Public Speaking 2020

April 2020 4-H Newsletter

April 6, 2020 4-H News

4-H Happenings

A monthly newsletter for Hancock County 4-H Members

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Table of Contents

Upcoming Dates| County News | Club News | State News | Leaders Meeting Minutes | Cooking with Kids

Upcoming Dates to Remember

The Hancock County Cooperative Extension office will be closed, and staff members will be working remotely until May 17, 2020. While the office is closed and programs are canceled or postponed, our 4-H staff are still working and are more than happy to respond to questions, figure out alternative programming, and be the trusted resource you rely on.

All 4-H Club Meetings and Events Canceled Until Further Notice

UMaine Cooperative Extension Programs during COVID-19

Mondays

Tuesdays

Wednesdays

Thursdays

Fridays

For descriptions of each program visit here:

County News

Hancock County Public Speaking TournamentPublic Speaking 2020

I have to admit, it seems like AGES since we were all gathered together, watching brave 4-Hers of Hancock County give their public speaking demonstrations. It was my first public speaking event, and I was blown away by how knowledgeable and mature the presenters were.  Was I allowed to touch (let alone operate) power-tools at age nine? (The answer is most definitely not.) It takes a lot of courage to stand up in front of strangers, and I want to give everyone who partook a big round of applause. I learned a lot – how to make an aerodynamic paper airplane, how to take care of cats (which is good, since I just adopted a cat!), how to draw a UniKitty, and more. Also, I don’t know about you, but Addison and Ella’s demonstration on stress balls sure came in handy!

A big thank you to our fantastic panel of judges, Joshua Kelsey, Store Manager of Home Depot, Nicholas Turner, Executive Director of the Grand, and Richard Williams, Rich Williams Insurance, and Becky Wentworth, Halcyon Grange for being our time-keeper. Oh, and also – Chris of Spruced Up Homesteaders, you asked nearly every presenter a question. Showing support, being fair, and paying attention are all important life skills, and you nailed it!

The following 4-Hers will participate in the State Public Speaking Tournament: Wyatt & Robert from Spruced Up Homesteaders, Zoe & Alyssa from Rails N’ Trails, and Margaret Mae, Independent.   Submitted by Zabet NeuCollins, 4-H Community Education Assistant

Leaders’ Meeting – the next Leaders’ Association meeting will be by Zoom on April 14th, at 6:30 pm. Email carla.scocchi@maine.edu or joyce.fortier@maine.edu for the link.

4-H Public Speaking Tournament –  The State 4-H Public Speaking Tournament will be held virtually on Saturday, April 25. Participants have been notified and will be scheduled for virtual presentations with judges and a small audience. The Awards Ceremony will be live streamed at 3pm, we encourage you all to attend! Follow our website and Facebook page for updates and to receive the link when it becomes available.

Style Revue – the Hancock County 4-H annual sewing contest is on hold as a result of COVID-19. We will do our best to hold this at a later date. We welcome your creative solutions and

suggestions, please share them with Joyce Fortier at joyce.fortier@maine.edu. If you have the opportunity to sew – please do! We’ll update as soon as possible.

Photo Contest – Information on the 2020 Photo Contest has been updated and is now online. Photos are due July 31, 2020. There are so many beautiful and unique scenes to take pictures of – and this is a GREAT quarantine-friendly activity!

Kids Can Grow – Kids Can Grow, a 4-H Garden Program on Mount Desert Island, is gearing up for the season! This five-month youth gardening program is designed for kids ages 7-12 on Mount Desert Island or surrounding towns. We are currently navigating the Covid-19 situation and how this will impact our programming and registration. Follow our website and Facebook page for updates.

Paper Clover Campaign – The 2020 Spring 4-H Paper Clover campaign with Tractor Supply Company (originally scheduled to take place 4/29 – 5/10) will be postponed to a later date. Details regarding the new dates will be discussed between TSC and National 4-H Council in May and confirmed next steps will be shared, as they become available. The Fall Paper Clover campaign will continue as planned for 10/7 – 10/18.

4-H at Home – Because of the coronavirus, schools across Maine have closed until the end of April, possibly even longer. The University of Maine Cooperative Extension has assembled a collection of educational resources for parents and caregivers. These range from art, coding, science, financial literacy and more. We encourage you to explore these resources to help keep children engaged in educational experiences throughout their school closure.

The following are included in the educational resources linked above, but we thought they were SO cool we wanted to highlight them:

Mainely Dish Mondays – These videos, published every Monday, will guide you and your kids step-by-step through a recipe.

4-H Friday Fun – Watch for a new hands-on activity each Friday that you can try out with simple materials you have at home. Watch a short video clip to see how it’s done or download our 4-H Learn from Home activity sheets. Each activity outlines materials needed, easy to follow instructions, reflection questions for discussion and activity extensions.

