CRESTVIEW — Employees at the Dogwood Acres veterinary clinic recently had the opportunity to give some advice to pet owners.

Ami Johnson, a certified veterinary technician, and Kristy Guthre, head receptionist of the clinic recently sat down with the Crestview News Bulletin to discuss what pet owners should know to keep their pets healthy.

Parvovirus

One deadly threat that Dogwood Acres' patients experience increasingly is parvovirus, Johnson said.

"It basically dehydrates (dogs) until they die; it affects the intestinal track and the stomach," she said. Symptoms are vomiting and diarrhea.

Dogs can contract the virus — typically transmitted through animal feces — from soil, which can incubate it up to a year.

A series of about four vaccinations per year can help protect dogs, Johnson said, adding the vaccines must be kept cold to work.

To ensure effectiveness, people should vaccinate their pets before introducing their companions to a new environment or strangers, she said.

Vaccines cost about $20 each, which is less than paying for medical treatments should health problems arise, Johnson said.

Heartworms

Heartworms — spread from host to host through mosquito bites — result from larvae entering dogs' bloodstream.

 Within six months, the larvae can form adult heartworms, which can damage canines' hearts.

"Heartworms around here are all year round because it does not get cold enough to kill mosquitoes," Guthre said.

Preventive medication can be purchased at retail stores and veterinarian clinics.

Dogs affected by heartworms can be treated, but the cost exceeds that of preventive medications, which run from about $8 to $10 a month, depending on the dog's size.

Conversely, heartworm treatment injections can range between $500 and $900, depending on the dog's size.

Rabies

Humans bitten by animals infected with rabies can die without immediate treatment. The virus attacks the central nervous system and carries symptoms including depression, sensitivity to touch, painful swallowing and drooling, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Due to the risk, the law requires pets to receiveregular rabies shots from licensed veterinarians.

"They should start getting rabies vaccinations once a year," Johnson said. "After the first couple of years, they have the option of getting a three-year shot."

Dogs, cats and ferrets must be vaccinated starting at 4 months old, under Florida statutes, which require owners to receive vaccination certificates.

A pet may be exempt from a rabies shot if a licensed veterinarian provides documentation stating the shot would harm that pet. However, that pet should receive the shot as soon as it can. 

"There is no cure for rabies; once you get it, you die," Johnson said.

Exercise

Several factors — including the dog's size, how much the animal eats and how active it is — play into how much dogs should exercise, Johnson said.

However, a rule of thumb is that "they usually should be walked for 30 to 45 minutes a day," she said.

Owners taking their dogs to a dog park should be cautious of the other dogs.

"One thing you want to think about when you get all of those dogs together is their vaccinations," Johnson said.

Even if the dog park has a sign posted requesting all dogs be vaccinated, it won't deter those who are not.

"Everyone should be honest about that, but some people are not," Johnson said.

The closest dog park for Crestview residents, outside of apartment complexes' offerings, is in Niceville. The city's Community Redevelopment Agency has discussed the possibility of adding such a facility in Twin Hills Park along with a skate park. The CRA is expected to present proposed plans at their next yet unscheduled meeting. 

A dog park may be unsuitable for dogs considered antisocial.

"Each dog is different, and it depends on what they have been through," Guthre said. "Some may have been left in crates all of their lives and that's all they know.

"They are either comfortable with it, or they have anxiety because (of being outside) of it."

Dog training classes can help these dogs become more sociable, Johnson said.

Diet

For pet owners unsure of how much to feed their pets, the answers appear on the brand of dog food they purchase.

Each bag of dog food has a chart that tells the preferred amount of food for each animal depending on the dog's age and weight.

But knowing how much to feed animals isn't enough; you also need to know what not to feed them — generally, that includes table scraps.

"Animals don't metabolize people food the way (humans) do," Johnson said. "(Dogs) can get what is called pancreatitis, which is when the pancreas becomes inflamed."

Pancreatitis can lead to other health problems including diabetes, Johnson said. However, these problems can be avoided if the animal keeps a healthy weight.

"The less (fat) your pet has, the longer they will live," Johnson said.

Ultimately, maintaining a dog's health should be considered the same way humans maintain theirs: with annual check-ups, Johnson said.

"Bringing them in for annual exams either once or twice a year would be beneficial," Johnson said.

