4-H Fun

Explore all workshops in the 4-H Fun learning track below! These workshops involve having fun with your 4-H community members.

Adulting 101: Adulting in a Digital World

Wednesdays, July 10, 17, 24, 31
4:00 – 5:30 pm
Open to Maine youth ages 12 and up
Maximum 15 attendees

Join us in becoming Digital Superheroes! This series will help you get ready to navigate the adult world using online and offline technology in everyday life. Topics include budgeting, finding credible information online, how we present ourselves online – including writing emails and when to put your phone down, and the digital footprints we leave behind.

*As part of this series, we will engage in activities using digital platforms. This will require access to a mobile device. Thanks to a generous donor, we can provide tablets for participants who would like one, as part of this program. Upon registration, guardians will receive an email with more information. Register by July 1.

Aquaculture Virtual Field Trip

Tuesdays, July 9, 16, 23
10:30 am – 12:00 pm
Open to all youth ages 9 and up
Maximum 15 attendees

Have you ever wondered what aquaculture is and what does a real aquaculture facility look like? Join us in this three part series to answer these questions and more!

Week 1: Explore the basics of “What is Aquaculture?” through a game, digital resources and hands-on activity.
Week 2: Embark on a virtual field trip to the Center for Cooperative Aquaculture Research (CCAR). Explore the facility and learn about the aquaculture that happens there!
Week 3: Put what you’ve learned to use and design your own aquaculture business. What will you grow and why? What will your business need to be successful?

Each week we will spend time getting to know each other, learning, and doing hands-on activities. Think you might want more? We will be sharing digital resources and games so you can keep the learning going between sessions. Register by June 25.

Exploring Maine’s Water Ecology

Wednesdays, July 10, 17, 24, 31, August 7
2:00 – 3:00 pm
Open to all youth ages 9 and up
Maximum 12 attendees

Are you a young scientist who wants to learn more about the ecology of Maine’s oceans? Want to know how microscopic algae are connected to whales and fishermen; or learn about the ecology of your own backyard? Sydney, a UMaine graduate student with an expertise in harmful algae and its community impact will share her research and field observations alongside us and we explore Maine’s natural environment together.

In five engaging virtual sessions, you’ll learn how to design experiments, collect data, and share your observations with your group. Participants must be prepared to get outside between sessions to collect observations locally. Access to a digital camera will be helpful, but is not required.

This workshop is proudly supported by Maine EPSCoR at the University of Maine, and supplies will be mailed to registered attendees’ homes. Join us and unleash your inner scientist as we discover the fascinating ecology of Maine together. Register by June 24.

Farm Animal Care – FUNdamentals

Tuesdays, July 16, 23, 30
3:00 – 4:00 pm
Open to all youth ages 9 and up
Maximum 15 attendees

Are you interested in learning about livestock animals (such as cows, goats or sheep)? How to care for them? How do you know what to feed them, how do you actually do regular health checks and have proper housing? Join the 4-H Animal Science SPIN club. We will have 3 virtual sessions focused on what livestock need to live a healthy life and one field day that provides hands-on experience. Set yourself up for success in your 4-H project by learning the basics of animal care. Participants do not need to have any prior animal experience or currently own livestock to participate. This is a beginner/introductory level program.

An optional, complementary in-person workshop will be offered at Maine 4-H Days, July 20th (register separately for Maine 4-H Days). Register by July 2.

Festive Holidays in July

Thursdays, July 11, 18, 25
12:30 – 2:00 pm
Open to all youth ages 5 – 11
Maximum 12 attendees

Do you love the holidays during the winter months? Do you like to do hands-on crafts? Join this workshop series to have some fun and learn new crafts. Each week we will be doing a different craft that celebrates a winter holiday. Crafts will include gnomes, snowmen, sled ornaments, felt/tulle wreaths. Materials will be provided and mailed to participants. Some items will need to be gathered from your house. Register by June 27.

Fun in the Forest

Thursday, August 1
10:00 – 11:30 am
Open to all youth ages 9 – 11
Maximum 15 attendees

What’s in your woods? In this class we will explore native tree species in Maine, why they are important and special, and finish with some forestry arts and crafts! Take a walk through the woods and collect some fun and interesting leaves leading up to this class and we will learn how to press leaves and make leaf etchings all while learning how to identify the trees we see around us. Register by July 18.

