Waldo County 4-H Newsletter – January 2022

January 3, 2022 Waldo County 4-H Newsletter

Upcoming Dates: 

January 6: 4-H Leaders’ Association Monthly Meeting  

January 31: Citizenship Washington Focus (CWF) Application due

February 3: 4-H Leaders’ Association Monthly Meeting

County News

Waldo County 4-H Leaders’ Association

The Waldo County 4-H Leaders’ Association monthly meeting will be on January 6th at 12:30 pm via zoom or in person at the Waldo County Cooperative Extension office. All 4-H volunteers are invited to attend and participate in the meeting. More information on how to join the meeting and the meeting agenda will be sent via email. We look forward to seeing you there! 

Citizenship Washington Focus

Citizenship Washington Focus (CWF) applications are now available on our website. CWF is 4‑H’s premier leadership and citizenship program for high school students that takes place each summer at our nation’s capital. CWF is more than a Washington, D.C. field trip; it’s an opportunity for 4‑H’ers to learn how to be citizen leaders and make a difference in their communities. CWF is open to all 4-H youth between the ages of 15 and 18. This year’s trip will take place June 25th – July 1st, 2022. Applications can be found on our website and are due at the Waldo County Cooperative Extension office by January 31, 2022.

State News

New Maine 4-H Virtual Learning Hub

Maine 4-H Virtual Learning is a hands-on, virtual learning program for youth ages 5-18. Workshops will be organized by age and topic. Topics include engineering, science, animals and agriculture, teen leadership, and more.

Workshops will range from single-time events to short-term programs (typically four to six sessions). Participants will engage in hands-on activities, interact with other 4-Hers, and be positive adult role models.
No prior experience with 4-H is required to participate. If you are interested in learning more about 4-H, this is a great opportunity to become familiar with the program!

Maine 4-H ESE Goat Intent Forms are Now Available

The 2022 Maine 4-H Goat Eastern States intent to participate form is available online on the website. In order to be eligible for participation on the Maine 4-H Goat Eastern States Team this fall, 4-H members must complete the online intent form or mail a hard copy of the intent form to the Waldo County Cooperative Extension office before February 1, 2022. Please contact Sadee Mehuren at sadee.mehuren@maine.edu or  207.342.5971 with any questions.

Maine 4-H ESE Dairy Intent Forms are Now Available 

The 2022 Maine 4-H Dairy Eastern States intent to participate form is available online on the website. In order to be eligible for participation on the Maine 4-H Dairy Eastern States Team this fall, 4-H members must submit their completed intent form to the Waldo County office before February 1, 2022. Please contact Sadee Mehuren at sadee.mehuren@maine.edu or  207.342.5971 with any questions.

Maine 4-H ESE Beef Intent Forms are Now Available

The 2022 Maine 4-H Beef ESE Intent to participate form is now available online on the website. This is a requirement for all youth intending to participate as members of the 4-H Beef Team at the Eastern States Exposition in September. Please contact Sadee Mehuren at sadee.mehuren@maine.edu or  207.342.5971 with any questions.

4-H Pitch Project 

The Youth Trustees have established a fund to support young entrepreneurs in 4-H. Pitch us your idea for a business and we may fund the start-up idea. Check out the Pitch project at https://extension.umaine.edu/4hfoundation/funding/.

2022 4-H National Trip Interviews

As in the past, we will be holding interviews for National 4-H Trips in early spring. The National 4-H Trip websites are currently being updated to reflect the updated schedule. We will be interviewing for National 4-H Congress in 2022 and National 4-H Conference in 2023.  National 4-H Conference will be held from March 20-24, 2022. Information about how to join our Maine 4-H Conference delegation will be available soon. If you have questions. Please feel free to email Heidi Palmer, State Activities Coordinator at: heidi.thuotte@maine.edu.

Light Up the Night: Maine 4-H STEM Toolkit of the Month

Each month we will be highlighting a different 4-H STEM Toolkit available from the UMaine Cooperative Extension 4-H Program!

Developed by the Boston Museum of Science, Light Up the Night is a hands-on engineering adventure for youth in grades 3-5! In this unit, after experimenting with circuits and sculpting materials, kids will design a light display that replicates the Northern Lights.  The activities are fun and engaging with well-developed resources and an immersive storyline. Comprehensive facilitator resources make planning and preparation easy. 
 
Learn more about this, and other 4-H STEM Toolkits online, where you can see what is available for different age groups or topic areas

Maine 4-H Foundation Scholarships

The Maine 4-H Foundation is pleased to announce a number of scholarships available to 4-H members. They range in value from $1,000 to $2,500. Donors from around the state have been very generous in supporting our 4-H seniors as they pursue their dreams and aspirations. Scholarships are due March 1, 2022, to your county office. Please check out the Maine 4-H Foundation website.

