4-H in Washington County – April 2018
Volume 13, Issue 4
Dates to Remember
April 11-22: Paper Clover Campaign at Tractor Supply Company in Calais
Week of April 16: Vacation Week SPIN Club at Porter Memorial Library, Gardening Focus
April 28: National 4-H Day of Service
May 18-19: 4-H@UMaine
June 8-10: June Jamboree at the Blue Hill Fairgrounds, Save the Date
June 30- July 7: CWF
July 20-22: Maine 4-H Days at the Windsor Fair
2018 4-H Public Speaking Tournament
The annual Washington County 4-H Public Speaking Tournament took place on Saturday, March 17 in Machias. All 4-Hers participating did a wonderful job. Mikaila from Horse Power will participate in the state 4-H Public Speaking Tournament on Saturday, April 7 in Orono.
Hope from North Woods 4-H had these words to say about her experience:
“Today was a bittersweet day. I gave my farewell speech at my local county public speaking competition which was filled with a whole lot of tears from myself and my fellow 4-h leaders and parents. I was handed the torch and was able to judge some amazing speakers as well today. 4-H made my best life even better.”
Scholarships Available to Attend 4-H@UMaine
Are you in middle or high school? Do you ever wonder what it’s like to spend a weekend on a college campus? On May 18-19, come check out what the University of Maine has to offer! By participating, you will:
- spend the night in a college dorm room,
- interact with UMaine students, staff, and faculty in cool workshops,
- eat at the student dining hall, and
- get active at the New Balance Student Recreation Center.
The Washington County office is offering 10 scholarships for youth to attend 4-H@UMaine free of cost. Recipients must be enrolled Washington County 4-H members to receive a scholarship. Please call the office at 255.3345 for more information and to get your coupon code to attend free. The registration deadline is April 16, 2018. Please visit the 4-H@UMaine: Connecting Kids to Campus page for more information and online registration for 4-H@UMaine.
Going to Summer Camp? – Scholarships Available
With the help of scholarships, summer camp can become a reality for our youth. Be sure to check out all the great opportunities available to our 4-H youth at our UMaine 4-H Camp & Learning Center at Tanglewood & Blueberry Cove as well as our Bryant Pond 4-H Camp by visiting the 4-H Camps and Learning Centers page.
Youth have the opportunity to receive multiple scholarships. The Maine 4-H Foundation offers scholarships, as do the camps themselves. There are also active duty military-family scholarships, camp financial-need based scholarships. We are also offering five $200 scholarships to Washington County youth thanks to the generosity of the Harmon Foundation. These will be given on a first come, first served basis. Please visit the Washington County 4-H Program website for the application. Don’t wait until its too late… apply today!
For more information about the summer camps, check out these videos:
High School Solar Car Sprint Challenge
The first high school solar car challenge will be happening this spring in Washington County- date and location to be announced. This groundbreaking Competition is sponsored by STEM Guides Downeast Maine. High school students will create a small solar-powered vehicle. The goal is to create the fastest, most interesting, or best-crafted vehicle. Entries will be judged on: speed, technical merit, innovation in design, craftsmanship and best use of recycled materials.
Please contact Tara Wood at 207.255.3345 or tara.a.wood@maine.edu if you would like more information about the event. We still have a few kits available if interested.
Vacation Week Gardening SPIN Club
There will be a gardening themed SPIN Club the week of April vacation at the Porter Memorial Library in Machias. Sessions include terrariums, worms, and a mystery gardening session. Dates will be Tuesday, April 17, Thursday, April 19 and Friday, April 20 from 11:00 a.m. to Noon. Please call the office at 255.3345 for questions or to register.
True Leaders in Service
4-H’ers are passionate about service. Research shows that youth who participate in 4-H programs are significantly more likely to make a positive contribution to their communities. In April, 4-H’ers across the nation will participate as True Leaders in Service in multiple community service projects, culminating in a National 4-H Day of Service on Saturday, April 28, 2018. We encourage you to plan your own community service project and register on the True Leaders in Service page on the 4-H website.
Tractor Supply Paper Clover Days April 11- 22!
Seeking 4-H members to volunteer a few hours during a weekend to spend a few hours at the store in Calais during the Paper Clover campaign. Members act as store greeters and be visible in the store. Members learn customer service skills while having fun!
Each Spring and Fall, Tractor Supply helps raise money for 4-H programs. 90% of funds raised from the program go back to the state 4-H programs to be used on scholarships for camps and leadership events.
Any club that participates in-store during the fundraiser is eligible to enter the sweepstakes to win a $100 TSC gift card for club projects! The club leader must be the one that enters. Club leaders are eligible to enter (Visit the Tractor Supply website.) as many times as they participate in-store.
Sandy will be setting up the display so just let Tara know at 207.255.3345 when you would like to be at the store so we can arrange with Steve, the TSC store manager.
