4-H Happenings, May 2024
Contents
Important Dates:
- May 11, 2024: 4-H Informational Meeting at Canaan Public Library
- May 22, 2024: Start your 4-H Volunteer Journey
- May 29. 2024: Start your 4-H Volunteer Journey
- June 5, 2024: Lamb Intent to Sell forms due for Fryeburg Fair
- July 19-20, 2024: Maine 4-H Days
- June 20-27, 2024: Citizenship Washington Focus trip
- June, 2024: Registration opening for Summer Learning Series – more info coming soon!
County News
New RockHounding Club Opportunity Starting in 2024
We are looking for participants for a new Rockhounding group starting in 2024. An update: this group will be starting in the first part of July as part of the Summer Learning Series, for which registration will be opening soon. We also hope to offer some in person enrichment sessions at Maine 4-H Days as part of the group’s activities.
This hands-on experiential club will feature in person and virtual learning modules, utilizing the Gem & Mineral 4-H STEM Toolkit as well as other resources to study, identify and record rocks, gems, and minerals found in Maine. Participants will learn about the history of and discuss contemporary concerns regarding mining in Maine. We are planning to incorporate field trips to gem and mineral destinations, i.e. the Gem & Mineral Museum in Bethel, Poland Mining Camp, and the Gem & Mineral Show in Augusta. We plan to introduce special guest speakers in careers such as Geology, Paleontology, Earth Sciences, Oceanography, GIS, as well as introductions to other resources and groups. Please reach out to Karen Giles karen.giles@maine.edu for more information.
Stop Motion Animation Coming Soon
Are you interested in learning about animation? Stop motion is a special type of animation that uses real objects and photography- instead of drawings or computer-generated images- to tell a story. This spring/early summer we will be offering a virtual, after-school program for 6 weeks that will dive into this fun activity. Please reach out to karen.giles@maine.edu for more information.
Club News
Congratulations to the 2024 Somerset County Leaders’ Association Scholarship Winners!
4-H Informational Meeting at the Canaan Public Library
Saturday May 11, at 10:00 a.m., Dixie Ring, Somerset County’s newest enrolled 4-H Volunteer, will hold a meeting to set up a 4-H Club for community children aged 5-12. We will chat about our goals and where we want the club to go. Everyone is welcome to attend and share their thoughts. Bring the kids too- we will have a craft available for them to do.
canplib@canaan.lib.me.us
Are You Interested in New Clubs?
We have some new clubs starting soon and will be looking for volunteers and members to join! Please reach out to Karen Giles karen.giles@maine.edu for more information.
- Embden, Goat Club
- Fairfield, Horse & Mixed Club
- Anson, Cloverbud Afterschool SPIN club
- Palmyra, Mixed
Please share your club news- we’d love to hear from you! Let us know what is happening with your club members. Reach out to karen.giles@maine.edu to share activities, highlights, awards, or events.
State News
Events and Opportunities
Save the Date: Maine 4-H Days is Happening in 2024!
Where: Windsor Fairgrounds, Windsor, Maine
When: Friday evening, July 19 – Saturday, July 20. Animal Science tracks are being scheduled from Friday, July 19 – Sunday, July 21.
Registration for the event for 4-H’ers and their families will be opening in mid-May. More information is coming soon. We can’t wait to see you there!
UMaine 4-H Invites You to be a Part of Pride 2024
4-H will be participating in Pride festivities in Portland on June 15, 2024. A pride event is a celebration of the LGBTQIA+ community, the rights won, and recognition of these individuals as existing and loved members of our communities. 4-H will participate in the parade portion by walking with a banner. Participants should plan on being at the event from noon – 2:30 p.m.
This event is open to any 4-H member or 4-H volunteer. Friends, family, and 4-H alumni are welcome but must have a 4-H member/volunteer hosting them.
To register or for more information, go to this webpage. If you have questions you can email 4-hpride@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, homeschool groups, and more. For more information and to register, visit the 4-H Tick Project webpage.
Fairs and Shows
4-H Market Lamb Intent for Fryeburg Fair
Youth planning to participate in the Market Lamb program at Fryeburg Fair need to submit the 2024 Fryeburg Fair Market Lamb Intent form by June 5. An online form is available, otherwise youth can print and mail a copy downloaded from the website.
For Volunteers
Do you know someone interested in becoming a 4-H Volunteer? Tell them about Start Your 4-H Journey!
University of Maine Cooperative Extension will offer a two-part online informational session for adults interested in becoming Maine 4-H volunteers on May 22 & 29 from 6 – 7 p.m. “Start Your 4-H Volunteer Journey” will provide participants with information about the UMaine Extension 4-H youth development program through four short e-Learning modules. Attendees will also participate in an experimental learning activity, learn about the key aspects of positive youth development, and be introduced to ages and stages of youth. The two one-hour virtual sessions will wrap up with an outline of next steps and an introduction to a county staff contact to help with the application process if desired.
Registration is required. The sessions are free. To register, visit our website.
For more information or to request a reasonable accommodation, contact Jennifer Lobley, jennifer.lobley@maine.edu, 207.255.3345.
Leaders Meeting Minutes
April 24, 2024
4:30 p.m. at Bloomfield Elementary School, Skowhegan
Attendees: Eleanor Pooler, Hailey Dellarma, Karen Giles, Cheryl Perkins, Lori Swenson, Jessica Moody, Jen Day
Vice-President Candidates- Lori nominated Jessica as vice-president. Hailey seconded. Motion passed.
Review CLT scholarships- Cheryl motioned that Samantha Bissell receive the Somerset Dairy scholarship and that Cooper Dellarma receive the Northern Lights and Shawn Dean scholarships. She also motioned that Lindsay Hamiltion receive the Somerset 4-H Leader’s Food Booth for the second year college student. Lori seconded the motion. Motion passed.
Amended Fair Rules- There was a discussion between Piscataquis, Somerset, and Penobscot counties to standardize the fair rules to make them more consistent between the different fairs. (Skowhegan, Dover, and Bangor) Bangor and Dover will limit entries to three per category, but Skowhegan will allow 10 entries overall. Another change was made to the club and independent educational exhibits. They will now be judged separately. Also, in Penobscot and Piscataquis counties, if members are part of a club, they cannot exhibit their own educational exhibit. Skowhegan will still allow any member to enter an educational exhibit as an individual. We discussed changing it from “Independent” to “Individual” exhibits.
Cheryl motioned to adjourn. Jessica seconded. Meeting adjourned.
Next meeting: May 15, 2024 at 5:00 p.m.