How Does The 4-H Club Shape Our Children?

How Does The 4-H Club Shape Our Children?

Involvement in stimulating, life skills building and positive reinforcing activities is crucial in the development of our youths. The mission of the 4-H Youth Development Program is to help young people grow into responsible, contributing citizens.” There are over 150 clubs in Clark County alone. They encourage youths who are thinking about joining to visit several different clubs to find the right fit. Anyone may join if they are between the ages of 5-19. There are no fees to join! There is a specific age requirement to be involved in certain levels of competition for safety purposes. Don’t I have t live on a farm or have farm animals? Absolutely not!

This is not just a club for youths. Having positive role models is vital in the development of our youths today. If they do not have one at home, which is sometimes the case, they can find one here. Adults are encouraged to become leaders within the clubs. This provides a great opportunity for parents to engage in healthy, educational and fun activities that promotes bonding with their children.

4-H Clubs are very active within the communities and organize fund raising events which not only benefits the communities, it develops healthy beliefs and clear standards within our youth as well as developing a sense of leadership and connectedness to their community.

I'm Glad We're Not Paying Too Much for College!

There was an article in The Oregonian recently which makes a lot of sense to me. It is about really thinking long and hard before taking on enormous college debt. There are now so many young students working years and years to payoff their college debt that this article give facts and figures to hopefully make students think twice before burdening their future with heavy debt. The article states that many college graduates are paying higher and higher portions of their income for over a decade, just to pay down college debt. There was one example given of a person in Florida who has $45,000 owed in student loans. He just got a repayment plan of $400 per month and he's still attending school. A monthly payment of $400 will delay other life purchases such as living independently, buying a home or purchasing a more reliable car.

The writer of the article tells the story of her own college choice: she earned a 4 year scholarship to the university in her home state, but she wanted to go to school out of state. Her grandmother gave her very good advice that she is still grateful for today: No Way. With the cost of college getting higher by the minute, if there is a local school that will provide a quality education, or at least the first two years, go for it. There is just no need in spending so much extra money for a fancy school or for out of state tuition.

What's in it for girls?

Besides having some really yummy cookies , Girls Scouts offers young girls with a wonderful opportunity to develop skills to make healthy choices and decisions. They learn to work as a team as well as becoming leaders. Girls are gain recognition by accomplishing certain tasks or activities.

Many times young girls will begin to develop trusting relationships with their scout leaders and other Girl Scout sisters. This is especially important for those young girls that come from broken or challenged homes.

These are all very important qualities to develop in our youths that will reduce risk of experimentation and/or use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs.

Any girl 5-17 years old may join who makes the Girl Scout Promise and accepts the Girl Scout Law. Member ship fees are $10 per year.

The Girls Scout Law:

I will do my best to be honest and fair, friendly and helpful, considerate and caring, courageous and strong, and responsible for what I say and do, and to respect myself and others, respect authority, use resources wisely, make the world a better place, and be sister to every Girl Scout

The Girl Scout Promise:

On my honor I will try: To serve God and my country, to help people at all times, and to live by the Girl Scout law.

Thank Your for a Wonderful Term

It has been a long time since I’ve sat in a classroom eager to learn. After taking a couple years off from school, to travel around New Zealand, Australia, and the South Pacific Islands, I came home not knowing what to do next. Eventually, my dream of being a kindergarten teacher and an interest to learn became stronger. I was nervous to go back to school, assuming that I had forgotten what I had already learned, but encouraged myself to do what it takes to achieve my goals.

The first day of spring term was nerve-racking. I had all these assumptions of what ENG 101 would be like, comparing it to my experience in AP ENG of my senior year. However, I was pleasantly surprised. The intimate class size, the upbeat instructor, and overall ambiance of the campus relieved my anxieties. The attention I received in this class, and the environment of my fellow peers eager to learn, has helped my determination to learn as much as possible.

I am thoroughly grateful to all who have aided in making this English class a great experience. I learned basic skills of writing that has been paid little attention to previously, and forms of arguments that I am more aware of in everyday life. The excitement of learning and being able to appreciate good writing reaffirms my decision for coming back to school. My positive experience in this classroom has been a wonderful start to achieve my goals.

Thank you.

Time Goes By So Fast

My beautiful daughter will graduate from highschool tomorrow. Today we had her graduation party at our home to celebrate her accomplishment. We must have had over 50 family and friends coming in and out today, helping us celebrate her graduation. It was a beautiful day for a BBQ, while sitting and visiting in the beautiful sunshine.

