Bio-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, March 22, 1997 1 A 4-H Youth Gets Taste Of Culinary Career NEWARK, Del. Nick Argo began a promising career in food preparation as a young child in his grandmother’s kitchen. “My grandmother used to look after me when my mom was work ing,” he recalls, “and she let me help with the cooking.” Seventeen-year-old Argo has learned a lot about preparing food since the days of licking Grand ma’s spoon. The Milford native is well on his way to achieving his goal of becoming a chef and restaurateur. Last August, he attended the 19% National 4-H Food and Nutrition Career Explo ration Program in Chevy Chase, Md., where he joined 36 other youths from across the nation to get a taste of careers in the culin ary arts. Part of the National 4-H Council Workforce Preparation Program, the event was sponsored by food industry giants including Tyson Foods and Fleischmann’s Yeast. At the week-long program, the Milford resident worked along side chefs, discussed food issues with government and business representatives, learned about food distribution, visited culinary arts colleges and Pentagon restaurants and toured the cities of Washington and Baltimore. ids “I learned a lot and had a great time,” says Argo. He particularly enjoyed the cooking classes, where he learned how to prepare elegant fruit tortes and cheese puffs. One of the high lights was a bread-baking semi nary, in which the students were charged with creating their own bread and marketing pitch to go with it. His group came up with a cranberry oatmeal bread that won the prize. It’s not surprising that Argo could whip up a bread from scratch. As an 8-year-old, he pre pared a pumpkin roll completely on his own for the 4-H Favorite Foods Contest. A member of the Houston Cardinals 4-H Club for nine years, he has taught food pre paration at day camps and has won ribbons for his pumpkin roll, cin namon buns and salami pepper loaf. At home he likes preparing Chinese food and baking bread. He estimates he has spent more than 6,000 hours in food preparation. ‘Tor the past four or five years, he’s been able to do anything he wants in the kitchen,” says his mothers, Carol Argo. “He’s way out of my league.” When not in the kitchen, Argo helps on his grandfather’s farm. He has participated in sheep and beef 4-H projects, and has shown cattle at the Delaware State Fair. After graduation, he hopes to work for a large hotel and eventu ally start his own restaurant The food and nutrition work shop Argo took part in last sum mer is only one of a variety of programs offered through the National 4-H Workforce Prepara tion initiative. All are based on the Secretary of Labor’s Commission on Achieveing Necessary Skills (SCANS) competencies and foundation skills, which include working in teams, using resources and understanding technology. “In all our programs we emphasize the skills that young adults will need to succeed in today’s woik environment,” says Sheila Chaconas, project director for workforce preparation at National 4-H Council. “We’re helping children of all ages to think about careers and develop workforce readiness.” Applications are now being accepted for the 1997 National Food and Nutrition Career Explo ration Program. Contact your loc al Cooperative Extension office for additional information. In Kent County, call 697-4000, in Sussex County, 856-7303; and in New Castle County, 831-2667. How To Raise A Nature-Loving Child (NAPS) “Why do animals go extinct?” “Can polluted water be cleaned?” “Why do salmon return to where they were hatched?” These are but a few of the ques tions children have asked Ranger Rick, one of the country’s most popular children’s magazines. This year the magazine cele brates 30 years of opening young people’s eyes to the wonders of nature and the world around them. What’s the secret to their sue- 1-800-588-1650. Eaaceptional Eaa Hunf wildlife and wild places around M them, throw in some fun and facts, and before you know it you’ve got a child who’s wild about nature,” says Editor Gerry Bishop. Along with the adventures of Ranger Rick, a charming, inquisi tive raccoon, and his friends (Scarlett Fox, Boomer Badger, Funky Porcupine, etc.), the maga zine uses colorful nature photos and stories to grab and hold a child’s interest. Published by the National Wildlife Federation, Ranger Rick has received countless letters from framer readers who say they were inspired and entertained by the magazine, often to the point of shaping career choices. Fairfield University herpetolo gist Gregory Watkins-Colwell was one such child. “Ranger Rick is probably why I became a biolo gist,” he writes. “In fact, I first read the word herpetologist in Ranger Rick. I was 8 at the time. I’ve been a herpetologist ever or-iief^* Aspiring chef and restaurateur Nick Argo cooks a spe cial dinner at home after taking part In a food and nutrition career exploration program at National 4-H Council. since.” Terry Dukerschein was already grown when reading Ranger Rick to his children got him “hooked up to the environmental side of biolo gy.” Today he’s doing long-term environmental monitoring pro jects on the Mississippi River. What would it take to make a nature lover out of your child? Try these tips: •Turn off the TV •Take your child on a nature LANCASTER (Lancaster Co.) On Sunday, March 23. Hands on-House, Children’s Museum of Lancaster will hold their annual Eggceptional Egg Hunt. This museum event is a peren nial Palm Sunday favorite. Fami lies are invited to visit the museum during the hours of 11 a.m.-S p.m. to leant about the variety of ani mals that come from eggs. This year will feature papa pan demonium as we pay special attention to animal fathers. Did you know that frogs make fabul ous fathers? Play catch with a father seahorse and do the twist with a father toad. Leant why a father frog gives piggy back rides. Explor the land down under for a mammal that lays eggs. Swim with the fishes as we go hunting for shark eggs. Children will search and collect colored eggs, as well as search for clues about different kinds of ani 1/ walk •Put up a birdfeeder •Go camping •Plant a backyard wildlife habitat •Encourage wonder •Go fishing •Go on a bug hunt •Get to know your local nature center •Read Ranger Rick together. A subscription is only $l5 and can be ordered by calling mals eggs. This year’s egg hunt will have children searching for shark eggs, dinosaur eggs, swan eggs, geese eggs, slug eggs, platy pus eggs, spider eggs, turtle eggs, birds nests, frog eggs, butterfly eggs and more. The majority of the activites are inside and all Eggceptional Egg Hunt activities will occur rain or shine. All activities are included with regular museum admission of $4 each for adults and regular $4 admission plus $1 “cggstra” per child to participate. The museum’s usual two floors of exhibit fun will be open for exploring during the Eggceptional Egg Hunt. The optional egg hunts will run continuously and particip ants may arrive anytime between II a.m. and 4 p.m. Families should plan to spend one to one and one-half hours at the museum for this special event
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