Knox-Lincoln 4-H Newsletter–October 2022
Send articles to cynthia.rogers@maine.edu
Upcoming Events and Important Dates
October 1 New 4-H Year begins
October 5-16 Tractor Supply 4-H Paper Clover Campaign
October 11 KLLA Meeting, 6 pm, Extension office, Waldoboro, and Zoom
October 11 Deadline for Free Raffle, Maine 4-H Teen Leadership Survey
October 16 2022 4-H Year-End Celebration, 2-4 pm Beaver Lodge, Hope, ME
October 19 Open Public Speaking Workshop with Communication Science Team, online
October 22 UMaine Unconference by and for 4-H volunteers, Belfast
October 27 Knox-Lincoln Extension Assoc. Annual Meeting, 4:30-6:30 pm, Blueberry Cove 4-H Camp
November 8 KLLA Meeting, 6 pm, Extension office, Waldoboro, and Zoom
November 11 UMaine Unconference by and for 4-H volunteers, Southern Maine
October Birthdays
Happy Birthday to Justin B., Carson D., Arora E., Reesie L., and Alexandria M.!
Re-enrollment Time—A New Online Option
Please check with your club leader before using the online option. Some leaders prefer to complete enrollment forms together as a club.
ZSuite is a new 4-H enrollment option available for families for the new 4-H Year. Current families now have the ability to log into their ZSuite account and complete their re-enrollment, as well as all required forms, online. If you were enrolled for the 2021-2022 year, you can simply visit: https://4h.zsuite.org/ – click “Forgot Password?” and complete the prompts using the email address where you receive your 4-H communications.
If you have new members, OR if you would prefer to use paper forms, reach out to this office.
Once you are logged into ZSuite, there is a 4-H enrolment help menu that offers step-by-step instructions in the system, as well as live chat for questions. You are also welcome to reach out to your county staff or to the State Office at 4-H@maine.edu. Re-enrollments are due December 15.
Public Speaking Workshop
The Maine 4-H Communication Science Team invites all enrolled 4-H members to the October 19 meeting for an open workshop. The meeting will be held via zoom from 6-7 pm. Team members will teach tips and tricks to improve your presentation skills. Please contact cathy.gray@maine.edu for more information.
Independent Member Clubs!
This fall county offices are piloting a new club specifically for independent 4-H members. This is a space for youth to come together and build relationships with their peers. We will share interests, projects, goals, and plans for the year and then reflect on our learning throughout and at the end of the year. This is also a great place to start if you are a new or recently enrolled independent member. We will meet three times throughout the year as a group with county staff. This will be a space for youth to foster friendships with peers and possibly come together to work on projects of similar interests. We are even hoping to get the group to brainstorm common interests and work together on a community service project!
Register here for the New 4-H Independent Clubs! Meetings can be attended either in person or virtually and will be open to all ages. Dates based on county/region.
Extension Association Annual Meeting at Blueberry Cove
The Knox-Lincoln Counties Extension Association invites the public to University of Maine Cooperative Extension 4-H Blueberry Cove Camp for their annual meeting October 27, from 4:30-6:30 pm, at Blueberry Cove 4-H Camp, 22 Blueberry Cove Road, St. George.
Learn about the community-focused work of UMaine Extension and the K-LCEA in this family-friendly evening event. Activities include decorating pumpkins, planting garlic, and a tour of the gardens at Blueberry Cove. Costumes are welcome!
The event concludes with a short business meeting and time for public input or questions about the work of Extension. Free and open to all ages. A virtual option also is available for the business meeting only. For more information, to request the meeting link, or a reasonable accommodation, contact 207.832.0343; extension.knoxlincoln@maine.edu.
2022/2023 4-H Volunteer Training Opportunities
As we get ready for the new 4-H year, we are looking forward to offering a variety of learning experiences (both in person and virtual) for our 4-H volunteers. Sessions are free of charge but require registration. Some sessions have limited space. Visit the 4-H Volunteer Calendar of Training Opportunities to learn more and register!
Register Now for the 4-H Unconference
UMaine 4-H Unconference (in-person) will be an organized forum for 4-H volunteers, club leaders, afterschool providers, teachers, parents and teen leaders to gather. UMaine 4-H Unconference is intentionally designed to have YOU teach and learn from each other. There is no agenda; you come with 4-H ideas and topics you want to talk about or learn more about, and we’ll guide the process to get folks into groups where YOU are the experts. Save the dates: Saturday, October 22 in Belfast and Friday, November 11 in Southern Maine. Come to one or both. Registration and information about UMaine 4-H Unconferences is available online.
Deadline for Free Raffle, Maine 4-H Teen Leadership Survey October 11
Greetings 4-H’ers, I hope you are having a fantastic beginning to autumn. This is an invitation to complete a SHORT Maine 4-H Teen Leadership Survey (about 30 questions/5 minutes) and enter a free raffle for a 4-H lunch tote or t-shirt (total of seven items). The survey is for anyone age 11+ who has been active in any 4-H activity since 2017. The survey and entry window into the raffle will close Tuesday, October 11!
To enter the raffle, simply add your contact information (email, phone #, etc.) to any of your responses in the survey or send it to Andrew Hudacs in a separate email. Your responses will help Andrew and others in Maine 4-H learn about your interests, post-high school plans, and thoughts on 4-H leadership programs. The survey results will be used to improve Maine 4-H. If you are a 4-H parent or club leader, please ask each child age 11+ complete a survey.
Androscoggin-Sagadahoc 4-H Monthly Workshops Open to All Maine 4-Hers!
Come join the Androscoggin and Sagadahoc counties 4-H program at their monthly workshops – the Third Friday of every month (unless otherwise noted) from 6:00 – 7:30 pm at the Lisbon Extension Office at 24 Main Street. Anyone interested can contact Melissa Freeman or Cathy Gray to find out more information.
Currently Scheduled Topics:
– October 21, 2022 – Apples!
– November 18, 2022 – Card Making
– December 16, 2022 – Game Night
– January 20, 2023 – “Getting the Word Out” Digital Marketing
– February 17, 2023 – Short Film Making
– March 10, 2023 – Spa & Relaxation Science
– April 21, 2023 – Movie Premier Night
– May 19, 2023 – Wool Spinning Workshop
EFNEP Recipe of the Month: It’s Pumpkin Season!
By Debbie Barnett, EFNEP CEA in Kennebec, Knox, Lincoln, and Waldo counties—deborah.barnett@maine.edu
October is a month full of festivities and surprises, and the one thing that is constant are pumpkins! This month we have some great pumpkin-inspired recipes. Usually, we think of pumpkins as something we carve or bake into pies (which is a good thing too!), but this amazing fruit has a lot going for it, and it is actually a very healthy food choice! Pumpkins happen to be full of vitamins, including vitamins A and C which help your vision, strengthen your immune system, and can help reduce the risk of heart disease. They are also full of fiber and are low in calories. Here are some healthy ways to enjoy pumpkin this fall: Roasted Pumpkin Seeds, Pumpkin Muffins, or a Pumpkin Smoothie!
For more delicious recipes, check out our UMaine EFNEP Mainely Dish Video Series. Expanded Food & Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) offers FREE nutrition education classes to income-eligible adults with children, or young adults 19-25 years old, and if you are eligible for programs such as SNAP, WIC, or Head Start.