2004 Year in Review

4-H Club goes to Sweden

Nichole Wright and Heidi Benson teach a Swedish Dance.

Jennifer Thorndike watches as Marta Bender makes Swedish Cookies.

Corinne Bender teaches stenciling to a group making Swedish Hearts.

The last three years Cottonwood 4-H Club has flown off to a foreign country for their February meeting. Saturday, February 14th, the club flew to Sweden on Air 4-H at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Morrison.

On the airplane members watched a movie on Sweden after getting their tickets and boarding passes and going through security. Each member was issued a 4-H Passport and upon arriving in Sweden the date and country are added to their passports.

Four activities were planned during their stay and tour guides (Kayla Venhuizen, John Benson, Jason Wright, and Jen Hill) escorted groups of four and five to the activities. Michael Benson planned Swedish Jeopardy to test their knowledge of Sweden with questions from the onboard movie.

Nichole Wright and Heidi Benson taught groups how to do a Swedish dance. The groups learned the steps then danced to Swedish music. Corinne Bender set up a stenciling station where members stenciled Swedish decorations and sayings on pre-painted hearts. Nadine Venhuizen and Sharon Deter helped make Swedish Ginger Cookies (Pepparkakor) by rolling out the dough and cutting out hearts with cookie cutters.

After the activities members were invited to a Swedish Feast. Parents brought in Spritz Cookies (Spritsar), Swedish Chocolate Cake, Nut Cake, Rice Pudding, Swedish bread, and Fruit Salad. For a beverage the members tried Wasilla made with cranberry juice. Most of the recipes were found at www.recipesource.com.

At the beginning of the regular meeting members had to say something in Swedish for roll call. Last month they were given a list of Swedish words with the translation and pronunciation. Four of the members had been to Sweden (Kenny and Michael Benson and Nichole and Jason Wright) so they brought in souvenirs and Swedish items from their trip.

In years past the group has gone to Germany and France. The members vote on where they want to explore each year. This is part of the Passport to the World curriculum.

by Barb Benson, theCity1.com
February 16, 2004