A group of 650 4-H members will get a glimpse of college life this week.

“We are exposing the kids to college life, and Iowa State is the logical place to do that,” said Wendy Brock of 4-H Youth Development.

The teens will be learning, socializing and serving the community during their stay at ISU from June 24-26. All the conference members will be staying at old RCA.

The 1997 Iowa Youth and 4-H Conference will focus this year’s state conference around the theme “4-H: A Spectrum of Opportunities.”

Brock said the conference is planned by the youth themselves. Forty-two groups across the state plan activities, the theme and workshops for the conference.

Community service, Brock said, is a new addition to this year’s conference. The 4-H’ers will be serving at sites such as child-care centers, senior centers, the Iowa 4-H Education and Natural Resources Center, libraries, school playgrounds, city parks, historical sites and a cemetary.

“We will be giving back to the community,” she said.

Brock said scheduled activities for the teens began Tuesday afternoon. During the Iowa Picnic on central campus, outdoor games kept the 4-H’ers entertained. A scavenger hunt, the Earth ball, Frisbee golf, horseshoes, an obstacle course, croquet, tug-of-war, parachutes and a three-legged race were part of the evening’s events.

On Wednesday, ISU faculty will bring the youth to a learning frame-of-mind with educational workshops. Brock said most of the different colleges at ISU will provide a workshop for the teens.

“The kids select the workshop tracks that they’d like to attend,” she said.

Community service is first on the list of today’s 4-H conference activities. The delegates will give 1,750 hours of volunteer work to the citizens of Ames, Nevada and the Iowa 4-H Center near Madrid. Brock said the teens will make a difference at more than 50 sites.

Ames Mayor Larry Curtiss said since the community appreciates volunteerism, the 4-H’ers are welcome in Ames.