February 2025 4-H Newsletter

February 1, 2025 4-H Newsletter

Table of Contents

Upcoming in Cumberland County 4-H

Visit the Cumberland County 4-H Calendar to View All Upcoming Events

NEW: Office Hours- Record Books

Are you wondering what Record Books are? Do you have questions about how to fill out record sheets?

Open Office Hours from 7-8 pm monthly on the first Monday via Zoom to connect with Allison. Allison will be on Zoom and available to answer any questions relating to Record Books. The same Zoom link will be used each month.

Maker Series

One Monday or Wednesday afternoon each month January – May, we will offer a themed hands-on activity for youth ages 5-12 that will include crafts or science. 5-8 year-olds must have an adult present for assistance and some projects encourage adult assistance for all ages. Current 4-H enrollment is not necessary for participation in the Maker Series program. Registration ends one week prior to each class or when full (maximum of 10). The same theme will be provided at both locations for each month.

Maker Monday

  • Dates: Monday, Feb. 24, Mar. 24, Apr. 28
  • Time: 4:30-5:30 PM
  • Ages: 5-10 year olds
  • Location: UMaine Extension Cumberland Office, 75 Clearwater Dr, Falmouth
  • Cost: FREE
  • Registration: Register for Maker Mondays

Fun With 4-H

  • Dates: Wednesdays, Feb. 19, Mar. 19, Apr. 16
  • Time: 2:00-3:00 PM
  • Grades: K-6th
  • Location: Windham Public Library, 217 Windham Center Rd, Windham
  • Cost: Free drop-in program; no registrations are needed for these sessions.

Have questions? Contact Allison by email at allison.pollock@maine.edu or phone 207.781.6099.

Fashion Revue Fashion Show to be Held Saturday, February 22nd in Gorham

The 2025 4-H Fashion Revue’s theme is 4-H-Sew Cool, and we are encouraging all participants to get their creative juices flowing with great materials, yarns, and patterns, resulting in some great projects.

Participants will receive a packet with all of this information, but as a reminder you will need to have your completed project dropped off at the UMaine Extension Cumberland Office by 4:00PM on Thursday, February 20th along with the necessary forms, or make other arrangements with Jenn Grant. Deadline with date and time of project drop off are non-negotiable. Judging for Fashion Revue will take place in-person on Saturday, February 22nd, at The Little Falls Activity Center (40 Acorn Street, Gorham). Your creation will first be judged off-person, then you will either wear or bring your entry before the judges starting at 1:00 PM. A Fashion Show will take place at 2:30 PM following the judging. The snow date for judging is February 23rd, 2025.

Questions? Call Jenn Grant, 207.318.9166 or findviewfarm@juno.com.

Maine 4-H Foundation Scholarships

Every year, the Maine 4-H Foundation awards thousands of dollars in scholarships to participants in the Maine 4-H Program pursuing higher education, this participation includes traditional club membership, as well as the many other ways youth can engage with 4-H, including at our Camp and Learning Centers. Dozens of different scholarships are available to applicants, and a single application is used for all.

To find out more about available scholarships, and access the application and templates, visit the Maine 4-H Foundation website. Applications are due to your local UMaine Extension county office or one of our 4-H Learning Centers by March 3, 2025.

Campership Applications Now Available

Campership applications will be due on Friday, April 04, 2025 by 4:30 PM. Camperships are scholarships for youth to attend a summer camp of their choice. Applications are now available on the 4-H Camperships page. Please email completed applications to Allison Pollock at allison.pollock@maine.edu.

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. Scholarships are based on need and first come, first serve. Find scholarships on the UMaine 4-H camp website.

4-H Scholarship Applications Now Available

Cumberland County 4-H Scholarship applications are due Friday, April 04, 2025 at 4:30PM. If you need help applying for any of these scholarships or have questions, please call or email Allison at allison.pollock@maine.edu or call 207.781.6099,. Please note that the application for the 4-H Leaders Association, Linda Clark/Margy Justice Memorial, and Susan P. Grover Memorial Scholarships are all the same, but the requirements for each are different. The Extension Homemaker’s Scholarship has a different application form.

