Boundary County 4-H needs adult volunteers

Boundary County Extension Office is recruiting youth for its 4-H program and also is in need of adult volunteers to lead clubs.

Without the adults, there will be no 4-H programs for local youth.

I grew up in rural Western Pennsylvania, where 4-H was a big part of summers for kids in my tiny community. I belonged to a number of clubs including sewing.

Under the direction of my very patient leader, Marge, she worked with about 10 girls during our weekly meetings at the firehall. We had to share three sewing machines.

The first year we made a scarf; the second year, I believe we made a skirt; and in the third year, I think it was a sleeveless dress.

At the end of the summer, all the girls in my club modeled our work at the 4-H Roundup at the county fairgrounds. The Roundup involved members of other 4-H sewing clubs in the county. It was always a lot of fun.

Learning to sew through 4-H instilled a lifelong interest for me. I never mastered anything too difficult, but have enjoyed making things like curtains, pillows and more.

Without people like Marge, I'm not sure I would've had the opportunity to learn how to sew.

The 4-H program offers a variety of programs, but needs adults to lead them.

In Idaho, membership is open to youth 5 to 19.

Adult volunteers don't have to be experts, just willing to share their time, talents and passion about an interest or hobby. Curriculum is available for a wide array of project areas from photography, scrapbooking, crocheting, entomology and more.

The ability to provide these projects is contingent on having a leader for the project. Sadly, if there is no leader for a project, it cannot be offered.

To learn more, call Erika Thiel, the county's 4-H program coordinator, at 267-3235.

Gwen Albers is managing editor of the Bonners Ferry Herald.