4-H After School

Library Programs

Blue Hill Public Library

Fish Farm Fun – February 18, 2026 (3:30 pm – 4:30 pm)
Splish Splash! Do you have what it takes to be a fish farmer? Come join Tess from the University of Maine 4-H to be the next future fish farmer!  On February 18, from 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm at the Blue Hill Public Library, youth will have a chance to test their fish-herding skills with a fintastic hands-on activity. We’ll collect, test, and decipher if the water quality of mystery samples is good enough for our beloved pet fish. Youth will also walk away with some basic knowledge about fish health! What a way to spend an afternoon!

Ahoy Young Sailors – March 11, 2026 (3:30 pm – 4:30 pm)
Join Leah at the Blue Hill Public Library on March 11, from 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm for a chance to design and engineer your very own mini vessels. Youth will put their boats to the test and learn what makes a sailboat sturdy. We can’t wait to see how these deck hands combine creativity and a splash of science!

Celebrating Seaweed Month! – April 15, 2026 (3:30 pm – 4:30 pm)
Close your eyes and picture an underwater forest with golden kelp flowing through the currents. Did you know we grow, harvest, and use this beautiful aquatic plant in products all around us? Join Tess from the University of Maine 4-H on April 15, from 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm at the Blue Hill Public Library, for this interactive workshop where we will learn about how we grow and use kelp in our daily lives. Participants will experiment with seaweed and harness their creativity to make their own seaweed squishies (alginate creatures)!

Ellsworth Public Library

How Does A Forest Grow? – February 13, 2026 (3:00 pm – 4:00 pm)

Have you ever wondered about the great trees that line our lands of Maine? Join Leah at the Ellsworth Public Library on February 13, from 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm, for a thoughtful look into forest ecosystems and how they’ve come to be. Youth will take on the role of seedlings and trade resources to find all they need to sprout up!

Edible Soil Science – March 13, 2026 (3:00 pm – 4:00 pm)

Join us at the Ellsworth Public Library on March 13, from 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm to explore the fascinating layers of soil through hands-on learning and tasty fun! Participants will build “cups of dirt” using household foods to represent each layer, discovering how soil supports plants, animals, and our whole ecosystem. A delicious way to dig into science!

For allergen information, please contact Leah at leah.mccluskey@maine.edu or call 207.667.8212.
Traveling Wings Workshop – April 10, 2026 (3:00 pm – 4:00 pm)
Do you hear that!? There are bird calls in the air! Our feathered friends are beginning their long journeys back to Maine, and we’re ready to welcome them! Join Leah at the Ellsworth Public Library on April 10, from 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm, to dive into a bird migration data project and craft. Youth will create their own welcoming feeders, and learn about some of the common birdy faces they may see gathering for the warmer season.