Potential 4-H Club youth put together a Spring Tea for their families Wednesday, as part of the Cloverbuds program at The Backus Community Center in International Falls.
Kathy Dault, a volunteer, said there are about 14 children in the Cloverbuds, a 4-H youth development program that is designed to introduce the 4-H Club experience to children from kindergarten to second grade.
The kids staged similar tea events with different themes at Christmas time and for Valentines Day. They make the refreshments, which means serving juice for tea and light snacks that they helped prepare.
“Its very, very simple,” said Wanda Pelland, the volunteer in charge of the Cloverbuds.
Grace Wagner, 8, made the official greetings on behalf of the Cloverbuds and welcomed family members to the event.
The kids sang several songs for the parents, including, “He’s Got The Whole World In His Hands,” “You Are My Sunshine,” “Down In The Valley,” and “Skip To My Lou.” The overall favorite, according to Pelland, and was as well indicated by the volume and amount of participation from the young voices was, “Take Me Out To The Ball Game.”
First year Cloverbuds member, Madeline Olson, 7, said she enjoys sewing, baking and taking part in the summer horse show with the Cloverbuds. She also enjoyed making homemade ice cream, according to her mother, Julie.
Over the past six months, she and the other kids have done everything from clay pottery and sewing pillows and hot pads, to paper mache.
Pelland said that she and Dault help youngsters learn to work cooperatively in group settings and prepare for the challenges of the 4-H Club program as well as for learning in general. The program is designed to develop social and cognitive skills, along with emotional and physical maturation of five- to eight-year-old children.
Pelland added that Cloverbuds is convenient as an after-school program, is near the schools and easy to access in the late afternoon at Backus Community Center. Cloverbud gatherings start in September and conclude at the end of April..
