Mom single-handedly starts animal, farming club for kids

When Debbie Cooper asked her seven-year-old daughter Julia what extracurricular activities sheB次元官网网址檇 like to do, Julia told her she wanted to join a lizard club.

B次元官网网址淪heB次元官网网址檇 been exposed to sports and other activities, but sheB次元官网网址檚 such an animal lover at heart. It always came back to chickens, sheep and lizards,B次元官网网址� Cooper says.

Not sure if such a club existed, Cooper turned to the Internet to find something suitable. When she came across the 4-H Club she knew it would be a good match.

B次元官网网址淚 was shocked to find out there was no 4-H club in Metchosin and that the nearest club was in Central Saanich. ItB次元官网网址檚 just too far away to go for a lot of people,B次元官网网址� Cooper says. B次元官网网址淪o I decided to start one on the West Shore.B次元官网网址�

Cooper started asking around and determined there was enough interest to start a club in Metchosin, so she started training to become an official 4-H leader. She completed her training last week.

B次元官网网址淚 had to do a panel interview, a criminal records check and the one day training,B次元官网网址� Cooper says. B次元官网网址淚 didnB次元官网网址檛 know what I was getting myself into, but IB次元官网网址檓 sure glad to know they have such high standards for leaders. ItB次元官网网址檚 all about the safety of the children at the end of the day.B次元官网网址�

After reading her three-inch-thick manual and undergoing training, Cooper realized what she liked most about the program had less to do with farm animals and more to do with helping children learn skills and tools theyB次元官网网址檇 use throughout their entire lives.

B次元官网网址淵es, they learn about animals, and weB次元官网网址檒l be covering swine, dogs, goats and horses in the unit weB次元官网网址檙e covering this year, but thereB次元官网网址檚 also a section on public speaking, photography, bicycle safety and clothing and fabrics,B次元官网网址� she says.

Beginning Jan. 26, and running every fourth Wednesday evening until October, the 4-H Cloverbuds will meet at the Metchosin Community House on Happy Valley Road.

The Cloverbuds are open to any kids in Greater Victoria ages six to eight, who want to learn about animals and more.

B次元官网网址淲hen I was a kid growing up in Esquimalt, I thought you had to own animals and live on a farm to be part of 4-H,B次元官网网址� Cooper said. B次元官网网址淏ut that is just not true. 4-H is about so much more than animals.B次元官网网址�

As the children get older and move along in the program, the curriculum branches off and they can chose what theyB次元官网网址檇 like to focus on.

B次元官网网址淚 hope that the kids will not only be excited to come each week, but that they will leave having learned something they wouldnB次元官网网址檛 have learned at school and have more self-confidence than when they came in,B次元官网网址� Cooper said.

Registration is $140 for the year, $75 of which goes directly to 4-H. The remainder will go to rent the space, purchase supplies and pay for field trips. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e starting from scratch here, weB次元官网网址檝e got absolutely nothing,B次元官网网址� Cooper said.

Twenty children are already signed up. Call Debbie Cooper at 250-478-4677 or e-mail debbiecooper@shaw.ca to register or get more information.

reporter@goldstreamgazette.ca