QuaranTEEN Virtual Science Cafés – Maine 4-H is offering “virtual” (online) science cafés! Come hang out for a bit, chat with a UMaine scientist, and learn about their work. It’s free! Join us each Tuesday where you will meet scientists, learn about how they ended up at UMaine and how they became involved in their work/research, and participate in informal discussions.

Here are a few additional ideas:

  • Read or tell stories to each other. Reading is a great way to pass the time, but sometimes it’s more fun to share the stories with others. Act out your favorite stories; take turns being the bad guy; be a good audience. Tired of the same stories? Make up your own! Don’t forget to add pictures or puppets!
  • Practice your leadership skills by helping your parents/guardians. Older 4-Hers can practice being responsible leaders by helping out more around the house. If you have younger siblings, offer to keep them busy for an hour while your parents/guardians cook or clean or take some quiet time.
  • Exercise or have a (quiet) dance party. Do you have pent-up energy? If you can’t go outside, you can still exercise. Do some jumping jacks, run in place, or play some music and dance around. Cleaning the house is also a great way to use up some extra energy!
  • Connect with friends using video chat. Make sure your friends aren’t bored either! Schedule phone calls or video chats so you have something to look forward to. Share what you are doing to keep busy. Play games over the phone.

4-H/CCAR Intern Wins Big at the Maine State Science Fair4-H Aquaculture Intern at CCAR doing a science fair project on sea urchins

Big congratulations to Hancock County 4-H’er and George Stevens Academy junior, Hannah D. Hannah spent her spring break and two-weeks of her high school’s Independent Study & Internship Program At the UMaine Center for Cooperative Aquaculture Research (CCAR) working on a project for the Maine State Science Fair. Hannah is a member of Hancock County’s Horse of Course 4-H Club and was a 4-H Aquaculture Intern last summer.

With the help of CCAR’s staff, Hannah learned how to spawn green sea urchins (S. droebachiensis) and rear their larvae. She tested two larval diets, CCAR’s live microalgae blend and a formulated microalgae paste, in hopes of determining whether a formulated microalgae paste could be a suitable replacement for the live microalgae currently used to produce sea urchins at CCAR.

Hannah also won a special award from the Acadia Institute of Oceanography, a full scholarship to their Advanced Marine Science Program this summer.

Last summer, Hannah was one of seven 4-H/CCAR high school interns who spent eight weeks at CCAR working with yellowtail kingfish and learning all about aquaculture. Her curiosity for marine science and aquaculture shines through to everyone who has had the pleasure of working with her. This girl’s going places!

See the full article, check extension.umaine.edu/hancock/2020/03/30/4-h-ccar-intern-wins-big-at-the-maine-state-science-fair/

 

Our Deepest Sympathy – our condolences to the friends and family of Maiah Reilich-Godino who passed away on March 3rd.   Maiah was the daughter of Lisa Reilich, current 4-H leader and former 4-H Professional in Hancock County. Maiah was 18 years old and will be remembered as a very active 4-H member, especially in the Public Speaking and Goat projects. A Celebration of Life potluck will be held on Maia’s birthday, Wednesday June 10 at 1pm, with a fire at night on the farm (please note the change in the original date). The full obituary can be found at here.

 

State News

  1. Learn at Home: Educational Resources to Use During School Closures
    With novel coronavirus closing schools across Maine for several weeks, the University of Maine 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.
  2. “Seclusion Showdown” Online Horse Show
    Horse shows may be postponed and cancelled across the country, but don’t let that stop you from competing! Join our sponsor, @SLTcom for their first ever “Seclusion Showdown” Online Horse Show. No entry fees, real judges, exciting prizes! Session #1 March 26th – April 1, 2020.
  3. All 4-H Club Meetings and Events Canceled Until Further Notice
    Given the rapidly evolving COVID-19 situation in Maine, UMaine Extension is cancelling all 4-H club meetings and events until further notice (no matter what size group).

    • Coronavirus | Airborne Disease Surveillance Epidemiology Program | MeCDC
    • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention–Coronavirus Summary
    • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention–Coronavirus Fact Sheet
    • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention–What the Public Should Do
    • U.S. Department of State–China Travel Advisory

    We will continue to keep you updated as we learn more information. Please contact your county office if you have specific questions.