For dogs over the age of seven, it is recommended that they are brought in for check ups twice a year. 

"The older dogs get, the more often they should have check ups," Johnson said.

Contact News Bulletin Staff Writer Matthew Brown at 850-682-6524 or matthewb@crestviewbulletin.com. Follow him on Twitter @cnbMatthew.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: PUPPY LOVE: Pet specialists give advice on pet health

CRESTVIEW — He's cute. He's huggable. He's adorable. The way he tumbles over his big paws and his floppy ears seems precious.

But after a few weeks, the new puppy in your life might become tiresome — especially after he gnaws your favorite slippers to shreds.

The secret to raising a cooperative, well-adjusted dog is comparable to raising cooperative, well-adjusted children, experts say. Both need structure and — in canines' case, at least — an unequivocal understanding of who is the alpha dog.

"Structure and guidance and sprinkled with a little bit of love" is how Marietta Birdsell, a certified volunteer puppy raiser for Canine Companions for Independence, puts it.

Since 2001, Birdsell has raised 10 dogs in her Crestview home. Each graduated to commence adult training for ultimate placement with a disabled person.

Stevenson — her most recent puppy, who left her care in November — receives advanced adult training at CCI's southeast regional dog training center in Orlando. Birdsell expects to receive a new eight-week-old puppy in March.

"It's hard to believe I've been doing this so long; my first puppy is on the verge of retiring," she said, adding that annual Christmas cards help her keep up with her former charges.

Understanding the attributes and unique care required by the breed of dog that you are interested in is the first of several crucial steps in dog ownership, she said.

Research breeds

"Do your research before you bring the puppy home," Birdsell said. "It's always a good idea — especially if you're bringing home a purebred puppy — because there's an awful lot of information available about the temperament of purebred."

When the live-action version of Disney's "101 Dalmatians" opened in 1996, families rushed to buy the spotted dogs, never realizing they were unsuitable for households with lively children and have an unusually high rate of medical issues.

To prevent a similar occurrence, Birdsell said, it's important to know the dog's grooming requirements, how well the animal gets along with children, and the dog's ultimate adult size.

New owners can learn about a rescue dog's potential traits, even if it's a mixed breed, by researching the apparent breeds represented in your shelter puppy.

"Shepherds are shedders extraordinaire. Labs shed as well," Birdsell said. "You have to be interested in what the dog will look like as an adult and (determine) if your home and yard will accommodate the size of the dog."

Housebreaking your pup

Training your new puppy correctly is "work-intensive" but ultimately rewarding, Birdsell said.

For instance, monitor the puppy throughout the day rather than leaving it to fend for itself while you're at school or work, she said.

Provide constant positive reinforcement and give your puppy his own place to snuggle — Birdsell recommends a kennel, or crate.

"The whole idea of crate training is that it replicates the den where the puppy was born," she said. "In its early stages of growth, before the puppy can see or walk, they spend a lot of time next to Mom. When they eliminate (have a bowel movement), she cleans them.

"As they grow and start to explore their surroundings, they will remove themselves as far as possible from Mom because they will not poop and pee where they sleep."

Simulating the den to foster instinctive behavior is a key to helping the pup establish its special potty place.

"The best way to housebreak a puppy is to use the crate method," Birdsell said. "A lot of people who are not acquainted with the crate training methods think it is inhumane and cruel, but it is anything but that."

Purchase a kennel big enough to accommodate the dog when he reaches full size and divide it into a smaller unit so it serves the puppy. As the puppy grows, move the divider and enlarge the space, she said.

"You want to provide the puppy a secure space and you want the space big enough so the puppy can stand up, sit, curl up (and) turn around; but not so big that he can scooch into one corner to sleep but then scooch into the other corner to do his business," Birdsell said.

The crate method

"The point that many people have a problem with is they think you just throw the puppy into a crate and leave it to its own devices. An 8-week-old puppy is going to have to be let outdoors every hour," Bidsell said. "When the puppy is tired, you put the puppy in his crate and he takes a nap. As soon as he wakes up, you need to be available to scoop him out, put a little leash on him and take him outside."

Leashing him early in his life prepares the puppy to be tethered when you walk him outside, Birdsell said. He will also associate the leash with going on an outing and having fun companionship with his owner.

