January 2025 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
January 6 – Intent to Sell Beef Project at Fryeburg Fair Form Due
January 7 – Deadline to Sign Up for the Farm Animal Care FUNdamentals SPIN Club
January 12 – Speak Up, Maine 4-H Workshop at the Extension Office, 2:00-4:30 pm
January 13 – Deadline to Sign Up for the 4-H Climate Civic Action SPIN Club
January 14 – Arctic Animals Workshop at the Extension Office
January 14 – 4-H Leaders’ Meeting, 6:30 pm
January 15 – ESE Beef Team Intent to Participate Form Due
January 17 – Snowflake Art Workshop at the Ellsworth Public Library, 2:00 pm
January 20 – Office Closed for Holiday
January 22 – Volunteer Connections: Preparing for Youth Engagement
County News
Speak Up, Maine 4-H: Showcase Your Spark!
Attention Hancock County! Do you have youth that LOVE to talk? Or maybe some kids who want to step out of their comfort zone? Well then sign them up for our Speak Up, Maine 4-H Workshop!
Hancock County will be hosting a public speaking workshop on Sunday, January 12th from 2:00 – 4:30 pm. By attending this workshop, youth will begin to learn what it takes to give a good presentation and get the chance to practice the skills they learn in small groups! Small snacks and refreshments will be provided. Space is limited, so sign up today on the Hancock County Speak Up, Maine 4-H website to reserve your place or contact the Extension Office at 207.667.8212.
Save the Date: All of our 4-H youth are invited to prepare for this year’s Hancock County Speak Up, Maine 4-H: Showcase Your Spark, which will be held on Saturday, March 15, from 10:00 – 1:00 pm. The state showcase will be held on Saturday, April 5, 2025, at the University of Maine in Orono. The snow date is Sunday, April 6. Stay tuned for events and details on our website soon.
4-H Afterschool Workshops
Get ready for some hands-on fun this January with awesome workshops you won’t want to miss! We know last month’s workshop was a blast, cause we’ve got pictures that prove it!
Do you know how our polar friends stay warm on chilly days? On January 14, youth will get to experience the magic of Arctic animal adaptations through an interactive icy experiment. We’ll get creative and discover how our blubbery friends protect themselves from the cold, and how some animals can waterproof themselves! This workshop will be hosted at the Extension office in Ellsworth from 4:00-5:00 pm. If you plan to join, please email leah.mccluskey@maine.edu by January 13th to confirm your attendance.
To continue celebrating our winter season, Leah will help youth embrace their creativity with a snowflake craft on January 17 at the Ellsworth Public Library. We’ve all had fun creating paper snowflakes to hang up on windows or throughout the house, but there are so many other ways to showcase the beauty of a paper snowflake. Stop by the library from 2:00-3:00 pm to discover just how magical these lacy creations can be!
Hancock County 4-H Seasonal Compass
Discover the wonders of Maine’s changing seasons with the “Hancock County 4-H Seasonal Compass.”
Each month, we’ll focus on a different aspect of Maine’s seasonal cycle, engaging in activities that promote Head (learning and thinking), Heart (caring and relating), Hands (giving and working), and Health (living and being). From exploring winter wildlife to harvesting fall crops, there’s something for everyone!
Club News
Pine Tree Pioneers: The Pine Tree Pioneers had an amazing December meeting! After a quick snack, this pack headed outside to learn about the mysterious lack of daylight we experience in the winter season. Our club worked together to create a pine bough spiral in the grass. We followed the spiral to help us understand how daylight changes as we move through the year. After, we went for a quick winter walk to pick out some bits of nature to include in our paper lantern craft. We brought our harvest inside and jumped right into crafting. We used wax paper to seal in pine sprigs, leaves, and other items we collected, then rolled them into lanterns! We also used stickers and jewels to customize each of our lanterns. It was such a fun meeting, we can’t wait to meet next month!
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- “A chilly sunset stroll”
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- “Excited to light up our early nights”
Lock Stock & Barrel: The club will be competing in Post League throughout the month of January. After that, the members will begin a 4 to 6 week Archery session. We’re looking forward to teaching some new skills!
