ARARAT — Nearly 90 Surry County youths were involved in an “explosion” this summer, one that brought no damages or casualties but plenty of fun and opportunities for personal growth.

It was all part of the Surry County 4-H Summer Explosion 2010 program, which culminated Tuesday night with a pizza party, swimming and a recognition ceremony at Homeplace Recreational Park in Ararat.

“This is kind of our big wrap-up,” said Teresa Wilkins, an agent with the local N.C. Cooperative Extension Service office.

“The program was a big success this year,” added Wilkins, whose role with the agency includes 4-H youth development. “We had 87 individual youth participants registered for Summer Explosion.”

Some 145 people were signed up for the event Tuesday night, which included the youths and their families.

But those who think 4-H offers participants nothing more than livestock projects or canning classes should be advised that this is not their parents’ or grandparents’ organization.

While the 100-year-old club’s mission of personal development is still intact, it also has evolved with the times by not only allowing youths to learn basic life skills but also opportunities for a good time with others their age.

For example, participants in Surry County’s summer program learned about topics such as wildlife, cooking, sewing, gardening and entrepreneurship, while also getting the chance to go tubing, camping and take day trips to such attractions as the Wet ’N Wild Emerald Pointe water park.

The annual program is open to kids who are 5 to 19, with the various activities organized by age groups.

Georgeanne Musson of Siloam, one of the parents attending Tuesday’s celebration, said the Summer Explosion program has made a big difference in the life of her daughter Chandler, 14.

“She’s home-schooled,” Musson said of Chandler, who’ll be a freshman at Surry Central High School this fall. “It gave her a chance to interact with (other) kids. It built her confidence.”

Musson said that the enriching experience began when she received a flier in the mail about the 4-H Summer Explosion program, which Chandler read. “And she said, ‘look at some of these courses,” her mother recalled.

The teen ended up enrolling in several activities, including a “Chocalatiers” class in which she learned how to make sculptured chocolate roses and other skills that could prove useful in the future. Her summer also included a tubing exhibition, a visit to Emerald Pointe, attending a 4-H camp and planting a mini-garden.

One highlight was the “Tube the New” activity in which participants floated down the New River. “And she loved that,” Musson said.

Chandler’s mother added that when she was involved in the 4-H Club in the 1960s, horses seemed to be the main focus, and she was “shocked” by what it offers today.

Wilkins, the county 4-H youth development agent, said the various activities provided during the summer reflect the organization’s longtime goal of providing hands-on experiences aimed at helping young people reach their fullest potential. It seeks to develop citizenship, leadership and life skills of youth through mostly experiential learning programs.

The youths do have fun, but organizers also endeavor to put them into hands-on situations that aid their personal development, the agent explained.

“We’re trying to keep the kids interested by offering up-to-date programs,” said Wilkins, who gave out certificates of participation Tuesday night along with other recognitions.

In addition to various trips this summer, one-day educational programs were conducted, mostly at the Cooperative Extension Service office in Dobson. Some of the activities were available through partnerships with other entities.

“There’s nothing lightweight about any of these programs,” Musson said in discussing the involvement by her daughter. “They stress the basics. They learn about community service.”

And the price was certainly right, added Musson, a mother of four. She said the summer 4-H program allowed access to venues, such as Emerald Pointe, that normally would have cost an individual family much more when transportation and other expenses are figured.

“For a full summer of activities, I’d say I spent 70 dollars.”

Contact Tom Joyce at tjoyce@mtairynews.com or at 719-1924.