April 2025: Androscoggin-Sagadahoc Counties 4-H Newsletter
Androscoggin-Sagadahoc County 4-H Newsletter
Dates to Remember | County News | State News
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Dates to Remember
April 2025
- April 5, 2025: State Public Speaking Showcase
- April 15, 2025: Last day to submit Maine 4-H Eastern States Exhibition Sheep Team Intent to Participate Form
- April 19, 2025, 10:00 AM – 1 PM: Open House at the Lafayette and Rawcliffe 4-H Science and Engineering Learning Center in Orono
- April 21-22, 2025: Maine 4-H Agriculture Symposium
May 2025
- May 10, 2024: 4-H Dairy Judging Contest
- May 23, 2025: 4-H Summer Learning Series registration opens
Information on these opportunities (and more) can be found below!
County News
Happy Spring! Although we’re still getting some snow, spring 4-H activities are blooming. Summer is just around the corner as well – read on to learn about our Summer Learning Series and camps!
CLYNK bags are now available to support the 4-H Leaders’ Association!
Congratulations to all Western/Central Public Speaking Showcase participants!
4-H at the City of Auburn’s Seed Giveaway Event
On March 28, Laura tabled at a seed giveaway event in Auburn, which was organized in collaboration between Auburn’s Community Development Team and Lynne Holland, our office’s Horticulture Professional.
Club News
Midcoast Mainers
I went down to Washington D.C on the Ignite 4h 2025 conference trip. When I was there I attended multiple workshops and followed the agricultural sciences track. While at Ignite I met many people with inspiring stories that each taught the lesson that if it doesn’t work once try until it does. One evening in D.C we got to go visit the monuments. Seeing the Lincoln and Fallen Soldiers monument along with the mirror pool was so cool! Lastly I met many great people and made some new friends.
– Liz B., Club Member
State News
Save the Date – 4-H Summer Learning Series
Ignite Your Passion, Inspire the Future: Become a Summer Learning 4-H Volunteer!
Are you ready to make a lasting impact on young minds while sharing your expertise? Join our Summer Learning 4-H program as a volunteer and experience the joy of nurturing the next generation!
Topics could include: science, engineering, art, photography, coding, baking, and more. Volunteers will work with a partner to design and deliver virtual programs sometime between July 7th – August 8th. Scheduling is flexible to meet your needs and availability. Learn more by visiting our presenter website or contact 4-hvirtual@maine.edu or call Sarah Sparks at 207.581.8206.
Maine Summer Transportation Institute (MSTI)
MSTI is a FREE residential camp offered at the University of Maine for current 6th – 8th graders from July 6 – 11, 2025. The camp focuses on transportation-related activities and fields. MSTI is a week-long residential program to allow students from all over the state to participate.
This includes space, roads and bridges, ports, air, and environmental impacts. Activities include building rockets, cars, and bridges; field trips to the Bangor International Airport, Cole Transportation Museum, and Maine Maritime Academy; participating in shows from the Planetarium and the Physics Roadshow; 3D-printing activity (including a tour of the Advanced Structures and Composites Center to see the World’s largest 3D-Printer and the 3D-printed house); Soil/erosion and surveying activities; a Touch-a-truck event, and more. (Activities are subject to change based on weather and availability of funds.) Additionally, students will learn about the different career opportunities within the transportation field, including engineers (environmental, geotechnical, civil, mechanical, electrical, etc.), technicians, communications and media, human resources, and so much more.
Visit the MSTI website for more information about the program and registration.
4-H Dairy Judging May 10th
The 2025 Maine 4-H Dairy Judging Contest will be held on May 10th at Lambert Run Farm in Norridgewock, ME. The event is open to all enrolled 4-H dairy members and will serve as the official tryouts for the 2025 Maine 4-H Eastern States Dairy Judging Team. For a complete schedule for the day please visit extension.umaine.edu/4h/dairy/judging/.
For more information or to request a reasonable accommodation please contact Sadee Mehuren at sadee.mehuren@maine.edu or 207.342.5971.
Maine 4-H Eastern States Exhibition Sheep Team Intent to Participate Form Now Available
The 2025 Maine 4-H Sheep ESE Intent to Participate Form is now available online and must be submitted by April 15th, 2025. This is a requirement for all youth intending to participate as members of the Maine 4-H Sheep Team at the Eastern States Exposition in September.
