Travel-All

Pennsylvania 4-H Cultural Exchange Project

The Westmoreland County 4-Hers and their families would like to welcome you their web page.

We are a very active, dedicated, sincere, and fun loving group.

Our delegation ranges in size from 20 to 30 with 3 to 4 adults.

We are located in southwestern Pennsylvania, 35 miles southeast of the city of Pittsburgh. Most of our members live in rural areas, a few in small towns, and some on farms.

Some of the sites we offer are: Historic Fort Ligonier, Latrobe Steel Factory, Smith Glass Factory, St. Vincent College, Seven Springs Ski Resort, Laurel Caverns, Pittsburgh, Farm Tours.

We also offer you an extended 2 day tour to: Washington D.C. , Lancaster and Gettsyburg or Niagara Falls, Canda. These three major attractions are within 5 to 6 hours driving time from Westmoreland County. If you would decided to travel to any of these three attractions, we would make all the arangements and each person would pay for their own expenses.

The Westmoreland County 4-H ers are currently involved in an exchange with Williamson County, Texas for 2000 & 2001. We will be hosting the Texas delegation in July, 2000 & traveling to Texas in the summer of 2001.

Meetings are held at the Westmoreland County Cooperative Extension Office at 7:00 p.m. on the fourth 4th Wednesday of each month.

Our community service projects include, parade floats, Overly County Christmas and Meals on Wheels. For fun, club members enjoy all-night bowling, an annual Halloween Party and a family closing banquet

OFFICERS

 

PURPOSE

• To become better citizens of the great United States of America, and the beautiful state of Pennsylvania by learning more of their history, geography, economics and people.
• To learn how to travel, not as a casual passenger, but as and interested, fact finding individual by increasing a person's perception of their surroundings.
• To develop personally as an individual by learning to think and speak on your feet and to learn to live, work, and play with people regardless of their practices, customs, and beliefs.
• To better appreciate home, your family, friends, and Westmoreland County.
• To learn more about the 4-H club work in other areas of the your county, state, and country.
• To encourage further participation in the 4-H program with regards to project work, activities, and leadership responsibilities.
• To expand 4-H understanding beyond the local county to help meet the needs of our youth.
• To enrich our individual lives.
• To create new and lasting friendships.
• To open your home to a visiting 4-H'er.

  REQUIREMENTS

• 13-19 years of age
• Member of Westmoreland County 4-H Program
• Complete project book
• Complete an accurate notebook
• Typed report of pre-designated topic
• Attendance at monthly meetings
• Meet pre-determined payment schedule
• Host during first half of exchange
• Participate in all group functions
• Be a proud ambassador of Westmoreland County 4-H
• Respect all by-laws
• Be enrolled in at least one other county 4-H project

BIOGRAPHY

(1973 - 83) Westmoreland County's first exchange took place in 1973 with the state of New Jersey. The group traveled by van on that exchange as well as the next three exchanges. Traveling a total of 5,100 miles. 1981 was a new adventure for our county; the delegation traveled 4,500 miles by Amtrack to Montana.

(1981 - 82)The group ate and slept on the train during the 98 hour cross country trip. The Montana exchange was so different from the past trips that our delegation started to keep a notebook. The notebook contained vital information and each member's assigned trip report.

(1983 - 84) The nest two exchanges our delegation experienced travel by charter coach. This enabled the group to tour enroute. They traveled 3,800 miles through 11 states on the Kansas exchanges. Points of interest were: Nashville, TN; Little Rock, AK; Tulsa, OK; Dodge City, KS; and St. Louis, MO.

(1985 - 86) The Quebec, Canada exchange took the delegation 2,900 miles through 3 states & U.S. Customs. Points of intrest were: Valley Forge Philadelpia, PA; New York City; and Niagera Falls. During the Quebec exchange our delegation of 23 went international, learning about French money, food, and languages. The exchange program has grown in size and value. The notebook has become a vital source of information. Because of the work put into the program, in 1986 the cultural exchange was officially declared a Westmoreland County 4-H project.

The 1987-88 exchange was by airplane to Brazos County, Texas taking our delegation on a 3,300 mile adventure. During the Texas exchange, our delegation of 30 members plus four chaperones visited many interesting places. The town of College Station was very similiar to our our own college town of State College were Penn State University is located. Some of the points of interest were Houston, Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, Gallvaston Beach, Johlnon Space Center, Mesquite Rodeo , Ft. Worth Stock Yards and the Grando Research Ranch. The 4-H project is one of many highlights offered to Westmoreland County 4-Hers.

