December 2021 4-H News
Cumberland County 4-H News
4-H Calendar
State 4-H News
4-H Club Happenings
Other UMaine Extension Cumberland County News
You’re Invited to Winterfest Week – Starting Sunday, December 5, 2021
Winterfest is a fun-filled celebration and an opportunity to recognize 4-H youth who will receive county awards, as well as volunteers. This year the Teen Council has decided to host an online version of the awards ceremony throughout the week! We will be announcing winners through a recorded video on Sunday, December 5th. You will receive your awards later that week.
Monday, December 6th, 6:30-7:30PM – 4-H Bingo via Zoom: We will be hosting a 4-H Bingo Game (with prizes of course!). Cards can be downloaded online. If you would like a mailed copy please email eavan.sibolelittle@maine.edu with your name, mailing address, & number of requested cards.
Wednesday, December 8th, 7:00-8:00PM – Kahoot Trivia via Zoom: We will be hosting a variety of Kahoot Trivia Games with questions for all ages (with prizes!).
Family members & volunteers are welcome and encouraged to participate in all portions of Winterfest! There is no need to register for the Awards Ceremony or activities ahead of time. All enrolled 4-Her’s and volunteers will automatically receive the link for the Awards Ceremony & all other activities on Sunday, December 5th at noon. You do not need to be a 4-Her to participate.
Volunteer Survey for ALL Volunteers
Please take a few minutes to help your fellow 4-H volunteers by taking this short (four minute) survey. The survey is anonymous and will guide the 4-H Leaders Association to plan wonderful educational events for our members and adults. Please complete by December 3.
Take the survey here: https://forms.gle/tA1vEFEU48k3utT77
Volunteer Background Checks
Reminder to all volunteers that in order to re-enroll as a 4-H volunteer for the 2021-2022 4-H year, volunteers must complete a re-enrollment, standards of behavior, photo release, and a background check release form, all of which should be completed no later than December 31, 2021. If you have completed a Maine Department of Education Criminal History Records Check (CHRC) within the last two years you may submit a current copy of that from the Maine DOE website to our office as proof of a current background check, and you will not have to complete this background check release form. If you became a 4-H volunteer after January 1, 2020 you will not need to submit a new background check release in 2021 but will be required to complete one during the next three year renewal period in 2024.
The only way to complete a background check release form is to submit one online at client.verifiedcredentials.com/uofmaine-orono.
If you do not have access to a computer or internet you may come to our office, 75 Clearwater Drive, Suite 104, Falmouth, for assistance. You may also call Sara, 207-781-6099, for assistance. Once you submit your background check release form through this site, please email eavan.sibolelittle@maine.edu that you have completed the form so that she may let UMaine’s Human Resources Department know to process your form.
Eligibility For Enrollment Requirements for 2021-2022
Renewing members and clubs are expected to re-enroll between October 1 and December 31 each year. New members may enroll at any time. However, both new and re-enrolling members must be enrolled by December 31 to participate in events and activities such as, but not limited to, state-wide market animal auctions, Eastern States Exposition competitions, National 4-H Congress, CWF, National 4-H Conference, and to be eligible for 4-H post secondary scholarships. In order to participate in county fairs, re-enrolling members are expected to meet the December 31 deadline and new members should be enrolled by April 1. If your club is taking this year off from 4-H meetings and activities you are still encouraged to register for 4-H and participate in County or State events in order to make sure this year counts in your total years in 4-H.
Forms were either mailed to members or included in leaders’ start-up packets. Start Up packets may also be printed from the following website: https://extension.umaine.edu/cumberland/programs/cumberland-county-4-h/start-up/. All members must fill out three double-sided forms; enrollment form, health form, photo release/participation agreement form in order to be registered for the new 4-H year. All volunteers must fill out two single-sided forms (enrollment and photo release) and one double-sided behavior and non-discrimination form.
If you received re-enrollment paperwork in the mail, please check with your club leader to determine if they want you to send the paperwork directly to them or to our 4-H office in Falmouth. Club leaders, please let Sara know your plans for having youth and volunteers return paperwork and let her know if you will need copies of any forms, or a roster.
Project Record Revision – Feedback Needed!
Maine 4-H is starting the process to revisit our current project records. Please use the form below to share feedback you have about the current records. The intent is for 4-H members, volunteers, parents and staff to fill this out to capture concerns and feedback about the current records. We will use this feedback to guide our revisions that are set to take place in early winter, with volunteer and youth focus groups’ input (sign up at the link below), pilot the records for the 2021-2022 4-H year, and then adopt revised records by Fall 2023.
Make your voice heard: https://forms.gle/Jg5cDMmMNn941K3t6
State 4-H News December 2021
Sustainable Fishing: Maine 4-H STEM Toolkit of the Month
Each month we will be highlighting a different 4-H STEM Toolkit available from UMaine Cooperative Extension 4-H Program!
In this new, innovative toolkit youth will explore a variety of animals that are fished for in Maine and the various methods of how to find them. Bodies of water are huge! How can we narrow down where fish could be found and if they are actually there? In a series of 8 activities, youth will create maps with fish species, scavenge for evidence of animals and model how DNA can be used to determine whether an animal is present in a body of water. By exploring relevant phenomena, youth have the opportunity to persevere through puzzling activities, catch each other’s fish populations and investigate as crime scene scientists. Throughout these fishing-related activities, youth will consider which practices are sustainable versus unsustainable, working towards bettering the ways we interact with the environment and fishing industries. Run, don’t walk – this toolkit will be coming early 2022!
