"To see the Summer Sky
Is Poetry, though never in a Book it lie"

-Emily Dickinson

Summer is in full swing!  It's warm outside, the grass is green, the sun is shining, the birds are chirping and the flowers look colorful and beautiful.  Hopefully everyone has been able to get out and enjoy the warm weather.  There are so many fun activities that matches can do outside in the summertime.  Why not spend a day at a local park?  Go on a bike ride!  Or rent a canoe for the day.  Go fishing (see ideas for how to fish and create your own fishing pole in this newsletter)!  Plant some flowers or a small vegetable garden!  Go on a nature walk or go swimming.  Summer is a great time to get to know each other better, learn a new task together, and have fun and grow together!  Make sure you check out the rest of our newsletter for lots of great ideas and then get out and enjoy the summer weather with your mentee! 

"The Jell-O war was my favorite," Juan, Mike's mentee, said. "We filled four buckets and when the whistle blew we had to throw Jell-O at one another. The one who was most covered in Jell-O got a prize!  I also enjoyed meeting new people. I've talked to new friends and plan to go again next year." 

If you would like to pilot these activities or other 4-H Guided Adventures curricula, please contact Kristy Oosterhouse at oosterh6@msu.edu.  

Fishing is a fun and easy activity that can lead to great conversation and amazing memories.  If you would like to go fishing with your mentee, follow these few steps to get you started!  First, purchase a Michigan fishing license for you and your mentee (licenses are not mandatory for youth under 16, but every $2 voluntary youth license brings $10 of federal money back to Michigan).  Keep your fishing license with you while fishing.  Pick up the DNRE Michigan Fishing Guide as well, which contains regulations on species, seasons, and other important information.  Choose a location to fish and grab your fishing pole (possibly using the craft below to make your own!).  If you are using a store-bought rod or pole, learn the different parts of the pole and what purpose each part serves.

When you are ready to start fishing, grab your pole and bait (worms, crickets, night crawlers, etc) and head to your spot!  Cast the line into the water and wait for a bite.  If you see signs of a bite (the bobber wiggles, moves, or disappears), you must 'set the hook' by reeling up the slack in the line and quickly sweep the rod upward.  Once the hook is set, you can reel the fish in!