Photo from UMaine Extension

January 2022 4-H Newsletter

January 5, 2022 4-H News

4-H Happenings

A monthly newsletter for Hancock County 4-H Members

State 4-H News

New 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.

Maine 4-H ESE Goat Intent Forms are Now Available

The 2022 Maine 4-H Goat Eastern States intent to participate form is available on 4-H’s Goat page. In order to be eligible for participation on the Maine 4-H Goat Eastern States Team this fall, 4-H members must complete the online intent form or mail a hard copy of the intent form to the Waldo County Cooperative Extension office before February 1, 2022. Please contact Sadee Mehuren at sadee.mehuren@maine.edu or  207.342.5971 with any questions.

Maine 4-H ESE Dairy Intent Forms are Now Available

The 2022 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 to the Waldo County office before February 1, 2022. Please contact Sadee Mehuren at sadee.mehuren@maine.edu or 207.342.5971 with any questions.

Maine 4-H ESE Beef Intent Forms are Now Available

The 2022 Maine 4-H Beef ESE Intent to participate form is now available on 4-H’s Dairy page. This is a requirement for all youth intending to participate as members of the 4-H Beef Team at the Eastern States Exposition in September. Please contact Sadee Mehuren at sadee.mehuren@maine.edu or  207.342.5971 with any questions.

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 on the Maine 4-H Foundation’s Receive Funding page.

Citizenship Washington Focus (CWF)

We have exciting news! We are now planning for an in-person CWF 2022!  Many things are changing within the programming schedule and event place.  As some of you know the National 4-H Center has been sold or is in the process. Therefore, CWF will no longer be held there but will be held at the Hyatt Regency in Bethesda, Maryland.  This event center is not far from where we previously have been, but we will forever miss our own 4-H Center.

In 2020, CWF was canceled due to the pandemic, and the 2021 program was held virtually.  We as a state did not participate in the virtual 2021.  We still do, however, have a list of participants that have never been able to go on the trip.  This list is currently being contacted to see if they are still enrolled members wanting to participate. Once those numbers have been finalized, we will open up the list to “fill the bus” for 2022.  All delegates must be currently enrolled and between 14-18 years old as of January 1, 2022.

We have held records of who in the past has paid monies and are also working that through.  The total cost for this year’s trip will be available very shortly.   A note will be going out to your local office with all information and please note: we will be on a short timeframe to get delegate information in.  The date that has been reserved is June 25-July 1, 2022.  We will be leaving on a Saturday and coming home on the following Friday.  As always in today’s world, all plans are Covid sensitive but as the true 4-Hers that we are, we adapt!  If you have questions, please feel free to email Heidi Palmer, State Activities Coordinator at heidi.thuotte@maine.edu.

2022 4-H National Trip Interviews

As in the past, we will be holding interviews for National trips in the early spring.  The 4-H website’s National 4-H Trips page is currently being updated to work towards that same schedule with a date to be announced very soon.  At this time, we will be interviewing for National Congress in 2022 and National Conference in 2023.  National Conference 2022 that will be held on March 20-24, 2022 is currently still being reviewed within our state guidelines due to the Covid travel situation that seems to be strengthening daily, information will be shared as it becomes available. If you have questions. Please feel free to email Heidi Palmer, State Activities Coordinator, heidi.thuotte@maine.edu.

Light Up the Night: 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!

Developed by the Boston Museum of Science, Light Up the Night – An Electrical Engineering Challenge is a hands-on engineering adventure for youth in grades 3-5! In this unit, after experimenting with circuits and sculpting materials, kids will design a light display that replicates the Northern Lights.  The activities are fun and engaging with well-developed resources and an immersive storyline. Comprehensive facilitator resources make planning and preparation easy.

Learn more about this, and other toolkits on the 4-H STEM Toolkits page, where you can see what is available for different age groups or topic areas.

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 Receive Funding page.

Virtual 4-H Dog SPIN Club!

A new, statewide 4-H Dog SPIN (SPecial INterest) Club will be starting on January 22 at 9 am and will continue monthly on Saturdays. This club will meet virtually over zoom and will focus on all things dog. This short-term club is open to anyone (humans) in the state of Maine ages 9-18. A dog is NOT required to participate. We are also looking for adult volunteers who are interested in helping out with this club. You do not need to be knowledgeable about dogs, just willing to help.

For more information, visit the Virtual 4-H Dog SPIN Club page or contact Emily Mott at emily.j.mott@maine.edu or 207.942.7396.

All About Maine Trees!

This virtual SPIN club for all youth ages 9-16 will meet on the Mondays of January 24, 31, and February 7, 14, and Tuesday, February 22. 4:30 pm.  The program also includes an optional in-person Maple workshop day on Saturday, February 26 in Greenwood.  We will learn about tree ages and characteristics, practice tree identification, explore the versatility of trees, careers involved with forests, and learn about tapping maple trees for syrup. Youth will receive kits in the mail for accompanying hands-on activities including tree ring counting, tree cookie ornaments, tree identification books, maple candies, and maple syrup thickness and taste samples. Register by January 12th on the Open Registrations page. Please contact sara.king@maine.edu for questions.

New Impromptu Category at State Public Speaking Tournament

The Maine 4-H Public Speaking Committee is pleased to announce a new category at the State Tournament in April 2022!

Impromptu is a fun and exciting category that gives participants the opportunity to practice off-the-cuff presentations. Youth will be given three topics to choose from and then have several minutes to prepare a short presentation for an audience. For this year, Impromptu will be a non-scored category. However, participants can expect to receive feedback from judges and peers. Youth who participate in the Maine 4-H Public Speaking Tournament will also be able to participate in the Impromptu category as a bonus opportunity.

4-H Volunteers SAVE THE DATES!
January 19, February 16, March 16, 6:30 – 8:30 pm

This year’s Cabin Fever Series for 4-H Volunteers is combining efforts with other states in the Northeast region! The following three topics will be featured in virtual workshops this winter:

  • re-engaging and motivating youth
  • designing captivating and fun activities
  • expanding possibilities for youth to broaden their world

These workshops will offer a great chance to learn something new, brush up on your skills and connect with 4-H volunteers from across the Northeast! Mark your calendars to save the dates and look for more information in January! Hope to see you there!

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. Complete and submit the application form on the 4-H Service, Innovative Education, and Philanthropy Grants page.

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. Complete and submit the application form on the 4-H Service, Innovative Education, and Philanthropy Grants page.