February 2024 4-H Newsletter

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

February 9: CWF Applications due to the 4-H Office, Falmouth, M

February 15: Maine 4-H ESE Goat Team Intent due

February 17: Maine 4-H ESE Dairy Team Intent due

February 22: Fashion Revue Projects due to the 4-H Office

February 24: Fashion Revue at Little Falls Rec Center in Gorham

February 26: Maker Monday, 4:30-5:30 PM, 4-H Office, Falmouth, ME

February 28: Wacky Wednesday, 3:00-4:00 PM, Windham Public Library

Citizenship Washington Focus (CWF)

Would you like to go to Washington D.C.?  Would you like to meet 4-Hers from other parts of the country?  Do you want to use a hands-on approach to learn about our government? 

CWF is a weeklong experience in Washington D.C. While in D.C. you will stay at the hotel 4-H uses in D.C.  You will learn how to develop communication and planning skills, discover your role and responsibilities as a citizen and learn about our government. You will also visit with Maine’s congressional delegation, spend a day on Capitol Hill and tour other D.C. landmarks.  You will have fun!

The CWF trip will be June 20th – June 27th, 2024. The deadline to submit your application is February 9, 2024, by 4:30 P.M. in the county 4-H office. Interviews will be conducted with members of the Cumberland County Leaders Association Awards Committee. Interviews will be held the evening of Tuesday, February 13th. You will need to schedule your interview before or when you turn in your application. 

 For information: https://extension.umaine.edu/cumberland/4h/events/citizenship-washington-focus-scholarship-info/

Fashion Revue Fashion Show to be Held Saturday, February 24th in Gorham

The 2024 4-H Fashion Revue’s theme is Fashionably 4-H, 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 22nd 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 24th, 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 March 2nd, 2024.  Questions? Call Jenn Grant, 207.318.9166 or findviewfarm@juno.com

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, January 29, February 26, March 25, April 29, May 13
  • Time: 4:30-5:30 PM
  • Ages: 5-10 year olds
  • Location: UMaine Extension Cumberland Office, 75 Clearwater Dr, Falmouth
  • Cost: FREE
  • Registration: Click here for February
  • Other registration links coming soon for other dates

WACKY WEDNESDAY

  • Dates: Wednesday, January 24, February 28, March 27, April 24, May 22
  • Time: 3:00-4:00 PM
  • Grades: K-6th
  • Location: Windham Public Library, 217 Windham Center Rd, Windham
  • Cost: Free 
  • No registrations are needed for these sessions.

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

Campership Applications Now Available

Campership applications will be due on Friday, April 05, 2024 by 4:30PM. 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@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. https://extension.umaine.edu/4h/camps/

4-H Scholarship Applications Now Available

Cumberland County 4-H Scholarship applications are due Friday, April 5, 2024 at 4:30PM. If you need help applying for any of these scholarships or have questions, please call or email Allison at 207.781.6099, allison.pollock@maine.edu. 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.

Maine 4-H Foundation Scholarships

Graduating seniors can apply for a 4-H scholarship from the Maine 4-H Foundation. 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, 2024 to your county office. Please check out the Maine 4-H Foundation website at https://extension.umaine.edu/4hfoundation/funding/.

Volunteer Connections- Be a Positive Communicator

Tuesday, February 13, 6:30-8:00pm (virtual via ZOOM)
This session will focus on how to use positive communication strategies to manage difficult conversations or conflict with others. Learn about constructive responses, and conciliatory gestures and how they can be used to de-escalate conflicts.

Volunteer Connections offer monthly ZOOM calls for 4-H volunteers from the entire Northeast region. Join us to connect and learn with and from other 4-H volunteers! It’s free, but you must register  Sign up today and invite a friend-we hope to see you there.

4-H Volunteer Workshops for the 2023-2024 4-H Year

We invite you to participate in our 4-H Volunteer Connections virtual workshops! Join other 4-H volunteers from the North East region to learn, share and engage with one another on a variety of topics related to 4-H. All workshops are free and offered via Zoom in the evenings from 6:30 – 8:00 pm.

