Welcome to summer! My name is Ashley Harguth and I will be spending the summer in Freeborn County again as the 4-H summer intern. I grew up in Waseca County and was active in the 4-H program there.

A big part of 4-H in the summer are different camps. Camps are a great opportunity for youth to meet new people, learn about different topics and develop new skills. Every summer there is a regional youth camp where Freeborn County youths spend three days with other youth from Rice, Steele and Mower counties. This year, 39 Freeborn County 4-H members stayed at Camp Patterson on Lake Washington near Mankato to learn about science, engineering and technology, along with the traditional camp activities like swimming and campfires. While at camp the youths had different learning sessions about aerospace, engineering cars, food science and more. One evening, Dr. Pierce, an astronomy professor from Minnesota State University Mankato even came and talked to the youth about the stars, planets, and other things up in the sky.

Throughout the rest of the summer, Freeborn County offers day camps and we just finished up a gardening day camp where the youth made a garden in a glove along with learning about vegetables and dirt. Upcoming day camps include one about going green and recycling and also a Survivor-themed day camp. These day camps are held in Alden and Glenville from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. If you are interested in attending a day camp or would like more information about joining 4-H, please call the Extension office at 377-5660.

Ashley Harguth is a 4-H summer intern at the Freeborn County Extension office.