KL 4-H Newsletter–February 2024
Send articles to cynthia.rogers@maine.edu
Upcoming Events and Important Dates
February 13 Knox-Lincoln 4-H Leaders Association Meeting, 6 pm, Zoom only
February 13 – April 9 Volunteer Connections Virtual Workshops (see article below)
February 23 Deadline to register for Knox-Lincoln 4-H Public Speaking Tournament (3/9)
March 1 NEW Deadline to email presentation slides for the 4-H Public Speaking Tournament*
March 7 Total Eclipse Prep Party for 4-H Volunteers, 5 – 8 pm, UMaine Orono
March 9 Knox-Lincoln 4-H Public Speaking Tournament, 1 – 4 pm, Extension office, Waldoboro, snow date 3/16
March 12 Knox-Lincoln 4-H Leaders Association Meeting, 6 pm, Knox-Lincoln Extension office, Waldoboro, or Zoom
February Birthdays
Happy Birthday to Sadie O. and Eli P.!
Welcome New 4-H Leaders!
Seven new Volunteer Leaders have joined 4-H in Knox and Lincoln Counties! Peter Armstrong, Cynthia Huston, Kathy Swan, Toni Turansky, and Walter Turansky will all be working with the new Warren After School Program at the Warren Community Center. Maria Grindle and Cindy Nickerson plan to assist with the Byre Clan 4-H Club in Bristol. Welcome all!
Byre Clan 4-H Club at the Byre Farm in Bristol
4-H Club Leader, Jeffrey Patterson welcomes new members to the Byre Clan 4-H Club. Members of the Byre Clan will learn the “whys and hows” of collecting eggs, taking care of calves and lambs, working with border collies, planting crops, harvesting maple syrup, trimming trees, working with beehives, collecting fruit, shelling dry beans…the list goes on. The club is open to youth ages 8-18.
For two Sundays in March, prospective club members and their parents can visit Byre Farm in Bristol to meet the animals, see the farm, and meet some of the adult leaders who are eager to help young people experience the joys of farming.
Visit The Byre Farm, 25 Rock School House Road in Bristol, Maine, March 10 and March 17. Contact the farm at 207-529-5639.
Register for the Knox-Lincoln 4-H Public Speaking Tournament
The Knox-Lincoln 4-H Public Speaking Tournament will be held on March 9 from 1 – 4 pm at the Knox-Lincoln Extension office (snow date March 16). Information and resources for helping you prepare a talk can be found on the Maine 4-H Public Speaking website. Register for the Knox-Lincoln 4-H Public Speaking Tournament by February 23.
*NEW THIS YEAR: After you have registered, we are asking that slide shows (or an access link to Google Slides) be emailed to cynthia.rogers@maine.edu by March 1. We will load them onto a device here that everyone will use. This should improve the flow of the tournament.
State Public Speaking Tournament Date Announced
The Maine 4-H Public Speaking Tournament will be held on April 6 at DP Corbett Hall on the University of Maine campus. Youth must qualify for this event by achieving a score of 78 or higher at their county or regional tournament. Check with your county 4-H staff to find out when your county tournament or a nearby regional tournament will be held. Go to the Maine 4-H Public Speaking webpage for more information about the program.
4-H Volunteer Workshops for 2024
We invite you to participate in our 4-H Volunteer Connections virtual workshops! Join other 4-H volunteers from the Northeast region to learn, share and engage with one another on a variety of topics related to 4-H. All workshops are free and offered via Zoom in the evenings from 6:30 – 8:00 pm. It’s free, but you must register for 4-H Volunteer Workshops. Sign up today and invite a friend-we hope to see you there.
Be a Positive Communicator—Tuesday, February 13, 6:30 – 8:00 pm (virtual via ZOOM)
This session will focus on how to use positive communication strategies to manage difficult conversations or conflict with others. Learn about constructive responses, and conciliatory gestures and how they can be used to de-escalate conflicts.
Upcoming:
March 12 – Finding Space for Mental Wellness in Every Program
April 9 – Animal Science: Strong Relationships and Sportsmanship
Solar Eclipse Coming to Maine!
On April 8th, 2024 Maine will experience a full solar eclipse. The last time Maine experienced this was in 1963, and the next one won’t be until 2079!
How we react, and experience solar eclipses today may look different from the past and/or across cultures. The oldest known recorded eclipse is in 3340 B.C.E. based on petroglyphs found in Ireland. Around 1200 B.C.E. scribes in China recorded experiences of eclipses, which later helped scientists calculate the speed of Earth’s spin. In some cultures, it is believed that the sun is being eaten by a creature, as the beginning stages of an eclipse look like a bite has been taken out. For some, a solar eclipse is seen as a rebirth and for others it represents a scary, uncertain time and they do not go outside. Learn more about the history of eclipses.
Whether you are creating new eclipse traditions or following generational experiences, you can find helpful information for eclipse safety guidelines and preparing audiences.
Total Eclipse Prep Party for 4-H Volunteers
On April 8, 2024, parts of Maine will experience a total solar eclipse—this won’t happen for another 20 years! A total solar eclipse happens when the moon lies exactly between the sun and the Earth, casting its shadow on a small patch of the Earth’s surface. Does the idea of a total solar eclipse light your spark? Are you interested in learning more about it and sharing your excitement with youth? If so, we want you to join us!
