Piscataquis County 4-H Newsletter, October 2026

October 2, 2026 4-H

Table of Contents

Piscataquis County 4-H Calendar

  • October 1: New 4-H Year Begins! Current volunteers and youth members must re-enroll by December 31 to be eligible for trips and scholarships.
  • October 10: Mad Hatter Tea Party, 10:00 am- 1:00 pm. Shaw Public Library, Greenville.
  • October 16: DIY Caramel Apples (kids 7 and up), 3:00 pm. Guilford Memorial Library, Guilford.
  • October 23: Open House and Fall Festival, 5:30-7:30 pm. Brownville Free Public Library, Church St., Brownville. 
  • October 24: Authors and Artisans Night Market, 4-7:00 pm. Thompson Free Library, Dover-Foxcroft. Outdoor market, 10-cent book sale in the library basement.
  • October 26: Ghost Stories Open Mic, 6:00 pm. Guilford Memorial Library, Guilford.
  • October 27: Teen Snack Taste Test, 3:30-4:30 pm. Thompson Free Library, Dover-Foxcroft.
  • October 31: Halloween Tricks and Treats, 10:00 am-1:00 pm. Shaw Public Library, Greenville.
  • October 31: Trick or Treat at the Library, begins at 4:00 pm. Books and candy. Guilford Memorial Library, Guilford.
  • October 31: Halloween Table Treats, 4-7:00 pm. Bernard Jones American Legion Post 92, Brownville Junction 
  • October 31: Trick or Treat for Books, 4:30-6:30 pm. Thompson Free Library, Dover-Foxcroft
  • November 7: 4-H Volunteer Summit, 8:30 am- 3:30 pm. Maine Arts Academy, Augusta. Lunch is included; registration is on a sliding scale ($0-$30)
  • November 13: Extension Association Annual Meeting
  • November 27 & 28: Buy Nothing Days, Central Hall Commons, Dover-Foxcroft. 9:00 am – 4:00 pm Friday, 9:00 am- 2:00 pm Saturday

Welcome to the Piscataquis County 4-H Newsletter

Welcome to the Piscataquis County 4-H online newsletter, where we’ll keep folks updated on what’s happening in 4-H around the county, state, and nation! We’ll promote nearby in-person events and online opportunities for youth and families offered through UMaine Extension and other trusted community partners.

October County 4-H News

Piscataquis 4-H Volunteers

We’re building a community of adult mentors to share skills, knowledge, and enthusiasm with youth. The programs and workshops we offer depend on volunteers to succeed.

Archery has been going strong for 3 years, thanks to the dedication of Levi Rollins, with support from Joel Vail, Caitlin Akes, and Amanda Bermudez. We are beginning our second full year of The Joy Truck 4-H Collaboration in Brownville Junction. Merrilee Schoen founded the project and provides collaborative leadership with support from 4-H staff, neighborhood volunteer Danielle Lee, and our newest volunteer, Danielle Bender.

Kitchen skills, sewing, public speaking, and art practice clubs and workshops were all initiated and/or supported by volunteers from our communities. A Junior Garden Club in the Milo area is on the horizon, thanks to dedicated Milo Garden Club members.

Do you have an idea for a class or workshop? Do you want to make a difference in the lives of youth in our area? Contact Trisha to share your thoughts and ideas, and we’ll find a way to make it happen!

Nightwings 4-H Archery Club.

The Nightwings will start the new 4-H year with new English longbows and Turkish bows plus new arrows, thanks to grant funds awarded through the Maine 4-H Foundation. The grant also benefited youth in other counties that are getting their archery programs off the ground. Our application was successful largely due to the donation of The Nightwings’ meeting space. The club meets at a horse arena in Sangerville in spring, summer, and fall for target practice. Discussions are underway for winter plans, as the unheated arena is too cold for youth to safely practice archery. Youth must be enrolled in 4-H to participate.

The Joy Truck Project 4-H Collaborative

The Joy Truck’s Second Annual Railyard Runway and Kids Only Art Show & Sale was an exuberant celebration of creativity, style, and self-expression. We had a beautiful late summer day for upcycling thrift store finds into feral fashions for our runway show.

We had special guest volunteers Susan Stevens with her sewing machine and Kathy Schmidt with her camera and modeling

experience to help youth realize their creative vision. Everyone was fully engaged in the process, from making, styling, and modeling outfits and accessories to building a soundtrack and documenting the day with a vintage Polaroid camera. The audience was thoroughly entertained and impressed, and made generous contributions to our host, Bernard Jones American Legion Post 92.