Learn more about this, and other 4-H STEM Toolkits online, where you can see what is available for different age groups or topic areas.
Save the Date: New Virtual 4-H Dog SPIN Club!
A new virtual 4-H dog SPIN club will be starting on January 22 at 9 am and will continue monthly on Saturdays. This club is open to anyone state-wide, 4-H ages 9 and up. A dog is not required to join the club. Stay tuned for more information. If you are interested, contact Emily Mott at emily.j.mott@maine.edu to be added to our mailing list for when more information becomes available.
Congratulations to Maine Communication Science Team Members
The 1st Annual Northeast Region 4-H Presentation Fest was held virtually on September 18th with 37 participants from 10 different states. The Maine Communication Science Team sent five youth to compete in their choice of categories; Prepared Speech or Illustrated Talk/Demonstration. Maine Communication Science Team members Eliza R. from Penobscot County and Nathan D. from Knox/Lincoln Counties took the top scores in Formal Speech and Illustrated Talk/Demonstration respectively. Honorable mention to Maddie G. from Androscoggin/Sagadahoc Counties who took the top adult evaluation score in her cohort. We are very proud of all of the Maine 4-H youth who gave their best to compete at this next level competition!
Important Changes for 2022 Fryeburg Fair Market Steer Intent to Sell Forms
There are a number of very important updates for 2022:
- This year the deadline for the form is December 31, 2021 (postmarked), and the form MUST come with the bill of sale/statement of value of the cow, as well as the photos of the front and side view of the animal.
- We have an ONLINE form! The updated online form, as well as the printable word/pdf versions, are on the Beef page. There is also a link to the updated regulations for both Steers and Lambs at Fryeburg. Youth enrolled in 4-H outside of Maine (New Hampshire) will need to complete the paper forms and submit them to their local county office.
- Youth who submit the intent will need to complete the regular Animal Approval form and list “Fryeburg Sale” as the show class for the animal.
National Youth Agri-Science and Healthy Living Summit Applications for 2022 Are Available Now!
There are currently 12 scholarships available through funding from the Maine 4-H Foundation to send youth to the Washington, D.C. area for the Agri-Science and Healthy Living Summits in early 2022. Attendees will learn more about their area of interest by attending career panels, interactive workshops, and visiting related agencies throughout D.C. The Summits were created to empower youth to be well-informed citizens, expand engineering and agriculture experience, and increase connections to living a healthy lifestyle, all while being actively engaged in their communities.
Healthy Living: February 10 – 13, 2022
Agri-Science: March 10 – 13, 2022
Eligibility: Youth ages 14 – 18. Enrolled in 4-H by December 31, 2021
Participant Cost: $150.00 (Maine 4-H Foundation will cover the remainder of registration and flight costs – approximately $1,000.00).
Application: https://goo.gl/forms/uOsPytnzFA5OLfY53. This is a combined application for both the Agri-Science and Healthy Living Summits
For more information about the National Youth Summits please visit: 4-h.org/parents/national-youth-summits/. If any youth would like to attend, but do not receive the scholarship funding, they may self-fund and attend. Counties are also welcome to provide full or partial-scholarships to youth. Email or call Sara, sara.conant@maine.edu, 207-781-6099, for more details on these options, or with any questions. Applications and Recommendations due by December 15, 2021.
Maine 4-H Foundation Scholarships
The Maine 4-H Foundation is pleased to announce a number of scholarships available to 4-H members. They range in value from $1,000 to $2,500. Donors from around the state have been very generous in supporting our 4-H seniors as they pursue their dreams and aspirations. Scholarships are due March 1, 2022 to your county office. Please check out the Maine 4-H Foundation website at https://extension.umaine.edu/4hfoundation/funding/.
4-H Pitch Project
The Youth Trustees have established a fund to support young entrepreneurs in 4-H. Pitch us your idea for a business and we may fund the start-up idea. Check out the Pitch project at https://extension.umaine.edu/4hfoundation/funding/.
4-H Club Resources
The Norma Hardison Fund has been created to support 4-H club special projects. 4-H Club Creativity Grant application ideas should tie into the 4-H program priorities for Maine, including club and community learning projects, philanthropic projects that engage members in the community supporting 4-H program work, and/or new creative educational ideas. Funds can be requested for amounts up to $200; on a rare occasion, the grant request may be considered for more than $200. Sponsor: Maine 4-H Foundation Youth Trustees in Philanthropy. Application Form.
4-H Service Innovative Education, and Philanthropy Grants
Grant application ideas should tie into the 4-H program priorities for Maine including club and community service learning projects, philanthropic projects that engage members in the community supporting 4-H program work, and/or new creative educational ideas. Funds can be requested for amounts from $100 to $500; on a rare occasion, the grant request may be considered for more than $500. Sponsor: Maine 4-H Foundation Youth Trustees in Philanthropy. Application Form.
Club Happenings
Merry Makers
In our November 14th 2021’s 4-H meeting we made wreaths. We used real branches and lots of decorations like real red berries. We also tied are own bows to put on! It was really fun and the wreaths came out real nice.
Your 4-H Club Happenings could be featured here! Just email sara.conant@maine.edu by the 25th of each month with information about your club meetings, events, or fundraisers. Pictures are always a plus!
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 https://extension.umaine.edu/cumberland/upcoming-events/