4-H Outdoor Wilderness Leadership & Service Program

The 4-H Outdoor Wilderness Leadership & Service program (OWLS, for short) is for youth in grades 6 and up who are interested in learning about the wilderness and building their leadership skills. Meeker County 4-H member Maisy Geurts recently completed her year in the OWLS program.

The one-year OWLS program includes online Zoom meetings, in-person weekend retreats and a Boundary Waters canoe trip. Throughout the year, participants gain important wilderness expertise, explore career opportunities, build leadership and public speaking skills and bond with other like-minded youth. Participants are also encouraged to complete a conservation project that will benefit their community regarding a nature-related topic of their choice.

Maisy Geurts’ conservation project was to organize and lead a 4-H day camp to educate kids about local pollinators and their importance to our environment. The 2024 Butterflies & Blossoms camp included hands-on activities for the participants like making seed bombs, flower crowns, a flower scavenger hunt and interactive group games. Participants planted their own take-home flower baskets with plants that support pollinators in the area.

At the 2024 Meeker County Fair, Maisy also hosted activities and crafts in the kids coop to reach more people with her community. She says she hopes to continue spreading awareness and growing her project. After completing her year in the program, she’s now a member of the OWLS Flock. Flock members are former OWLS participants who were selected to come back as youth leaders. Maisy looks forward to assisting with the program through 2025. For more information about 4-H or the OWLS program, go to extension.umn.edu or call 693-5275.