2023-03-21 Town Hall Newspaper Article MINUTE FILE
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' March 15,2023 I Lake Okeechobee News I SouthCentralFloridaLife.com // e"'/!
CITY COUNCIL SUMMER CAMPS
City council plans Florida 4-H upgrades camp
meet and greet •
experience, increases access
By Cathy Womble served.
LAKE OKEECHOBEE NEWS Following this meet- SPECIAL TO LAKE campers.
OKEECHOBEE ing,CityAdministrator OKEECHOBEE NEWS Florida 4-H is g
work-
-Have you ever Gary Ritter will give an LAKE PLACID— ing to develop robust
wondered why certain inaugural State of the As registration for 2023 environmental edu- ^
decisions are made in City Address.He will Florida 4-H summer cation programs at all
the city?Have you talk about what was camp programs is un- three camps. „s r
ever had a great idea accomplished last year derway,the statewide "We are always look- "t. •`
you wish you could and what is planned for youth development ing for ways to expand ' `
share with someone in this fiscal year. program is announcing the positive impact of '
charge?Have you ever The city council has several developments to
wanted to meet a cityheld several town hall P our curriculum.Ourmit Y.
enhance the camp ex- goal is to teach envi- 1 'r "
s over the last
sit and chat?ber Is one df just meetinfew years,but usually, perienceyouthronmental education r p ', 1 •l.:,i-. '
for and �
yourcommuni members. programs `r `
children interested theyare not well attend- tI' held onsite or '
in learning more about ed.This is your chance Florida 4-H operates in the local community, —
politics and local gov- to let the council know three camps in the state: and we're looking for- _ .
ernment?Now is your you want the town hall Camp Timpoochee in ward to partnering with - -
chance. meetings to contin- Niceville,Camp Cherry local groups and schools At Camp Cloverleaf,In Lake Placid,youth learn about Florida's en-
The Okeechobee ue.Write down your Lake in Madison and to reach more people," vironment In a hands-on way.Here some baby alligators help teach
City Council will be questions,comments or Camp Cloverleaf in Mugge said. campers about Florida's ecosystems.[Photo courtesy OF/IFAS]
hosting an informal ideas and come to city Lake Placid. Cu rent environmen- and campers can now over 80 youth were able
meet and greet/town hall on the 21st. Following a rigorous tal education topics cov- even go for multiple to attend Florida 4-H
hall meeting on March For more informa- weeks at a time.Last summer camp on an
21 from 6-6:30 p.m. tion,contact City Clerk review process,both eyed at Camp Cloverleaf year CampCloverleaf Air Force scholarship,
The meeting will Lane Gamiotea at 863- 4-H Camp Cloverleaf and Camp Timpoochee ad Camp Timpoochee and we look forward
be held at City Hall 763-3372 ext.9814 and Camp Timpoochee include lake assessment, began offering both day to increasing our reach
in Room 200.Light or email lgamiotea@ have received Ameri herpetology,marine an- and overnight camps to Army families this
refreshments will be cityofokeechobee.com an Camp Association imals,plankton studies, simultaneously,which upcoming summer,"she
accreditation.Camp and kayaking. meant youth as young said.
SERVICE Cherry Lake will go "New programs as six could participate. For more informa-
through this review are continually being Florida 4-H has tion about the Florida
Mu Rho Omega spreads
once renovations at the developed to incorpo- expanded scholarship 4-H Camping Program,
camp are complete. rate STEM,agriculture, opportunities as well, please visit https://
love to local seniors "American Camp art and more into our Mugge said. florida4h.ifas.ufl.edu/
Association accredi- environmental educa- "The Florida 4-H camps/or contact Erin
By Tamara L.Starks .,...... ":,: Foundation has annu- Mugge at erin.mugge@
ration has been a goal tion programs,which
Alpha Kappa Alpha of Florida 4-H camps naturally are cross-cur-
scholarship provided camper ufl.edu.
Sorority Inc. scholarship funds to Interested in support-
for many years,"said ricular,"Mugge added. youth attendingcamp. ingFlorida 4-H Cam
BELLE GLADE x.,} ik, In 2022,the Florida P
Erin Mugge,state 4-H
—Alpha Kappa Alpha 4-H Camping Program These state camp ing?Contact Caylin
is `, camping and environ- P g g scholarshipfunds are Hilton at grow4H@ifas.
Sorority Inc.Mu Rho " mental education coot- transtioned to an open now open o even more ufl.edu.Opportunities
Omega Chapter has a enrollment model. PP
stronghistoryof sup- t.J dinator."Accreditation youth wanting to attend include camp facility
This meant youth who
porting seniors in the , `" i ,„t verifies that a camp has were not already 4-H a Florida 4-H summer investments and legacy
community.Through ,.M- complied with up to 290 members could attend camp and in need of giving.
their Uplifting our Local Mu Rho Omega visited residents standards for health, summer camp. financial assistance," 4-H is the youth
Communities Initiative and staff at the Glades Diamond safety and program "Open enrollment Mugge said. development program
Senior Apartments in Belle The scholarship of the land-grant
the Mu Rho Omega Glade.[Photo courtesy Mu Rho quality.This accredita- has several benefits.
Chapter showed their Omega Chapter] tion also assures parents For one,it introduces expansion was made university system and
appreciation and sup- via karaoplce,talked and that the camp has had more young people to possible through donor Cooperative Extension
port for local seniors. invited Mu Rho Omega a regular,independent the 4-H program and support,in including
the System.The
program
n
The chapter decid- back again.Everyone makes them more likely
y provides
ed to"uplift"seniors present had a great time. peer review that goes to participate outside y ment,Alfred I.duPont educational programs
in the communitybyThe Mu Rho Omega beyond regulations in Foundation,the Boyd and experiences for
gof camp,"Mugge said.
delivering 160"Hearts Chapter would like to most states." "Around 500 youth that Family Endowment and youth ages five to 18
of Love"gift bags,cards thank the Uplift Our The accredita- attended 4-H camps in The Florida Rural Re- with the objective
and treats at Glades Local Communities tion will enable more 2022 were not currnt habilitation Corporation of developing youth
Pioneer and Diamond Initiative Chairman, organizations to hold 4-H members,so we are Endowment. as individuals,and
Terrace in Belle Glade Sheila Mckenzie and events and activities at excited to have expand- Additionally,Flor- as responsible and
on Valentine's Day. Co-Chairman Cher- the camps outside of ed our impact in this ida 4-H has received productive citizens.
The smiles on the face yl Smythe for their the summer camping way." grant funding to support In Florida,4-H is
of the residents proved continued efforts.They season,Mugge said.It Open enrollment additional scholarships administered by
the event was a success. also wish to thank the for Department of Army University of Florida/
may also allow Florida also allows campers to and Air Force-de en- IFAS Extension
Not only did the resi- Glades Pioneer and choose which week of Force-depen-
to offer more schol- dent youth,Mugge said. and Florida A&M
dents enjoy their bags, Diamond Terrace resi- arship opportunities to camp they will attend, "I summer of 2022, University.
they also danced,sang dents and staff.