LINNVILLE - "I'm bored."

"There's nothing to do." "Can we go somewhere?"

These are common phrases parents hear during the summer months when area classrooms sit silent.

Approximately 50 area students were certainly not bored Thursday when they attended the second annual Conservation/4-H Field Day held at Sunnybrook Farm, owned by the Herrell family.

Events kicked off when everyone met at the Soil and Water Office to hop aboard two tractors for a ride to the farm.

The event was designed to get youth involved in nature and give children a chance to gain appreciation and respect for the world around them, according to Carrie Yaniko, education coordinator for the Lawrence Soil and Water Conservation District.

A myriad of fun and adventurous activities were available, including a nature hike, fishing, arts and crafts, games and a hot dog roast.

To "break the ice" and introduce the power of team skills, everyone participated in a group circle and played a game that involved holding hands and passing a hula hoop from one person to the next.

Many boys and girls spent an hour-and-a-half fishing. Siblings Jesse McComas and Sam Nelson said they both caught "pan-sized blue gills."

The fish weren't the only things biting. Matthew Malone caught a frog on his line.

Savannah Nelson, spoke excitedly about the nature hike, where she collected flowers and leaves to press into a bookmark.

"I got to go on the hill and find flowers and stuff and I made a bookmark," she said. "I learned a sassafras tree has three different kinds of leaves and another tree has leaves shaped like hearts," she said.

Rather than take the tractor ride back to the office, the three siblings hiked back with their mother, Sheri Nelson. Each came with tiger lilies in their hands they had picked along the way. This was the first time the family attended the event.

They all agreed their favorite part of the day's events was the nature hike, led by 4-H volunteer Shiela Tackett.

"Me and Jesse found a tree frog (during the hike) but we gave it to another kid," Sam said.

"We had a blast," Sheri said.

Chuck Yaniko, district coordinator for the Lawrence-Scioto Solid Waste Management District, also had an enjoyable fishing expedition with the

children.

"Several kids fished for a long time. They would catch their first fish and they were so excited," Carrie Yaniko said.

4-H teen leaders Rachel Mootz, Sarah Cremeens and Bridget Reynolds donated their time volunteering at the event.

Katie Roach said she had fun during her first time attending the event.

"My favorite part was doing water games. I learned that some flowers can help you. My mom told me the purple flower means good luck," she said as she pointed to the flower in her bookmark.

The pretty little seven-year-old was glowing from her day on the farm. "I found a turtle on the hike. I set it in the shed because it likes to hide," she added.

4-H Program Assistant Debbie Carpenter summed up the day's events. "It was awesome!"

A very special thanks was given to Jim and Tracy Herrell for enabling everyone to enjoy their beautiful farm and to Pete Herrell for driving a tractor.

The event was a joint effort between 4-H and the Lawrence Soil and Water Conservation District.