Horse of Course: On December 14, our club met at the Annual Christmas Tree Lighting at the Bagaduce River Equine Rescue. The club is pictured here with Tommy, an Appendix Quarter Horse that was rescued from Texas with two other horses, known as “The Texas Trio.” The parents of Macy and Marina B had a great idea of having cut wood slices for kids to draw on with markers and then string with yarn so they could hang them on their Christmas tree. This was a big hit at the event. We enjoyed hot chocolate, cookies, brownies, all the horses, and meeting new people. Happy New Year!
Service Squad: Our club had a fun time working together to raise funds for the Hancock County SPCA! We made dog bandanas, catnip pillows, and sold raffle tickets for two baskets made possible for generous community partners. Thank you to Tractor Supply, Crystal Clear Pet Store, Reny’s, the SPCA, and our families for all of their help and contributions. We spent two days outside of Tractor Supply selling our items and it was fun for our whole club to be together on the 2nd day. It made the time go by fast even though it was so cold! Thank you to Ms Leah for making hot chocolate and bringing treats to help us stay warm! We raised $241 that will be donated to the Hancock County SPCA. We’ll meet again in January to brainstorm what we want to accomplish together in 2025!
Aquarium Club: This month, the club plans to grow its library of aquatic knowledge by exploring salt water ecosystems. Club leader Melissa has been hard at work setting up a new salt water reef tank at the Center for Cooperative Aquaculture Research and is so excited to show off some of the creatures that will be calling it home!
Jolly Juniors: The Jolly Juniors were represented at the Wreaths Across America convoy by our club reporter, Coryann. It was a snowy day but still fun to see all of the trucks. Two of our club members, Landon & Coryann, participated in a ceremony and laid wreaths at the Woodbine Cemetery on the graves of Veterans.
At our Christmas party we did a sock swap by playing a game. It was fun! Becca and Cassie had lots of fun games for us to play. Joannie had a sandwich station for all of us to make our own lunch and Brenda had a make your own pie for dessert station. Mercy was there, too, to help at the party!
We participated in the Night of Lights Parade riding from Waltham to Eastbrook. It was SOOOOOO cold but lots of fun. We got to have hot cocoa at the Eastbrook Fire Station and see Santa!
Club Reporter,
Coryann S
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- “Jolly Juniors in the Holiday Spirit”
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- “A Christmas character crashing the party”
State News
Summer Camp at Tanglewood and Blueberry Cove: Registration for Summer Programs at Tanglewood and Blueberry Cove 4-H Camps opens on January 6, 2025, at 6 PM. We would love to see you at one of our 4-H Camps this summer! 1 and 2-week overnight camps, day camps, outdoor trips, and teen leadership camps are open for anyone to attend. This is a great opportunity to diversify your 4-H experience and continue building awesome skills. Scholarships are available from the Camps and the 4-H Foundation to help with tuition costs.
Some sessions fill up fast! To start planning your summer experience, please check out the program pages on our website which have more information and dates. We are excited to welcome you to the Tanglewood and Blueberry Cove Family! For questions, please email or call Emma at the contact information below.
Website: www.umaine.edu/tanglewood
Email: extension.tanglewood4h@maine.edu
Phone: 207.789.5868
2025 Engineering Week Expo: The Maine Engineering Promotional Council (MEPC) Engineering Expo will be held Saturday, March 8th from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm at the University of Maine Field House in Orono. This family-friendly FREE event invites the community to explore the world of engineering through demonstrations and hands-on activities. The 4-H Science and Engineering Center will be there along with Maine engineering firms, schools, government agencies, and societies who are invested in engaging young minds in career pathways involving engineering. For more information on the Engineering Expo please go to the website: https://www.engineeringme.com/expo.
Maine Science Festival: The Maine Science Festival will be held March 19-23 times TBD in February at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor. This FREE event includes a Field Trip Day for 7th- 8th graders, a Teen Tech Night, and Exploration Stations that include demonstrations and hands-on activities involving the sciences. Be sure to put it on your calendar because it really is a fun event! For more information on the Maine Science Festival please go to the website: https://www.mainesciencefestival.org/.
