May 2022 4-H Newsletter

Cumberland County 4-H News

4-H Calendar
State 4-H News
4-H Club Happenings
Other UMaine Extension Cumberland County News

May 1:

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 by the county office. 4-Hers 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 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.

Please note if you would like your Animal Approvals back to you in order to participate in Monmouth Fair they must be in to the office by June 1st. If you are participating in Ossipee Valley Fair, they must be to the office no later than June 15th. These early dates allow time for review, processing, & return mailing. Any approvals arriving after the recommended dates will be date stamped accordingly, but cannot be guaranteed to be returned to you before Monmouth or Ossipee Valley Fair. Please plan accordingly!

Forms can be found online on the General Volunteer Resources – Forms page.

If you have any questions or would like blank forms sent to you please email or call Eavan at eavan.sibolelittle@maine.edu or 207.781.6099.

4-H Teen Teachers 2022

Calling all 4-H teens! Do you have an interest in being a teacher someday? Or maybe a scientist? Do you enjoy working with younger 4-H members to help them to learn? Then 4-H Teen Teachers might be for you. 4-H Teen Teaching is a summer program where 4-H teens are trained to teach science activities to youth in grades 3-5 at different youth sites in Greater Portland. There is a stipend ($600) sponsored by the National Science Foundation if you successfully complete the project. It is a lot of work (about 45-50 hour commitment) and yes you will have to complete 4-H project records! But you will learn important leadership and career skills and meet other teens. You will also make a difference in your community. For more information and to apply, go here.
For those teens selected for this program, we will train you the last two weeks in June (in person in Portland) and you will teach a lesson once a week during the four weeks of July. You will learn and then teach four science lessons that help youth become future scientists. The theme of the lessons is about Environmental DNA (eDNA) . Potential places for you to teach include local libraries, Boys & Girls Clubs, YMCA’s, and summer camps. You will be paired with another teen teacher and a college intern will help guide you.
For more information, contact Mitch Mason, mitchell.mason@maine.edu

4-H & Cooperative Extension Paid Internship Opportunities for Enrolled University of Maine Students

Are you interested in an Internship this summer? Then check out UMaine’s Cooperative Extension Internship Program. We are offering opportunities to enhance your skills in Marketing, Education and Research. Want to learn more about 4-H, the science behind food, or just have the opportunity to put a 100+ year-old organization on your resume? Then UMaine’s Cooperative Extension Internships are for you! Please check out 4-H Internship Opportunities to learn more!

Cumberland Fair 150th Anniversary

This year the Cumberland Fair invites all 4-H clubs and members to help celebrate the 150th year of the fair! If your club would like to help run some fun games for visitors on June 4th or 5th, contact the Cumberland Fair or President Lyle Merrifield.

State 4-H News March 2022

4-H Summer Learning Series

After an incredibly successful 4-H Summer Learning Series over the past two years, Maine 4-H will once again offer virtual experiential learning workshops and clubs to youth ages 5-18 from July 5 – August 5, 2022. Planning is still taking place, but topics in previous years have ranged from engineering, art, science, animals & agriculture, food & nutrition, teen leadership, and more. 

Early registration will be available to enrolled 4-H’ers on Friday, June 3, 2022 and will open to the public the following Monday, June 6. Help us spread the word to your friends and communities – enrollment in 4-H is not required to participate, this event is open to all! For more information, visit the 4-H Summer Learning Series webpage.

Fryeburg Market Lamb Intent Forms- Deadline Change

Youth planning to participate in the market lamb program at Fryeburg Fair need to submit a 2022 Fryeburg Fair Market Lamb Intent to Sell form by June 10th. An online form, as well as a pdf form, are available. The lamb’s tag number and bill of sale must accompany the intent form. Market lambs must be owned and in the possession of the 4-H member by June 1, 2022. Please contact your local Cooperative Extension office with any questions or to obtain a printed copy of the form.

Adulting 101: 4-H Virtual Club

Are you a teen worried about impending adulthood? Do you want to know how to find answers to your questions about money, jobs, and roommates? Consider joining the Adulting 101 SPIN Club! Over the course of six meetings, we will learn some basic adult skills, including how to manage stress, interview for a job, and take advantage of existing resources in your community. Each week will cover a different topic: life/work balance and stress management; saving, spending, and credit; nutrition on a budget; resumes and interviews; rent and roommates; and a topic chosen by the participants! Access to a computer is required for participants, a smartphone won’t be sufficient.

