Luce County
Luce County Extension
County Bldg, Rm 26, 407 W Harrie St, Newberry, Michigan 49868-1208 /

P: 906-293-3203 F: 906-293-3465

/ E-mail:

Web: msue.msu.edu/Luce

June 2007

Global Village opens window to world of issues
Fifteen Luce County 4-H teens and adults had the chance to travel downstate and experience life in an urban slum, a poor, rural home and on a Nepal farm during a visit to Global Village, an experiential training facility at the Howell Conference and Nature Center.
The group learned about world hunger, poverty and population issues during their stay at the site, which is supported by the nonprofit Heifer International. They toured five simulated world villages including an African hut and a Latin American shanty. Participants were divided into family units to experience various levels of poverty and available resources.
The urban slum dwellers lived in families of six or seven and each person received a half cup of rice to eat per day. They stayed in a shack with no door or secure windows. The rural poor had limited food but did have fire wood and a good supply of water for their family of three. The Nepal farm family members had vegetables and a cooking stove with limited fuel.
This was an eye opening experience for each participant. Sleeping on hard floors in houses without doors or windows and trading labor for basic living supplies were new experiences. Each participant gained a better appreciation for what they have and that even the poorest among our group were rich by world standards. Eight of the participants were from low-income families.
In a written evaluation, one participant said, “I learned that the world standards of poverty vary extremely--what I call a recreational camp is like a castle of wealth to poverty stricken areas in the world.” / “Being a member of the poorest family, I learned what it is like to have a food supply that is low, families have crowded living space and since we didn’t have anything to trade, we worked for what we had,” another teen said. “I was really scared sleeping in the slums because the windows didn’t have screens, there was no door and a huge gap in the wall. I learned that families are very close in those kinds of situations.”
An adult wrote, “This is way up there on my life list of valuable experiences.”
All of the Global Village participants who completed the written evaluation indicated that they now better understand:
·  global issues like the population explosion
·  hunger in the world
·  poverty levels in the world
·  the things I have
Items listed that they appreciated more after the experience included electricity, bed, indoor plumbing, easy access to water, my garden, job, money, and safety including windows, doors and locks.
The teens plan to continue their global education through local projects and are considering a return trip to Global Village next year.
Contact: Nancy Kipling
/ Michigan State University Extension helps people improve their lives through an educational process that applies knowledge to critical issues, needs and opportunities. Offices in counties across the state link the research of the land-grant university, MSU, to challenges facingcommunities. Citizens serving on county Extension councils regularly help select focus areas for programming. MSU Extension is funded jointly by county boards of commissioners,the state through Michigan State University and federally through the US Department of Agriculture.
Family Nutrition Program influences healthier food choices
According to a 2003 state profile on nutrition and fitness by the nonprofit Action for Healthy Kids, more than one in 10 Michigan high school students are overweight and 15 percent are at risk of becoming overweight due to lack of physical activity and poor eating habits. Nearly half (46 percent) of students are trying to lose weight, which indicates poor body image. By reaching children with information on healthy food habits and the importance of physical fitness, MSU Extension’s Family Nutrition Program can make an impact on the obesity rate among young people.
Feb. 21 marked the beginning of a six-week nutrition series, Food Mysteries, which was presented to the Tahquamenon Area Middle School’s special education classrooms, where most of the 21 students were receiving free or reduced price lunch. The students learned about the food pyramid and the value of a diet containing grains, vegetables, fruit, dairy products, meat and beans.
Each session contained a lecture, an activity and a snack. Children were encouraged to try new foods like vegetarian burgers, soy milk, mangos and veggie pizza. Activities included projects like making tortillas and butter.
At the conclusion of the series students were given a worksheet to test their knowledge. Of the 19 students who took the test, 14 scored 78 percent or higher and 10 scored 100 percent.
Three months after the program concluded, one of the teachers said she believes that the students are more open to trying new and healthier foods being served in the cafeteria. While standing in the lunch line she has overheard comments about making healthier food choices and portion control. These practices aren’t always followed, but participation in Food Mysteries has the youngsters on the path to making better choices.
Contact: Jessica Brown
Upcoming Programs
July 9-Better Kid Care, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
July 11 – Lawn Care Workshop 6-8 p.m.
July 24-27 – 4-H Cloverbud Camp
July 30-31 – 4-H Teen Leadership Camp
August 3 – Day in the Park
August 7 – Extension Millage Renewal V / Winter Break offers education, cure for cabin fever
Winter Break for Knowledge is an annual program that attracts more than 150 people for a day of leaning at the Tahquamenon Area Schools in Newberry. It is held in early March and offers topics appropriate for everyone from preschoolers to senior citizens.
Instructors in the 29 classes offered this year taught participants such skills as making nutritious meatless meals, using global positioning system tools, building container gardens and identifying trees and birds. A variety of cultural opportunities were offered, including those focused on Latin America and Native American plant medicine and bead work. An exchange student from Thailand also shared her native dance and culture.
Thirty five adult and teen volunteers contributed about 260 hours to the day of learning. According to Independent Sector, the nonprofit coalition that tracks the value of volunteer labor, this contribution was worth $18.77 per hour, adding up to a volunteer donation of time worth $4842.66.
When asked about the value of the day in a written evaluation, participant comments included,
·  “It was invaluable as to new ideas and projects to do personally and with our 4-H Club.”
·  “It is valuable to encourage families to learn new skills together and strengthen their relationships.”
·  “March is a nice time of year to do Winter Break-Everybody is getting buggy.”
·  “Very important to offer to all ages during the long winter months.”
·  “Very important! It helps me learn new skills in a fun way.”
·  “I have a vegetarian granddaughter, so this will help me cook meals when she visits.”
·  “I learned fun ways to stay and get in shape.”
Contact: Nancy Kipling
Luce County MSU Extension Staff
Nancy Kipling, County Extension Director
Catarina Edison, 4-H Program Associate
Jessica Price, FNP Program Associate
Carrie Crigier, 4-H Teen Mentoring Coordinator
Cheryl Powell, Extension Secretary
MSU is an affirmative-action, equal opportunity employer; Michigan State University Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, or family status. Issued in furtherance of MSU Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Thomas G. Coon, Extension Director, Michigan State University, E. Lansing, MI 48824