Fun with Fiber

July 8,12, 15, 19
1:00 – 2:15 pm
Open to all Maine youth ages 9 and up
Maximum 12 attendees

Join us for an exciting workshop that delves into the wonderful world of fiber crafts! This engaging session will introduce participants to various techniques, including needle felting, spinning yarn, crocheting, and straw weaving. In this hands-on workshop series, participants will learn the art of needle felting, where they’ll transform fluffy wool into cool designs using special barbed needles. They’ll explore the basics of spinning yarn, discovering how to turn raw wool into beautiful, colorful yarn using a drop spindle. We will learn a couple of different ways to use that yarn with an introduction to crocheting, and straw weaving. All supplies for the activities will be mailed to participants ahead of time, but you can definitely use any yarn you have at home too! Register by June 26.

Future Leaders League

Mondays, July 8, 15, 22, 29
10:30 – 11:30 am
Open to all youth ages 11 and up
Maximum 20 attendees

Embark on an exciting journey into the heart of American democracy with our Future Leaders League workshop! Through interactive activities and games, our future leaders will explore government branches, electoral processes, and civic engagement. Utilizing the dynamic iCivics platform, students will immerse themselves in virtual simulations. These workshops will strengthen critical thinking and decision-making skills while being a blast! Join us for a fun-filled adventure where learning meets action, empowering YOU, the next generation of active citizens! Register by June 24.

Gaga for Goats

July 9, 10, 16, 17
4:00 – 5:00 pm
Open to all youth ages 9 and up
Maximum 15 attendees

Goat in a box! We will send you all the fun materials to participate in this series of 4 sessions. Youth will learn about the different kinds of goat breeds, what purposes they are bred for, and the body parts of the goat. We will also explore products made by goats like soap, fiber, and candy. In our third session, we will practice making up different nutritional rations for these super cool animals. Finally, we will explore some basic goat health care and tips for owning and caring for goats. If you are curious about goats and want to learn more this series is for you! You do not need to own goats (or any animals) to participate. Register by June 25.

Once Upon a Workshop

July 10, 12, 15, 17
4:00 – 5:00 pm
Open to all Maine youth ages 5 – 8
Maximum 6-10 attendees

Dive into the enchanting world of storytelling with our Once Upon a Workshop Series! During this interactive workshop, participants will embark on a journey where they not only listen to captivating tales but also engage in hands-on activities and crafts to help bring the stories to life. This immersive experience will include 4 riveting tales that focus on nature and environmental science. Connect with your local libraries to see if you can source any of the stories we’ll be reading below!

Drop: An Adventure through the Water Cycle by Emily Kate Moon
The Tiny Seed by Eric Carle
Sophie The Sun-Safe Surfer by Dr. F. E. Frater
Cloudette by by Tom Lichtenheld

Rockhounding

Mondays July 8, 15, 22, 29, and August 5
2:00 – 3:30 pm
Open to Maine youth ages 9 and up
Maximum 15 attendees

Do you pick up rocks when you are out walking and collect them? Do you want to spend time with others who do too? Do you want to be able to identify the rocks you find and explore Nature? Join us on a treasure hunt in your own backyard with the added bonus of playing in the dirt. You never know what you might find! We will be discussing and practicing ways to identify different types of rocks found in Maine, finding and sharing rocks in our area, and recording what we find. Optional in-person meet-up at Maine 4-H Days for a session. Optional meeting in Augusta for the Gem and Mineral Show in late August. Possibility of a meet-up at a mineral mine in Western Maine. Register by June 24.

Sun-Sational Science & Crafts

Wednesdays, July 17, 24, 31, and August 7
10:00 – 11:00 am
Open to all youth ages 5 – 8
Maximum 10 attendees

Using the bright summer sun, we will work together to create incredible art, and conduct experiments using only solar power (and a few other things)! Harnessing the natural power of sunlight to create unique art pieces such as sun-printing, and sunscreen painting, we will get to watch how the sun works up close! (while also learning about sun safety!) Not only will we be creating art, but we’ll also be learning about the sun and all it does! So get ready to soak up the sun with this fun, and oh-so ‘sun-sational’ workshop! Register by July 3.