Youth ages 13 – 18 need to register by June 6, 2022 for this club which will meet via Zoom on Wednesdays June 22 – July 27 from 4:00 – 5:30 pm.

4-H For All: Spring 2022

The purpose of this virtual club is to provide new and potential members and their families a place to learn about 4-H; and to connect youth across the state. Youth will choose a project to complete and learn more about 4-H and how to become involved. We want you to join and engage in our 4-H program! There is no cost, and meetings will help challenge you to create new goals and discover new passions. Open to youth 5-13, the last meeting will be held May 26 at 10am. Register on the 4-H For All program webpage.

Maine 4-H Foundation Summer Camp Scholarships

The Maine 4-H Foundation has a limited number of scholarships for 4-H members for Blueberry Cove, Bryant Pond, Greenland Point, and Tanglewood. These scholarships are applied by the camp when you register and pay the deposit for camp. Scholarships are available from $50 to $200 depending on the camp expenses and needs.

Summer Camp Opportunities

Visit the Summer University Youth Programs’ Youth Summer Camps page to learn about a huge variety of camp experiences available to youth. From our traditional 4-H Camp and Learning Centers, to camps that focus on Academics, Art, Music, or Sports – there is something for everyone.

The Maine App Challenge

Love technology? Here is a chance to put your passion to a purpose and win a scholarship along the way! The Maine App Challenge is an incredible opportunity for Maine middle school and high school students who are 13 years of age and older to create a mobile application with a chance to win a scholarship and other valuable rewards. A series of innovation workshops from the University of Maine Foster Center for Innovation will help you get started! There are three scholarships available for the top mobile apps: $6,000 for first place, $3,000 for second place, and $1,000 for third place.

Other awards include: $500 to the high school with the highest participation, tablets to the first 50 completed submissions, a guaranteed internship interview for the top 10 submissions following his/her college sophomore year. Visit the Tyler Technology Maine App Challenge website for more information; the deadline for submissions is May 15th.

Maine 4-H Virtual Learning Hub

Maine 4-H Virtual Learning is a hands-on, virtual learning program for youth ages 5-18. Workshops will be organized by age and topic. Topics include engineering, science, animals and agriculture, teen leadership, and more.

Workshops will range from single-time events to short-term programs (typically four to six sessions). Participants will engage in hands-on activities, interact with other 4-Hers, and be positive adult role models.

No prior experience with 4-H is required to participate. This is a great way for those who are interested to learn more about 4-H.

Check out the upcoming 4-H Virtual Learning Programs we have planned in the coming months: Visit the Upcoming Events: Statewide Virtual Offerings for 2021-2022 page.

Learn which virtual event registrations are open: Visit the Open Registrations page.

Interested in becoming a Volunteer Presenter? Visit the Become a Volunteer Presenter page for more information and to complete an interest form.

Read what 4-H Parents, Youth, and Teachers have to say about these 4-H Virtual Learning offerings: Visit the 4-H Parents, Youth, Teachers: Stories and Testimonials page.

Oxford County June Jamboree

This year’s Oxford County June Jamboree will be held June 11th and 12th at the Fryeburg Fairgrounds. This is an opportunity for youth enrolled in sheep, swine, and horse projects to join us for our livestock clinic. We will have presenters teach about showmanship and animal care. We will be doing t-shirts, rabies vaccinations for sheep and horse, and Coggins vaccines for horses as well. Overnight accommodations and meals will not be provided (besides Saturday night pizza if you request it). Registration cost will vary depending on number of attendees. Please see the registration page for further details. Register by May 9th.

EFNEP Recipe of the Month: Turkey Pasta Salad

Now that we have successfully navigated through this winter, we’re looking ahead and can see summer on the horizon! Memorial Day is the official kick-off to grilling, picnics, and fun in the sun, and this summer-inspired Turkey Pasta Salad is sure to be a hit at any cookout. Remember to keep your food safe to eat with these Barbecue and Tailgating Food Safety Tips as well. For more delicious recipes, check out our UMaine EFNEP Mainely Dish Video Series. By Debbie Barnett (EFNEP CEA in Kennebec, Knox, Lincoln, and Waldo counties – deborah.barnett@maine.edu)

Expanded Food & Nutrition Education Program

EFNEP offers FREE nutrition education classes to income-eligible adults with children, or young adults 19-25 years old, and if you are eligible for programs such as SNAP, WIC, or Head Start. Find out more online.

Club Happenings

Your 4-H Club Happenings could be featured here! Just email eavan.sibolelittle@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. Visit our upcoming events page to learn more about our workshop offerings.