4-H Science Toolkits: Maine 4-H has a lending library of 4-H Science toolkits. These come with activities and materials around a variety of topics.
Recent additions include:
– eBird Explorers, exploring Ornithology for Cloverbuds
– Harmful and Shifting Species, which examines species impacting the Maine coast
– Power Protectors, which involves exploring energy use and an introduction to renewable energy through engineering design challenges.
Reach out to your local 4-H staff person or email 4-HScience@maine.edu to make a reservation or with any questions.
Public Speaking Workshops: As we move into 2025, many counties will be hosting workshops for youth who are interested in participating in Public Speaking. As more information is available, it will be posted on the public speaking website.
- Knox-Lincoln County – January 11, 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
- Hancock County – January 12, 2:00 – 4:30 pm
- Cumberland County – January 21, 5:00 – 7:00 pm
- Aroostook County – January 30, 6:00 – 7:00 pm
- Oxford County – February 20, Time TBD
- Piscataquis County will be hosting a Public Speaking SPIN club in place of a workshop, and youth from other counties are welcome to attend. Dates TBD.
- Washington County – Date TBD
Open Spots for 4-H Teen Leadership Civic Engagement Program – Youth Have a Voice: 4-H Youth have a Voice is a program for 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 in a topic of their interest. Projects can vary from environmental, social, or economic issues.
The program is open for teens ages 14+ years old or entered high school in the fall of 2024. Teens are matched with adult mentors and 4-H staff advisors to provide guidance on their projects, assist their learning of civic processes and plan ways to meet project goals. The total time commitment may vary depending on the type of project. Monthly statewide program meetings will be online via Zoom and occasional in-person gatherings will be scheduled for participant availability at central locations.
Registration is open through January, 2025. To register or learn more, visit our website. Individuals with questions or who need to request an accommodation, please contact Andrew Hudacs, andrew.hudacs@maine.edu, (207) 581-8204.
4-H Volunteer Connections – Register Today: We are offering THREE virtual interactive sessions this winter for all 4-H volunteers! Join us for regional training and networking opportunities with 4-H volunteers from our 13 states in the North East Region!
Session topics include the following:
- Preparing for Youth Engagement – January 22, 2025 – 6:30 – 8:30 pm
- Building Connections for Success – February 19, 2025 – 6:30 – 8:00 pm
- Growing Beyond the Ribbon – March 19, 2025 – 6:30 – 8:00 pm
To read more about each session and register, visit our website! Sign up for one, two, or all three! Sessions are free, but you must register! Questions? Reach out to Jen Lobley at jennifer.lobley@maine.edu We hope to see you there!
4-H Climate Civic Action SPIN Club: This is a 3-part series for youth ages 12-18 that will dive into real world issues and what we can actually do about them. Together we will learn about climate change from a global perspective, a local perspective and explore opportunities for individual action to make a difference. This will involve hands-on, minds-on learning to unpack this big topic.
This is a free opportunity for youth ages 12 – 18, and will take place over Zoom on Mondays January 27, February 3, and February 10, from 4:30 – 5:30 pm. Register before January 13, 2025.
Farm Animal Care FUNdamentals 4-H SPIN Club: Are you interested in learning about livestock animals (such as cows, goats, or sheep)? How do we care for them? How do you know what to feed them, how do you actually do regular health checks and have proper housing? Join the 4-H Animal Science SPIN club!
We will have 3 virtual sessions focused on what livestock need to live a healthy life and one field day that provides hands-on experience. Set yourself up for success in your 4-H project by learning the basics of animal care. Participants do not need any prior animal experience or currently own livestock to participate. This is a beginner/introductory level program.
This is a free opportunity for youth ages 9 – 18, and will meet over Zoom from 4:00 – 5:15 pm on Wednesdays, January 22, 29th, and February 5, 2025, February 12th will be an optional session for youth who intend to participate in a 4-H livestock project. The final session will be geared towards youth who are beginning their journey into raising livestock. Parents are encouraged to attend this session with their child. Register before January 7, 2025.
