September 2024: Androscoggin-Sagadahoc Counties 4-H Newsletter
Androscoggin-Sagadahoc County 4-H Newsletter
Dates to Remember | County News | State News
Dates to Remember
- September 18 & 25, 2024, 6:00 – 7:00 PM: Start your 4-H Volunteer Journey Training
- September 30, 2024: Project Records due
- October 15-November 12, 2024: Super Sitters Virtual 4-H SPIN Club – Limited space, register now!
- October 15, 2024: Northern Maine Children’s Water Festival at UMaine
County News
Project Records
Independent and Club Members: Project Records are due to your club leader or Laura by the end of September. Finished records can be submitted in ZSuites, paper or digital copies can be emailed to Laura, or they can be dropped off/mailed to the Extension Office: 24 Main Street, Lisbon Falls, ME 04252.
Year-End Celebration
It’s hard to believe we’ll wrap up another 4-H year at the end of September. The Leader’s Association and staff are working on planning this year’s celebration for the end of the 4-H year. More details will be shared in the next newsletter. Stay tuned!
Midcoast Mainers – A Round of Applause!
Children’s Day at the Topsham Fair served as the backdrop for this year’s 4-H Public Speaking Showcase. Congratulations to the 13 4-H members who gave Illustrated Talks and Demonstrations sharing their 4-H projects with family, friends, and fair-goers! Thank you for sharing your SPARKS with us!
Thank you to ASCEA President Jess Hunnewell and Oxford County 4-H Professional Cathy Gray for serving as judges for this year’s showcase. We greatly appreciate your time and support of our 4-H’ers.
Summer of Science
State News
Super Sitters Virtual 4-H SPIN Club
Are you interested in babysitting? Do you have younger siblings at home? Do you want to feel more confident working with kids? This is the perfect 4-H club for you! The Super Sitter Babysitting Course is designed to prepare youth ages 12-16 for babysitting responsibilities. During this SPecial INterest club, teens will learn basic safety measures and how to respond to emergency situations when caring for young children. Participants will discover what is appropriate at various stages of child development through hands-on activities, scenarios and more!
This club will meet virtually Tuesdays from 3 to 4 PM October 15-November 12. One in-person session will be held on November 19th in Aroostook and Washington counties.
Participation is free, registration is required. Space is limited to 15 participants. Registration closes September 30th. Registered participants will receive a link to access the meetings online and will also be provided with at-home materials. For more information or to request a reasonable accommodation, contact Gabrielle Brodek at brodek@maine.edu or 207.255.3345.
To register:
- Enrolled 4-H members need to be logged into ZSuite, and then go to the internal registration page.
- For youth who are outside of 4-H or don’t have a ZSuite account, please use the external registration page.
Start Your 4-H Volunteer Journey Training
Thinking about becoming a 4-H volunteer? We are looking for people to help youth find their spark and thrive! We offer lots of ways to be involved depending on your time and interests. Join us for two one-hour virtual sessions to help you with your decision. By the end of the two-part series, you will have completed four short e-Learning modules to introduce you to the 4-H program, participate in an experiential learning activity, learn about the key aspects of positive youth development, and be introduced to ages and stages of youth. This core training will wrap up with an outline of next steps and an introduction to your county staff contact so you can begin the application process if you choose. No pressure to commit, no cost, and no reason to not attend! Please note, these sessions are for individuals who are not currently enrolled 4-H volunteers.
Upcoming Sessions:
– Wednesdays, September 18 & 25, 2024 from 6:00 – 7:00 pm
– Tuesdays, November 12 & 19, 2024 from 6:00 – 7:00 pm.
For more information or to register visit the information page.
Northern Maine Children’s Water Festival at UMaine
Join Scarlett, Melissa, and the 4-H Science and Engineering Learning Center as they explore organisms found in the ocean. Kids get a chance to touch, hold, investigate, and explore species found in the Gulf of Maine. This free, hands-on, learning festival is geared towards 4th, 5th, and 6th grade students. The event will be filled with a variety of water resource professionals that promote the value of clean water and healthy habitats, as well as provide teachers with materials and lessons they can use in their own classroom.
Date: Tuesday, October 15, 2024
Location: University of Maine, Orono
For more information visit the Children’s Water Festival website.
4-H Tick Project
The 4-H Tick Project is a community science project engaging K-12 youth and educators, made possible through a partnership between 4-H Youth Development, UMaine Cooperative Extension Tick Lab, Maine Forest Tick Survey, and members of the Learning Ecosystems Northeast partnership. 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 educators interested in teaching about ticks in Maine are encouraged to participate in the project at no cost to you. This is a great project for 4-H clubs, SPIN clubs, homeschool groups, and more. For more information and to register, visit the 4-H Tick Project webpage.