"Praise the puppy when he does his business properly," Birdsell said. "Choose a praise word and repeat it. Have a little of his kibble (dry dog food) as a reward, so he associates that with the place where he eliminates. Play with him a little bit, (and) then when he gets tired, put him back in the crate. You also want to reward every time the puppy goes in the crate."

A crate will serve the dog well in his puppy years, but it will become his private home throughout his life, the trainer said.

"Crate training provides a place where the dog can go to have peace and quiet," she said. "You teach the dog that it is OK to be in the crate and behave appropriately. You are setting up several behaviors that will be positive behaviors as they grow older."

Observe the puppy's behavior

Getting to know your puppy's behavior is important, Birdsell said.

An attentive owner will soon recognize the signals a puppy gives when he needs to have a bowel movement. She then can intervene to ensure the dog poops where he should.

"Minimize the opportunity he has to make mistakes," Birdsell said. "There will be times when he is out of the crate. They will play and play and play, (and) then all of a sudden they will drop and have to go. You need to know his behavior so you know when to scoop him up and take him outside.

"But there will always be a few accidents. Don't make a big deal out of it."

Reward positive behavior

"Every step of the puppy's training should be positively reinforced," Birdsell said. "One common mistake people make is they allow their dogs freedom of the house too soon and they come home to a mess or a puddle on the floor.

"The instinct is to punish the dog when you notice he has made a mistake. The problem is the dog does not associate the punishment with the mistake he made two hours before. He associates it with you coming home.

"If you are in a situation like that, where you find a problem, the only thing you should do is clean up the mess. Don't punish the dog, because from the dog's perspective, you are punishing him for coming to greet you when you come home."

Birdsell said this is one of the reasons she advocates constantly monitoring a new dog. Puppies, like infants, shouldn't be left unattended.

"The time to catch that mistake is when you are keeping your eye on the puppy," Birdsell said. "The time to correct it is when it's happening. Most of the time, you just have to yell at the dog. He will stop and that will give you time to scoop him up and take him outside.

"Then reward him when he does his business where he should."

Stay positive

Puppies, like children, have short attention spans. Positively reinforcing correct behaviors works well with both groups, Birdsell said.

"Feed puppies by hand," she said. "Between the morning meal and afternoon meal, I have his breakfast kibble in my pocket. We work on (the commands) sit and stay and lay down. Every time we do it, he gets a kibble.

"Don't work a puppy more than a minute or two at a time, but do multiple training throughout the day. We'll work on each command about 10 times. Give him a reward each time he does it right.

"Training should be very upbeat and positive. It boosts the puppy's confidence and strengthens the bond between you and the puppy.

"Puppies are very much like children: they will graduate toward the behaviors that get the positive reward. That behavior is most likely to be repeated."

Contact News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes at 850-682-6524 or brianh@crestviewbulletin.com. Follow him on Twitter @cnbBrian.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: PUPPY LOVE: Volunteer puppy raiser offers tips on housebreaking Fido

CRESTVIEW — Singer and vocal music instructor Janice Marcus grew up in California in a family of pet lovers. Her childhood dogs and cats were integral parts of the family.

For her, a recent brush with death reinforced the healing power of canine companionship.

When Janice's husband Jim's aerospace engineering job brought the couple to Crestview in the early 2000s, whether pets would join them in their new home was not questioned; it was understood that their north county home would include both bipedal and quadruped members.

Today, their home is enhanced by the addition of Jasmine and Shane, two full-blooded collies whom the Marcuses rescued, respectively, from a shelter and from an owner who didn't want him.

"Both are about 7," Janice Marcus said. "It's hard with a rescue dog to know how exactly old they are.

"Jasmine is the protectress. No kidding. She makes me feel very safe. She's just Mama's dog and she's very protective of her mother. But Shane is my lover. He's so affectionate."

When Jim lost his job more than a year ago, a many-month quest for employment took a toll on the family savings, but the couple was determined that their situation would not affect Jasmine and Shane.

"Dogs can sense when there is a problem at home, and that's when they are sometimes most needed," Janice said. "Dogs are so sweet. They knew Mommy and Daddy needed them."

Strong faith, assistance from their church, help from friends and their collies' unquestioning love carried them through.

Then one day last autumn, Janice felt unwell. Jim left to brew a cup of tea for her; when he returned, his wife was comatose on the floor.