For more information and applications please visit the 4-H Scholarships page. A packet with scholarship applications and information will be mailed late-February to all seniors currently enrolled in Cumberland County 4-H.

4-H Volunteer Connections: Register Today!

We are offering THREE virtual interactive sessions this winter for all 4-H volunteers! Join us for regional training and networking opportunities with 4-H volunteers from our 13 states in the North East Region! Session topics include the following:

  • Building Connections for Success – February 19, 2025 – 6:30 – 8:00 pm
  • Growing Beyond the Ribbon – March 19, 2025 – 6:30 – 8:00 pm

To read more about each session and register, go to the 4-H volunteer connections webpage!

Sign up for one, two, or all three! Sessions are free, but you must register! Questions? Reach out to Jen Lobley at jennifer.lobley@maine.edu.

We hope to see you there!

4-H Science Toolkits

Maine 4-H has a lending library of 4-H Science toolkits. These come with activities and materials around a variety of topics. Recent additions include:

Reach out to your local 4-H staff person or email 4-HScience@maine.edu to make a reservation or with any questions.

Western/Central Regional Public Speaking Contest

For Androscoggin/Sagadahoc, Cumberland, Franklin, Kennebec, Oxford, and Somerset Counties.

Join other 4-H youth for a Regional Public Speaking contest at UMA in Augusta on March 8th (March 9th snow date) at Jewett Hall at 9:30. We welcome 4-Her’s of all ages, including Cloverbuds. Youth from other counties are also invited to participate.

Introducing a new category for fun (non-judged)! Show off your singing, dance, theater, drawing, or recitation talents. Youth are invited to present a talent during the regional public speaking event after formal presentations have concluded. Please indicate on the registration form if you would like to participate.

Register using the Google Form: 2025 Western/Central Regional Public Speaking Event.

Want to know more information about Public Speaking? Check out the 4-H public speaking webpage.  Contact: Tara Marble (tara.marble@maine.edu) at the office if you have questions or need an accommodation.

Club Happenings

Your 4-H Club Happenings could be featured here!

Contact Allison Pollock at email allison.pollock@maine.edu by the 28th of each month with information about your club meetings, events, or fundraisers. Pictures are always a plus!

State 4-H News February 2025

Maine 4-H Ag Ambassadors-Spring 2025

Maine 4-H is now accepting registrations for the spring 2025 Agriculture Ambassadors cohort! The program is designed for youth ages 14-18 who are interested in any aspect of agriculture. Youth spend time getting to know each other and learn both online and in-person in sessions facilitated by UMaine 4-H Staff and community partners. Sessions will focus on career exploration, exploring the Maine Food System with farm and production visits around the state, and building relationships with industry professionals.

This season we will visit local Maine Ag businesses like Mook Sea Farm and Aquaculture and the anaerobic digester at Stonyvale Farm (one of the largest in the US!). Check them both out! Transportation assistance for these events may be available upon request.

In addition to the multi-week session, youth will serve in their ambassador role with Maine 4-H for at least 1 year. Youth will pick an agricultural area to focus on (ex. livestock, ag literacy/food systems, environmental stewardship, ag and health) during their term and explore leadership opportunities locally, statewide, and even nationally. Register today!

To register visit the 4-H youth ag leadership webpage. For more information or a reasonable accommodation, please contact Alisha Targonski at alisha.targonski@maine.edu or 207.622.7546.

Spring 2025 Dates

  • Online: March 04, March 11, March 25, April 1 & April 15
  • In-person: March 22 and March 29

Maine Agriculture Symposium at the University of Maine: April 21-22 (optional overnight) No cost paid and transportation assistance may be available.

Save the Date: UMass Animal Science Academies

UMass 4-H is inviting Maine 4-H members to participate in two weekend workshops for animal and veterinary science.

The Explore Vet Science will take place on Saturday, June 14th and Sunday, June 15th at the UMASS Farm facilities in Hadley, MA. Participants will get hands-on animal experience, working with UMASS faculty and staff, to learn about the work of the veterinarian and career opportunities in animal and veterinary science. There will be an overnight dorm option available. This program is for youth ages 13-18.

