We are back at Summer Camp, and we couldn't be happier!
Our friends and community partners at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Onondaga County 4-H invited us back for a third summer of hands-on building.
We started our Trades Education Initiative because we want more kiddos in our community to know what it feels like to create something with their own two hands. There is something really special about looking at something you built and saying, "I made that!" Partnering with 4H for their Summer Camp program has been a really excited way to provide these opportunities.
This summer, we added a few new layers to the experience.
Campers were encouraged to "build with intention". They took time to study their materials, sketch their ideas and create a plan before building their shelters. Just as importantly, they learned that the best projects are rarely built alone. Throughout the week, teamwork, communication and problem-solving became just as important as the structures themselves.
One of our favorite moments was observing our returning campers....or "builders".
Returning builders naturally stepped into leadership roles, offering to teach younger builders how to tie knots and encouraging them as they worked through challenges.
Some of those challenges involved remembering the names of the knots used to stabilize the structures. That's where things got really creative, 4H builders are now masters of "pretzel" and "elephant" knots and we couldn't be more proud!
We also loved seeing campers revisit their shelters throughout the week, checking for loose connections, making adjustments and strengthening their designs. Our mission was to give them an experience in creating they could remember and take pride in. What a wonderful moment to see that come to fruition.
These are the moments that make us so excited to see the next generation of builders.
We are incredibly grateful to our friends at Cornell Cooperative Extension 4-H for continuing to invite us into their summer program and for sharing our passion for hands-on learning. Because of this partnership our McClurg Team are Happy Campers!
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McClurg Remodeling is a design-build contractor proudly serving Syracuse and CNY homeowners for over 45 years. We take pride in our role within the communities we serve. Whether through casual conversations or large-scale events, we are committed to actively participating in the collective endeavor to strengthen and uplift our community members.