Explore Maine’s Aquaculture Industry with Virtual Field Trips from 4-H: Virtual Field Trips (VFTs) are an innovative way for youth to explore and learn about places and people that would otherwise be infeasible! These immersive, online experiences bring Maine’s thriving aquaculture industry to life—no travel required.
Accessible at no cost, the Virtual Field Trips are designed to break down geographical and financial barriers, making high-quality, hands-on learning available to all. Register online to receive a link to the VFTs. Each field trip also comes with complementary 4-H activity guides and lesson plans to help facilitate meaningful engagement with youth.
The first VFT currently available features the University of Maine’s Center for Cooperative Aquaculture Research (CCAR), a large-scale, land-based aquaculture facility in Franklin, Maine. Additional virtual field trips are in development and will be rolled out throughout 2025 and 2026. These experiences offer insight into seafood production, workforce development, career exploration, and STEM concepts related to aquaculture technologies.
To register for a virtual field trip, visit extension.umaine.edu/hancock/aquaculture/vft.
For more information: contact Carla Scocchi, 4-H Youth Development Professional, carla.scocchi@maine.edu.
4-H Dairy Quizbowl – Save the Date: The 2025 Maine 4-H dairy quizbowl tryouts will be held on March 1st at the Randall Student Center at the University of Maine Augusta. The contest will start at 10:00 AM with the written exam, followed by the individual questions portion and then the buzzer rounds.
This event will serve as the official tryout for the Maine 4-H Dairy Quizbowl Team. The top four eligible 4-H members will be selected to represent Maine 4-H at The Big E in the regional dairy quizbowl contest in September. Maine 4-H dairy quizbowl tryouts are open to all enrolled 4-H dairy members ages 9-18. Youth will be divided into two age categories, Jr. ages 9-11 and Sr. ages 12-18.
If you plan on attending, please email sadee.mehuren@maine.edu so that we can prepare for the event. For more information on the event including the contest rules, please visit our website.
ESE 4-H Dairy Intent Forms Available Now: The 2025 Maine 4-H Dairy Eastern States intent to participate form is available online. In order to be eligible for participation on the Maine 4-H Dairy Eastern States Team next fall, 4-H members must submit their completed intent form online or to the Waldo County Cooperative Extension office before March 1, 2025. Please contact Sadee Mehuren at sadee.mehuren@maine.edu or 207.342.5971 with any questions.
Maine 4-H ESE Beef Intent to Participate Forms are Now Available: The 2025 Maine 4-H Beef ESE Intent to Participate form is now available online and must be submitted by January 15, 2025. This is a requirement for all youth intending to participate as members of the Maine 4-H Beef Team at the Eastern States Exposition in September. Youth must be 12-18 years old as of December 31, 2024 and have completed one year in a beef project prior to this year. Please contact Kristen Grondin, kristen.grondin@maine.edu, 207-581-8193, with any questions.
Market Beef at Fryeburg Fair: The 2025 Maine 4-H Intent to Sell a Market Beef Project at Fryeburg Fair is now available for eligible youth. The animal must be owned and in the youth’s possession, and the youth must be enrolled in their county by December 31, 2024. More information and the form are available on the Maine 4-H Beef page. Online forms must be submitted, and paper copies must be postmarked by January 6, 2025.
Maine 4-H Foundation Scholarships: Every year, the Maine 4-H Foundation awards thousands of dollars in scholarships to participants in the Maine 4-H Program pursuing higher education, this participation includes traditional club membership, as well as the many other ways youth can engage with 4-H, including at our Camp and Learning Centers. Dozens of different scholarships are available to applicants, and a single application is used for all.
To find out more about available scholarships, and access the application and templates, visit the Maine 4-H Foundation website. Applications are due to your local UMaine Extension county office or one of our 4-H Learning Centers by March 3, 2025.
Save the Date – Northeast Livestock Expo (NELE): The Northeast Livestock Expo (NELE) will take place from May 16 – 18, 2025 at the Windsor Fairgrounds in Windsor, Maine. More information can be found on their website, and entry forms and schedules will be available in 2025.
Leaders’ Meeting Minutes
There was not a December Leaders’ Meeting. The next Leaders’ Meeting will be held on January 14, at 6:30 pm.