August 4-H 4-U

August 15, 2025 4-H 4-U Newsletter, 4-H News

Table of Contents

Important Dates to Remember

  • August 20: Lego Mindstorm EV3 Robotics @ Bangor Public Library
  • August 26: Tri-County Wilderness Skills @ Palmyra Community Center
  • September 6: Field Day & Fun Run
  • September 12: Millinocket Memorial Library Homeschool Meeting
  • September 18: Volunteer Voices
  • September 30: Tri-County 4-H Sampler – Animal Commodities
  • October 1: ZSuite 4-H Reenrollment, Deadline: December 31

County 4-H News

Millinocket Memorial Library Homeschool Meeting

Thinking about starting a 4-H Homeschool Group in Millinocket?

We’re exploring the possibility and want to hear from you! Join us for an information session to learn what 4-H is all about, share your ideas, and see if this could be a great fit for your homeschool family.

Date: Friday, September 12

Location: Millinocket Memorial Library –  5 Maine Ave, Millinocket, ME

Time: 10:00 am

Whether you’re curious, ready to jump in, or just want to learn more, you’re welcome!

Yellow and orange sunflowers with blue sky in background.
Photo by Christina Lannan

Field Day & Fun Run

Join us for our annual Field Day and the Harvest Fun Run on Saturday, Sept. 6, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. This seasonal celebration will feature informational tables, tastings and art in the garden. Visitors can explore over 30 themed gardens, including our expanded Harvest for Hunger gardens and the well-established native plant collection. Staff and volunteers will provide insights on soil testing, season extension and pollinator-friendly gardening.

Children up to 12-years-old can participate in a ½ mile Harvest Fun Run through farm fields adjacent to the demonstration garden. Register for the Fun Run online or with paper forms at the event.

The event will also feature the Great Veggie Race, where competitors of all ages can create and decorate wheeled vegetable vehicles. Participants can bring their own vegetable (under 3 lbs, please) or select one upon arrival. No registration required for the veggie race.

The event is free and open to all. In case of inclement weather, please check this website for updates.

For more information or to request a reasonable accommodation, contact Kate Garland, katherine.garland@maine.edu; 207.942.7396.

Volunteer Voices

We want to hear from YOU — what matters most to you as a Maine 4-H volunteer? Join us for an evening of connection, brainstorming, and sharing with fellow 4-H volunteers from your county.

Date: Thursday, September 18, 2025
Time: 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
 Location: Penobscot County Office
 307 Maine Ave, Bangor, ME

Dinner will be provided!
No cost to attend — but registration is required. 

Registration deadline: September 12th 

Let’s work together to strengthen our 4-H community — we hope to see you there!

Farm-To-Table Camp (photos by Kate Garland)

girl with braids and hat in a kitchen with two adults. One adult is washing dishes in the background while the other is showing how to wipe the rim of a jar recently filled with vegetables and pickle brine. Bowl of curled garlic scapes and miscellaneous canning supplies in foreground.
Laurie Bowen, Food System Professional helped campers make refrigerator pickles, freezer jam and gave them a taste of fruit leather made with Maine wild blueberries.

This year’s Farm-to-Table summer camp, held July 28–August 1 at the beautiful demonstration garden at Rogers Farm, gave youth ages 9–12 an unforgettable hands-on experience in growing, harvesting, cooking, and sharing food. Campers kicked off their week with a rainbow scavenger hunt and garden tours before diving into planting fall crops and learning food preservation techniques with help from the UMaine Extension team. Over five packed days, they harvested fresh vegetables, baked sourdough, crafted bouquets, and learned to make healthy meals with ingredients they picked themselves; highlighting the full cycle of food from soil to table.

campers dressed in white bee suits gather closely around a beekeeper, also in a bee suit, all looking down onto part of a hive that is out of site in the picture.
There was not a shy one in the bunch when it came to exploring the beehives on campus. Dr. Phil Fanning and David Fiacco showed them hives, extracted honey and even helped the kids make their own lip balm.

 

Each day brought new adventures: exploring pollinators and honey extraction with campus bee experts, harvesting potatoes and grains with UMaine researchers, creating veggie pizzas with culinary experts, and touring the Hudson Museum. A Friday field trip to University of Maine’s Center for Cooperative Aquaculture Research in Franklin capped the week, followed by a “Taste of Camp” celebration where families joined in for tastings, farm tours, and well-earned recognition. Alongside delicious food, campers also contributed to a service project and helped create a collaborative art installation. Thank you to all the staff and volunteers who made this vibrant, educational week possible and to the UMaine 4-H foundation for generously covering the cost of our van transportation!