Life-saving surgery at North Okaloosa Medical Center for an undisclosed illness stabilized Janice so she could be sent via Life Flight helicopter to the University of Florida Shands Medical Center in Gainesville, where she began a month's battle for her life.

Jim, meanwhile, at last received a series of promising job prospects and interviews.

"He had been job-hunting for a year," Janice said. "This was such a blessing, but with such bad timing."

Thrilled to see their 'mother'

When Janice returned to Crestview, she had less than two weeks with her husband before he had to depart for his new out-of-town job, from which he regularly returns home each month.

Their faithful collies were waiting for her return.

"They were so thrilled to see their 'mother,'" Janice said. "I don't think any of the pets ever expected to see me again. They were so excited to see Mommy. Shane especially was barking and barking. Oh my goodness, he was thrilled. I only had Jasmine for a few months before I got so sick. She wondered what happened to her mommy."

Both dogs are even more attentive to her since her return, Janice said.

"They follow me all around the house all the time. I think part of it is to make sure I don't go away again," Janice said. "When Jim is gone, they are my companions. They're wonderful dogs. They watch TV with me. They especially like 'Lassie.' We have 'Lassie' on DVD for them."

While Jasmine is her "mommy's" bodyguard, Shane is the self-appointed watchdog, Janice said.

"Shane usually lies in whatever room I'm in," she said. "He also likes to lie against the front door like he's protecting me."

Her husband's rapid departure for a much prayed for job so soon after her return from Shands was difficult, but Janice's brother, Robb, arrived from the west coast to tend to his sister for several weeks. When their father took ill, he returned to California.

Weakness and loneliness took their toll, but Shane and Jasmine were with her every step of the way.

"That was hard," Janice said. "I wish I could've just gotten Shane to learn how to make coffee, but like he always tells me, 'I don't have opposable thumbs, Mom.' But he'd be willing."

The dogs — as much as powders, pills and tonics — have helped her regain strength, she said.

"They are very good medicine," Janice said. "The thing about dogs is they're so accepting. They just love you no matter what, and when they sense you need it, they love you even more. They are so calm and comforting. I don't think I could've made it this far without them."

Medical research into the healing powers of dogs has been proven in the Marcus residence, Janice said. Her steady recovery was bolstered not just by her faith and health care providers, but also by Jasmine and Shane's companionship.

There's some science to support that claim.

"Although dogs have been used for therapeutic purposes around the globe for years, today, particularly in the U.S., their use is driven by mounting evidence that dogs truly can heal," The Saturday Evening Post reports. "One look at a therapy dog strolling into a hospital room and a patient’s blood pressure drops, heart rate slows, and the corrosive hormones generated by stress that damage arteries and play a part in so many diseases and disorders plummet."

Canines' therapeutic effects are no surprise to Janice.

"There's a reason God sent us dogs," she said.

Contact News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes at 850-682-6524 or brianh@crestviewbulletin.com. Follow him on Twitter @cnbBrian.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: PUPPY LOVE: Woman's canine companions aid in her recovery

CRESTVIEW — Who’s the most talented Bulldog on campus? The community will find out Feb. 21 at the second annual Bulldog Idol competition. The event is a fund-raiser for the Crestview High School chapter of the International Thespian Society.

The theatre arts society’s winning performances last month at District 1 competition at Northwest Florida State College mean that several local performers and behind-the-scenes artists will be heading to Tampa for the nation’s largest student stagecraft event.

To help them get to the state Thespian competition, local student actors and stage crew members are soliciting the assistance of their talented classmates.

Bulldog Idol, won last year by June graduate Tyler Colonna, is a lively showcase of the school's top performing arts talent. The $5 admission will help offset the Thespians' travel and accommodation expenses.

"Idol" auditions before Thespian Society members and Crestview High drama teacher and society adviser, Annette Gebhardt, led to this week's [Feb. 11-15] preliminary rounds, narrowing the field of hopefuls to the top 10 who will face off next Thursday on the Pearl Tyner Auditorium stage.

"That night we go from 10 to five to two and then the winner's announced," Gebhardt said.

To break into the top 10 last year, Tyler performed “Haven’t Met You Yet” by Michael Bublé, accompanying himself on piano. Jesse McCartney’s “Beautiful Soul” got him into the top five, then he won the competition with the Maroon 5 Grammy-winning hit “She Will Be Loved.” As an encore he again accompanied himself, this time while singing One Republic’s “Apologize.”

