4-H News in Washington County, March 2019
Important Dates
March 9– Washington County 4-H Public Speaking Tournament, University of Maine at Machias
March 10– Washington County 4-H Public Speaking Tournament Snow Date, University of Maine Cooperative Extension
March 13-17– Maine Science Festival, Bangor
March 23– Maine Science Fair, Bowdoin College, Brunswick
March 23– Washington County 4-H Robotics and Engineering Expo, University of Maine at Machias
March 26-April 7– Paper Clover Campaign, Tractor Supply Co., Calais
April 6– Maine 4-H State Public Speaking Tournament
May 31-June 1– 4H@UMaine
June 29-July 6– Citizenship Washington Focus, Washington D.C.
July 19-21– Maine 4-H Days, Windsor Fairgrounds
4-H Camp and Learning Center at Greenland Point will be opening its doors this summer! Our commitment to the young folks and families in this region is to offer affordable programs that engage and incite a passion for the outdoors as well as building friendships and connections within their communities. Five weeks of programming will be available with everything from day camps for youth ages 5-12 and a variety of residential camps for youth between the ages of 7-15 will be offered. SCHOLARSHIPS are available! Simply call 207.665.2068 to register and request a scholarship! They are first-come, first serve, so be sure to register early to reserve your spot! Learn more about our new camp and learning center at https://extension.umaine.edu/greenland-point/
2019 Maine Science Festival is offering free $25 gas cards
The Maine Science Festival is offering $25 gas cards to Washington families that attend the Maine Science Festival in Bangor and are willing to complete a simple evaluation. For more information or to reserve your gas card please contact Tara Wood at the University of Maine Cooperative Extension Office: 207-255-3345 or by email at tara.a.wood@maine.edu. You do not have to be a 4-H member to qualify for a gas card. This is open to all Washington County families on a first come, first served basis.
The evaluation and gas card can be picked up at the University of Maine Cooperative Extension office in Machias and will be given out upon the return of the completed evaluation.
The Maine Science Festival takes place on March 13-17, 2019. Visit the Maine Science Festival website to find out more about the event!
Public invited to attend the UMaine Extension Washington County 4-H public speaking tournament March 9
University of Maine Cooperative Extension 4-H in Washington County will hold its annual public speaking tournament Saturday, March 9, beginning at 10 a.m., at the University of Maine at Machias, room 102 in the Science Building. The event is free and open to the public.
4-H youth will give presentations on topics that include cows, native dance, how to make a pressed-flower bookmark and how to write music.
Snow date for the event is March 10, starting at 10 a.m., at the UMaine Extension office, 28 Center Street, Machias.
For more information or to request a reasonable accommodation, contact Sandy Copel Parsons, 207.255.3345; sandra.copelparsons@maine.edu. More information is also available online.
Invitation to the 2019 4-H Robotics and Engineering Expo
The 2019 Washington County 4-H Robotics and Engineering Expo will be held on Saturday, March 23 at the University of Maine at Machias from 9 a.m.to 1 p.m. 4-H clubs who have participated in robotic projects are encouraged to attend and participate in the activities. Please find all information about the event online.
Spectators are also welcome to attend the morning session from 9:30 to 11:15 a.m. to see the local school and 4-H club teams exhibit their robotic displays and demonstrations to judges.
Tractor Supply Paper Clover Days March 26- April 7!
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.
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 your visit with the TSC store manager.
4-H Digital Ambassador Project Maine
During the week of February vacation, youth gathered at Porter Memorial Library for Vacation Week 4-H SPIN Club! Sessions included Bee Friendly with 4-H volunteer Jane Bell, Worm Composting with Sandy Copel Parsons and Eco Bots with 4-H volunteer Steve Copel Parsons. Please watch for details in the next newsletter for the April Vacation Week 4-H SPIN Club!
4-H News from the State
Save the Date for 2019 Maine 4-H Days
Maine 4-H Days will take place July 19 – 21 at the Windsor Fairgrounds. If you are interested in helping to plan next year’s event, please contact Jessy Brainerd at 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/recommendations about the event, please email brainerd@maine.edu, or call 207.581.3877.