For those of you who have older children, you know what I mean about time passing by so quickly. It seems like only a couple of years ago that she was born and now she's almost 18. For those of you who have younger children, be sure to take the time to enjoy the little things that they enjoy. You will really look back and cherish those memories. Don't get me wrong, this isn't about any opportunities I have missed. I had a wonderful time of my daughter growing up. We have a terrific relationship now and she will continue to live at home and we will still enjoy time together. Now it is different, now she is more like my friend. I am very, very proud of her and all that she has accomplished and how hard she had to work to get to this place. Here comes the beautiful part; I get to enjoy her and be proud of the responsibility that she shows for herself as the ownership is lifted off of my shoulders, just a bit. We will have many more happy memories together, she and I--starting tomorrow as she walks to accept her diploma in her gap and gown...

Shiba Inus

Shiba Inus are my favorite breed, and I plan to get one because their traits can compliment my lifestyle. They are about 15 inches tall and weigh from 15-25 pounds, depending on the gender. Their hair comes in a variety of colors described as red, red sesame, black, black and tan, and with some white markings. A physical bonus, in my opinion, is their fuzzy, curly tails! What is great about them is their ability to adapt to many ways of life. Being independent but quite affectionate, I would not have to worry about my dog when I am out of the house, but will return with a warm welcoming. They are small dogs that can live comfortably in an apartment, and have tremendous endurance to be a great hiking or jogging partner. Besides their ability to adapt to how I live, their origin is very interesting to me as well.

The ancestor of Shiba Inus came to Japan from China two thousand years ago. Over the years, different breeds of the Japanese spitz-type dogs have developed. The shiba is the smallest of the breeds. Because of their origin as hunting dogs, the name “shiba”-meaning “brushwood” and “small”- probably came from their surroundings. Now they are the most popular breed in Japan, being great pets able to fit into the nation’s notorious, tiny apartments. Even though I don’t live in Japan, I would still be able to find my little companion around the U.S. They are becoming quite popular, and I hope someday soon I will have the time to become another proud Shiba Inu owner.

What is Yoga?

The word Yoga is derived from the Sanskrit root yuj meaning to bind, join, attach, to direct, or concentrate one's attention . It also means union or communion. It is the true union of our will with the will of our higher power, or the spiritual side of ourselves. It is the practice of disciplining the intellect, emotions, and the will of the seeker to enable them too look at life in all its aspects evenly. The practice of yoga enables the student to control their mind, and self thus setting them free from restless desire so they rest in the spirit within. The student learns to live in this state of freedom in all aspect in life. You can become one with all things, as you come to realize we are all part of the same fabric in our existence. We cannot live alone, we are all part of each other. The universe is conceived as a grid pattern that encompasses all things. The ebb and flow of energy is a part of us all. When the senses are still, and the mind at rest, a yogi has reached the highest stage. This steady control of the senses and mind is what students seek to achieve. One must learn to apply these skills to all aspects of life, not just in class.

Why It’s Great To Be At Clark College

I have been attending Clark College for almost a year now. I started last summer quarter with a math class in the evening, while I was still working full time. My first impressions on campus were very good. People were friendly and helpful; they even offered to help me because I looked lost. On the night of my first class I was sooooooo nervous!! My first instructor was really great. She was so excited about math! She was friendly and helpful and funny—I looked forward to going to her class. I liked her so much that I chose her as my instructor in the fall term for my next level of math. In January I became a full time student and registered for several classes, and here it is halfway through spring term! How time flies. I have found many instructors here at Clark who are knowledgeable, friendly and excited about teaching at Clark. It is great to hear a teacher say “I love being at Clark”. More than one of my teachers have said that to me.

I am thrilled that Clark is a non-smoking campus. Our maintenance staff keeps our grounds litter- free. We have beautiful, mature landscaping that makes for a beautiful setting. The flowers are in bloom and are well-cared for. The buildings are unique and contribute to the beauty of our campus. I was recently at a community college in Gresham and was startled by the difference in the aesthetics of our college and that one. It was an institutional row of a few non-descript buildings, with forgettable surroundings. We have beautiful trees full of blossoms that line our walkways. I was happy to have the fountains turned back on. It makes it so nice to sit outside in one of the many areas to enjoy afternoon sunshine.

