March Cloverbud 4 H Meeting

For the month of Match we decided to do a meeting on insects.  Our county used to have a club that focused only on Entomology, but that club changed several years ago into a general club and none of those children actively work on Entomology projects anymore.  Since we are studying insects this year and the boys have just started an insect collection, I thought it would be fun to have a meeting about insects.  Our 4 H Program Assistant has not had much experience with Entomology either, but she was willing and eager to help me out.  She brought me information from the Extension Office on Entomology, arranged for a teen leader who has an extensive collection to come and give a talk for the children,  and even caught an insect for the boys to add to their collection on the way to the meeting.  After we heard from our teen leader the children had an opportunity to view his supplies and ask questions.  My boys brought their "pet" cricket, ant farm, insect collection and supplies to show, and another 4 Her brought acrylic insect samples. Then we made our craft which was a really cute Bug Jar from Oriental Trading for catching an observing insects.  They had bumble bees and ladybugs and the children loved them.  When we got home my children went outside and caught insects (moths, crickets, and grasshoppers) for their jars. 

For a snack, we were looking for a buggy treat for the children to make at the meeting and then eat.  But, I decided that was too ambitious and would take too long.  So instead, Chelsea and I made Lady Bug snacks and brought them with us.  They turned out really cute and tasted good (except nobody really liked the black licorice.)  I will post the instructions I used to make them later today or tomorrow.