Rogers Farm, part of the Maine Agricultural and Forest Experiment Station at the state’s R1 public research university, continues to be a hub for hands-on learning and community engagement. Located at 914 Bennoch Road in Old Town, the demonstration garden is open to the public from dawn to dusk, seven days a week. Visitors are always welcome to explore, learn, and photograph the gardens. If you snap a great shot, be sure to tag us @rogersfarmdemonstrationgarden! Rooted on unceded Wabanaki territory, Rogers Farm is guided by a mission to educate visitors in sustainable horticultural practices and empower them through service learning. We envision a vibrant, inclusive learning space that connects people to the natural world and supports positive community change, and we remain committed to values of equity, inclusion, and accessibility in all we do. 

For more information, visit our website or contact Kate Garland 207.942.7396 or katherine.garland@maine.edu 

RAD Camp

Kids and an adult doing a craft activity at a round table with paint, plastic tiles, and a tub of water with small toys
Photo by Emily Pigeon
youth exploring 3 wildlife pelts laying a table
Photo by Emily Pigeon

This summer, Emily had the joy of visiting RAD Camp in Orono—a UMaine Campus Recreation and Town of Orono summer program designed for campers eager to explore a variety of activities and share new experiences with friends. Campers in grades K–5 enjoyed swimming, rock climbing, sports, arts and crafts, canoeing, field games, library time, and much more.

As part of the fun, Emily and Meg, Statewide STEM professional, hosted a series of pop-in nature workshops, from creating colorful animal pony bead crafts, to exploring a touch tank and making “seaweed animal squishies,” to investigating pelts, skulls, and tracks with a wildlife toolkit. Each activity brought new discoveries, plenty of smiles, and a chance for campers to grow their curiosity, creativity, self-esteem, leadership skills, and teamwork—all while connecting with the natural world.

4-H Summer Learning

adult holding a baby doll during virtual babysitters with green background and white 4-H clover
Emily Pigeon, Community Education Assistant demonstrating the correct way to hold a baby. (Max)

Emily had the chance to connect with youth virtually through two interactive programs. The first was a three-part Babysitting Workshop Series, where participants explored the ages and stages of child development, learned tips and tricks for caring for young children, practiced commonly used ASL signs, and discussed preventive safety measures. They also received resources for more in-depth first aid training and guidance on how to start and grow their own babysitting business.

The second program was a Self-Care Workshop that encouraged youth to build healthy habits and stress-management tools they can use for years to come. Participants created their own bath salts, designed miniature zen gardens, and made “happy lists” filled with things that bring them joy. They also took part in a deep breathing stretch to promote relaxation and mindfulness. Each activity offered hands-on ways for youth to prioritize their well-being and develop lifelong skills.

State 4-H News

Skip the Stress – Get Into College with 4-H Direct Admissions!

Great news for Maine 4-H high school juniors and seniors: applying to college just got a whole lot easier. With 4-H Direct Admissions, you can be automatically considered for admission to all seven of Maine’s Public Universities—no Common App, no test scores, no essays, no recommendations, and no application fees required!
If you’re enrolled in any 4-H program in Maine, you’re eligible. Just click to opt in, and we’ll take care of the rest.

Click here to opt in. We will do the rest.
Click here to learn more about 4-H Direct Admissions

This is your future—made simple. #BeyondReady

Big E Ruby Morris 4-H Scholarship

Every two years Maine has the opportunity to select an Eastern States Exposition participant to receive a $500 scholarship towards continuing his or her education beyond high school, and this is one of our years!

This is a scholarship that was established by The Morris Family who are longtime concessionaires at ESE.  A total of three $500 scholarships are awarded each year.  In 2025 and future odd-numbered years, Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont will each name a scholarship recipient.  In even-numbered years, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut name a scholarship recipient.

Visit the website for all information about applying.  Materials must be received by 4:30 pm on Friday, August 15, 2025.  If you have any questions, contact Jessy Brainerd at 207.581.3877 or jessica.brainerd@maine.edu.

Maine 4-H Celebrates “The Year of Youth in Agriculture” with New Ag Challenge

The state of Maine has officially declared 2025 as “The Year of Youth in Agriculture,” an exciting initiative to highlight the vital role young people play in the future of our state’s agricultural landscape. In celebration of this significant declaration, Maine 4-H is thrilled to encourage all our members to delve deeper into the rich and diverse world of Maine agriculture.