I find that Cannell Library is a great place to study…in fact; it’s the best place for me to find a quiet area with resources that help me finish a project. I enjoy the different student centers that are available to work, get something to eat, or just talk with friends. We are getting a good education here, and I feel very fortunate to have this college in my community!

More dolphins!

Do dolphins talk? This one instance shows that an oceanarium in Florida has an pilot whale who became aggressive to smaller dolphins in the tank, the keepers decided to try something to stop that bad behavior so they drained the whale's tank halfway so that it became stranded. It became frantic and started making sad whistling noises. The smaller dolphins went to him and comforted him with whistles and chirps. After the keepers refilled the tank, the whale's attitude changed for the better.
Another occurrence was that an vessel researching gray whales put an microphones inside an lagoon. 5 bottle nose dolphins passed by and noticed the weird microphone. They stopped and gathered around themselves and had an “conversation” of whistles and chirps. A lone dolphin left the group and examined the microphone then went back to the other 4 dolphins. A loud stadium like cheers and chirps were recorded for several minutes before they all went on their way. It looks like to me that they were discussing the strange object and sent an scout to check it out and tell them about it before they left.
I'm excited that it actually displays intelligence and I hope one day the researchers will be able to break through the communication barrier with the dolphins!

(Posted for bdolphincrzy)

Thinking Greener

All the talk about global warming in the media has done its part to bring my awareness to “think green”. Ever since I was a little kid, I loved nature. To go camping, swimming, horseback riding, and pretty much anything outdoors, brought me joy. I never thought that my simple pleasures could be taken away by my bad habits. It’s unfortunate that I took advantage of nature, and could not return the favor. I remember in elementary school my peers and I learned about “recycle, reuse, reduce”, but I did not think to apply it to myself. Now, because of the raise in awareness of global warming and my love for wild animals, I try to make new habits to do my part to make this world a little cleaner. Throughout the day I go about my business, but catch myself where I could change a habit for the better. Here are a few things that I have started to do more often:
· Recycle, reuse, and reduce: Yeah, it’s one of my life’s mottos now. I recycle all paper, glass, metal, etc. For example, I do not throw away my paper Starbucks cup in the trash nearby. I would rather hold on to it to use again, if it’s clean enough, or toss it in the recycling bin a home.
· Turn off the lights in the room when I leave: It’s so simple but I didn’t realize how often people in my house don’t do it.
· Use less water: I just don’t need to waste running water if I am not using it.
· Carry a bag in the car: When I go shopping I don’t need to use paper or plastic bags anymore.
I feel better about myself that I am more conscious to be friendlier to our planet. It’s given me many fond memories and I hope that the future generations will be able to receive such as well.

Is your child home alone?

In today's economy, parents are forced to work full time jobs and sometimes take on second jobs. Many times they still cannot afford care for their children after school and many children are home alone. Statistics show that juvenile violence increases during the after school and weekend hours. There are many after school programs one of which is Vancouver-Clark Parks & Recreation. There is a program at Firstenburg Community Center for youths K-5th approx. cost is $180-$200 a month. This program offers summer camp type activities. Another program called Kids First is a recreational activity program offered FREE, yes FREE, on-site to all children attending specific elementary schools and is offered on specific days. They also offer free nutritional snacks thanks to a grant by US Dept. of Agriculture. There are several other programs to build self-esteem, a sense of belonging, wanted and developing relationships with role models that enrich our children's lives. Developing these types healthy behaviors the chances that our children will pick up a drink or a drug is less likely.

Dolphins!

I'm an avid dolphin fan!! This blog is an wonderful opportunity and an excuse for me to learn a lot of interesting dolphin facts. Some are common knowledge and some are quite interesting things that I'd like to share with.
Apparently, people have been intrigued and studying dolphins since 62 AD! Some of the legends were saying about how dolphins came to be. Here's one...
Dionysos, god of wine and frenzy, were angry and turned the boat's oars into snakes. The men leaped overboard and turned into dolphins. That's why they always help man.
This incident in Greece, that happened around 60 BC, was considered a true story. Several historian have recorded this Greek story. Arion, a rich musician, had his ship taken over by pirates. Arion preferred to die by jumping overboard. Before he jumped, he sang a high pitched song then jumped overboard. A dolphin heard him and carried him 200 miles to shore.
Dolphins are known to demonstrate intelligence. I'll be talking about how they communicate and the experiences the keepers went through while the dolphins were in captivity in the next blog.