(1989 - 90) During the 1989 - 1990 Rice County Minnesota Exchange the group traveled a total of 3350 miles by motor coach. Points of interest were the state capitol of St Paul and Fairbolt Woodline Mills. An extended trip took the delegation to Mt. Rushmore, Badlands National Park, the Corn Palace, and through Chicago were they ate in Chinatown. During the second half of the exchange the Rice county 4-Hers traveled through out Westmoreland county and choose to do an extended trip to Lancaster and Gettysburg Pennsylvania.

(1991 - 92) The county 4-Hers hosted a group of 32 members and 9 chaperones from Morgan County Colorado in 1991. The 4-Hers traveled all over a 3 county area and also Washington D.C. Westmoreland County traveled 3850 miles by charter coach with 27 members and 6 chaperones to Colorado in 1992. The delegation followed the Oregon Trail and made a stop at the Badlands of South Dakota. While in Colorado the delegation toured potato, sugar beets, and sod farms. The group took an extended trip to Colorado Springs were they took in many sights including the U.S.A Omplic training center.

(1993-94) The County 4-Hers hosted a small delegation from Tate County, Mississippi, there were 15 members and 3 chapperones in the Mississippi delegation. After a tour of our county the Mississippi delegation and our 4-Hers took an extended tour to visit the Pennsylvania Dutch, Gettysburg and the state capitol of Harrisburg. The second of the exchange found Westmoreland County traveling with 15 members and 4 chapprones by coach a total of 1989 miles. They toured in route to Mississippi visiting a Ford truck assembly plant, the Kentucky Horse Park, and stayed overnight in Nashville, Tennessee. Some of the highlights while in Mississippi were the Vicksburg Battlefield, Southern Mansions, Fish and Cotton Farms.

(1994-95) Westmoreland County went south of the border to Monterey, Mexico for an international experience. The delegation of 15 plus 3 adults spent 3 days in Mexico City before being greeted by their Monterey host families. The delegation was in Monterey for 2 weeks. They entered into a new lifestyle where the language, food, and currency were different. The highlights they saw were: a museum, a folk dance, mountains, deserts, bull fights, and the pyramids. During the second half of the exchange, Pennsylvania 4-Hers hosted the Mexicans to local tours, the City of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Dutch County, and the City of Johnstown Flood Museum. This exchange was a positive cultural experience.

(1996-97) The Westmoreland County 4-Hers opened their homes to a delegation from Cascade County, Montana. The Montana 4-Hers arrived at the Pittsburgh International Airport and were transfered to the Westmoreland County Fair Grounds for a welcome party. They were greeted by their host families. The Montana 4-Hers were in our county for ten days. During that time they were treated to 4 local tours. The two groups also took an extended two day trip to Washington, DC. July 1997 found 32 local 4Hers and 5 adults headed west to Montana. They flew from Pittsburgh via St. Louis to Great Falls, Montana where they were greeted by their new western families. During the ten day stay in Montanna, the group traveled 1500 miles while on tour. Some of the attractions included: Tour of the state capital, Helena; Yellowstone National Park;Lewis and Clark Caverns and Glacier National Park. The eastern 4Hers were treated to white water rafting, a visit to a Hutterite Colony, cattle branding, snow ball battles in July, panning for saphires and rubys, seeing bison, elk, and moose. Some of the comments from our delegation were: The vastness of the land, the high mountains, and the frendly people. This exchange was another very positive adventure between the east and the west.

(1998-99) 1998 finds the Westmoreland County 4-H families hosting a large delegation from Lafeyette County, Missouri. The Missouri 4Hers will be riding a boat on the Ohio River while Touring the City of Pittsburgh, visiting a dairy farm, a goat farm, St. Vincent College, Seven Springs Ski Resort where they will be a 1,800 foot Alpine Slide, walking into Laural Caverns were the temperature is always 52ƒF, Historic Fort Ligonier, and enjoying a Banna Split (The first ever was made in Latorbe, PA). The Pennsylvania and Missouri Delegations will travel together on a two day adventure to Niagra Falls, Canada where they will ride The Maid of The Mist, walk behind the falls, and see many exciting sights. 1999 will find the PA. 4H Delegation enroute to Missouri for another fun filled educated advent

 

If you would like more information about the Travel-All 4-H Club, please contact: Harrfarm@aol.com or testadt@aol.com

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