Toluca Coal Mine Days presented 4-H an opportunity to teach children

Children painted wood slices, made paper helicopters

Aaron Lindstrom, the 4-H STEM coordinator, taught children the basics of aeronautics as they made paper helicopters. The younger children and the teens enjoyed seeing whose helicopters could stay flying the longest. (Photo provided)

November 03, 2021 at 9:00 am CDT

The Marshall-Putnam master naturalist, master gardeners and 4-H program worked with children Oct. 3 and Oct. 10 at the Toluca Coal Mine Fall Festival.

This old-fashioned community wiener roast was a chance for University of Illinois Extension to reach more children through experiencing nature.

Even with the first weekend being rained out in the middle of the festivities, about 80 children enjoyed the activities during the two weekends of the festival. The master gardeners and master naturalist had children paint wood slices and taught them basics of tree identification. Aaron Lindstrom, the 4-H STEM coordinator, taught children the basics of aeronautics as they made paper helicopters. The younger children and the teens enjoyed seeing whose helicopters could stay flying the longest.

To learn more about the University of Illinois Master Gardeners, 4-H or information on enrolling your child in a local club, contact Anne Scheel at 309-364-2356 or email amscheel@illinois.edu.