(posted for bdolphincrzy)

Tiger Keeper

There are five species of tigers left here on Earth. For those remaining we find that there are only two options available to these endangered beauties: confinement in forested areas in places in Asia, or captivity all around the world. It is a sad truth but there is not a very bright future for these graceful creatures. Keepers at zoos or wildlife reserves are helping the populations stay stable, and to raise the awareness of their plight. Regular feeding of animal meat and added vitamins, in the form of powder, are given to the tigers to maintain their health. In places such as the Wildlife Safari in Oregon, the living quarters at night are cement huts. They must be pressure washed with bleach and water daily. During the winter they are provided with a heater lamp and hay to lay on in order to stay warm. Some keepers are required to shoot and cut up the meat for them. This includes cows, horses, and donated road kill such as deer. So that the food is not used for human consumption, charcoal, which is deadly for people, is intermixed with it. The cats' stomach will digest it safely. This oversized carnivorous animal must be treated like a pet to allow its species to live on. It may be a belated effort, but it has to be done, for the tigers' sake.

(This is posted for a student who ran into trouble logging in.)

A Gem Close To Home

Did you know that a little more than 4 hours and a short ferry ride away from Vancouver is a beautiful retreat with peaceful island benefits? A cluster of islands, collectively called The San Juan Islands, are just outside of Anacortes, WA.

I went to Orcas Island two years ago and had a wonderful time! I am planning a trip to San Juan Island in August. San Juan offers beautiful Friday Harbor, home to yachts and boating activities. There is also plenty of shopping in Roche Harbor. Other activities in the islands include fishing, camping, whale and wildlife watching, kayaking, bicycling, nature tours and bird watching. There are museums, parks and trails as well as art galleries and plenty of beautiful sights to see.

Due to the islands’ unique position between Victoria BC and the western coast of WA state, The San Juan Islands have very pleasant weather most of the year. With 247 days of sunshine, they get only half the rain that Seattle is used to.

After driving to Anacortes (just an hour or so north of Seattle), you and your car can board a WA State Ferry and cruise to the island of your choice. From Anacortes, Lopez Island is the first stop where you can disembark in just 45 minutes. If you are going on to Shaw Island, the whole ferry ride will take 1 hour 40 minutes. Friday Harbor is just 1 hour away from leaving Anacortes. The fare is only collected one-way, so you won’t pay when coming back to the mainland. The cost is $9.85 for adults and an average car (plus driver) is less than $35.00.

While on the islands you will discover a wonderful relaxing break from the city’s hustle and bustle and begin to love the laid back island life. The next time you are thinking of a quick getaway, consider going to the beautiful islands of the Pacific Northwest!

Cognitive Distortions: Do Any Apply To You?

Every second someone has a thought about a person, place, action, thing, event, etc. But how often, if ever, do we think about our thoughts? Recently, I’ve learned more in depth about how thoughts that can negatively effect my day, an event, or anything that applies to my life. These particular thoughts are known as cognitive distortions. The ten cognitive distortions are: all-or-nothing thinking, overgeneralization, mental filter, disqualifying the positive, jumping to conclusions, magnification (catastrophizing) or minimization, emotional reasoning, should statements, labeling and mislabeling, and personalization. Following is a simple explanation of each distortion based on notes I have taken.

All-or-nothing thinking: Only seeing things in black-and-white. Example: If something didn't go the way that you wanted it to, then everything is all wrong.
Overgeneralization: Seeing one negative event as the only way everything else will turn out.
Mental filter: Dwelling on only one negative thing that you cannot see anything else besides that. Example: You want to breakup with your friend because they own ugly clothes, and you forget they were the shoulder to cry on when your dog died.
Disqualifying the positive: Never accepting the positive things that happen to you for some reason, even if plenty of them do. Example: You went shopping and everything you liked was on sale, fit, and the sales people were helpful... but there was traffic and your day is now totally ruined.
Jumping to conclusions: Making a negative conclusion without any definite facts.
-Two of which are mind reading and “fortune-teller error”. Mind reading is when you illogically conclude that someone is reacting to you in a negative way, not even bothering figure out if it is true. “Fortune-teller error” is predicting and then convincing yourself that things will turn out badly.
Magnification or Minimization: Exaggerating the value of things, or shrinking things to be insignificant. Example: Getting an A makes you the smartest person in class, or being just 10 minutes late for work is no big deal.
Emotional reasoning: Assuming that a negative emotion reflects how things really are. Example: "I feel stupid, therefore I am stupid."
Should statements: Telling yourself you should and shouldn’t do things, as if you would be punished if not following through. Using should statements to yourself leads to feelings of guilt, or frustration towards others.
Labeling and mislabeling: A radical overgeneralization. Instead of simply labeling the error, you label your self worth or who you are. Example: If your friend doesn't feel like hanging out, you think "I am not fun to be around."
Personalization: Seeing yourself as the reason for a negative event, even if you were not responsible.

