Community Partnerships
Hancock County 4-H prides itself in its community partnerships, working with local organizations and groups to create opportunities for positive youth development in Hancock County, ME. Are you considering partnering with Hancock County 4-H? Some reasons include the following:
- You can be trained and enrolled as a 4-H volunteer. All volunteers have access to liability insurance, support from 4-H and Extension staff who are trained in positive youth development, and personal development opportunities.
- You can reserve STEM tool kits and other 4-H learning resources that you can do on your own time at your organization.
- We are a strong partnership for securing grant funding, as 4-H is one of the largest youth programs in the U.S.
Check out the list of current community partnerships below for more ideas on how 4-H can partner with your organization. If you’d like to partner with Hancock County 4-H, please reach out to the Extension Office at extension.hancock@maine.edu.
Blue Hill Heritage Trust is a nonprofit, donor-based land conservation organization founded in 1985 by residents of the Blue Hill Peninsula in coastal Maine. They are working to conserve the farmland, forest, wetlands, and wildlife habitat needed to sustain ecological and community health in a changing climate. Their goal is to protect the resources and sense of place upon which traditional livelihood depends and to work with their communities to embrace a stewardship ethic. Also, Blue Hill Heritage Trust leads the Peninsula Explorers,
a 4-H club that focuses on outdoor learning.
Lone Spruce Farm in Dedham, Maine, is a community-focused, biodynamic farm offering small-batch dairy, organic produce, hen and duck eggs, artisan bread, and other nutrient-dense goods to the world around them! They offer community support via their food pantry and free library, both located in their farm store. Lone Spruce Farm partners with 4-H to provide “Hands-on Homesteading”, a take-home learning series. In this series, local youth have the opportunity to develop some of the most critical skills that are part of daily life in agriculture and homesteading.
Ellsworth Public Library is located on the banks of the Union River in downtown Ellsworth, Maine. Hancock County 4-H partners with the Ellsworth Public Library to offer events and workshops in their meeting room, and to help with community events such as the NEA Big Read: Ellsworth. The NEA Big Read: Ellsworth is a series of community events focused on one book. To see how 4-H is involved, visit here.
UMaine Center for Cooperative Aquaculture Research (CCAR) and Hancock County 4-H partnered to create the 4-H At-Home Aquaponics Project, an experiential virtual learning program for youth ages 9-18. The program includes learning experiences in introductory aquaponic systems and design, fish husbandry, aquaponic gardening, cooking and nutrition, and more. Visit here for more information.
Sumner Memorial High School Pathways Program is an alternative education model used at SMHS. Pathways’ programming offers multiple opportunities for students to meet Proficiency Standards and Performance Indicators through a combination of traditional methods and hands-on learning activities. Currently, Hancock County 4-H partners with the Pathways Program to offer hands-on gardening education.
Machias Savings Bank is a local bank dedicated to their community. Our local office is located in Ellsworth and has played a pivotal role in securing funds for youth projects throughout Hancock County.
Hancock County 4-H partners with Machias Savings Bank to run the very successful 4-H Egg Business Project, where youth entrepreneurs learn how to create and manage their own egg-laying business.