KL 4-H Newsletter—March 2025

Send articles to cynthia.rogers@maine.edu

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Upcoming Events and Important Dates

March 13 Knox-Lincoln 4-H Leaders Association Meeting, 6 p.m., in-person at Knox-Lincoln Extension office with ZOOM option

March 19 Growing Beyond the Ribbon: session 3, Volunteer Connections, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m., online

April 5 Speak Up, Maine 4-H! A Public Speaking Showcase, UMaine Orono, snow date 4/6

April 10 Knox-Lincoln 4-H Leaders Association Meeting, 6 p.m., ZOOM only

April 21 4-H Farm-to-Fair Youth Helper applications due

March Birthdays

Happy Birthday to Reagan A., Natalie E., Chloe H., and Vincent C.!

New 4-H Volunteers

Welcome three new leaders to Knox-Lincoln 4-H! Melinda Cook has been a familiar face in our program for many years with her children in the Jolly Farmers 4-H Club. She is now an official 4-H leader in Kennebec and Knox-Lincoln Counties! Jill Jouret and Judy Jutras are now trained 4-H Volunteers for the Byre Clan 4-H Club. Jill’s children are members of the club and she looks forward to being more involved in the club’s activities. Judy has a background in environmental education and is anxious to learn more about 4-H. We look forward to getting to know all of you better at 4-H events!

Speak Up, Knox-Lincoln 4-H!

Speak Up, Knox-Lincoln 4-H public speaking showcase was held on March 8. Eight youth presented their talks to a live audience at the Knox-Lincoln Extension office. Thank you to our judges Kat Newcombe-Lang and Ryan LeShane, and timer/tabulators Wendy Eaton and Adam Eaton.

Some participants also tried their hand at impromptu speech at the county level. This category has been gaining popularity at the state event, so this provided some practice.

All participants earned blue ribbons and qualified for the Speak Up, Maine 4-H! A Public Speaking Showcase on April 5 at UMaine, Orono. Congratulations to all!

Izzy B.  Senior IT  Power of Positive Thinking
Anthony D.  Senior IT  For the Glorious Cause!
Sabrinnah D. Senior IT  дama мpaka (Lady of Darkness)
Kyra B. and Sabrinnah D.  Senior TmD  Kyra and Sabrinnah Mad Scientist Deliria
Zoe B.  Junior IT  Ways to Deal with Stress
Isabella L.  Junior IT  Raising Rabbits
Luke L.  Junior IT  The History of Lego
Mila S.  Junior IT  Raising Sheep

Speak Up, Maine 4-H!–Save the Date

The state Public Speaking event is now Speak Up, Maine 4-H! A Public Speaking Showcase. It 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 Maine 4-H Public Speaking website soon.

Union Fair and 4-H

Union Fair will be here before you know it! The Union Fair is scheduled July 30 – August 3, 2025.

The 4-H Union Fair Information Book, your best source for 4-H participation at Union Fair, will be available soon. Feel free to contact 4-H staff if you have questions about 4-H at Union Fair 2025.

small barn with 4-H clover and people inside

4-H Farm-to-Fair Youth Helper Scholarship Program

The Knox-Lincoln 4-H Leaders’ Association is seeking young people to assist 4-H staff and adult volunteers at the 4-H Farm-to-Fair interactive exhibit at Union Fair July 30 – August 3, 2025. The program is open to 4-H members or 4-H alumni pursuing post-secondary education age 13 – 22. Scholarship funds will be awarded to the assistants based on number of hours contributed. These funds may be used by currently enrolled youth to attend Citizenship Washington Focus, 4-H National Congress, 4-H National Conference, Leadership Development Programs at Tanglewood, Blueberry Cove, Greenland Point or Bryant Pond 4-H Camps, or another Extension staff-approved program. For 4-H alumni, scholarship funds may be used for tuition or book/materials expenses incurred at a post-secondary educational program.

The Youth Helper position carries more commitment and responsibility than simply volunteering to help. Those chosen for this position will assist staff and adult volunteers in overseeing the operation of the exhibit. This includes (but not limited to) getting the exhibit ready to open or close for the day (depending on shift), making sure barns are stocked with “products” while the exhibit is open, supporting volunteers and filling in when they need a break. Successful candidates will be comfortable speaking to the public, answering questions, and assisting staff in training and leading volunteers.

Each person chosen must commit to one shift (2 ½ hours) each day that they are scheduled to help during Union Fair. The number of shifts and days required will be worked out with members and families as helpers are chosen, but at least 5 shifts are expected. Successful candidates must be 13 – 22 years of age. 4-H Farm-to-Fair Youth Helper applications due April 21, 2025. For more information, contact Cindy at cynthia.rogers@maine.edu.

4-H Camp and Program Scholarships Offered

three children and one adult sitting on the porch steps of a wooden building, another child standing behind them in a doorway
Ryan LeShane photo

The Knox-Lincoln 4-H Leaders’ Association offers scholarships to Knox-Lincoln 4-H members to be used to attend educational camps and programs. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis, as they are submitted, through the year, or until available funds run out. Be sure to indicate in your application what date scholarship funds are required by the program.

Applications will be reviewed by the Knox-Lincoln 4-H Leaders Association. The amount of the scholarships will be determined by the funds available in a given year and the number of qualified applicants. Download the Knox-Lincoln 4-H Camp and Program Scholarship application or request a paper copy by contacting Cindy Rogers at 207.832.0343 (in Maine 800.244.2104) or cynthia.rogers@maine.edu.

Summer Camp at Tanglewood and Blueberry Cove

Registration is open for Summer Programs at Tanglewood and Blueberry Cove 4-H Camps. 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 contact Emma: 4-H Camp and Learning Centers at Tanglewood and Blueberry Cove, extension.tanglewood4h@maine.edu, 207.789.5868.

Save the Date—4-H Summer Learning Series

This year, the 4-H Summer Learning Series will take place from July 7 – August 8. Volunteers and staff work together to provide high-quality, hands-on, experiential learning experiences via Zoom. For most workshops, materials are mailed to participants ahead of time, making it even easier (and less expensive) to participate!  Workshops and Registration will go live on May 23, 2025. For volunteers interested in presenting workshops, information will be updated in early March. Sign up for updates on our website.

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.

Register for an Aquaculture Virtual Field Trip on our website . For more information: contact Carla Scocchi, 4-H Youth Development Professional, carla.scocchi@maine.edu.

4-H Volunteer Connections: Register Today!

We are offering one more virtual interactive session 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! The final session topic:

  • Growing Beyond the Ribbon – March 19, 2025 6:30 – 8:00 p.m.

The session is free, but you must register! Questions? Reach out to Jen Lobley at jennifer.lobley@maine.edu We hope to see you there! Visit our website for information or to register for 4-H Volunteer Connections.

Become a 4-H Tick Project Mentor!

We are looking for volunteers to guide youth in learning about ticks and community science through the 4-H Tick Project. Mentors will:

  • Facilitate hands-on learning experiences through 4-H activities in classrooms, after-school programs, and/or community events.
  • Model tick collection protocols and identification techniques.
  • Share best practices for tick safety with young people.
  • Make a valuable contribution to their communities.

No prior experience with tick science is required. The training will provide all the necessary knowledge and resources. This opportunity requires volunteers to work with educators and youth in various learning environments, including outdoors in tick habitat.

Visit our website for more details and to register for 4-H Tick Project Mentor training. The deadline to register is March 30, 2025.

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:

Reach out to your local 4-H staff person or email 4-HScience@maine.edu to make a reservation or with any questions. Check out all of the 4-H Science Toolkits on our website.

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 7 – 8 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.

 

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