When: Thursday, March 7, 2024, 5:00 – 8:00 pm
Where: We’ll be at the University of Maine campus in Orono, starting at the Lafayette and Rawcliffe 4-H Science and Engineering Learning Center. Address: 491 College Avenue, Orono, and then heading to the Versant Power Astronomy Center & Jordan Planetarium Address: 167 Rangeley Rd., Orono.
What do I need to bring? We want you to bring a friend, a colleague, a neighbor, a parent from your 4-H club… a SUN-BUDDY! This person doesn’t have to be an enrolled 4-H volunteer, but someone that is excited about the total eclipse and would like to share their enthusiasm and help you do ONE activity with youth prior to, or on April 8th. You could plan to do an activity with your club, at your Extension office, at a library, in a classroom or maybe with a home school group—it’s totally up to you!
What are we going to do at the Total Eclipse Prep Party? We will feed you dinner, take you to a show at the University of Maine Jordan Planetarium, do a hands-on activity with you, help you and your “sun-buddy” plan your activity and have materials, supplies and resources available for you to take.
Why should you participate? This will be a fun in-person evening with other people who have a common interest, you will get to enjoy dinner on us (pizza and salad), and the opportunity to learn more about the total eclipse! You will also receive free materials to implement activities, solar eclipse viewing glasses, AND a t-shirt!
Cost: The event is free, but registration is required and space is limited.
Register for the Total Eclipse Prep Party for 4-H Volunteers by February 16.
Tidepool Immersion Discovery + Ecology Workshop Series
Explore the intertidal zone and help with marine science research! In this workshop, we will learn about animals you might find during low tide and use some amazing equipment to take awesome pictures on your phone to identify them. Along the way, we’ll learn about invasive species, climate change, species identification, and how you can participate in research by just taking a picture. Please note that the ability to get to the beach and supervision are required (at least once, between sessions). Participants must have access to a durable digital camera (a phone is fine). This workshop is supported by Maine EPSCoR at the University of Maine. Register by March 27, so supplies can be mailed to attendees’ homes.
Dates: Tuesdays, 4:00 – 5:00, April 9, 2024 through May 11.
In person field day at SMCC, South Portland (optional) scheduled in South Portland on April 13 (rain date April 14).
Ages 11 – 18
Most activities will be held via Zoom. Materials will be provided and shipped directly to participants before the workshop. In-person field day scheduled in South Portland on April 13 (rain date April 14). Participants will be asked to visit the ocean at least once, at low tide, during this series. Facilitators: Emily P. and Sam B.
Register for the Tidepool Immersion Discovery + Ecology Workshop Series by March 27.
Come to Work at Tanglewood and Blueberry Cove!
Tanglewood and Blueberry Cove are now hiring for our spring and summer seasons! Positions include Educators, Counselors, Trip Leaders, and more. Please visit our website for more information and to apply for jobs at Blueberry Cove and Tanglewood.
Young Explorers Early Childhood Enrichment
Young Explorers at Blueberry Cove, our new early childhood enrichment program, is accepting registrations for 2024! The program focuses on play, sensory learning, and developing social skills in an outdoor setting. Explorers spend time with our camp animals, play at the forest and beach, and read stories. Ages 3 – 5, M, W, & F from 9 am – 12 pm.
Citizenship Washington Focus (CWF)
4-H Citizenship Washington Focus will be held June 20 – 27, 2024 in Washington D.C. We have reserved space for 15 Maine delegates, age 15 – 18. The cost will be about $1200.00 per participant. We will most likely fly and will be staying at a different hotel than in the last couple of years. Be sure to connect with your county office by March 15 and let them know of your interest. They also will know if there is additional help in funding the trip through your county. A big “Thank You” to The Maine 4-H Foundation for significantly funding this incredible trip. Participation in this trip is amazing trip will be on a first-come basis as space is limited. Orientation dates will be announced on the website and communicated to candidates directly.
2024 Maine 4-H Dairy Quizbowl Contest
The Maine 4-H Dairy Quizbowl contest will be held on February 17 at the UMA Randall Student Center in Augusta, ME. The contest consists of a general knowledge exam, individual questions, and buzzer questions. The contest will serve as the official tryout for the Maine 4-H Dairy Quizbowl Team that will represent Maine 4-H at ESE this fall. All 4-H dairy project members ages 9 – 18, regardless of whether they wish to try out for the quizbowl team, are invited to participate. Contestants will be divided into two age divisions, Juniors ages 9-11 and Seniors ages 12 – 18. In the event of inclement weather, the event will be rescheduled for February 24.
Visit the Maine 4-H Dairy page for a complete set of rules for the contest, study materials, and directions to the venue. For more information or to request a reasonable accommodation please contact Sadee Mehuren at sadee.mehuren@maine.edu.
4-H Tick Project
The 4-H Tick Project is a community science project engaging K – 12 youth and educators, made possible through a partnership between 4-H Youth Development, UMaine Cooperative Extension Tick Lab, Maine Forest Tick Survey, and members of the Learning Ecosystems Northeast partnership. The project provides youth an opportunity to explore ticks and tick-borne diseases, which is a connected story of climate, ecosystem change, and public health.
All educators interested in teaching about ticks in Maine are encouraged to participate in the project at no cost to you. This is a great project for 4-H clubs, SPIN clubs, home school groups, and more. Registration is required.
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