June 2020
Cumberland County 4-H News
4-H Calendar
State 4-H News
4-H Club Happenings
Other UMaine Extension Cumberland County News
Important Dates
June 6: June Jamboree CANCELED
June 8: Summer of Science Teen Teacher Applications due
June 17: Last day to sign up for Summer SPIN programs
June 18: CC 4-H Board of Directors meeting, 7:00-9:00 p.m., Gorham Public Works, 80 Huston Road, Gorham
June 30: Animal Approval Forms due
Summer Special Interest Clubs
We’re offering two virtual 4-H SPIN Clubs this Summer. Current 4-H enrollment is not necessary for participation. Program materials and instruction are FREE.
#EmpoweringMEandYou Teen Wellness Club – Thursdays, July 9th – August 6th, 9:30 – 10:30 AM via Zoom for ages 12-18. Teens will learn coping strategies for stress, how to combat negative thinking patterns, and how to recognize your own self-worth and self-esteem. Lessons will also include mindfulness practices and yoga. Open to any teen in the state of Maine. Registration ends on June 17th.
Explore the Night Sky Club – Thursdays, July 9th – August 6th, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM via Zoom for ages 9-13. Participants will learn all about the night sky including constellations, the moon, stars, planets, and more through hands-on activities, videos, and art projects. Activities include learning about the phases of the moon, creating our solar system on a string, and creating a star wheel to explore the night sky. Supply kits may be picked up July 7th & 8th, times, and locations within Cumberland County to be announced. Free with a suggested $5 donation per family for supplies. Registration ends on June 17th.
For more information or to register please visit https://extension.umaine.edu/cumberland/4h/summer-spin-programs/.
4-H Meet & Greet Mondays
Meet & Greet Mondays will be offered virtually the second Monday of each month June – August, 3:30-4:30 PM via Zoom video chat. We’ll start by getting to know everyone on the call, do a fun activity or two, and use the rest of the time to chat. Open to both 4-Her’s and volunteers! The recurring meeting link is available in the June 4-H Newsletter email, or email sara.conant@maine.edu.
Maker Monday Series – Summer Edition
Mondays, June 22, July 27, and August 24, 9:30 – 10:30 AM via Zoom for ages 5-18. Projects vary by month and include making a patriotic windsock, simple food preservation, and creating an outdoor tic-tac-toe set. You can choose to join us for one project or all three. Registration ends one week prior to each class or when full. If you do not have supplies at home, free supply kits will be available for pickup at the UMaine Extension Office in Falmouth on Thursday, June 18th.
For more information or to register please visit https://extension.umaine.edu/cumberland/4h/mmsummer/
Summer of Science Seeking Teen Teachers
4-H Teen Teaching is a summer internship for teens ages 14-19 which will give you 21st Century Skills for your future while earning a stipend (money) for helping out. The internship is only a few hours per week during July and August so you can combine this awesome opportunity with another summer job or internship if you choose. If you take this challenge you will learn communication, leadership, perseverance, teamwork, science, teaching skills, and meet a lot of new friends.
The 4-H program in Cumberland County (a part of the University of Maine Cooperative Extension) is seeking sixteen (16) teens to be a part of this program running from late June through August 2020. We don’t know the exact date of training (due to distancing restrictions) but we will let successful applicants know.
To Apply to Be a Teen Teacher:
To apply to be a Teen Teacher please complete the 4-H Teen Teacher Application 2020. If you need a paper version contact sara.conant@maine.edu, 207-781-6099. Paper versions may be mailed to UMaine Extension Cumberland County, Attn: 4-H, 75 Clearwater Drive, Suite 104, Falmouth, Maine 04105, or e-mail scanned applications to mitchell.mason@maine.edu
An interview & reference form will also be required for all applicants. Interviews will be scheduled after June 8, 2020.
Application Deadline is June 8, 2020
Questions? Please contact Mitch Mason 4-H Educator, mitchell.mason@maine.edu, 207.781.6099.
