Upcoming opportunities for children ages 9-18 to have fun this summer include a horse club and day camps provided by the Alabama Cooperative Extension System and Franklin County 4-H.

For these 4-H events, pre-registration is free but required. Waivers must be filled out for equine activities before participation is allowed, and parents or guardians must stay on site.

July 9 will bring the 4-H Plants in the Park Workshop from 9-11:30 a.m. This event will be held at City Lake Park in Russellville, 95 Lakeview Drive.

“We’ll walk around the park and learn how to identify different trees,” explained Franklin County 4-H agent Austin Blankenship.

Blankenship said a leaf-rubbing activity might be involved, if the leaves are right for it. Another feature of the workshop will be a container gardening activity, starting plants off in a fiber root bag to be transplanted later.
The 4-H Horse Club will meet July 11 from 5:30-7 p.m. at the Canteen, next to the A.W. Todd Centre, in Russellville.
At the last horse club meeting, Blankenship said students learned about the parts of the English saddle and bridle and received a worksheet on the Western saddle. At this gathering, one of the students will give a presentation about the Western saddle. Additional topics will include care, cleaning and related topics.
Blankenship said the horse club gives young people the opportunity to learn more about horses than they would be able to otherwise.
“They don’t have to own a horse. It just gives an opportunity to learn more about horses and the equine industry.”
Another event highlighting horses will be offered July 15 from 9-11:30 a.m. – 4-H Equine Science Field Day. This event will be held at the Rise Again Riding School, 240 Cochran Road, Phil Campbell.
Participants will get hands-on learning about horses; the day does not include riding horses.

“We’ll practice grooming the horse and go over parts of the horse,” explained Rise Again Riding School owner and instructor Jam TePoel Saarinen. “We may go over parts of the saddle and talk about first aid.”
Contact the Franklin County Extension Office at 256-332-8880 to register or receive more information.