Come to Orono for the 2019 4H@UMaine May 31 – June 1!
Planning has started and the wheels are in motion thanks to the efforts of a tremendous team! We are always looking for individuals interested in helping with pre-event planning or attending the event itself! Stay tuned for details. For more information about 4-H@UMaine, contact Greg Kranich atkranich@maine.edu or 207.581.3292.
Citizenship Washington Focus
Citizenship Washington Focus (CWF) Start making plans now to visit our Nation’s Capital during the week of June 29 to July 6, 2019. CWF is a leadership program conducted by the National 4-H Council for high school youth ages 14 to 18. Delegations of 4-Hers from across the country spend six days touring the city and attending leadership skill-building workshops. This summer, the Maine delegation will travel down on Saturday, June 29 and travel home Saturday July 6, 2019. You will stay at the National 4-H Conference Center just outside Washington, DC. Visiting the most popular sites in Washington, DC will be a part of the trip, including spending the 4th of July in our nation’s capital. There is a mandatory orientation for Maine delegates on April 27th, 2019. For more information visit the CWF website. Contact your county 4-H office for details about how to be a part of this experience if you don’t hear from them very shortly. All county offices have different criteria/dates to apply, so please contact them ASAP. Websites are currently being updated. For specific questions, please contact Heidi Palmer, State Activities Coordinator at: heidi.thuotte@maine.edu.
National Trips
National 4-H Trip Applications Are due March 8th, 2019 (Conference and Congress) National 4-H Trips are excellent opportunities to meet 4-H members from across the nation. Participants learn about many career options, and learn through educational workshops at Congress or become a part of a team making recommendations to National 4-H Council at Conference. To learn more about these trips, visit: https://extension.umaine.edu/4h/national-trips/. Websites are currently being updated. For specific questions, please contact Heidi Palmer, State Activities Coordinator at: thuotte@maine.edu
2019 Maine 4-H Public Speaking Tournament
The 4-H State Public Speaking Tournament will be held Saturday, April 6, 2019at the University of Maine at Orono. 4-H Youth ages 9 to 18 who have participated in their county 4-H public speaking tournament and received the required score are invited to participate. For youth in counties which do not hold public speaking tournaments, arrangements may be made through their county’s Extension office to present their presentation to their county’s 4-H staff in order to be eligible. More information is available on the Maine State 4-H Public Speaking website.
Please provide feedback on Project Records!
Click the following link to take the survey.
You are invited to participate in a statewide research project being conducted by Kristy Ouellette and Jennifer Lobley, Extension Educators at the University of Maine Cooperative Extension. 4-H volunteers and staff from all over Maine will participate in this study.
Purpose of this research project: We recognize the value of our 4-H volunteers. As a state we have rolled out new 4-H Project Records. We want to have a better understanding of your beliefs and understandings of the function of these records. What will you be asked to do? If you decide to participate, you will be asked to complete an on-line survey with questions pertaining to your attitudes and beliefs regarding 4-H project records in Maine. The survey will take you approximately 20 minutes to complete. Risks: Except for your time and inconvenience, there are no foreseeable risks to you in participating in this study. Benefits: You will be eligible to enter into a raffle for a $25.00 gift card to Hannaford. Confidentiality: As a participant you will be anonymous. Investigators or a student will enter data into a computer. Data will be kept on a secured computer with only the investigators or a student having access. Data will be kept for a period of 5 years. Voluntary: Participation is voluntary. If you choose to take part in this study, you may stop at any time during the study. You may skip any questions you do not wish to answer. Participation in the on-line survey implies consent to participate.
Contact Information: If you have any questions about this study, please contact Kristy Ouellette at 207.353.5550 or kristy.ouellette@maine.edu If you have any questions about your rights as a research participant, please contact Gayle Jones, Assistant to the University of Maine’s Protection of Human Subjects Review Board, at 581.1498 (or e-mail gayle.jones@maine.edu).