Animal Approvals
Anyone wishing to show animals at any 4-H shows/events at fairs this year must have a valid Animal Approval Form. All forms must be filled out, signed by the club leader (on the line directly after the last animal listed), and signed and embossed here in the county office. 4-H’ers will receive a signed and embossed copy in the mail within approximately two weeks of the form being received in our office. The sooner they arrive in, the sooner you will have them back. Please pay special attention to the second side of the form which lists the proper identification needed for each species of animal. It is very important that this information, along with a signed lease form for any animal that you lease, is sent with your animal approval form. Forms will not be signed if there are leased animals on the form and no lease form, or if there is no extra identification for species of animals that need it. Please also note that each animal may only be leased by one 4-Her and listed on only one of 4-Her’s animal approval form. The only exception is that one horse may be leased by two 4-H members and listed on two 4-Her’s animal approval forms. A maximum of 20 animals per species that require an animal approval form may be leased by a member.
Forms can be found on the General Volunteer Resources – Forms page.
If you have any questions or would like blank forms sent to you please email or call Sara at sara.conant@maine.edu or 207.781.6099.
Barn Tours – We want you to share your barn with us!
Throughout the Summer we are hoping to share 4-H agriculture with the public on our University of Maine Cooperative Extension Cumberland County Facebook Page! We’re looking for 4-Hers who would like to give us a 3-5 minute video tour of their farm, animals, and/or their care. We are currently in need of videos focusing on the following animals:
Beef
Dairy
Dog
Horse
Poultry
Rabbit
Sheep
Working Steer
Don’t have an animal project but have another cool project to share? Let us know, we’d be happy to feature a full range of 4-H projects on our site! Videos will need to be uploaded (preferably in a Google Drive Folder) by June 30th. No need to have anything fancy unless you enjoy editing, as we can fix it up for you. To sign up to participate, or for more details please email sara.conant@maine.edu.
Senior Shoutouts!
Learn more about all of our 4-H High School Seniors throughout the month of June on our Facebook Page!
Scholarship and Campership Winners Announced
Congratulations to all recipients of this year’s 4-H Scholarship and Campership Awards!
Cumberland County Leaders Association Scholarship Recipients: Natalie D, Megan J.
Susan P. Grover Memorial Scholarship Recipients: Natalie D, Megan J.
Linda Clark & Margy Justice Scholarship Recipient: Natalie D.
Cumberland County Extension Homemakers Scholarship Recipients: Natalie D, Megan J.
Maine 4-H Foundation Scholarship Recipients from Cumberland County: Natalie D., Megan J., Jamal M., Sophie P., Marwo S., Loyde V., and Rachel W.
Cumberland County Leader’s Association Campership Recipients: Jack M., Kendall S., Demetria N., Jackson F., Jude P., and Gretchen P., Megan J., Natalie D.
Cumberland County Extension Homemakers Campership Recipients: Jack M., Kendall S., Demetria N., Jackson F., Jude P., and Gretchen P.
Tractor Supply Company Paper Clover Campership Recipients: Kendall S., Jackson F., and Gretchen P.
Barbara and Bob Tibbetts Campership: Kendall S., and Jackson F.
4-H Project Records
It is time to start thinking about Project Awards in the fall… are you keeping up your 4-H project records? You should do one project record for each project you will complete. Why do 4-H Project Records and Portfolios?
- Opens doors to the wider 4-H program.
- Your project isn’t done until the records are in.
- The feeling you get when you are finally done!
- You should document all of your hard work this year.
- Your 4-H Leader will smile
- The nagging will go away!
- You will get your premiums for the fair.
- It is a start towards 4-H Scholarships and National Trips in high school.
- Chris Clover says so!
To access a copy of the records and portfolio, visit the 4-H Project Records Page. A reminder that everyone should be using the NEW 4-H Project Records/Reflection Tools. If this is your first time using these particular records we strongly encourage you to start with the Beginner Record regardless of your age or 4-H experience.