The Eastern States Exhibition (Big E) 4-H Sheep Program brings together 4-H members from six states in Springfield, MA for three days of events that showcase their animals, knowledge & skills. Members must be 12-18 years old as of December 31, 2024 and have completed at least one year in a sheep project.
Please contact Megan Cook with any questions or for more information at megan.cook@maine.edu or 207-532-6548.
Public Speaking Showcase
The state Public Speaking event has a new name! Speak Up, Maine 4-H! A Public Speaking Showcase will be held on Saturday, April 5, 2025, at the University of Maine
in Orono. The snow date is Sunday, April 6. Stay tuned for events and details on our website.
Summer Camp at Tanglewood and Blueberry Cove
Registration for Summer Programs at Tanglewood and Blueberry Cove 4-H Camps is now open! We would love to see you at one of our 4-H Camps this summer! 1 and 2-week overnight camps, day camps, outdoor trips, and teen leadership camps are open for anyone to attend. This is a great opportunity to diversify your 4-H experience and continue building awesome skills. Scholarships are available from the Camps and the 4-H Foundation to help with tuition costs.
Some sessions fill up fast! To start planning your summer experience, please check out the program pages on our website which have more information and dates. We are excited to welcome you to the Tanglewood and Blueberry Cove Family! For questions, please email or call Emma at the contact information below.
Website: www.umaine.edu/tanglewood
Email: extension.tanglewood4h@maine.edu
Phone: 207.789.5868
Open House at the Lafayette and Rawcliffe 4-H Science and Engineering Learning Center
4-Hers and families of all ages are invited to learn about the opportunities 4-H has to offer right here in Orono, Maine!
There will be fun activities – making seed paper you can plant at home, engineering and testing out straw rockets, and using chemistry to create groovy seaweed lava lamps!
This is your chance to meet the Center’s fabulous red-ear slider turtle, Frances, and rumor has it Coral the Seahorse will be making an appearance!
Learn all about our space, our touch tank, 4-H programs, 4-H STEM toolkits, and aquaponics.
No registration is required – just show up on Saturday, April 19 between 10:00 am – 1:00 pm at 491 College Ave in Orono, Maine.
If you have any questions, or to request a reasonable accommodation, contact Jessy Brainerd at jessica.brainerd@maine.edu or 207.581.3877.
Maine 4-H Agriculture Symposium!
Dates: April 21 – 22, 2025
Location: University of Maine, Orono
Ages: 14 – 18
The 4th annual 4-H Agriculture Symposium is an overnight experience for Maine youth ages 14-18. Participants will take part in hands-on learning opportunities, engage with industry professionals on the University of Maine Orono campus, develop leadership skills, and make friendships with teens from around the state.
Youth will participate in hands-on learning experiences like laboratory examinations of parasites related to animal health, exploring cellulose nano materials from tree pulp at the Process Development Center, a fun activity with Maine Bound Adventure, and much more!
Current 4-H membership is not required. Assistance with transportation may be available upon request.
Registration:
Current 4-H members can REGISTER HERE. When you are logged into Z Suites, an adult member of the household can find the Ag Symposium under events and complete the required forms.
Youth who are new to 4-H can REGISTER HERE.
For questions regarding the registration process please contact extension.4hagleadership@maine.edu.
For more information or to request a reasonable accommodation, contact Alisha Targonski, 207.622.7546; extension.4hagleadership@maine.edu.
Tri-County 4-H Sampler
Do you know someone who may be interested in 4-H? Penobscot, Piscataquis, and Somerset County staff are hosting workshops on the last Tuesday of each month from April to September. There will be different workshops for youth to attend each month; this month, it will be the Straw Rocket STEM Kit. Guardians will have a chance to talk to 4-H staff about youth enrollment and volunteer opportunities. Check back each month for the activity and location.
This is a free event. Registration is required via ZSuites, for 4-H members and non-4-H members.
Location: TBD
Date: April 29, 5:30 – 7:00 pm
For more information or to request a reasonable accommodation, contact Emily Pigeon at emily.pigeon@maine.edu or 207.942.7396.