“It was pretty cool,” Tyler said. “I never expected to win.”

With the school's nationally recognized choral music, theatre and band programs, there's another Bulldog Idol lurking in the hallways of Crestview High School. Find out who it is Feb. 21.

Want to go?

The second annual Bulldog Idol competition is 7 p.m. Feb. 21 at the Crestview High School Pearl Tyner Auditorium. The $5 admission benefits travel expenses of the school's chapter of the International Thespian Society as they attend the state Thespian competition in Tampa.

Contact News Bulletin Arts & Entertainment Editor Brian Hughes at 850-682-6524 or brianh@crestviewbulletin.com. Follow him on Twitter @cnbBrian.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview’s Bulldog Idol concert competition is Feb. 21

NICEVILLE — Experience the talents of some of Ireland’s finest female performers in this internationally touring show coming 7:30 p.m. at Northwest Florida State College's Mattie Kelly Arts Center in Niceville.

Ireland's traditions of music, song and dance will come alive in one performance only. Women of Ireland, an innovative full-stage concert production, displays the next generation of Ireland’s leading female talent in music, song and dance.

The common theme is the presentation of the most revered qualities of Ireland’s ethnic music, transported from the Irish fireside to the international concert hall platform in a contemporary setting featuring world championship dancers.   Tickets are $35 each at the Mattie Kelly Arts Center Box Office, 729-6000 or at www.mattiekellyartscenter.org. Tickets will also be available show night, space permitting, starting at 6 p.m. There is a $2 per ticket processing fee.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Women of Ireland concert Feb. 15

NICEVILLE — Saturday at 7:30 p.m., the Mattie Kelly Arts Center at Northwest Florida State College will come to life with the sounds of Motown and soul.

“Souled Out,” presented by the Emerald Coast Concert Association is a musical ensemble that specializes in those great Motown sounds.

“Souled Out” is led by three dynamic performers whose vocals are unmatched. The seasoned R&B singers, perform – complete with dead-on vocals and smooth choreography – with the same panache and spirit as their Motown and soul predecessors, backed by the northeast renowned Souled Out Orchestra.

Leader of the band is Donald “Smoothie” McCall, who has been singing his whole life, performing with many groups as well as several theaters.

Joining him is singer Irving “Smokey” Lewis who grew up in an extremely musical family and started to sing at a very young age, performing in many talent shows. He continued his love for music and has been a front man for nearly 26 years.

The orchestra includes Ricky Marshall, drums; Rudi Weeks, bass; Pat Jennings, keys; Rod Caron, saxophone; and Dave Stangarone, trumpet.

“Souled Out” is the ultimate in musical nostalgia. Whether flawlessly reproducing the hits of the Temptations or energizing a room with the music of Earth, Wind & Fire, “Souled Out” is a show like no other.

Bringing the biggest and most memorable hits from the beloved Motown and soul legends, they entertain in a way that wows the audience and captures their hearts all over again.

Visit “Souled Out” and listen to their entertaining and catching music on their web page at www.souledoutgroup.com.

Tickets for $30 in advance are available at the NWF State College’s box office, or by calling 729-6000. The price for tickets the day of the show is $35. For more information call the ECCA line at 362-9356.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Souled Out concert brings Motown to Niceville arts center

CRESTVIEW — The regional International Thespian Society competition's local winners have faced intense opposition. District 1, of which Crestview High School is a member, is the state's largest region, stretching from Pensacola to Tallahassee.

After becoming the best in the district during a competition last month at Northwest Florida State College, the cast of Bulldogs will compete in what former Thespian Society President Ryan Vance said is the "biggest student-run Thespian event in the entire country."

The state Thespian Society's annual gathering — coming March 20-23 at the David A. Straz Center for the Performing Arts in Tampa — will be more than a competition, Ryan said. Spread among the center's five theaters, rehearsal hall and Patel Conservatory classrooms, the event will allow students to hone their stagecraft skills in acting and behind the scenes.

Workshops and seminars offer instruction in acting, set design, costume design, lighting, makeup, house management and other theatre-related skills. Instructors and judges will include theatre professionals along with college and high school drama faculty.

"It’s incredible, the amount of stuff we learn," Ryan said. "There’s tons of workshops there that I want to attend. I get so much from them. It’s a great experience."

