Beaufort County Farm Safety Day Camp
State ESP Team Award
| Extension Team Members
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| Ann Darkow, County Extension Director
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| Gaylon Ambrose
| Louise Hinsley
| Rod Gurganus
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| Susan Chase
| Pam Allen
| Gladys Barnes
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| Barbara Campbell
| Teresa Windley
| Jennifer Everette
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The Beaufort County Farm Safety Day Camp is one of the most highly visible programs that the staff conducts. It is an excellent opportunity for expanded teamwork involving all staff members and is a program that has been embraced by the local Advisory Leadership Council (ALS), agribusiness professionals, sponsors, local farmers and numerous parents and other volunteers. A total of 102 adult volunteers contributed 1,038 hours to the program at a value of $10,380 (1,038 hours x $10.00 per hour).
Members of the Advisory Leadership Council have been extremely active in Farm Safety Day Camp. Two members, Jimmy Latham and Lynn Clayton, who is also the current Beaufort County Advisory Council President-elect, served as camp organizers. Together they took charge of resource development for the camp, raising over $8,200. in funds and donated items from 33 sponsors. This allowed the participants to attend without a charge. In addition to the monetary sponsorship, much farm equipment such as combines, tractors, lawn mowers and livestock were loaned to the camp for the day. ALS members also coordinated newspaper publicity both before and after the camp. This resulted in feature articles in three newspapers. Another ALS member, Mary Gurley, recruited 30 children and 4 adult volunteers to assist with the day and also was on hand to help with all aspects of the program including set-up and program implementation. Jim Preston, another ALS member and also a 4-H Club leader and R.E.I.N.S. volunteer conducted an educational learning station on "Horse and Large Animal Safety". He involved older 4-Her's with the instruction giving them valuable leadership experience in working with younger children. The wives and several children of other Advisory Council members participated in the day with Mom serving as a group monitor. This activity was enhanced by the support of the Beaufort County Advisory Council members and it has also helped to provide unity and purpose for the group. Older youth served as junior leaders and assisted with a variety of assignments throughout the day.
The Beaufort County Farm Safety Day Camp is a program that teaches safety lessons through innovative, interactive learning-stations. Children and adults rotated through 10 educational stations during the day, spending 20 minutes at each.
A total of 302 people, including 200 youth between the ages of 7 - 13 and 102 adults volunteers, participated in the one-day camp which was filled with fun and educational activities related to farm and rural health and safety. Participants learned important information and life skills from ten interactive learning stations including: Large Equipment Safety, Snakes, Learning to Make 911 Calls, Water Safety, Outdoor Safety, Horse and Large Animal Safety, First Aid, Lawn Mower Safety, Railroad Crossing Safety and Electric Safety. Participants were amazed at the swiftness with which an accident can occur as they watched combines and lawn mowers shred straw dummies. A portable bank of phones provided by Sprint was utilized by each child as they learned how to make 911 Calls which were answered by an emergency responder. They also practiced lifesaving skills associated with water activities.
Due to the geography of the county in which a river divides it into two parts, transportation is often a problem for parents trying to take children to programs across the river. Bus transportation was provided for those children and adults that needed it from the outlying areas in the county. Also provided were a morning snack and a nutritious hot lunch, and everyone received a take-home packet including, a tee-shirt, a Farm Safety Day Camp beach towel, and educational materials to share with their families.
Farming is the second most dangerous occupation in the United States. In North Carolina there are an average of 25 deaths annually from farm related accidents. Of these, one-third involves children less than 19 years of age. The most common accidents involve tractor overturn, being run over by a tractor by being in the blind spot of the operator and being thrown from the tractor or mower while riding with an adult. The Farm Safety Day Camp program teaches youth the importance of practicing safe behaviors in an agricultural or rural environment. With the strong agricultural influences in Beaufort County, this is an issue of utmost importance. The skills that the youth learned at the camp will be invaluable to them and their families throughout their lives.
Some of the impacts revealed through program evaluations indicated that 92% of program participants learned at least one new safety practice that they plan to share with others. One hundred percent of participants demonstrated making 911 calls and providing accurate information to an emergency responder. Parent questionnaires revealed that they had learned at lease one new safety practice that they intended to implement at home or on the farm.
The Farm Safety Day Camp is self-perpetuating in that everyone involved including, staff, volunteers, parents and sponsors are already working together on programming for 2002. A committee is also in the early planning stages for a Farm Family Safety Expo. The high level of media attention and word of mouth promotion by participants and their families has also given Beaufort County Cooperative Extension a heightened level of awareness by the public.
After completing a project of the magnitude of Farm Safety Day Camp, when the day is over and happy educated children are sent home, it is truly moving to reflect upon the impact this activity may have upon the community. Our efforts may never be specifically credited for saving a life or limb or preventing any number of accidents or injuries. However, through education of the participants (both adults and children) and in turn, their sharing the knowledge they gained with others, the programs we implement reach an untold number of people. Our safety program may be responsible for a youngster's funeral that doesn't happen or for a farmer that continues to farm accident free throughout his life.
The success of this camp can be directly attributed to the unique working relationship between Cooperative Extension, the Advisory Leadership Council, local farmers, agribusiness sponsors and a lot of great volunteers!. Together we have joined forces to ensure the growth and success of this program.
2001 ESP Awards
Xi Chapter ESP
