June 2023 4-H Newsletter
4-H Happenings
A monthly newsletter for Hancock County 4-H Members
Table of Contents
Upcoming Dates| County News | Club News | State News | Leaders Meeting Minutes
Upcoming Dates to Remember
June 2 – Summer Learning Series Registration Live
June 13 – Leaders’ Meeting 6:30 pm via Zoom
June 19 – Juneteenth, Office Closed
June 30 – Animal Approval and Leasing Forms Due in County Offices
July 4 – Independence Day, Office Closed
July 21-22 – Maine 4-H Days at Windsor Fairgrounds
July 23 – Open Farm Day, 4-H Programs
County News
Photo Contest Scavenger Hunt!
From now on, monthly photo scavenger hunts will be posted in our newsletters. We encourage all 4-Hers to take inspiration from our hunt and snap the perfect pictures. Then, you can submit your photos on the photo contest webpage for a chance to be featured in the following month’s newsletter! Congrats to last month’s participant, Courtney G. She took this wonderful photo of a peaceful beach to capture a memory.
June Scavenger Hunt Themes
– Schools Out!
– A photo with sound
– Look up, look low, look wide
– How was your day?
For any questions, please reach out to leah.mccluskey@maine.edu or call 207.667.8212.
Summer Learning Series
If there’s anything Maine 4-H knows how to do well, it’s online learning! Get ready to kick off another amazing summer by signing up for our Summer Learning Series Workshops! We can promise lots of creative crafting, scientific dissections, chemistry with food, and SO MUCH MORE! Registration is now open for all enrolled Maine 4-H members, and opens to all others on Monday, June 5.
Wellness Warriors
Let’s give a warm welcome to our newest 4-H club, Wellness Warriors! Wellness Warriors is a club all about encouraging youth to find an inner balance through connections with nature. Located at Lone Spruce Farm in Dedham, club leader Kristin will host activities like hiking farm trails, spending time with farm animals, outdoor yoga, and learning about nutrition. This club aims to create an environment where youth can safely explore peer-to-peer networks and mindfulness. By giving young people the tools to find what they need, Wellness Warriors empowers youth to care for their mental and physical health.
This club will meet twice a month on weekends from May-September, and once monthly during the off-season. The first club meeting is June 4 from 11:30 – 1:30 pm at Lone Spruce Farm, with the next meeting on Saturday, June 24, 11:30 am-1:30 pm. Youth should bring lunch and dress for the weather!
Registration is open now! For any questions, please contact leah.mccluskey@maine.edu or call 207-667-8212.
Open Farm Day/4-H Open House
Save the date! This July 23, Hancock County 4-H is partnering with Lone Spruce Farm to take part in Maine Open Farm Day. We’ll have the amazing opportunity to share the 4-H workshops we know and love.
Workshops will be open from 10:00 – 3:00 pm for 4-Hers and the public. We’ll have the infamous seaweed lava lamps, a tick ID and tracking activity, flower printing, a 4-H obstacle course, and so much more. A full list of workshops is soon to come and will be posted on our website!
Animal Approval and Lease Forms
If you plan on participating in animal shows this fair season then be sure you get your animal approval forms and your lease agreement forms into the office by June 30th!
Style Revue
A huge round of applause to all the participants from the 2023 Style Revue! After a long hiatus, it was amazing to see over 11 of our 4-H youth show up to show off their sewing projects. We saw some perfect pillowcases, comfy pajama bottoms, and even a transformer jacket! Can’t wait to see what these kids prepare for next year!
After School Workshops
We would love for you to join us for an after-school workshop at the Ellsworth Public Library! Every Friday from 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm the library will offer workshops for elementary and middle school youth. On the 3rd Friday of every month, 4-H will be the featured presenter.
Last month, Ms. Carla led a workshop on Tick ID and protection, where youth got to interact with real ticks! This month, Ms. Leah will be leading a flower printing workshop. Topics will change from month to month so be sure to check in with the library to see our offerings!
