SUMMER FILLS THE AIR AT COUNTY 4-H CAMP
Published 12:00 am Monday, July 18, 2005
- HOT FUN IN THE SUMMER TIME: Fourth-year campers Kristy McKee and Paige Aragon, both 13 and from La Grande, were freezing ice cream when they offered to show off one of the two new handicap accessible cabins at the 4-H Center in Summerville. The girls say the cabins' concrete floors make them feel cooler and with two fewer top bunks, they also seem bigger. The cabins were built with grant money from the Wildhorse Foundation in Pendleton by the families of Bob and Bobby Cornford. (Observer photos/MARDI ).
by Mardi Ford
Observer Staff Writer
SUMMERVILLE Sounds are what first greet visitors at the Blue Mountain 4-H Center.
Punctuated by an occasional burst of laughter, excited voices saturate a warm July afternoon already vibrating with buzzing bugs and the occasional bird song … "Ch-ch-ch-ch-chee-eeseburger."
Through the trees, the first sight is of campers, scattered in small groups here and there happily engaged in the many activities planned for a week of 4-H Tri-County Summer Camp.
Up on the platform near the lodge, 4-H Extension Agent Carole Smith is helping one group of kids make plastic bag ice cream.
"You have to really roll it keep it moving," Smith says encouragingly. A dozen pairs of hands roll large ziploc bags filled with ice, rock salt and a smaller plastic bag of cream, vanilla and sugar. Smith hands out towels to wrap the bags in, hoping to keep the cold inside.
"It’s definitely worth it," says Alayna Porter, La Grande, still rolling her ziploc between towel layers. She has been a 4-H camper many times, but this is her first year as a counselor.
Slowly, a little miracle begins to take place and the sweet, creamy liquid turns to homemade vanilla ice cream.
Helper Tanya Scott hands out spoons or straws and soon the only sound filling the air is an occasional "Mmmmm."
Seated nearby is 12-year-old camper Rebecca Cummins from Joseph.
"Oh, this tastes so good,", she croons, raising another spoonful to her mouth. This is her first time at 4-H camp, but she already wants to come again.
More than 100 people Smith figures 75 campers with 32 counselors and staff spent a week here in the tall pines forging new friendships and reaffirming old ones while enjoying the great outdoors, the campfires, playing games and sharing in tons of planned activities.
This year campers are also enjoying two new 10-bunk handicap accessible cabins paid for with a grant from the Wildhorse Foundation. Amazingly, they were built in one week by the families of longtime 4-H supporter and leader Bob Cornford in his honor.
Smith says one of the new cabins will be named the Wildhorse Cabin. The other will be known as the Bob and Bobby Cornford Cabin.
