4-H News in Washington County, June 2019

Important Dates

June 22– Ribbon Cutting Ceremony, 4-H Camp and Learning Center at Greenland Point, 2:00 p.m.

June 25–July 30– Kids Can Grow and Parents Too!

June 25-August 1– 4-H Summer of Science

June 29-July 6– Citizenship Washington Focus, Washington D.C.

June 30- Animal Approval Forms are Due in the Extension Office

July 4– Office Closed

July 19-21– Maine 4-H Days, Windsor Fairgrounds

September 13– Washington County 4-H Photo Contest Deadline


Washington County 4-Hers Participate at Northeast Livestock Expo

Several Washington County 4-H members recently attended and successfully showed animals at the Northeast Livestock Expo in Windsor!

The Northeast Livestock Expo (NELE),offers a unique opportunity for livestock producers to market premier breeding stock, meat animals, and participate in educational seminars to ensure food safety and quality farm products.

In addition, NELE brings together youth for a weekend-long learning experience as they exhibit livestock and develop related skills and knowledge through competitions such as youth shows, a youth cook-off, marketing and judging competitions. The general public is invited to see, learn about and gain a better understanding of livestock commodities and the agricultural industry as a whole.

The Northeast Livestock Expo was held the third weekend in May at the Windsor Fairgrounds in Windsor, Maine.

Congrats to Cali, Kiigan and Zoe!

4-H Tech Changemakers

Youth work at the 4-H Tech Changemakers garden.FINALLY, the weather is cooperating and the garden at Washington Academy is beginning to come together. Thanks to many hands of WA students, UMaine Extension Master Gardeners and Regina Grabrovac from Healthy Acadia, the space looks great! Community partners (Coast of Maine Organic Products, Dean McGuire’s Seasonal Services and Wall’s TV and Appliance) have donated time and resources. What’s in store for this summer? Garden work parties are scheduled for Monday morning. Produce will be harvested and donated to the Machias Food Pantry! Want to join the fun? Call the Extension office to learn how you can get involved!

UMaine Extension at Washington Academy this summer

girl showing gardenUniversity of Maine Cooperative Extension announces summer programming for youth ages five and older and their parents at Washington Academy, 66 Cutler Road, East Machias.  From June 25–July 30, Tuesdays, 8:30–9:30 a.m., “Kids Can Grow and Parents Too!” will be held in the Community Garden in conjunction with the Maine Department of Education Summer Food Service Program. Maine Department of Education Summer Food Service Program will be serving meals to all youth ages 18 and younger this summer!  Breakfast will be served from 7:30-8:00 a.m. and lunch from 11:30 a.m.-Noon.  As parents learn healthy eating tips, youth will engage in a garden-based activity, and each session ends by making a snack together with food from the garden. UMaine Extension community education assistants Sandy Copel-Parsons and Rita Stephenson will lead this program.

Also on Tuesdays from June 25-July 30, UMaine Extension 4-H will offer Summer of Science, beginning at 10:30 a.m. in the Washington Academy cafeteria. This program features STEM activities with a pirate theme and is designed for youth in grades 3–5.The programs are free of cost.  For more information or to request a reasonable accommodation, contact 800.287.1542 (in Maine), 207.255.3345; tara.a.wood@maine.edu.

4-H Summer of Science

ship

What is 4-H Summer of Science? It is a series of weekly STEM activities for kids designed for youth in grades 3-5 beginning the last week of June and continuing until the end of July!  This year, kids will be acting as pirates seeking hidden treasure. The kids will have to use the Engineer Design Process and learn about the science of ocean waters to confront real world challenges to navigate their pirate ship.

Week 1- Clean Oceans– learn about pollution and ways to clean up polluted waters

Week 2-  Oceans Deep (and Shallow)– learn layers of the ocean

Week 3-  Boat Afloat!– learn what floats in fresh and saltwater

Week 4-  The Warning Shot– protect the pirate ship with catapults

Week 5- Abandon Ship!– construct rocket and spring to safety to an island

Week 6- Island Life-Light It Up– light up the island cave by using wire, battery and bulb

Sessions will take place in the following locations:

Washington Academy, East Machias- Tuesdays, 10:30-11:30 a.m.

Porter Memorial Library, Machias- Thursdays, 3:30-4:30 p.m.

Princeton Public Library, Princeton- Wednesdays, 2:00-3:00 p.m.