    1. #EmpoweringMEandYou – Stress Less Online Workshop for Teens – 04/16/20, 6:00 – 7:00PM
      The National 4-H Healthy Living Summit Team from Maine will be presenting their Stress Less lesson plan developed at the 2019 Summit and presented at the 2020 Summit. Any youth ages 13 – 18 are welcome and encouraged to attend. 4-H participation is not required! This hour-long lesson was designed by and for teens to educate others on the effects of stress and how they can combat and cope with stress in their daily lives, and the lives of others. Youth will start by identifying what the effects of stress are, and then have the opportunity to practice a variety of coping strategies that can help to reduce these effects on the body. Youth will also learn and practice how to reframe their own negative self-talk and redirect that of others as it relates to stress. If you are interested in attending this workshop please RSVP hereby Monday, April 13, 2020 to receive a reminder email and the Zoom link. For questions or information on offering this to your county or club, please email or call Sara Conant, sara.conant@maine.edu, 207-781-6099.
    2. Camp Scholarships Available
      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. Call the camps to ask for a scholarship. Scholarships are based on need and first come, first serve.
    3. National 4-H Dairy Conference
      The 66th National 4-H Dairy Conference will be held September 27 to September 30, 2020in Madison, Wisconsin. It will be held in conjunction with World Dairy Expo and attendees will have the chance to visit Expo as part of the conference agenda. Additionally, the conference will offer opportunities to learn more about careers in agriculture, seminars on dairy topics, and a wealth of chances to interact with dairy 4-H members from across the country.
      More info about the conference can be found here (check back for updates as they happen)
      The Maine 4H Animal Science Dairy Committee would love to try and send/support a team of motivated kiddos who are involved with the Dairy Goat, or Dairy Cattle Project Areas for this very unique and meaningful opportunity.
      The National 4H Dairy Conference requires that 4H team members: Have spent at least 3 years in those project areas, and be at least 15 years old but not yet older than 18 (4H age).
      We are also looking for potential VOLT Chaperones who might like to help organize and facilitate this trip.  If we have an idea of how many kids are interested we can plan our fundraising efforts accordingly. Interested parties can contact Tara marble at tara.marble@maine.edu, or 207-778-4650 at the Franklin County Office.
    4. Save the Date for 2020 Maine 4-H Days
      Maine 4-H Days will take place July 16 – 19, 2020 at the Windsor Fairgrounds. If you are interested in helping to plan next year’s event, please contact Jessy Brainerd at jessica.brainerd@maine.edu or 207.581.3877.
    5. Maine 4-H Days Planning Committee
      July will be here before you know it, and we are looking for a few good volunteers to join the fantastic current Maine 4-H Days Planning Committee. Joining this committee gives you the chance to help come up with ideas and plans for one of our biggest statewide events! If you are interested in joining the Maine 4-H Days Planning Committee, or have general questions/comments/recommendations about the event, please email jessica.brainerd@maine.edu, or call 207.581.3877.

Leaders Meeting Minutes

HANCOCK COUNTY 4-H LEADERS’ ASSOCIATION

March 10th, 2020

Present- Secretary Lisa Carney, Board Member Lee Sargent, Treasurer Terry Swazey, Vice President Heather Linnehan, Board Member Dwight Sargent, President Brenda Jordan, and office staff Carla Scocchi and Zabet NeuCollins.

Videoconference with Lisa Reilich – she suggested that those who wanted to donate in memory of Maiah give to Hancock County 4-H Leaders’ Association. Maiah loved public speaking and was a member of our 4-H family for years. She will be missed so very much.

The flag was saluted and the 4-H pledge recited.

Secretary’s Report: the February minutes were approved as written.

Treasurer’s Report: a motion was made to approve the February Treasurer’s report as read; seconded and approved. Lisa gave Terry $27.05 from BHF can redemption.

Club reports:

  • Rails N’ Trails attended public speaking and will have a bottle drive to raise money for Equine Affaire. Horse of Course went to an artists’ house, but they spent more time playing with puppies. Will be going to the Bagaduce River Horse Rescue to paint name signs.
  • Jolly Juniors did demos and went ice fishing, worked on style revue projects.
  • Horse & Rider did some basic handling and took quizzes, they are starting project records. They are also collecting bottles to raise money for Equine Affaire.

Old Business:

  • Public Speaking – It went very well, and ended on time. Josh, Nicholas and Rick were the judges. Five will be going to States. Should send a thank you to the Assembly of God for hosting. We should consider having it at the Grand some time. Need to make an announcement at the beginning that the audience should try to stay quiet. And we need to think about limiting the number of questions from the audience to save time.
  • Government Day (Heather & Brenda) – N/A
  • Sherri F. is going to CWF. Motion to give her a scholarship: $400 from LA and the Tyler Baez account will give $300, for a total of $700. Seconded and passed.
  • Equine Affaire Fundraising (leadership skills) Heather and Lee. Heather has a letter that makes a case for using the Tractor Supply money towards EA as it will foster leadership skills.

New Business:

  • Style Revue – Joyce, Zabet, Jen Dunn, and Judy Nevells will be the planning committee.
  • Jamboree – Rob Eaton will be stepping down from the Blue Hill Fair committee.
  • Acadia Wildlife demo of bats and bat houses for Cloverfest?
  • Edits to Fair Book is due soon- Carla and Zabet.

Office Notes:

  • UMaine Coronavirus update- non essential travel is being discouraged. Dorms will stay open during break to encourage students to stay home. This might affect state public speaking and other activities. Carla will keep everyone posted.

A motion was made to adjourn at 8:00 pm; seconded and approved.

Respectfully submitted by Lisa Carney, Secretary