Workshops offer opportunities for fun learning

Jacob Beadles puts the muscle on screws as he fits the ends onto his 4-H extension cord project at a recent 4-H Electricity Workshop led by Jeremy Montgomery of Parke County REMC. (Courtesy photo)

Summer is here and finally it feels like it on the thermometer. The calendar is also showing it is summer as 4-H camp, summer 4-H workshops and trips kick off.

In terms of workshops, there are numerous family opportunities for fun learning. There are cake decorating, electricity, fine arts, genealogy, public speaking/demonstration, sewing and wood science workshops scheduled.

Additionally, if anyone would like to volunteer to teach or lead a workshop, the Putnam County 4-H program in most situations would be happy to help facilitate additional workshops.

The workshops provide hands on knowledge and can be family interactive opportunity. Life skill development and career learning are the outcomes of these workshops.

Most youth report knowledge gain and cite career decision making as the key impact after attending programs. If one does not desire an electrical or plumbing career, still acquiring basic knowledge to fix or avoid problems around the home are invaluable.

4-Hers also learn and gain leadership at club meetings. Just this past week, clubs participated in service projects to help the nonfood pantry, collected food for food pantries, while the Shooting Sports club focused on firearms safety and use kicked off their meetings to practice for the summer.

Visit www.extension.purdue.edu/putnam or you can contact the local Purdue Extension Office by calling 653-8411 for more information regarding this week's column topic or to RSVP for upcoming events. It is always best to call first to assure items are ready when you arrive and to RSVP for programs. While many publications are free, some do have a fee.

Upcoming Events

June 2 -- Celebrate Indiana Field Trip 1 to Indianapolis.

June 13 -- Electricity 4-H Workshop, Fairgrounds Community Building West, 9-11 a.m. and 1-3 p.m.

June 13 -- Public Speaking/Demonstration, Extension Office, 9-11 a.m.

June 13 - Fine Arts 4-H Workshop, Extension Office, 9-11 a.m.

June 14 -- Genealogy 4-H Workshop, Extension Office, 6:30-7:30 p.m.

June 15 -- Wood Science 4-H Workshop, Steve Lien shop, 6-8 p.m.

June 23 -- Farmstead Planning Webinar, 12-1 p.m., register at https://ag.purdue.edu/Extension/wia/Pages/webinars.aspx

June 29 -- Public Speaking/Demonstration workshop, Extension Office, 9-11 a.m.

June 29 -- Fine Arts 4-H Workshop, Extension Office, 9-11 a.m.

June 29 -- Wood Science 4-H Workshop, Steve Lien shop, 6-8 p.m.

June 29 -- Celebrate Indiana Field Trip 2, walking tour of Greencastle.

July 8 -- Celebrate Indiana Field Trip 3 to Conner Prairie.

Aug. 15 -- My Record of 4-H Achievement workshop, Extension Office, 6:30-8:30 p.m​.