Questions? Please contact:  Sandy Copel-Parsons, 207-255-3345, sandra.copelparsons@maine.edu

Please register for this FREE program by calling 207.255.3345 or email tara.a.wood@maine.edu.

New 4-H Club in Whiting-Organizational Meeting on June 10th

Please join us for an informational session about a new 4-H club starting in the Whiting area. Youth ages 5 and older and their parents are invited to attend to learn more! The meeting will take place on Monday, June 10th at the Whiting Community Center beginning at 3:15 p.m.

Questions? Please contact Jane Bell at 207.733.4756 or Sandy Copel-Parsons, 4-H Community Education Assistant at 207.255.3345.

2019 Washington County 4-H Photo Contest

Get out there and take photos for the 2019 Washington County 4-H Photo Contest!  More information can now be found online at the Washington County 4-H Photo Contest website.  Deadline for submissions is Friday, September 13, 2019.

Animal Approval Forms- Final Reminder

If you plan to show an animal in any 4-H classes this year, including at the Blue Hill Fair, you must submit an Animal Approval Form by June 30, 2019. Small pets and poultry are the only exception; all other animals (Horse, Beef, Sheep, Goat, Swine, etc) are required to have an animal approval form.

4-H Camp and Learning Center at Greenland Point

There is still time to register for the 4-H Camp and Learning Center at Greenland Point this summer!  For more information, visit the 4-H Camp and Learning Center website.  For information on scholarships, contact Bethany Pelletier at 207.665.2068.
4-H Camp and Learning Center at Greenland Point

4-H News from the State

Register Now for Maine 4-H Days
Maine 4-H Days will take place July 19 – 21 at the Windsor Fairgrounds. Get ready for a fun-filled weekend full of exciting Enrichment and Livestock activities! From Tie-Dye to Relay Races; Fairy Gardens to Composting; Meet an Alpaca or sign up for Poultry Camp – Registration is now open, and workshops are filling up fast! Go to Maine 4-H Days website.
If you are interested in volunteering in any capacity, please contact Jessy Brainerd at jessica.brainerd@maine.edu or
207.581.3877.

4-H Camp Opportunities for Children of Military Families
There are numerous wonderful programs being offered to children of military families through special grant programs.  These Adventure Camps are sponsored by the Department of Defense to provide quality outdoor experiences for children of Service Members in the active, reserve, or guard components. Specific questions about eligibility should be made to the Tanglewood office at 207.789.5868 or  extension.tanglewood4h@maine.edu .
Programs are designed to build self-esteem, trust, teamwork, friendships, skill building, and appreciation of nature through outdoor adventures. Staff of UMaine 4-H Camp and Learning Centers and key outdoor education and adventure partners lead camps. Open sessions for ages 14 – 18 include: Ocean Adventure (6/25 – 6/28 and 6/30-7/5), Coastal STEM Challenge (6/23 – 6/28 and 6/30 – 7/5), and for ages 8 – 14, Make and Create STEM Challenge (7/28 – 8/2). Learn more about all sessions at 4-H Military Partnership.
To register for these programs, go to 4-H Military Camps registration.

4-H Teen Camp at Tanglewood 4-H Camp and Learning Center – June 23 – 28, 2019
Building on the success of last year’s program, 4-H Teen Camp at Tanglewood will once again be offered to any currently enrolled Maine 4-H teen ages 13 – 18, during the first week of Summer Camp, June 23-28, 2019. Check in is 2:30-3:30 PM on Sunday. Closing Ceremony is 3 PM on Friday but if you need to come later in the week or leave earlier please let Sara or Alisha know. The cost to attend is just $75 for the week! 4-H Teen Camp will focus on building life skills of cooperation, teamwork, and leadership that youth can bring back to their clubs, while also giving teens the chance to enjoy all that Tanglewood 4-H Camp and Learning Center in Lincolnville, Maine has to offer.
Space is very limited so please register today at 4-H Teen Camp at Tanglewood registration . Use code SUMMIT (all caps) to register. Questions about 4-H Teen Camp, please contact Sara Conant,  sara.conant@maine.edu , 207-781-6099 or Alisha Targonski,  alisha.r.targonski@maine.edu , 207.622.7546. For more information or questions about Tanglewood 4-H Camp & Learning Center, or camp registration please call 207.789.5868.