Start Your Own Fish Tank

Thursdays, July 11, 18, 25, and August 1
July dates: 3:30 – 5:00 pm, August: 5:30 – 6:30 pm
Open to youth ages 9 and up
Maximum 10 attendees

Join the 4-H Aquaculture Team for an engaging, practical workshop aimed at helping you set up your own fish tank! Whether you’re a beginner or have some experience, this 4-part series has something for everyone. Throughout the workshops, participants will learn the basics of maintaining a healthy aquatic environment. From understanding water chemistry, fishless cycling, and nutrient cycles, to keeping track of data, we’ve got you covered. We will provide some essential equipment, like aquatic plants, a biofilter, an air pump with tubing, a digital thermometer, fishless cycling products, and a water quality test kit – mailed to your home before the workshop starts. Participants will also need to purchase a few items locally, such as a fish tank, lid, gravel/substrate, and eventually your fish.

Parents or guardians should be aware that this project requires a small financial investment and time commitment from them and their child. The last workshop of the series will be a meeting of the 4-H Aquarium Club, a club that participants can join for ongoing support from UMaine experts year-round! Register by June 17.

Summertime Send-Off: Share Your Summer Learning Experience

Thursday, August 8
1:00 – 2:00 pm
Open to all youth

Come celebrate your accomplishments this summer and tell us all about your experiences! As a participant in the Summertime Send-off, you will receive a party packet in the mail. Get out your snacks and party hats and tell us what you loved about the Summer Learning Series. What do you want to see next year? Attendees can meet with summer friends one more time, show off what they created, and be entered into a drawing for a 4-H prize! There is no deadline to register, but if you sign up before the end of July, you will receive some fun party supplies in the mail!

Tick Trackers

Thursdays, July 11, 18, 25
11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Open to all Maine youth
Maximum 10 households (siblings can share materials and screens)

Join the mission to monitor and study ticks in your community! Join Carla and Becca from the 4-H Tick Project for an interactive exploration of ticks in Maine. This workshop will explore ticks by collecting and preserving your own, identifying species, investigating where ticks are found in Maine, taking safety precautions when outdoors, and more. Participants will conduct tick drags to collect tick specimens in their local area. Specimens will be returned to Hancock County 4-H and then submitted to the UMaine Diagnostic Research Laboratory Tick Lab for identification and disease testing, which contributes to the lab’s Tick Surveillance program. Youth data also contribute to a community science (aka “citizen science”) project called the Maine Forest Tick Survey, which is a multiyear, multidisciplinary research project established to determine how forest land management practices impact tick populations and disease risk across Maine. The project provides youth an opportunity to explore ticks and tick-borne diseases, which is a connected story of climate, ecosystem change, and public health.

All materials will be provided and will be available for pick up at your local county Extension office prior to the first meeting. Register by June 17.

Virtual Touch Tank

Wednesday, July 31
11:00 am – noon OR 4:00 – 5:00 pm
Open to youth of all ages
Maximum 20 screens (siblings can share a screen)

Melissa and interns from the UMaine Center for Cooperative Aquaculture Research (CCAR) will introduce participants to some of Maine’s common sea creatures! Youth will visually explore and learn about some of Maine’s sea creatures. Register by July 26.

Whimsical Watercolors

Thursdays, July 11, 25
9:30 – 11:00 am
Open to Maine youth ages 9 and up
Maximum 10 households (siblings will be able to share materials and screens)

In Whimsical Watercolors, learners will explore watercolor supplies and materials. In each class, artists will be shown various painting techniques. Learners will also have ample time to explore and practice the skills they’ve learned. We hope they can then use these skills and walk away with confidence in themselves as they continue their watercolor journey outside of the class.

After gathering feedback from last year’s learners, our youth want to learn how to watercolor some natural landscapes. So this year, we’re looking to the mountains and forests of Maine for inspiration and creativity. Artists will learn to paint hearty mountains, rustic trees, sweeping skyscapes, and more! Register by June 27.

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