Virtual 4-H Dog SPIN Club

A new, statewide 4-H Dog SPIN (Special Interest) Club will be starting on January 22 at 9 am and will continue monthly on Saturdays. This club will meet virtually over zoom and will focus on all things dog. This short-term club is open to anyone (humans) in the state of Maine ages 9-18. A dog is NOT required to participate. We are also looking for adult volunteers who are interested in helping out with this club. You do not need to be knowledgeable about dogs, just willing to help. 
 
For more information on the Virtual 4-H Dog SPIN Club please go to the website or contact Emily Mott at emily.j.mott@maine.edu or 207.942.7396.

All About Maine Trees!

This virtual SPIN club for all youth ages 9-16 will meet the Mondays of January 24, 31, and February 7, 14, and Tuesday, February 22. 4:30 pm.  The program also includes an optional in-person Maple workshop day on Saturday, February 26 in Greenwood.  We will learn about tree ages and characteristics, practice tree identification, explore the versatility of trees, careers involved with forests, and learn about tapping maple trees for syrup. Youth will receive kits in the mail for accompanying hands-on activities including tree ring counting, tree cookie ornaments, tree identification books, maple candies, and maple syrup thickness and taste samples. Register by January 12th https://extension.umaine.edu/4h/virtual-learning-hub/open-registrations/. Please contact sara.king@maine.edu for questions.

New Impromptu Catagory at State Public Speaking Tournament

The Maine 4-H Public Speaking Committee is pleased to announce a new category at the State Tournament in April 2022! 
 
Impromptu is a fun and exciting category that gives participants the opportunity to practice off-the-cuff presentations. Youth will be given three topics to choose from and then have several minutes to prepare a short presentation for an audience. For this year, Impromptu will be a non-scored category. However, participants can expect to receive feedback from judges and peers. Youth who participate in the Maine 4-H Public Speaking Tournament will also be able to participate in the Impromptu category as a bonus opportunity.

4-H Volunteers SAVE THE DATES

January 19 * February 16 * March 16 – 6:30 – 8:30 pm

This year’s Cabin Fever Series for 4-H Volunteers is combining efforts with other states in the Northeast region! The following three topics will be featured in virtual workshops this winter: 

  • re-engaging and motivating youth 
  • designing captivating and fun activities 
  • expanding possibilities for youth to broaden their world 

These workshops will offer a great chance to learn something new, brush up on your skills and connect with 4-H volunteers from across the Northeast! Mark your calendars to save the dates and look for more information in January! Hope to see you there! https://extension.umaine.edu/4h/2021/12/29/4-h-volunteers-save-the-dates/

4-H Club Resources

The Norma Hardison Fund has been created to support 4-H club special projects. 4-H Club Creativity Grant application ideas should tie into the 4-H program priorities for Maine, including club and community learning projects, philanthropic projects that engage members in the community supporting 4-H program work, and/or new creative educational ideas. Funds can be requested for amounts up to $200; on a rare occasion, the grant request may be considered for more than $200. Sponsor: Maine 4-H Foundation Youth Trustees in Philanthropy. Application Form.

4-H Service Innovative Education, and Philanthropy Grants

Grant application ideas should tie into the 4-H program priorities for Maine including club and community service learning projects, philanthropic projects that engage members in the community supporting 4-H program work, and/or new creative educational ideas. Funds can be requested for amounts from $100 to $500; on a rare occasion, the grant request may be considered for more than $500. Sponsor: Maine 4-H Foundation Youth Trustees in Philanthropy. Application Form.

EFNEP Logo

EFNEP Recipe of the Month: 

Last month we mentioned snowy days, warm fires, and hot chocolate. After a fun day of sledding, skiing, skating, or making snowmen, a warm cup of hot cocoa will be great with those No-Bake Chocolate Chip Bites! If you would like to see this as a video and check out our other Mainely Dish Recipe videos, visit our recipe website for the Hot Cocoa Convenience mix recipe and recipe video

Hot Cocoa Convenience Mix

Servings per recipe: 10 (2½ cups of mix))
Serving size: 4 Tbsp. (¼ cup) of mix

Ingredients 

  • ⅔ cup white sugar
  • 1½ cups dry nonfat milk powder
  • ⅔ cup unsweetened cocoa powder

Directions

  1. Add sugar and dry nonfat milk powder into a mixing bowl.
  2. Sift cocoa powder into the same bowl.
  3. Mix ingredients thoroughly and store in an airtight container.
  4. To use, bring 1 cup of water (8 oz.) to boil in a saucepan, mix in 4 tablespoons of hot cocoa convenience mix and stir well.

Notes

  • This hot cocoa mix more closely resembles dark chocolate rather than milk chocolate sweetness.
  • To increase sweetness, try adding 1 tsp. of sugar, mini marshmallows, your favorite creamer, or whipped cream right before drinking.
  • Store hot cocoa mix in an airtight container at room temperature and use within 2 months.

To see the full recipe and video visit our website