Topics include:
February 13 – Be a Positive Communicator
March 12 – Finding Space for Mental Wellness in Every Program
April 9 – Animal Science: Strong Relationships and Sportsmanship

Click here to register now! Come to one or come to all! We look forward to connecting with YOU!  

Club Happenings

4-H Rabbiteers of Maine

In December, the Cumberland county Rabbiteers met to discuss upcoming plans. We created holiday ornament crafts and listened to three very informative presentations. Jonathan Morrison took us through his plans to breed Blanc De Hotot rabbits. Jack McDevitt shared a presentation on his showmanship and learnings at the 2023 American Rabbit Breeders Association convention. And Abigail Wheeler gave us a deep dive on her experiences at the 2023 ARBA as well. All were greatly informative and laid out their plans for the coming year.

Your 4-H Club Happenings could be featured here! Just 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 2024

Solar Eclipse Coming to Maine!

On April 8th, 2024 Maine will experience a full solar eclipse. The last time Maine experienced this was in 1963, and the next one won’t be until 2079!

How we react and experience solar eclipses today may look different from the past and/or across cultures. The oldest known recorded eclipse is in 3340 B.C.E. based on petroglyphs found in Ireland. Around 1200 B.C.E scribes in China recorded experiences of eclipses, which later helped scientists calculate the speed of Earth’s spin. In some cultures it is believed that the sun is being eaten by a creature, as the beginning stages of an eclipse look like a bite has been taken out. For some, a solar eclipse is seen as a rebirth and for others it represents a scary, uncertain time and they do not go outside. Learn more about the history of eclipses.

Whether you are creating new eclipse traditions or following generational experiences, you can find helpful information for eclipse safety guidelines and preparing audiences.

See “Total Eclipse Prep Party for 4-H Volunteers” to learn more about how you can participate!

Maple Sugaring 101: From Sap, to Syrup, to Sales

Not long after the New Year celebrations have ended and Maine hunkers down for several more weeks of winter, some farmers and landowners across the state turn their attention to maple sugar season. Depending on the weather, maple trees start to release their sweetness anytime between February and April and there’s a lot of work to be done to prepare for collecting the sap and boiling it down into syrup.

Maple Sugaring 101 is a 6-week program open to Maine youth ages 9 to 15 who are interested in learning about the entire maple sugaring process. 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 Extension and University of Maine experts. Online meetings are scheduled for Wednesday evenings: February 7, February 14, and February 28. On-site workshops will be held at participating sugarhouses following the virtual sessions.

Club leaders who would like to have their club participate in this program, please contact your 4-H County Professional or Andrew Hudacs by Monday, January 29, 2024: 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. Registration ends: February 5, 2024.

Total Eclipse Prep Party for 4-H Volunteers


On April 8, 2024, parts of Maine will experience a total solar eclipse- and this won’t happen for another 20 years! A total solar eclipse happens when the moon lies exactly between the sun and the Earth, casting its shadow on a small patch of the Earth’s surface. Does the idea of a total solar eclipse light your spark? Are you interested in learning more about it and sharing your excitement with youth? If so, we want you to join us!

  • When: Thursday, March 7, 2024, 5:00 – 8:00 pm
  • Where: We’ll be at the University of Maine campus in Orono, starting at the Lafayette and Rawcliffe 4-H Science and Engineering Learning Center.  Address: 491 College Avenue, Orono, and then heading to the Versant Power Astronomy Center & Jordan Planetarium Address:167 Rangeley Rd., Orono.
  • What do I need to bring? We want you to bring a friend, a colleague, a neighbor, a parent from your 4-H club… a SUN-BUDDY! This person doesn’t have to be an enrolled 4-H volunteer, but someone that is excited about the total eclipse and would like to share their enthusiasm and help you do ONE activity with youth prior to, or on April 8th. You could plan to do an activity with your club, at your Extension office, at a library, in a classroom or maybe with a homeschool group- it’s totally up to you!
  • What are we going to do at the Total Eclipse Prep Party? We will feed you dinner, take you to a show at the University of Maine Jordan Planetarium, do a hands-on activity with you, help you and your “sun-buddy” plan your activity and have materials, supplies and resources available for you to take.
  • Why should you participate? This will be a fun in-person evening with other people who have a common interest, you will get to enjoy dinner on us (pizza and salad), and the opportunity to learn more about the total eclipse! You will also receive free materials to implement activities, solar eclipse viewing glasses, AND a t-shirt!
  • Cost: The event is free, but registration is required and space is limited.
  • Registration: Register here! Registration deadline: February 16, 2024

