Tips for 4-H and Youth
July is anti-boredom month!
By NORMA FLANAGAN 4-H Director

Freedom at last! Summer's here, and finally, there's going to be plenty of time to do all those activities you'd been dreaming of during the school year. But when there's no one telling you what to do and where to go, it can be easy to forget about those big dreams. Slowly but surely, boredom can set in before you know it.

July is anti-boredom month. To fight back, there is an authority offering help for kids. According to the Boring Institute, July is officially Anti- Boredom month. The Institute came up with this idea 20 years ago as a way of making people think about what it means to be bored - and how to overcome it by taking an active interest in things.

So if the dreaded words "I'm bored" come to mind this month, try out one of these boredom busters to keep you busy:

Boredom-Busting Activities

1) If you're stuck at home, plan an "armchair" vacation. Pick a place in the world, and then discover everything you can about it - read up on its sites, food, customs and history and then outline a tour through it. Who knows, your interest may grow and your family will take you there one day.

2) Learn a new skill or sport. Remember all of those wacky Olympic sports the you'd never seen or heard of? Go to the library to learn more about them, and then chose one to try. Whether it's archery, badminton or tae kwon do ("taekwondo" is three separate words), you can look for the gear you need at a sporting goods store or online.

3) Explore your own town or city. Chances are there's plenty you've overlooked. Check out the businesses, historical places, nature trails and parks. Talk to some of the older residents and discover their favorite hangouts as kids. Find out what they did during their summers. Consider writing an article for your community newspaper on what you've discovered.

4) Discover nature. It's not to late to plant seeds outside and watch them grow. Pick something that grows quickly, such as a sunflower. Or if the lawn is already taken, try planting a windowsill garden instead. Visit parks, zoos and tree gardens.

5) Volunteer. Sign up with a church or civic organization and help out with whatever is needed. Participate in a park clean-up day, a walk to fight cancer or offer to do errands for an elderly person.

Summer doesn't have to be boring. It can be a fun and memorable time if you just get out and try some new things!