Aroostook 4-H March Newsletter 2020

Welcome one and all to the March 2020 Aroostook County Newsletter!

This month is sure to excite, if not for the fact that March means that Spring is around the corner, then for all the fantastic news we have to share with you.

Dates to Remember

March 14:  Aroostook County Public Speaking Tournament  at 10 a.m. at the Houlton Higher Education Center, 18 Military St.
For lots of great resources check out our Maine 4-H Public Speaking page.
April 1: 4-H enrollment forms due for new members
April 1: Horse Livestock Approval Forms due if participating in Eastern States
April 4:  State 4-H Public Speaking Tournament
April 25:  Aquaculture Science Saturday
May 29-30:  4-H @UMaine
June 30: Livestock Approval Forms due
July 16-19:  Maine 4-H Days
August 1-9:  Northern Maine Fair

Happy Birthday to all 4-Her’s born in March!

Annastasia S
Elizabeth W
Evan M
Gracie L
Nicholas M
Reid M
Soloman F
Timothy G
Walker M

? County News Club Spotlight: ‘Paca Pals

The ‘Paca Pals have already started 2020 at a fast-paced, activity filled year. During their February meetings they created beautiful tile paintings and did a public speaking workshop.  The tiles were made using magic markers and drops of alcohol. These 4×4 tiles became works of art and the color combinations are unique and one of a kind!

Mari Glatter, Aroostook County 4-H Youth Professional,  shared a Public Speaking Workshop, which was perfect for a wide range of 4Hers, especially newer members.

 

CHOICES Afterschool Program

Our February CHOICES time was an integrated art and science activity where each student had to create a unique creature that met specific criteria found in animal species; such as a way to move, a manner to eat, and a system of protection from predators. The kids loved this and designed some fabulous clay models. The students were really able to articulate the components of their creatures and parallels to real animals.

Afterschool Program Picture
Creating new animals.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

STEAM Camp

 

During school vacation week we held a STEAM Camp (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) were 14 students spent most of a day exploring how art and creativity enhance STEM. We studied Piet Mondrian’s geometric paintings, made paper rockets, explored animal features and habitats, discussed the differences between fruits and vegetables, created binary code initial hangers, and had great fun together. If you would like to try some of the activities yourself check out these links:

• We talked about Piet Mondrian, the famous Dutch painter who used geometry in his work.
• Want to try your hand at engineering and art? THIS is the simple LEGO Bridge activity that you could try at home.
• We flew through an activity on binary. HERE is a video that the whole family could watch to learn more. Code.org is a great site to learn more about how computer languages (coding) works.
• THIS site has lots of fun STEAM activities that you could try.
• We had a fun conversation about food science and what is a fruit vs. a vegetable. Check out THIS video to see if you learn something new.

Valentine’s Day Biology class got a bit wormy…

Mari Glatter has been teaching a ? Biology Class ? for local homeschoolers at the Houlton Higher Education Center on Friday’s. This has been such a fantastic program and students are beginning a curriculum that includes…dissections! Be sure to check out the upcoming newsletters as we will post photos. (We know you can’t wait!)

Valentine’s Day brought worm dissection – did you know that worms have 5 aortic arches? The Biology class is also learning how to create their own websites which will serve as a digital portfolio of their work for the year. Over the upcoming weeks participants will be dissecting a cricket, crawfish, fish (perch), and a frog!

On February 28 the classes performed cricket dissection and participants also made plant pots out of newspapers and planted onion seeds. This is part of our plant unit but we also had some additional information provided from a Master Gardening class held by Nancy Putnam.

Percy the STEM Piglet:

Active on Instagram? Start following #STEMpiglet for some updates and activities that you can share with your kiddos. Last month Percy decided to play with beads and binary code for Valentine’s Day. ? ? He even showed facebook and instagram followers how to create personalized valentines  using binary code! It was fast, fun, and oh, so sweet! ? ?

If you haven’t been following us on Facebook or Instagram you are missing out! Percy and Cooperative Extension staff post fun (and free) printable STEM activities.

Facebook: UMaine 4-H Aroostook County

Instagram:  Aroostook4H or ju

st follow Percy @ #STEMpiglet

 

STEM Ambassadors

We are super excited about work with STEM Ambassador Training program through the UMPI and UMA elementary education programs. Through this program we were invited to co-teach 12 college students through their science and math methodology classes about experiential education and 4-H. All of the students will be working in after school programs through Aroostook
County over the next six weeks, inspiring bunches of elementary kiddos! Stay tuned for more information on this impactful program.

The next generation of Aroostook County teachers!

College and Career Planning

GHCA studennts

4-H visited the Greater Houlton Christian Academy to help juniors learn more about college and career possibilities. It was exciting to hear how many of the students plan to further their education and then return to the County to live and work!