Club News
Kids Can Grow – Kids Can Grow had an exciting first meeting in May where youth learned how to weed and turn in their flower beds, mix in compost, and string beds for square-foot gardening. After stringing the beds, youth learned some proper hand-washing techniques before diving into garden plans. We are so excited to get planting! Youth have big ideas and big plans. Some of the plants they are looking forward to growing are tomatoes, lots of flowers, fruit, herbs, and there were many many requests to try growing pumpkins! We’ll keep you updated!
Jolly Juniors – In May, the 4-Hers worked on things such as 
Style Revue, Roadside Cleanup, May Baskets, and visited Painted Pepper Farm. It was a busy month finishing up our sewing projects and getting ready for the Style Revue. We had nine members participate with pillowcases, a blanket, shorts, pot holders, and pajama bottoms. One of the projects I thought was cool was the bag that turned into a jacket.
There were 15 people who helped at the annual Waltham roadside cleanup. Seemed like a little less trash than last year, but we also didn’t cover as much of the road as we wanted to. Maybe next year.
We made May baskets and delivered them to elderly people in our community.
Some members went to the Painted Pepper Farm to learn about goats. We got to hold the babies and some of us even milked the goats! It was fun to see the farm animals and learn about them. The gelato was really yummy! We’d like to thank Miss Lisa and Margaret Mae for a great tour, the gelato, and the walk to the ocean.
Club Reporter
Jaxson Hamor
State News
UMaine 4-H Invites You to be a Part of Pride 2023 – 4-H will be participating in Pride festivities in Portland on June 17, 2023. A pride event is a celebration of the LGBTQIA+ community, the rights won, and recognition of these individuals as existing and loved members of our communities. 4-H will participate in the parade portion by walking with a banner. Participants should plan on being at the event from 10:30am – 2:30pm.
This event is open to any 4-H member or 4-H volunteer. Friends, family, and 4-H alumni are welcome but must have a 4-H member/volunteer hosting them.
To register or for more information, go to this webpage. If you have questions you can email 4-hpride@maine.edu.
Register Now for the 2023 4-H Summer Learning Series – 2023 marks the FOURTH year Maine 4-H is offering a Summer Learning Series! This year, workshops will run from July 5 – August 10, and there is something for everyone. Registration is now open for all enrolled Maine 4-H members and opens to all others on Monday, June 5.
Would you like to learn more about the different birds in your backyard and beyond? How about a chance to bake along with a real chef – they will send you the ingredients in the mail! You can learn to paint different creatures in the ocean, or discover how ANY person can become a real scientist at home! Dive into the different workshop options! To register or learn more, head to our website!
New Project Records are HERE! – Co-designed with Maine 4-H volunteers, youth, and staff; these project records have been designed to best serve the needs of Maine youth. Please visit our newly designed project record website. Stay tuned for upcoming training. Please contact your county 4-H staff with questions.
Did you know you can complete your project record through ZSuite? There are simple instructions for getting started on the ZSuite User Help page. You can work on your project record through the year – and even upload photos directly from your phone!
4-H Adulting 101 SPIN Club – The “4-H Adulting 101 Series” will introduce basic adult life skills by exploring a different topic each week including personal values; building healthy relationships; buying and caring for a car; youth entrepreneurship; mindfulness and stress management; and a topic chosen by the participants. UMaine Extension 4-H staff and guest speakers will lead the discussions.
The club is free; limited to 20 participants. Register by June 10 on the event webpage to receive the Zoom link and introductory email. For more information or to request a reasonable accommodation, contact 207.324.2814; erin.mcdonald1@maine.edu. Additional information also is available on the Extension 4-H Virtual Learning webpage.
4-H Tick Project – Registration is now open for the 4-H Tick Project, a community science project where youth collect, identify, and learn about ticks – while also contributing to real research about ticks in Maine! Sign up to receive tick collection materials, access to youth activities, educational resources, and UMaine Extension Tick Lab testing services. 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.
Save the Date for 4-H Dairy State Show! – The Maine State 4-H Dairy Show will take place on July 22nd and 23rd at the Windsor Fairgrounds in Windsor, ME in conjunction with Maine 4-H Days. The contest is open to all 4-H members who want to participate and will include educational workshops, a fitting contest, a grilled cheese contest, and more!