Not all of these distorted thoughts apply to everyone. After learning about these distortions, I tried to be more aware of which apply to me. Just being aware of my thoughts has benefited me immensely. It is still difficult to change them because some of these distortions have been apart of my life for a long time. However, I noticed a difference in my ability to view certain situations in another light which has brought a lot of liberation. I believe that when a person can realize how they think, they can change the way they think feeling less stress overall.

Prevention Programs for our children...

This is a very exciting subject for me. It is so great to know that there are solutions to today's problems in a world that sometimes feels like we have lost control of. With gangs growing and the age that children are joining gangs getting younger and younger; violence, alcohol and drug abuse is growing as well. The Boys and Girl's Club of America opened its first club in 1860 in Connecticut. The club is open to children age 6-18 years. The idea behind these clubs even back that long ago is basically the same today, to get children off the streets. Today there are clubs all over the world. They offer programs and services to help children to develop positive life skills and build character. The focus of the club is also to help children that come from a disadvantaged family have hope and find positive ways to focus his/her energy. Some children lack a positive role model in their family which is absolutely necessary for these young people to learn from. The hopes are that these children will begin to develop a trusting and caring relationship with the adult professionals who will nurture and enrich the child's life. They will not turn a child away due to inability to pay which I find commendable. In today's world of hustle and bustle, with parent(s) who work long hours, have extended families, and all of the other factors of our daily lives, sometimes I think the children get lost and are forced to grow up sooner than they should have to and don't get to experience the joy of just being a kid! The Boy's and Girl's Club while they allow them to just be a kid, they also teach them about responsibility, how to make good choices in life and build relationships that they can count on. I had heard over the years about the Boy's and Girl's Club but until this assignment had no idea how this program helps children in need. The Vancouver member statistics are; 36% live in poverty, 72% qualify for free lunch program, 15% come from single-parent household, 13.7% of all juvenile crime in Clark County occurs in the neighborhood surrounding the club. These are children in our own backyard, our neighbor's children, our friend's children, or maybe even our own children...

You Can't Put a Dead Bird on Your Life List

I became interested in birdwatching when I was pregnant with Ramona and had to give up my bad habits. I took a short hike in Oaks Bottom park and witnessed an osprey with a 4-foot wingspan (aka sea hawk) plucking a fish out of the marsh & taking it back to a nest that rested atop a power pole. I had never been aware that wild animals lived in Portland, and lived here well. I also saw a small owl perching in a tree just off the path, just about 20 yards off of Milwaukee, an extremely busy street. I got enamored of the idea of this whole secret wild life transpiring off the radar of our urban lives, and I bought a book about local birds. A few minutes with the book showed me that I had been blind for years to my surroundings: I used to think all birds in the city were sparrows or robins; I've since learned that some of the brown birds are sparrows, some are wrens, some are woodpeckers. Soon after buying the book I noticed an odd-shaped bird on the telephone pole outside my bedroom window just before it began hammering at the wood--it was a northern flicker, a beautiful, weird looking woodpecker that has sort of become my spirit animal. I am now on the watch for new birds everywhere I go. Let me explain the title of this post: when you become a birder, you start keeping a Life List, which is a list of all of the birds you have ever seen in person. The dean of my department is an avid and accomplished birder, and I learn a lot from talking with him about birds. I ran into him on campus today, and he told me that he had just disposed of the body of an orange-rumped warbler that ran into a window at Bauer Hall. I lamented that I had not seen it as I have never seen this bird before. Then it occurred to me: you have to see the bird out there doing its thing. You can't add a dead bird to your life list.

Now we start

Dear students:
You will pick your topics this weekend and begin blogging next week. I am excited to learn with you.