CheboyganCounty Extension
825 S. Huron, Suite #2
Cheboygan, MI49721 /
P: 231-627-8815 F: 231-627-8408
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Cheboygan youths hit the Great Lakes to learn about water qualityMore than 70 youths and eight teachers representing all of the public schools in Cheboygan County and eight teen mentors from Onaway schools boarded a 137-foot-long recreation of a 19th century Great Lakes three-masted schooner named “The S/V Dennis Sullivan.”
The youth were part of the 4-H Toyota 4-H20 water quality educational program, funded through a grant from ToyotaUSA and additional support from the Dow Chemical Company.
The youths began their journey by boarding the vessel and learning about safety on the water and how the crew collects water samples. Once everyone got comfortable, the ship headed for a two-hour sail on Lake Huron. The students turned into crew members, helping set sail on the big lake.
Once the ship was underway, the youths split into four groups to work with the Sullivan’s crew to learn more about the Great Lakes. They learned the skills of knot tying and filtering through samples collected from the bottom of the lake, as well as discovering water density in the galley and how pH affects water quality.
Once the ship came docked, the youngsters ate a quick lunch and learned more a bout the Great Lakes from representatives of Michigan SeaGrant Extension, CheboyganCounty 4-H and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary staff. /
October 2008
The youngsters learned about fish that are found in the Great Lakes, including sport fish and invasive species that aren’t so desirable. The students also had the chance to explore the tiny animals that live in inland lakes and ponds and how they contribute to a healthy aquatic environment.During the final session the students heard a presentation about Great Lakes maritime heritage and the importance of the sailing industry to northern Michigan communities.
The program wouldn’t have taken place without the assistance of the Michigan 4-H Foundation, the Cheboygan Chamber of Commerce, the CheboyganCountyMarina, a representative of the Fernelius Toyota of Cheboygan and the previously mentioned sponsors.
-Contact: Ben Bartlett
/ 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 countyExtension councils regularly help select focus areas for programming. MSU Extension is funded jointly by county boards of commissioners,the state through MichiganStateUniversity and federally through the US Department of Agriculture. /
Home food preservation finds renewed popularity
With increasing food prices many Americans are looking for ways to stretch their food dollars. This was evident during two sessions on home food preservation that were offered at the Cheboygan Area Public Library on Aug. 19.
MSU Extension educators Carolyn Penniman and Patti Spinella promoted this free event to seniors and to families with young children who participated in the Project FRESH program. Project FRESH provides low-income families and seniors with education and coupons they can use to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables from local farm markets.
Announcements in the newspaper and through the library also helped to draw participants of all ages, who could choose from identical afternoon or evening presentations.
The program included a video demonstrating USDA-recommended preservation practices for fruits and vegetables. The educators also answered questions, provided printed materials and had a variety of canning equipment on hand. They also gave participants a list of farm markets that would make it easier for them to acquire locally grown produce.
Participants indicated that the information provided was very useful, and that the program also served to introduce them to other food preservation enthusiasts.
Contact: Carolyn Penniman,
Family and Consumer Sciences Educator
or Patti Spinella,
Family Nutrition Program Educator
One-on-One 4-H mentoring program going strong
The 4-H AmeriCorps Mentoring Program is completing its third year in CheboyganCounty. The program has grown from a modest, yet successful beginning to be more representative of the entire county. / Though it is designed to be a one-year activity, many mentor/mentee matches are still thriving in their second year together and great friendships have formed.
The mentors have reported feeling better about themselves and that they are giving back to their communities. The mentees have shown a significant increase in their self-esteem and school grades, as well as a reduction of truancy and office referrals. This program is truly making a difference among youths in our community. The young people are very grateful for this program and are some of the greatest proponents of the mentoring program.
With the financial support given to the program, it has been expanded to offer the participants opportunities to take part in such activities as golfing, bowling, skiing, archery, movies and meals that would not otherwise be possible.
The Cheboygan Mentoring program has completed 12 matches during its first year and always seeking interested adults to become trained mentors.
This program is made possible through the support of the Cheboygan County Board of Commissioners, the 4-H MentorMichigan Initiative AmeriCorps grant and Cheboygan MSU Extension as well as many local donors.
Contact: Garry Carr, Americorp Volunteer
MSU Extension coordinates Bovine TB newsletter
Oscoda County MSU Extension director and regional dairy educator Phil Durst is serving a critical role for communication on bovine tuberculosis (TB) with the regional agricultural community.
Each month, Durst publishes an e-newsletter on the topic that provides a communication tool for agencies statewide.
Every issue contains updates on the situation in Michigan, at the national level (there are currently three other states with Bovine TB) and the latest research news from around the world.
The newsletter is available from the Cheboygan County MSU Extension office.