The Joy Truck Project 4-H Collaborative will hold Free Store Fridays every week at The Joy Truck from 2:30-5 until it’s too cold. A schedule of 4-H Fridays and weekend programs is forthcoming. Keep an eye out for details.

The Joy Truck Recycles! 

Help supply the Joy Truck Kids with clothes and other cast-off items for weaving projects, puppets, and other creative explorations! Drop off donations at the Extension office in Dover-Foxcroft during open hours (M, Th, F 8-4).

Save/collect for Joy Truck Kids to repurpose:

  • T-shirts and knit tops
  • Paper towel and toilet paper tubes
  • Corrugated cardboard
  • Paper bags
  • Bottle caps
  • Yarn
  • Paint and other art and craft supplies

 

Growing Piscataquis 4-H

4-H programming in Piscataquis County depends on caring adults to share their time and skills with youth. From leading or co-leading a club to helping with transportation or snacks, growing 4-H takes a community! Maine 4-H is working to offer more support and make volunteering less intimidating with some new initiatives.

Besides the interview with 4-H staff, all steps to becoming a 4-H volunteer can be completed online, on your own schedule. The Maine 4-H Volunteer Orientation is newly available in ZSuite in the Clover Academy section. Content includes concepts of youth development and the 4-H Thriving model, experiential learning, ages and stages, and highlights the three-way partnership between USDA/NIFA, UMaine, and county government. The module should take approximately 30-45 minutes to complete. A certificate will be generated and emailed to you at the end.

The Lunch and Learn series provided a chance for 4-H volunteers to discuss an aspect of 4-H volunteerism. The sessions might be of interest if you’re considering volunteering with 4-H in any capacity. Find recordings of the first Friday half-hour Lunch and Learn sessions on the 4-H Volunteer Huddle webpage.

Lastly, 4-H Volunteer Connections are structured to offer connection, engagement, and networking for 4-H volunteers in the whole Northeast Region (CT, DE, MA, ME, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VT, and WV)! These Zoom meetings start with “connection before content,” fun icebreaker games and conversation. We then move to the evening topic, sometimes led by experts from different states or volunteers as teams or panelists. Volunteers get the chance to spend time in breakout rooms with individuals from other parts of the region to share ideas and learn from one another. Watch past sessions of 4-H Volunteer Connections here.

Have a skill to share, but can’t commit to leading a club? Contact Trisha by email (trisha.smith1@maine.edu) and make an appointment or stop by the office during the hours we’re open (Monday, Thursday, Friday, 8:00 am – 4:00 pm) to see Anette.

Piscataquis County 4-H welcomes caring adults who want to make more opportunities available for our youth. Completing the application, introductory training, background check, and interview may be daunting, but we will help you through it. Get started on the How Do I Become a Volunteer? page, and don’t hesitate to reach out if you hit a snag.

Contact Trisha by email (trisha.smith1@maine.edu) and make an appointment or stop by the office during the hours we’re open: (Monday, Thursday, Friday, 8:00 am – 4:00 pm) to see Anette.

October State 4-H News

National 4-H AI in Agriculture Challenge

4-H AI in Agriculture Challenge for Fall 2026 – now through November 15.  Youth can win up to $1,000 in this national contest.  Home – 4-H AI in Agriculture Challenge 2026. Open to ages 13-18. 

Join the New England 4-H History Team – Mapping 125 years of 4-H History

This project uses GIS to collect, organize, and visualize the people, places, projects, and memories that have helped shape 4-H communities. Explore the map and help add another story to the record.  New England website and details are available, including how to submit a story.

4-H Virtual Learning: Project Feeder Watch

Introduction to Project Feeder Watch is a free 10-session online 4-H series for Maine youth ages 10-14. Participants will learn to identify common backyard birds and explore bird beaks, diets, and habitats while developing observation and documentation skills through regular feeder observations. No previous bird identification experience is required. Dates and registration details are available here.

4-H Machine Learning – Intro to AI

Machine Learning: Intro to AI is a six-part online 4-H series for youth ages 9 to 12, though teens are welcome. Participants will explore how artificial intelligence and machine learning work by making predictions, training basic models, and practicing beginner computer science skills. No prior experience is required. Participants need access to a computer or tablet. Mondays, November 9th – December 14th. Register for 4:00-5:15 or 6:00-7:15 sessions. 