State 4-H News

March, 2020
 

  1. Come to Orono for the 2020 4H@UMaine May 29 – 30, 2020
    Planning has started and the wheels are in motion thanks to the efforts of a tremendous team! We are always looking for individuals interested in helping with pre-event planning or attending the event itself! Stay tuned for details. For more information about 4-H@UMaine, contact Greg Kranich atkranich@maine.edu or 207.581.3292.
  2. 4-H@UMaine 2020 Teen Leader Team
    Teen Leaders support 4-H@UMaine by helping to plan the weekend, creating the event’s theme, supporting younger participants, and helping to create an engaging and welcoming environment for all attendees. All this while building leadership skills and having FUN!NEW! This year the required in-person training will be offered in two locations simultaneously. Teens will be able to attend at the Androscoggin/Sagadahoc (Lisbon Falls) or Penobscot/Piscataquis (Bangor) Cooperative Extension office. The two groups will video conference for portions of the training to help build a cohesive group while hopefully eliminating some transportation barriers.For more information and for this year’s application .  Applications will be available on March 2nd and must be submitted by April 3rd.
  3. Save the Date for 2020 Maine 4-H Days
    Maine 4-H Days will take place July 16 – 19, 2020 at the Windsor Fairgrounds. If you are interested in helping to plan next year’s event, please contact Jessy Brainerd at brainerd@maine.edu or 207.581.3877.
  4. Maine 4-H Days Planning Committee
    July will be here before you know it, and we are looking for a few good volunteers to join the fantastic current Maine 4-H Days Planning Committee. Joining this committee gives you the chance to help come up with ideas and plans for one of our biggest statewide events!  If you are interested in joining the Maine 4-H Days Planning Committee, or have general questions/comments/recommendations about the event, please email brainerd@maine.edu, or call 207.581.3877.
  5. UMaine 4-H Unconference – not your average volunteer forum!
    UMaine 4-H Unconference – a volunteer forum led by 4-H volunteers for 4-H volunteers.  UMaine 4-H Unconference will be an organized forum for 4-H volunteers, club leaders, afterschool providers, teachers, parents and teens leaders to gather.  UMaine 4-H Unconference is intentionally designed to have YOU teach and learn from each other. There is no agenda – you come with 4-H ideas and topics you want to talk about or learn more about, and we’ll guide the process to get folks into groups where YOU are the experts.  All experience levels are welcome and no one person has all the answers.  Door prizes will be given at the end of the day. Register onlineJoin us for one or both of these awesome dates!  Registration begins at 8:30 and door prizes will be drawn by 3:00:

    • Ellsworth (Ellsworth High School 24 Lejok St. Ellsworth, ME), Saturday, April 25, 2020.
    • Lewiston (USM Lewiston Auburn Campus – 51 Westminster St. Lewiston, ME) Saturday, March 14, 2020
  6. What is Aquaculture Science Saturday
    Save the date for the first 4-H Science Saturday of 2020! On April 25, 2020, youth will have a chance to learn about Aquaculture at the Aquaculture Research Center at UMaine in Orono.  This event will run from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm, cost is $10.00, and lunch will be provided.  Online registration will be available in early March.
  7. #EmpoweringMEandYou – Stress Less Online Workshop for Teens – 04/16/20, 6:00 – 7:00PM
    The National 4-H Healthy Living Summit Team from Maine will be presenting their Stress Less lesson plan developed at the 2019 Summit and presented at the 2020 Summit. Any youth ages 13 – 18 are welcome and encouraged to attend. 4-H participation is not required! This hour-long lesson was designed by and for teens to educate others on the effects of stress and how they can combat and cope with stress in their daily lives, and the lives of others. Youth will start by identifying what the effects of stress are, and then have the opportunity to practice a variety of coping strategies that can help to reduce these effects on the body. Youth will also learn and practice how to reframe their own negative self-talk and redirect that of others as it relates to stress. If you are interested in attending this workshop please RSVP hereby Monday, April 13, 2020 to receive a reminder email and the Zoom link. For questions or information on offering this to your county or club, please email or call Sara Conant, conant@maine.edu, 207-781-6099.
  8. Maine 4-H Dairy Quizbowl Contest Results
    On February 15ththe Maine 4-H Dairy Quizbowl contest was held in Augusta, Maine. 4-H members from all corners of Maine came to the state’s capital to test their dairy knowledge. Youth began the contest by taking a written dairy knowledge exam which was followed by a series of questions on the buzzers. Eleven youth competed in the Sr. division with the high score going to Ali L. of Cumberland County. The 2020 Maine 4-H Dairy Quizbowl team will be comprised of the top four individuals in the Sr. division: Ali L., Owen B., Mariah J., and Jillian S. with Hannah M. serving as an alternate. The team that will compete at Eastern States Exposition in September. In the Jr. division the high score went to Kat L. of Cumberland Count.  Congratulations to all who participated!
  9. Maine Junior Solar Sprint: Season 26
    What’s it about?      Engineering, photovoltaics & collaborative learning.  Working in teams, middle school students design, build and race model vehicles that that run (20 meters) with the sun.Cost? There’s a free mentor workshop and (thanks to the Maine 4-H Foundation) a $150 materials stipend for mentors.  (There is a cost if you would like an organized qualifying race at your school.  Top teams go on to the State Finals on Saturday, June 6, site TBD.)I’m interested—what now? Contact the dude below.  He’ll start the wheels turning! Peter Zack, Sacopee Energy & Climate Activities, peter@secanews.org, 207.625.7833.
  10. First Ever Maine 4-H Teen Dance
    April 4, 2020 from 6:00 – 9:00 pm at the Old Town YMCA – join us for the first ever Maine 4-H Teen Dance (organized by teen 4-Hers for YOU!). More information and online registration will be posted.
  11. National 4-H Trips (Conference and Congress)
    National 4-H Trip Applications are due March 20th, 2020 (Conference and Congress). National 4-H Trips are excellent opportunities to meet 4-H members from across the nation. Participants learn about many career options, and learn through educational workshops at Congress or become a part of a team making recommendations to National 4-H Council at Conference. To learn more about these trips, visit: https://extension.umaine.edu/4h/national-trips/.  For specific questions, please contact Heidi Palmer, State Activities Coordinator at: thuotte@maine.edu
  12. Camp Scholarships Available
    The Maine 4-H Foundation has camp scholarships ranging from $100-$200 available for 4-H members to any one week of 4-H camp. Try one of our University of Maine 4-H Camp and Learning Centers at Blueberry Cove, Bryant Pond, Greenland Point and Tanglewood. Call the camps to ask for a scholarship. Scholarships are based on need and first come, first serve.
  13. National 4-H Dairy Conference
    The 66th National 4-H Dairy Conference will be held September 27 to September 30, 2020in Madison, Wisconsin. It will be held in conjunction with World Dairy Expo and attendees will have the chance to visit Expo as part of the conference agenda. Additionally, the conference will offer opportunities to learn more about careers in agriculture, seminars on dairy topics, and a wealth of chances to interact with dairy 4-H members from across the country.More info about the conference can be found here (check back for updates as they happen): The Maine 4H Animal Science Dairy Committee would love to try and send/support a team of motivated kiddos who are involved with the Dairy Goat, or Dairy Cattle Project Areas for this very unique and meaningful opportunity.The National 4H Dairy Conference requires that 4H team members: Have spent at least 3 years in those project areas, and be at least 15 years old but not yet older than 18 (4H age).We are also looking for potential VOLT Chaperones who might like to help organize and facilitate this trip.  If we have an idea of how many kids are interested we can plan our fundraising efforts accordingly.  Interested parties can contact Tara marble at marble@maine.edu, or 207-778-4650 at the Franklin County Office.
  14. 4-H Dairy Team Dates
    The summer show season is fast approaching and it is time to start preparing for the 2020 Eastern States Exposition. Please save the dates below for Eastern States 4-H Dairy team tryouts and events. More information on the Eastern States Exposition 4-H dairy team and how to get involved in a 4-H dairy project . Please contact Tara Marble at marble@maine.edu or Sadee Mehuren at sadee.mehuren@maine.edu with any questions.Note: In order to be eligible for participation on the 2020 ESE 4-H Dairy Team youth must:

    • Be enrolled in a 4-H dairy project for at least one year
    • Be 12 years old or older by December 31st of the current 4-H year
    • Submit an ESE dairy team intent to participate form by Feb. 1, 2020
    • Participate in at least one state tryout event
    • Submit their animal approval form to their county office by May 1st (if they intend to bring an animal)
    • Participate in the Maine State 4-H Dairy show in July

Maine 4-H Dairy Team Dates:

  • Animal Approval and Lease Form Due Date (for ESE participants): 5/1/2020, in your local County Extension Office
  • 4-H Dairy Judging Team Tryouts: 5/02/2020, time and location TBD
  • Animal Approval and Lease Form Due Date (for non-ESE participants): 6/30/2020, in your local County Extension Office
  • Maine 4-H Dairy Show (including 4-H Grilled Cheese Contest and 4-H Dairy Fitting Contest): 7/18/2020 – 7/19/2020 at the Windsor Fairgrounds
  1. Citizenship Washington Focus
    Citizenship Washington Focus (CWF) Start making plans now to visit our Nation’s Capital during the week of June 27 to July 5, 2020. CWF is a leadership program conducted by the National 4-H Council for high school youth ages 14 to 18. Delegations of 4-Hers from across the country spend six days touring the city and attending leadership skill-building workshops. This summer, the Maine delegation will travel down on Saturday, June 27 and travel home Sunday, July 5, 2020. You will stay at the National 4-H Conference Center just outside Washington, DC. Visiting the most popular sites in Washington, DC will be a part of the trip, including spending the 4th of July in our nation’s capital. There is a mandatory orientation for Maine delegates on April 25th, 2020.  For more information.  Contact your county 4-H office for details about how to be a part of this experience if you don’t hear from them very shortly. All county offices have different criteria/dates to apply, so please contact them ASAP.  For specific questions, please contact Heidi Palmer, State Activities Coordinator at:  thuotte@maine.edu.