4-H Robotics Expo in its 12th Year
The 12th Annual 4-H Robotics Expo welcomed 63 youth in grades 4-8 from seven area schools and Ellsworth area 4-H club. Youth demonstrated their knowledge of robotics programming as well as their public speaking skills for community judges and their peers. Having youth provide feedback to their peers helps them to see projects through the lens of a judge and can help them gain insight they can use to improve their own presentations,” explained Jen Lobley, UMaine Extension Professor who has organized the event for the past 12 years. “Our judging component has evolved over the years. In addition to peer judges, we also invite teens who participated in the event when they were younger, to join adult judges from the community.” The University of Maine Black Bear Robotics Team provided interactive demonstrations and discussions and STEM-related workshops were offered by University of Maine at Machias faculty, a teacher from Washington Academy and 4-H staff and volunteers.
4-H has expanded its reach beyond the traditional club model that focus on agriculture by offering over 100 topic areas to meet the needs and interests of today’s youth. Partnerships with local school and afterschool programs staff as well as University departments and community volunteers is critical to the success of the program. If you are interested in learning more about the 4-H program and how to be a volunteer, contact the Washington County UMaine Cooperative Extension office at 255.3345 or 800.287.1542 (in Maine) or visit the 4-H website.
4-H Tech Changemakers
Last fall, National 4-H Council and Microsoft launched 4-H Tech Changemakers, a project to help equip young people with the digital skills and resources they need to make a positive impact in their communities. 4-H teens will serve as leaders in their own communities, helping the community see what’s possible when you learn to create with, not just consume, technology.
Youth from the greater Machias area in Washington County are exploring the idea of developing mapping tools to help reduce food insecurity by connecting people with local farms, gardens and food banks. They not only want to provide a digital picture of the food insecurity issue in their community but find ways to engage more community members as volunteers.
Teen Science Café Leadership Team
The Teen Science Cafe Youth Leadership Team, models their new Teen Science Cafe t-shirts, in preparation of the Teen Science Cafes being held at Narraguagus Jr./Sr. High School.
Save the Date!
The Hancock County 4-H June Jamboree will be held at the Blue Hill Fairgrounds, June 8 through June 10. This is a great event for an overnight, weekend or day-long trip for all our 4-H’ers.
4-H’ers, Guests, and families from Hancock, Penobscot, Piscataquis, Waldo and Washington counties are welcome to participate. Participants are welcome to begin arriving Friday afternoon, June 8 at 3 pm.
Friday evening will consist of games, social time around the campfire and s’mores. Participants are also welcome to arrive Saturday, June 9th to participate in livestock and enrichment activities, beginning at 8:30 am and coming to an end around 4:30 pm.
Some of the enrichment programs being offered include Amateur Radio, Knots for Land and Sea, Printmaking, String Art, Crafting with Nature, Kids in the Kitchen and more along with the “Anytime Craft and Science” tables.
Stay tuned and be sure to check your e-mail for more information. Full schedules, more information, and registration can be found online, starting April 25th. “Contact us if you are interested in volunteering to lead a workshop or staff the “Anytime Craft & Science” tables.
Cooking with the Kids
Garlic White Bean Dip
Ingredients:
1 (15-ounce) can of drained and rinsed cannellini beans
2 cloves garlic, minced (2-3 tsp. bottled minced garlic)
2 tbsp. bottled lemon juice
1 tbsp. olive oil
Salt and Pepper to taste
Directions: Place beans, garlic, lemon juice, olive oil in a blender. Blend 1 to 1½ minutes until the mixture is smooth. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve with pita or tortilla chips. Dip may be stored in the refrigerator for 3 – 4 days
University of Maine Cooperative Extension Eat Well Program
4-H News from the State
Register now for 2018 4-H@UMaine May 18-19!
Have you ever wondered what it takes to be a nurse? Or to Mod your Minecraft? Or to learn a hip-hop dance with the UMaine Dance Team? For answers to these questions and more, 4-H@UMaine invites you (6th-10th graders) to participate in our fun interactive overnight on UMaine campus with career role models and kids from across the state on May 18-19! For more information about 4-H@UMaine, contact Greg Kranich at kranich@maine.edu or 207.949.3878. Register on the 4-H@UMaine: Connecting Kids to Campus page. Registration is open until April 16, and space is limited.
Save the Date for 2018 Maine 4-H Days
Maine 4-H Days will take place July 20-22 at the Windsor Fairgrounds. If you are interested in helping to plan next year’s event, please contact Jessy Brainerd at jessica.brainerd@maine.edu or 207.581.3877.
Maine 4-H Days Planning Committee
July will be here before you know it, and we are looking for a few good volunteers to join the fantastic current Maine 4-H Days Planning Committee. Joining this committee gives you the chance to help come up with ideas and plans for one of our biggest statewide events! If you are interested in joining the Maine 4-H Days Planning Committee or have general questions, comments or recommendations about the event, please email jessica.brainerd@maine.edu, or call 207.581.3877.