For more information on upcoming 4-H dairy events visit extension.umaine.edu/4h/dairy or contact sadee.mehuren@maine.edu; 207.342.5971
Maine 4-H Days: Save the Date! July 21 – 22, 2023 – We’re back for fun times, workshops, overnight camping and more at the Windsor Fairgrounds in Kennebec County! More information to come, so save the dates!
Registration Opening June 21st for New 4-H Teen Leadership Program: YOUth Have a Voice! – YOUth have a Voice!: Youth in Governance and Civic Engagement is a nine-month program open to teens and recent high school graduates who are interested in taking a more active role in serving their local communities, the state, or the country. Youth will learn leadership skills and ways to participate in civic action by completing a service project on a topic of their interest. Youth projects will be in one of three categories:
1.) Youth Board Member: Join a board or advisory council as a youth representative
2.) Policy Leader: Provide input to a policy or rule being developed
3.) Public Service Leader: Carry out a community service project.
Teens will be mentored by adults to assist their learning of civic processes and ways to meet their project goals. The program will be from late August 2023 to May 2024 and the total time commitment may vary from 30 to 80 hours depending on the type of project.
The program will be open for teens ages 14+ years old or entering high school in the fall of 2023. Interested teens will need the following items to register for the program:
- Fill out the application form found on this link.
- Two letters of recommendation from adults who are not related to the applicant
- Briefly describing (100 to 500 words) why you are interested in this program
- A signed Program Requirement Summary Form
Registration will be open from June 21 through July 31, 2023. The program will be limited to 16 youth.
To learn more about the program, you can attend one of the following 45 minute information sessions on June 7th:
- June 7, 3:30pm – 4:15pm, Zoom link: https://maine.zoom.us/j/85968212242?pwd=dDJTRGtmVVVpb0JNZ1duQ0cwS0pUdz09
- June 7, 5:30pm – 6:15pm: Zoom link: https://maine.zoom.us/j/83422511923?pwd=VTlwUDg2NDI3V3F0RnRST1hwUWZCUT09
For questions, please contact Andrew Hudacs, andrew.hudacs@maine.edu, (207) 581-8204.
Leaders’ Meeting Minutes
Hancock County 4-H Leaders Meeting of May 9th, 2023 via Zoom
Present- Lisa Carney, Lee Sargent, Brenda Jordan, Joannie Jodrey, Elaine Gokey, Terry Swazey, and office staff Leah McCluskey and Carla Scocchi. (6)
The Secretary’s and Treasurer’s reports for April were accepted as written and read.
Club reports:
- Horse of Course met over April vacation and held a bake sale for two nonprofits. The group has been working on a scrapbook featuring their community service.
- Jolly Juniors made and delivered May baskets. They have been sewing.
Old Business:
- Style Review- Lisa will pick up the key Thursday at 3 pm on Thursday and meet Leah for rehearsal from 5-6 pm.
- Steer tickets- We will order 5500 for this year and should have them within 2 weeks. We will be changing the price to $2.
- Jamboree- The month is very busy for the office, June 17 is very close. We will just go with Open Farm Day in July and try to organize Jamboree earlier next year.
- Open Farm Day- July 23rd at Lone Spruce Farm. Leah or an intern will do the Lava Lamp activity. Carla will do a tick drag, she might be able to get interns and a touch tank. Brenda will be making stepping stones. Horse of Course will do a fundraising table. Clubs are welcome to do an activity or do fundraising like selling steer tickets. Need to bring the office tables and pop up tents. Contact the office if you know anyone who would be interested in doing a fundraiser or activity.
New Business:
- College scholarship- No applications this year from Hancock County.
Office Business:
- Dwight’s memorial bench is arriving May 25th, this is a work day for the Extension Office from 12-4 with a potluck. Open to all the leaders.
- The Maine 4-H foundation has a new director, Laurie Bragg. Carla has worked with her extensively in the past.
- Carla is running a tick project https://extension.umaine.edu/hancock/4h/tick-project/
- She has tick drag kits, groups can collect ticks and she will send out ticks for testing, it will help gather data for the Maine tick lab.
- Leah and Carla will have really nice virtual summer learning programs this year. Registration opens June 2nd for 4-H families.
Adjourned at 7:05
Respectfully submitted by Lisa Carney, Secretary