Oklahoma State Parent & Volunteer Conference Open to All
A great virtual training opportunity for volunteers, teen leaders, and parents to participate in! Oklahoma is opening its state conference to all who are interested for free! Register by June 18th! An agenda outlining some of their cool and helpful workshops, and a registration link, can be found at http://4h.okstate.edu/parents-volunteers/conferences.
Lambs Available to 4-Hers
Kate at Woolyback Farm in Cumberland has 3 female & 1 male white, Katahdin lambs born on 05/12 available to 4-Hers. There is also a very tame 2 year old mostly white ewe available as well. The best way to reach Kate is by phone at 207-712-0799.
State 4-H News June 2020
4-H At-Home Aquaponics Project
For youth ages 9+ interested in fish, gardening, engineering, aquaculture, and/or simply learning something new – we have a summer project for you! The 4-H At-Home Aquaponics Project is an experiential learning program delivered virtually beginning in Summer 2020, in partnership with the UMaine Center for Cooperative Aquaculture Research (CCAR). The program will include learning experiences in introductory aquaponic systems and design, fish husbandry, aquaponic gardening, cooking and nutrition, and more! Prior experience with aquaponics is not required. The program leaders will mentor youth through the stages of designing and building an aquaponics system through maintenance and harvest. Youth complete their project independently at home (with adult supervision), but they are also members of a state-wide group of youth who will meet regularly via Zoom from July – October 2020. More info and registration is online.
What is Aquaponics?
Aquaponics is a type of farming that combines raising fish in tanks (aquaculture) and growing plants without soil (hydroponics). In an aquaponics system, the plants use nutrient-rich water from the fish tank while purifying the water for the fish. Aquaponic farming can be done year-round, indoors, and in any climate. It is a fun and different way to grow your own food that is safe, easy, and fresh!
2020 4-H Summer Programming
4-H Staff and volunteers are working hard to put together some non-traditional offerings for Maine 4-Hers this summer. Registration and other information will be available online on June 19th.
Learn at Home: Educational Resources to Use During School Closures
With novel corona-virus closing schools across Maine for several weeks, the UMaine Cooperative Extension has assembled this collection of helpful educational resources for parents and caregivers. From science to financial literacy, whether for toddlers or teenagers, we encourage you to take advantage of these activity books, guides, and other resources to help children remain engaged in educational experiences throughout their school closure. Find resources for every age group at: https://extension.umaine.edu/4h/learn-at-home/
4-H “Learn at Home” BINGO
Looking for some fun family activities you can do from your own home? Maine 4-H invites you to play 4-H Learn at Home BINGO! Register online to receive your Bingo Board for the month of June: https://extension.umaine.edu/4h/learn-at-home/bingo-registration/.
Virtual UMaine Webpage
If you’re interested in UMaine there is a dedicated web page for students to learn more information because Accepted Student Days and Open House Programs have been canceled for the spring. Check it out at: https://go.umaine.edu/admitted-fyr/
Club Happenings
Merry Makers 4-H Club
We decided to make a quilt in the April meeting. Then the COVID-19 virus happened and we decided to still do it. We picked the fabric and thread it up from someone’s house. One of the quilt squares were white. On that quilt square, we took fabric markers and drew on the fabric our favorite part of Maine. Then we took the other three squares and sewed them together so you have one big square. So everyone in the club has a square then one family took them and sewed all of the quilt squares together. So we now have a club quilt to celebrate Maine’s 200th birthday. We may be separated but the Merry Makers 4-H club is finding ways to stay connected.
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
Garden Mentorship Program
NEW “Preserving the Maine Harvest” Food Preservation Webinar Series
The UMaine Extension Agriculture team is focused on helping farms get set up for the increasingly busy marketing season. Get tips on setting up seedling sales here:
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/