The Animal Science Cattle Academy will take place on Friday, June 20th through Sunday, June 22nd at the Tri-County Fairgrounds in Northampton, MA. This event is for any 4-Her with a dairy, beef, or working steer project. Participants will learn fitting, showing, and other aspects of their project from several experts from across the northeast! Youth are invited to bring their projects to the academy. However, we may have a local dairy farm to provide dairy heifers this year!

A registration form will be sent out once schedules are finalized for both events. Cost and other program information will be provided with registration. To express interest in the program as well as provide feedback for planning please visit this Explore Vet Science Interest Form (Office Forms) for the veterinary science academy and Animal Science Cattle Academy Interest Form: June (Office Forms) for the animal science academy.

Public Speaking – Save the Date

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 soon. Please contact your local county office for information about your local events happening soon.

Become a 4-H Tick Project Mentor!

We are looking for volunteers to guide youth in learning about ticks and community science through the 4-H Tick Project.

Mentors will:

  • Facilitate hands-on learning experiences through 4-H activities in classrooms, after-school programs, and/or community events.
  • Model tick collection protocols and identification techniques.
  • Share best practices for tick safety with young people.
  • Make a valuable contribution to their communities.

No prior experience with tick science is required. The training will provide all the necessary knowledge and resources. This opportunity requires volunteers to work with educators and youth in various learning environments, including outdoors in tick habitat.

For more details and to register for the training, please visit the 4-H tick project webpage.

The deadline to register for the training is March 30, 2025.

Do You Know Someone Who is Interested in Becoming a 4-H Volunteer? Tell Them About Start Your 4-H Journey!

University of Maine Cooperative Extension will offer a two-part online informational session for adults interested in becoming Maine 4-H volunteers on February 21 and 28 from 12 – 1 p.m. “Start Your 4-H Volunteer Journey” will provide participants with information about the UMaine Extension 4-H youth development program through four short e-Learning modules. Attendees will also participate in an experimental learning activity, learn about the key aspects of positive youth development, and be introduced to ages and stages of youth. The two one-hour virtual sessions will wrap up with an outline of next steps and an introduction to a county staff contact to help with the application process if desired.

Registration is required. The sessions are free. To register, visit our 4-H Start Your 4-H Volunteer Journey Training page.

For more information or to request a reasonable accommodation, contact Jennifer Lobley, jennifer.lobley@maine.edu, 207.255.3345.

Explore Maine’s Aquaculture Industry with Virtual Field Trips from 4-H

Virtual Field Trips (VFTs) are an innovative way for youth to explore and learn about places and people that would otherwise be infeasible! These immersive, online experiences bring Maine’s thriving aquaculture industry to life—no travel required.

Accessible at no cost, the Virtual Field Trips are designed to break down geographical and financial barriers, making high-quality, hands-on learning available to all. Register online to receive a link to the VFTs. Each field trip also comes with complementary 4-H activity guides and lesson plans to help facilitate meaningful engagement with youth.

The first VFT currently available features the University of Maine’s Center for Cooperative Aquaculture Research (CCAR), a large-scale, land-based aquaculture facility in Franklin, Maine. Additional virtual field trips are in development and will be rolled out throughout 2025 and 2026. These experiences offer insight into seafood production, workforce development, career exploration, and STEM concepts related to aquaculture technologies.

To register for a virtual field trip, visit the 4-H Aquaculture Virtual Field Trip page.

For more information: contact Carla Scocchi, 4-H Youth Development Professional, carla.scocchi@maine.edu.

Foundations of Maple Sugaring Enterprise: From Sap, to Syrup, to Sales

Maple Sugaring 101, also known as Foundations of Maple Sugaring Enterprise, is a 7-week hybrid program open to Maine youth ages 9 to 18 who are interested in learning about the entire maple sugaring process and how to create a commercial grade syrup. Participants will learn about forest management, tapping trees, transporting sap, using an evaporator, grading and storing syrup, and operating a maple sugaring business.

Each week, participants will learn about the process and connect with other young maple sugar makers through online meetings and in-person workshops led by University of Maine Cooperative Extension experts. Online meetings are scheduled for weekday evenings, 5 pm-6 pm on February 13, February 27, and March 13. On-site workshops will be held at participating sugarhouses at times available for sugarhouse hosts and volunteers.

