{"id":18000,"date":"2026-04-02T13:07:34","date_gmt":"2026-04-02T17:07:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/hancock\/?p=18000"},"modified":"2026-04-23T13:09:28","modified_gmt":"2026-04-23T17:09:28","slug":"april-2026-4-h-newsletter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/hancock\/2026\/04\/02\/april-2026-4-h-newsletter\/","title":{"rendered":"April 2026 4-H Newsletter"},"content":{"rendered":"

4-H Happenings<\/h3>\n

A monthly newsletter for Hancock County 4-H Members<\/em><\/h4>\n
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Table of Contents<\/h3>\n

Upcoming Dates<\/a>| County News<\/a> | Club News<\/a> | State News<\/a> | Volunteer News<\/a>| Leaders’ Meeting Minutes<\/a><\/p>\n

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<\/a>Upcoming Dates to Remember<\/h3>\n

April 6 – <\/strong>Hancock County 4-H Leaders Association Scholarship Due to the Office
\nApril 10 – <\/strong>Last Day to Register<\/a> for Style Revue
\nApril 10 – <\/strong>Traveling Wings Workshop\u00a0at the Ellsworth Public Library (3:00 pm \u2013 4:00 pm)
\nApril 11 –<\/strong> Speak Up, Maine 4-H State Showcase in Orono
\nApril 15 – <\/strong>Celebrating Seaweed Month at the Blue Hill Public Library (3:30 pm \u2013 4:30 pm)
\nApril 15 –<\/strong> Leaders Association Meeting (6:15 pm)
\nApril 16 – <\/strong>Insect Olympics at the Southwest Harbor Public Library (3:30 pm \u2013 4:30 pm)
\nApril 17 to May 3 – <\/strong>Paper Clover at Tractor Supply
\nApril 20 – <\/strong>Patriots Day, Office Closed<\/p>\n

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<\/a>County News<\/h3>\n

Public Speaking<\/h4>\n
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Presenting: How to Play the Game “Spot It” Photo Credit: Staff, Carla S<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This month, our 4-H members demonstrated that leadership begins with a single word. We were thrilled to see such a great turnout for our 2026 “Speak Up, Maine 4-H!” Showcase. Watching our veterans refine their craft and our first-year participants find their footing was truly inspiring. Thank you for showing us the power of a brave voice.<\/p>\n

If you would like to continue to support our youth, join us in Orono for the state Speak Up Showcase at the University of Maine on April 11th. We have five youth attending this year and we know they’d love to see a few friendly faces in the crowd. If you can’t make it, be sure to wish them luck!<\/p>\n

Style Revue<\/h4>\n

The due date to register for Style Revue is April 10th! Don’t forget to get your registration<\/a> in ASAP! For those of you already registered, make sure you’re making progress on your project; the showcase is only a month away! Be sure to review the Style Revue guidelines<\/a>!<\/p>\n

Please drop all projects off at the office by Friday, April 24, at 4:00 pm for judging. We will bring your lovely creations to dress rehearsal and the Style Revue Showcase.<\/p>\n

Style Revue will take place on Sunday, May 3rd at 1 pm. The location will be announced soon once we know how many participants we will have.<\/p>\n

Local 4-H Workshops and Events<\/h4>\n

Ellsworth Public Library
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Traveling Wings Workshop\u00a0<\/em>\u2013 April 10, 2026 (3:00 pm \u2013 4:00 pm)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Do you hear that!? There are bird calls in the air! Our feathered friends are beginning their long journeys back to Maine, and we\u2019re 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.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Blue Hill Public Library<\/b><\/p>\n

Celebrating Seaweed Month!\u00a0<\/i>\u2013 April 15, 2026 (3:30 pm \u2013 4:30 pm)<\/p>\n

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\u00a0aquatic plant in products all around us? Join Tess from the University of Maine 4-H on April 15, from 3:30 pm \u2013 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\u00a0with seaweed and harness their creativity to make their own seaweed squishies (alginate creatures)!<\/p>\n

Southwest Harbor Public Library<\/b><\/p>\n

Insect Olympics <\/em>\u2013 April 16, 2026 (3:30 pm \u2013 4:30 pm)<\/p>\n

Do you have what it takes to compete against some of nature\u2019s most agile athletes? Join 4-H at the Southwest Harbor Public Library on April 16, from 3:30 \u2013 4:30 for a chance to find out! Youth can compete in several events where they can show off their skills and learn about what adaptations insects have that help them excel in their environments. Show us your powerful legs like a grasshopper in the long jump, or your fluttering, fast wings like a butterfly in the arm flap event.<\/p>\n

Paper Clover<\/h4>\n

The Spring Paper Clover campaign will be held April 17th through May 3rd, with the opportunity to donate to 4-H in-store and online. We encourage clubs to take part in this opportunity and use it to foster community involvement. Let us know if you need help making a connection with your local Tractor Supply!<\/p>\n

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<\/a>Club News<\/h3>\n

Fishing<\/strong> Club: <\/strong>The 4-H Fishing Club has had a full month with two regular meetings and one field trip to the Easter Maine Sportsman Show in Orono! At our first meeting, we had a guest speaker, Maine Master Guide Clyde Keniston. He spent time talking with the youth about his love for the sport of fishing, becoming a guide and so much more! It was a joy to see the youth asking and answering questions and being engaged in the conversation. As we wrapped up our Ice fishing unit, Mr. Keniston also taught the youth how to add their lines and hook to a new tip up. We look forward to having Mr. Keniston visit the club again. The youth participated in the 4-H Style Review Workshop where they cut out and assembled their patterns to complete their own fishing vests, which we hope they will debut at the Style Review in May. The Fishing Club is having a great time learning new things, playing fishy games and of course eating snacks! Our next unit, open water fishing, will begin in April.<\/p>\n\n\t\t