Build. Create. Innovate.

Build. Create. Innovate. will be held October 17 from 10 a.m.- 2 p.m. at the Cole Land Transportation Museum (405 Perry Rd, Bangor 04401). This hands-on event is fun for all ages, packed with science, technology, and creativity. Explore interactive exhibits, exciting demonstrations, and challenges to spark your curiosity and imagination. Meg will be there making Straw Rockets! For more information, please go to the Girl Scouts of Maine website.

4-H Science Center Fall Open House!

The Fall Open House will be held November 14 from 10 a.m.- 1 p.m. at the Lafayette and Rawcliffe 4-H Science and Engineering Learning Center (491 College Ave, Orono). Come join us at this free event to see the space, meet the staff, and participate in some free, hands-on activities! Fun for all ages! We will have 2-D felting, Maine wildlife ID, touch tank, seed mosaics, and more! No registration required. For more information on the Fall Open House, please go to the Lafayette and Rawcliffe Facebook event page, or contact Jessy Brainerd at jessica.brainerd@maine.edu or 207.581.3877.

October 2026 4-H Volunteer Corner: Your Corner for Connection, Tips, and Tricks

Kick off a Great 4-H Year!

Looking for ways to welcome back returning families and excite new members? Here are three quick ideas to launch your club’s new year with high energy:

  • Host a “Brainstorm & Brownies” Session: Give your youth total ownership of their year! Pass around sticky notes and have members write down field trips they want to take, guest speakers they want to invite, or skills they want to learn. Group them on a poster board over snacks to build your annual calendar.
  • Run a 4-H Scavenger Hunt: Break the ice with a quick hunt around your meeting space. Hide clues related to the 4-H pledge, the four H’s (Head, Heart, Hands, Health), or common project materials. Pair up new members with current members to help create a sense of belonging. 
  • Launch a “First Meeting” Service Project: Start the year focused on community. Spend 15 minutes of your first meeting doing something simple, like assembling personal care kits for a local shelter or writing cards to a nursing home. Use the kickoff project to discuss what other community-focused projects youth might like to participate in throughout the year. 

We want to see your kickoff in action! Email us your first-meeting photos or share YOUR new kickoff idea! We would love to feature photos and ideas in next month’s newsletter. Let’s make this the best 4-H year yet! 4-H@maine.edu

4-H Volunteer Summit

Saturday, November 7, 2026, 8:30 am – 3:30 pm
Registration opens Friday, September 11, 2026

Come join us for a day of fun with your fellow 4-H volunteers and our awesome 4-H staff! YUP, we have a great lineup of workshops, and yes, our Discovery Zone is going to have so many 4-H programs and opportunities to learn about! From Ag Ambassadors and the Maine 4-H Foundation to a Touch Tank, Virtual Learning, and more, we have something for everyone! 

Check out the 4-H Volunteer Summit webpage and look for the registration link! Registration

Opens Friday, September 11th! We can’t wait to see you there!

4-H Volunteer Huddle:

Join us for a short “gather and learn session” to help you up your game. We meet on the first Friday of each month from 12:00-12:30 pm via Zoom. Whether you are an experienced 4-H volunteer or just getting started, there’s something for everyone. We’d love to see you there! No registration required! A Zoom link will be sent to your email each month. 

October 2- ZSuite for Club Leaders

It’s reenrollment season – join us for the opportunity to refamiliarize yourself with ZSuites and learn some tips and tricks about tools in the platform specifically for club leaders. 

Upcoming topics include: 

Nov 6- Beg, Borrow and Steal Idea Swap

Dec 4- 4-H National Trip Opportunities

Jan 8- Maine 4-H Foundation Scholarships

Feb 5- Beyond Ready Survey Results

Mar 5- Break the Ice, Build the Group

April 2- Recognizing Growth, Not Just Achievement

May 7- 4-H STEM Toolkits

4-H Volunteer Opportunities Calendar:

Find our 4-H volunteer training opportunities on our calendar of events – scroll to the bottom of the page to subscribe to the calendar and never miss upcoming events, workshops, and more!

The Piscataquis County 4-H Newsletter is published monthly.

For questions or more information, contact Anette Moulton, Administrative Specialist, by email at anette.moulton@maine.edu, phone at 207.581.8182, or Trisha Smith, Positive Youth Development 4-H Professional, by email trisha.smith1@maine.edu.

Office Hours: Monday, Thursday, and Friday from 8:00 am – 4:00 pm

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