This program will also prepare youth for a new Level 1 digital badge called Foundations of Maple Sugaring Enterprise. Youth who complete the program will get free access to the learning modules to earn the digital badge.

Club leaders who would like to have their club participate in this program, please contact Andrew Hudacs by Friday, February 7, 2025 (extended!): andrew.hudacs@maine.edu, 207.581.8204.

Youth who are interested in the program but are not a member of a participating club are welcome to register. Travel beyond their home county may be required to attend onsite sessions if a sugarhouse is not available locally. please contact Andrew Hudacs at email: andrew.hudacs@maine.edu, or call 207.581.8204 as soon as possible if you do not already have a host sugarhouse that are planning to visit for the program.

For more information, please visit the Maple Sugaring 101 webpage.

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.

2025 Engineering Week Expo

The Maine Engineering Promotional Council (MEPC) Engineering Expo will be held Saturday, March 8th from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm at the University of Maine Field House in Orono. This family-friendly FREE event invites the community to explore the world of engineering through demonstrations and hands-on activities. The 4-H Science and Engineering Center will be there along with Maine engineering firms, schools, government agencies, and societies who are invested in engaging young minds in career pathways involving engineering. For more information on the Engineering Expo please visit the 2025 Engineering Week Expo page (Maine Engineering Promotional Council).

Maine Science Festival

The Maine Science Festival will be held March 19-23 times TBD in February at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor. This FREE event includes a Field Trip Day for 7th- 8th graders, a Teen Tech Night, and Exploration Stations that include demonstrations and hands-on activities involving the sciences. Be sure to put it on your calendar because it really is a fun event! For more information on the Maine Science Festival please visit the Maine Science Festival website.

Public Speaking Workshops

As we move into 2025, many counties will be hosting workshops for youth who are interested in participating in Public Speaking. As more information is available, it will be posted on the Public Speaking website.

  • Oxford County: February 20, 2025
  • Piscataquis County will be hosting a Public Speaking SPIN club in the place of a
    workshop, and youth from other counties are welcome to attend. Dates TBD.
  • Washington County: Date TBD

4-H Dairy Quizbowl – Save the Date!

The 2025 Maine 4-H dairy quizbowl tryouts will be held on March 1st at the Randall Student Center at the University of Maine Augusta. The contest will start at 10:00 AM with the written exam, followed by the individual questions portion and then the buzzer rounds.

This event will serve as the official tryout for the Maine 4-H Dairy Quizbowl Team. The top four eligible 4-H members will be selected to represent Maine 4-H at The Big E in the regional dairy quizbowl contest in September.

Maine 4-H dairy quizbowl tryouts are open to all enrolled 4-H dairy members ages 9-18. Youth will be divided into two age categories, Jr. ages 9-11 and Sr. ages 12-18. If you plan on attending please notify Sadee Mehuren via email at sadee.mehuren@maine.edu so that we can prepare for the event.

For more information on the event including the contest rules, please visit the 4-H dairy quizbowl webpage.

Save the Date: Northeast Livestock Expo (NELE)

The Northeast Livestock Expo (NELE) will take place from May 16 – 18, 2025 at the Windsor Fairgrounds in Windsor, Maine. More information can be found on their Northeast Livestock Expo website, and entry forms and schedules will be available in 2025.

ESE 4-H Dairy Intent Forms Available Now!

The 2025 Maine 4-H Dairy Eastern States intent to participate form is available on the 4-H website’s Animal Science Resources/Dairy page. In order to be eligible for participation on the Maine 4-H Dairy Eastern States Team next fall, 4-H members must submit their completed intent form online or to the Waldo County Cooperative Extension office before March 1, 2025.

Please contact Sadee Mehuren at sadee.mehuren@maine.edu or 207.342.5971 with any questions.

Other UMaine Extension Cumberland County News

UMaine Extension Cumberland County offers many different workshops throughout the year. To learn more about our workshop offerings please visit the Cumberland County Calendar of Events.

The Cumberland County 4-H Newsletter is published monthly.

For questions or more information, contact Allison Pollock at allison.pollock@maine.edu or Zsuzsanna Romanne at zsuzsanna.romanne@maine.edu.

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