Agriculture is a cornerstone of Maine 4-H as well as the economy and heritage of our state, offering a vast array of unique and rewarding opportunities, from traditional farming and livestock management to innovative food production, sustainable practices, and agricultural technology. This is the perfect time for our 4-H members to explore the many facets of this dynamic industry.

To help you do just that, Maine 4-H is launching the 4-H Ag Challenge! This special challenge is designed to guide members through an exploration of the unique and vast opportunities within Maine agriculture. To complete the challenge, members must complete activities from each section, with the number of required activities varying by age group:

  • Cloverbud (ages 5-8):2 activities per section
  • Junior (ages 9-13):3 activities per section
  • Senior (ages 14-18):4 activities per section

4-H Ag Challenge Download (PDF)

Once you’ve completed your activities, please return the form to the 4-H Ag Leadership team at extension.4hagleadership@maine.edu or to your local UMaine Extension office. As a special reward for completing the challenge, you will receive a specially designed Maine 4-H Ag Challenge hat! Prizes will be mailed to those who complete the challenge. This challenge will run through the entirety of 2025, giving you plenty of time to explore!

If you have any questions please contact:
Megan Cook
4-H Youth Development Professional, Aroostook County
megan.cook@maine.edu
207.532.6548

Penobscot County 4-H Leaders’ Association

Penobscot County 4-H Leaders’ Association Meeting Minutes – July 17, 2025

Attendance: Donna Gangitano, Emily Pigeon (staff), Lucia Brown (Sec./Treas.), Scott Leeman (Pres.)

The meeting was called to order at 6:06.

Secretary’s Report:  Scott motions to accept the minutes as written, Donna seconds.  All in favor.

Campership checks to Grace Coffe and Abby Caron were sent after 6/30.

Staff Reports:

4-H Fun Fact

Roger’s Farm:

  • Pick flowers for free
  • Veggies are for local food pantries
  • Farm to Table 4-H camp every summer
  • Field Day in September and other various events throughout the year
  • Let Emily know if you and your club are interested in supporting the farm (volunteering), and she will connect you with Kate Garland

Deadlines

August 15: Big E Ruby Morris 4-H Scholarship

Upcoming Events
August 6: DIY Tranquility 4-H Summer Learning Series (two spots open, registration deadline TOMORROW)

August 7: Wildlife Toolkit @ Millinocket Library

August 20: Lego Mindstorm EV3 Robotics @ Bangor Public Library

August 26: Tri-County Wilderness Skills @ Palmyra Community Center

Camperships – None.

Commodity/Event Grants – None.

Fundraising
Potential fundraiser – sock fundraiser – they are tall, nice quality socks.  It has the 4-H clover on them.  Emily will bring information to the next meeting.

Old Business – were bottle drive accounts set up at Damon’s in Bangor or Skeeters in Old Town?  Still in progress.

BSF
Drop off exhibits for the exhibit hall 2-7 on Wednesday, July 23rd.  Judges will be judging early on Thursday.

Next Meeting: August 21 – 6:00 pm

Secretary’s Report
Treasurer’s Report
Staff Reports
Camperships
Commodity Grants
Fundraising
Bangor State Fair
Application Requirements – August or September

Scott makes a motion to adjourn at 6:43, seconded by Lucia.  All in favor.

***********************************

Discuss fundraising opportunities in September/October.  Put on the agenda in that month.

September/October – Discuss campership form amendments (last 12 mo. fundraising, participation in the past and current year; project record could be submitted for past year participation).

Discuss application requirements in Aug./Sept.

Budget needs to go on the agenda in October.

Add to November Agenda, reminder that Club Audits not submitted timely (November) are due no later than January.

Track attendance from January – November

Contact:  Wendy Robertson, Administrative Specialist, by email at wendy.robertson@maine.edu or by phone at 942.7396 or contact Emily Pigeon, Community Education Assistant, email emily.pigeon@maine.edu

In complying with the letter and spirit of applicable laws and pursuing its own goals of diversity, the University of Maine System does not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, transgender status, gender, gender identity or expression, ethnicity, national origin, citizenship status, familial status, ancestry, age, disability physical or mental, genetic information, or veterans or military status in employment, education, and all other programs and activities. The University provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies: Director of Institutional Equity and Title IX Services, 5713 Chadbourne Hall, Room 412, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469-5713, 207.581.1226, TTY 711 (Maine Relay System).