Tidepool Immersion Discovery + Ecology Workshop Series

The 4-H Tidepool Immersion Discovery + Ecology Workshop Series will explore the intertidal zone and help with marine science research! In this workshop, we will learn about animals you might find during low tide and use some amazing equipment to take awesome pictures on your phone to identify them. Along the way, we’ll learn about invasive species, climate change, species identification, and how you can participate in research. University of New England graduate students Emily and Sam will lead the workshop. An optional in person field day exploring tide pools is scheduled for Saturday, April 13th.

  • Dates: Tuesdays, 4:00-5:00, April 9, 2024 through May 11th.
  • Ages 13-18
  • Most activities will be held via Zoom. Materials will be provided and shipped directly to participants before the workshop. In-person field day scheduled in South Portland on April 13th (rain date April 14th). Participants will be asked to visit the ocean at least once, at low tide, during this series. Facilitators: Emily L. and Sam B.
  • Pre-registration is required by March 27, 2024.

Come to Work at Tanglewood and Blueberry Cove!

Tanglewood and Blueberry Cove are now hiring for our spring and summer seasons! Positions include Educators, Counselors, Trip Leaders, and more. Please visit our website at extension.umaine.edu/tanglewood/employment/  for more information and to apply.

Young Explorers Early Childhood Enrichment 

Young Explorers at Blueberry Cove, our new early childhood enrichment program, is accepting registrations for 2024! The program focuses on play, sensory learning, and developing social skills in an outdoor setting. Explorers spend time with our camp animals, play at the forest and beach, and read stories. Ages 3 – 5, M, W, & F from 9 am – 12 pm. More information: extension.umaine.edu/tanglewood/st-george-school-programs/young-explorers-day-program/.

4-H Tick Project

The 4-H Tick Project is a community science project engaging K-12 youth and educators, made possible through a partnership between 4-H Youth Development, UMaine Cooperative Extension Tick Lab, Maine Forest Tick Survey, and members of the Learning Ecosystems Northeast partnership. The project provides youth an opportunity to explore ticks and tick-borne diseases, which is a connected story of climate, ecosystem change, and public health.

All educators interested in teaching about ticks in Maine are encouraged to participate in the project at no cost to you. This is a great project for 4-H clubs, SPIN clubs, homeschool groups, and more. For more information and to register, visit the 4-H Tick Project webpage.

ESE 4-H Dairy Intent Forms

The 2024 Maine 4-H Dairy Eastern States intent to participate form is available online at https://extension.umaine.edu/4h/dairy/. In order to be eligible for participation on the Maine 4-H Dairy Eastern States Team this fall, 4-H members must submit their completed intent form online or to the Waldo County Cooperative Extension office before February 17, 2024. Please contact Sadee Mehuren at sadee.mehuren@maine.edu or 207.342.5971 with any questions.

2024 Maine 4-H Dairy Quizbowl Contest

The Maine 4-H Dairy Quizbowl contest will be held on February 17th at the UMA Randall Student Center in Augusta, ME. The contest consists of a general knowledge exam, individual questions, and buzzer questions. The contest will serve as the official tryout for the Maine 4-H Dairy Quizbowl Team that will represent Maine 4-H at ESE this fall. All 4-H dairy project members ages 9-18, regardless of whether or not they wish to try out for the quizbowl team, are invited to participate. Contestants will be divided into two age divisions, Jr.’s ages 9-11 and Sr.’s ages 12-18.  In the event of inclement weather on the 17th, the event will be rescheduled for February 24th.

For a complete set of rules for the contest, study materials, and directions to the venue please visit https://extension.umaine.edu/4h/dairy/. For more information or to request a reasonable accommodation please contact Sadee Mehuren at sadee.mehuren@maine.edu.

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/