great holiday-spirited thing," Feldman said.
Older 4-H youth members and non 4-H people helped out.
"We've got a lot of our youth leaders helping out at most of the stations so it's a way for them to work into leadership roles," Puestow said.
Nava King, a 4-H member, has helped out with this event in the past. Her station this year was foam ornaments.
"We're making foam ornaments and we have the foam shapes and you can glue stuff on them like beads and sparkly things," she said. "I like seeing all the different kids and what they like and don't like, I think it's fun."
Feldman and Perreault love having the workshop in the Curran building because it has several rooms so food projects can be done in the kitchen while the crafts and Santa are in separate rooms.
"This is a good setting, the old Curran School, because it is nice and centrally located for everybody so it's been a good turnout almost every year we've been here," Perreault said.
Kayla Breese may be reached at [email protected].
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