Ryan plans to major in theatre arts upon graduation from Crestview High in June, following example from one of his best friends and theatre mentors, Jesse Hinton, who graduated last year.

In this year's Jan. 4-5 regional competition, the Crestview High School Thespians earned five more "excellent" ratings — the highest awarded in a student performing arts competition — than last year, Thespians adviser and drama teacher Annette Gebhardt said.

"We earned seven excellents this year — up from two last year, so we are really excited about that," she said. "It was our best performance ever."

"We did really, really well in our competition," Ryan said.

However, because only one excellent-scoring performance can advance to state competition, Ryan, who has performed at state level, offered the honor to his friends whose small group musical also scored an excellent.

"Taking the group would allow the most people to perform," Ryan said.

"Representing us at state in March will be Angeles Alexander, Brittany Agee, Madeline Gebhardt and Bridget Worth for their small group musical," Annette Gebhardt, Madeline's mother, said.

The girls will reprise their district-winning performance of "Paris Original" from the 1960s musical comedy "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying."

"It was kind of bittersweet performing his year because I'm a senior and will be graduating," Ryan said. "I’m still excited to go and it’s exciting to see people who hadn’t performed (at state competition) get the chance to go."

However, Ryan did score a state-level honor during the district competition for his performance in the one-act Susan Glaspell play “Trifles.” Performing with Jerrod Miller, Wesley Barlow, Brittany Agee and Madeline Gebhardt, Ryan was selected for state all-star cast.

"They take one actor from each of the one-acts and they form the all-star cast," Ryan said. "I was really humbled and honored to be chosen."

To help fund their way to Tampa next month, the Crestview Thespian Society will sponsor the second annual Bulldog Idol show, 7 p.m. Feb. 21 at Crestview High's Pearl Tyner Auditorium. Tickets are $5 each, available at the door the night of the event.

Crestview's winning Thespians

Crestview High School's International Thespian Society chapter brought home seven "excellent" scores at district-level competition.

Winners were as follows:

Pantomime:“The Music Man,” Jack Barr, Keidra Perdue, Kyle Porte, Alex Andrews and Mac Sticha

Solo Musical:"The Wild Party," Catherine Hanna

Ensemble Acting:Scene from "Rumors," Mac Sticha, Wesley Barlow, Madeline Gebhardt and Bridget Worth

Monologue:Ryan Vance

Small Group Musical:"Paris Original" from "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying," Angeles Alexander, Bridget Worth, Madeline Gebhardt and Brittany Agee

Set Design:"Legally Blonde," Briana Schiro

Costume Construction:Mayzie from "Seussical: The Musical," Caitlin Prestridge

Contact News Bulletin Arts and Entertainment Editor Brian Hughes at 850-682-6524 or brianh@crestviewbulletin.com. Follow him on Twitter @cnbBrian.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview High Thespians state-bound after district triumph

4-H Camp offers line dancing, marine science activities, kayaking, snorkeling, arts and crafts, GPS and campfire games, archery and team building opportunities throughout one week at the Okaloosa County site.   

A week at Camp Timpoochee is a lifetime of memories, friendships and life skills — and a great week of fun.

 I attended Camp Timpoochee as a camper, counselor-in-training, counselor, staff member and adult volunteer. I came home each summer with new camp songs added to my repertoire, new friends and tons of fun games and ideas to share with others.

Nothing can describe the wonderful experience a child gets the first time he or she goes off to camp and experiences it for the first time. My camp memories are still very fresh and I always smile when I think back on all the great times I had. 

You do not have to be a 4-H member to attend with us, but maybe if you go and experience what camp and 4-H have to offer, you might think about joining one of our clubs. 

Have the experience of a lifetime! 

If you have any questions about the 4-H program, clubs or camps, call the Okaloosa County Extension office at 689-5850. 

Let us answer your questions and provide you with information to get started in a great life experience with 4-H. 

We have camp packets available and ready. There is a limited amount of spots, so visit http://okaloosa.ifas.ufl.edu/4hy/ to print a packet or stop by our office at 3098 Airport Road, Crestview, to pick one up. 

Haley Worley is an agent at the Okaloosa County Extension office in Crestview.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: EXTENSION CONNECTION: 4-H summer camp at Camp Timpoochee