Volume 8, Number 1 — Spring/Summer 2011 - The University of ...

“We try to do two building projects ayear,” he says. “We always have somethingon electrical safety, and recentlywe’ve placed a lot of emphasis onenergy conservation, from home insulationand double-paned windows tothe cost and impact of phantom loadscaused by consumer electronics thatare left plugged in, such as big-screenTVs and cell phone chargers.”To capture the students’ attentionlinemen bring in a bucket truck,increase the energy load on powerlines and pull an arc to show how theenergy can fry a hot dog in an instant.“I thought that the wires that arealong the road and to my house werecompletely insulated, and I learnedthat they’re not,” says camp participantHunter Arrowood of Lyles,Tennessee.“That means if you’re climbing a treeand lose your balance and touch one,it could really hurt you. I also learnedthat it’s important to stay in your carif a power line falls on it, or if you’reon a bus and have to exit, to jump outaway from the bus and land on bothfeet. Camp was really interesting forme. My favorite memory was gettingto build stuff and swim a lot.”It’s that blend of subject-matter learningand social activity that makes ElectricCamp a winner. “For youth, theopportunity to learn new things whilehaving a chance to interact and makenew friends is what 4-H is all about,”says Steve Sutton, director and state4-H leader.Buschermohle says the programwould not be possible without thestrong support of the power industry,from monetary contributionsthat help make the camp affordableto youth to manpower at the actualevent. Last year, for instance, 75 powerindustry members helped teach atthe event.Supporting the endeavor are strongpartnerships between UT Extension,the Tennessee Electric CooperativeAssociation and its statewide membercooperatives, the Tennessee MunicipalElectric Power Association and itsstatewide member municipal systems,TVA, and allied industry donors.Their in-kind gifts and donations oftime are vital to the program and area testament to the importance theysee in its mission.Joe Jackson, director of youth andmember services for the TennesseeElectric Cooperative Association,has been with the program since itsinception. “What rewards me is to seethese students’ eyes light up about allthey can do—that they can wire electriclamps, that they can make motors,that they can understand someelectric theory that they’ve neverreally thought about before. I’m alsorewarded by the camaraderie I see asour industry members come togetherto volunteer and teach these studentsand the joy they get out of doing that.“The camp is science-based and it’selectric-based, and we’re pleased withit,” Jackson says. Learn more about4-H opportunities by contacting yourcounty’s Extension office.–Margot EmeryFor 20 years, Tennessee 4-H youth have been gaining insight into energy scienceand wise and safe use of electricity at UT Extension's 4-H Electric Camp. Eachyear campers participate in hands-on learning activities where they build projectssuch as extension cords and meter lamps. The youth interact with volunteer leadersfrom the state’s power distributors, and they learn about important steps totake when power lines fall on roads or crash down on school buses.25