2018 American Goat Federation Youth Scholarship Program
To encourage education and development of youth involved in the goat industry, AGF will accept scholarship applications from qualifying youth who enter and complete all requirements of the program. Projects must be received at the AGF office by August 20, 2018, and the Scholarship Application accompanied by a short biography must be received at the office No Later Than 30 days prior to August 20, 2018. Entries will be judged by an independent panel and winners will be announced September 2018. Applicants must be between the ages of 12 and 20, and under the age of 21 as of September 30, 2017. Applicants must be a member of the American Goat Federation, the child, grandchild, great-grandchild or stepchild, step grandchild or step great grandchild of a member of the American Goat Federation, or of any of the following member organizations of the American Goat Federation.
- The American Boer Goat Association (including Jr. Association)
- The American Dairy Goat Association
- Alabama Meat Goat and Sheep Producers Association
- Cashmere Goat Association
- Texas Sheep and Goat Breeders Association
For more information visit the American Goat Federation website.
4-H Market Lamb Intent for Fryeburg Fair
Please submit your Intent to Participate Forms for the 4-H Market Lamb classes at Fryeburg Fair by May 2. You can find the form on the 4-H Sheep Project page.
4-H Wildlife Habitat Education Program (WHEP) Wildlife Education Training Event, April 19-20
Please hold the date! Maine will host the National Wildlife Habitat Education Program this July at the Schoodic Institute at Acadia. In preparation, Maine 4-H will have a training event to prepare and select a team to compete in the national event. On April 19 and 20, the Maine 4-H program will host an overnight educational training program and team selection. Plans include an ongoing WHEP event and participation in the national program each year. More information will follow. The cost will be $25 per member all meals and materials included. The training will be held at the University of Maine 4-H Camp and Learning Center at Bryant Pond. Training is open to all youth ages 8-19. Studying a science-based manual, participants:
- Learn wildlife terms and concepts
- Learn about wildlife habitat
- Learn how to judge the quality of wildlife habitat
- Learn about wildlife habitat management practices
- Learn about wildlife damage management
To learn more, go to the Wildlife Habitat Education Program (WHEP) page or on the Maine Wildlife Habitat Education Program (WHEP) Facebook page or contact Sally Farrell, sarah.s.farrell@maine.edu or 207.324.2814.
Registration Now Open for 2018 Kleinschmidt Windstorm Challenge
UMaine-led STEM Competition for Maine Middle School and High School Youth Focused on Renewable Energy, Innovation, and Economic Development Slated for May 18, 2018. The Kleinschmidt Windstorm Challenge, hosted by the University of Maine, asks teams of students to design and construct a floating platform for a scale model wind turbine and then delivers a presentation to a panel of expert judges. The event is designed for student teams with a diverse range of experience. We encourage all middle and high school students to participate. UMaine staff work with teachers or advisors throughout the design and build process. Teams are presented with a guidebook and a simulated test turbine to test their platform prior to competition day. Participation is free, and a limited number of travel stipends are available to schools with demonstrated need. We recently published this two-minute video highlighting the design, build, and test process with youth from King Middle School in Portland.
High School Teams are teams of 4 or less high school students. Members of the top qualifying team will be offered an internship at the University of Maine Advanced Structures and Composites Center, contingent upon their enrollment at UMaine, valued at more than $20,000. Middle School Teams are teams of up to 10 middle school students. These groups will test their platform and provide a presentation, just like high school teams, but they will not be considered for the internship award. An alternative award will be granted to the members of a winning middle school team. For more information, contact Marcy Smith at marcys@maine.edu, or 207.581.2125
Agricultural Labor Field Day
In collaboration: the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, the Maine Department of Labor (DOL) and Kennebec Valley Community College (KVCC) invite you to participate in the Agricultural Labor Field Day, Thursday, May 3, 2018, from 9:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. at KVCC’s Alfond Recreational Center located on KVCC’s Hinckley Campus in Hinckley, Maine.
The Agricultural Labor Field Day aims to connect young adults interested in professional and academic agricultural careers with local jobs in a variety of agriculture fields and/or undergraduate programming in Sustainable Agriculture, Culinary Arts, and Business Administration at KVCC. This is also an opportunity to meet with workforce training and professional development staff from KVCC and DOL to review your resumes and get job search advice. In addition, KVCC will also provide tours of their farm during the event.
Schedule of events:
- 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Doors open to the public. Open fair format for participants to visit exhibits and for exhibitors to host interviews
- 10:00 – 10:30 a.m. First KVCC Farm Tour leaving the Alfond Rec Center
- 12:00 – 12:30 p.m. Last KVCC Farm Tour leaving the Alfond Rec Center
The event is free and open to the public. For more information about this event and other agricultural opportunities please visit the Farm Labor Link Network page. We look forward to seeing you at our Agricultural Labor Field Day 2018. If you have any questions, please contact Yvette Meunier at 207.592.0640 or yvette.meunier@maine.gov.