4-H in Washington County – April 2022
Dates to Remember
April 12-May 17: Tidepool Immersion Discovery + Ecology Workshop Series
April 18-19: Maine 4-H Agriculture Symposium
April 19 & 22: Wildlife Workshop with WHEP and Maine 4-H
April 22 to May 8: Paper Clover Campaign
April 23: 2022 Maine 4-H Dairy Judging Contest
April 28: 4-H for All SPIN Club
May 1: ESE Horse or Dairy Intent to Participate Deadline
May 15: Deadline for Maine App Challenge
May 26: 4-H for All SPIN Club
June 1: 2021 Fryeburg Fair Market Lamb Intent form Due
June 25-July 1: Citizenship Washington Focus (CWF)
July 27-31: Union Fair
Volunteers are the core of our 4-H Program. Youth in Washington County thrive and benefit from your excitement, experience and dedication to positive youth development. As the 4-H Professional for Washington County, I could not extend the reach of 4-H opportunities alone and appreciate the continued volunteer contributions. Here are the many ways volunteers have supported our county 4-H Program:
- Club leadership
- SPIN club leadership
- public speaking judging
- filling out volunteer surveys
- attending trainings
- representation at an information booth
- communication & collaboration
- encouraging others to support 4-H
Our youth of Washington County and I appreciate you and all of your efforts! Thank you!
York and Washington County members met virtually this month. As the season begins to get a little noisier moving into spring, we focused on listening to sounds in nature. Club members explored clips from nature and identified the sounds which included various birds, running water, wind rustling the trees and animals walking. Youth also practiced listening to common bird songs we might hear this spring in Maine. The club meeting ended with learning how to draw birds. I must say, we have quite the group of artists. I cannot wait to find out what they hear and what birds they identify this season!
Washington County Public Speaking
We were happy to bring back Public Speaking in person this year! The day was a great success with a hybrid model of both in person and virtual speeches. Congratulations to our Cloverbuds, Samuel and Ira, their speeches on snakes were very informative and entertaining. Congratulations to our Junior members: Linda, Soren and Noah, who all qualified for state. Your speeches were so creative and well thought out. We wish you the best of luck at the Maine 4-H State Public Speaking Tournament this month!
A huge thank you to the judges, Kyle and Jenny. As well as to our scorekeeper and photographer, Charlie. I also want to thank the family members who came to support our 4-Hers. The day could not have run so smoothly without everyone!
The Spring Paper Clover Campaign will take place at the Tractor Supply Co. store in Calais from April 22 to May 8. Please encourage family and friends to participate in this fundraiser to help 4-H!
4-H News from the State
The purpose of this virtual club is to provide new and potential members and their families a place to learn about 4-H; and to connect youth across the state. Youth will choose a project to complete and learn more about 4-H and how to become involved. We want you to join and engage in our 4-H program! There is no cost, and meetings will help challenge you to create new goals and discover new passions. Open to youth 5-13, dates will be April 28, May 26 at 10am. Register at: umaine.edu/4h/4-h-for-all-club.
The Maine App Challenge
Love technology? Here is a chance to put your passion to a purpose and win a scholarship along the way! The Maine App Challenge is an incredible opportunity for Maine middle school and high school students who are 13 years of age and older to create a mobile application with a chance to win a scholarship and other valuable rewards. A series ofinnovation workshops from the University of Maine Foster Center for Innovation will help you get started! There are three scholarships available for the top mobile apps: $6,000 for first place, $3,000 for second place, and $1,000 for third place.Other awards include: $500 to the high school with the highest participation, Tablets to the first 50 completed submissions, a guaranteed internship interview for the top 10 submissions following his/her college sophomore year. Visit the Tyler Technology Maine App Challenge website for more information; the deadline for submissions is May 15th.
Maine 4-H Virtual Learning Hub
Maine 4-H VirtualLearning 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. This is a great way for those who are interested to learn more about 4-H.
Check out the upcoming 4-H VirtualLearning Programs we have planned in the coming months: Visit the Upcoming Events: Statewide Virtual Offerings for 2021-2022 page.
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- Learn which virtual event registrations are open: Visit the Open Registrations page.
- Interested in becoming a Volunteer Presenter? Visit the Become a Volunteer Presenter page for more information and to complete an interest form.
- Read what 4-H Parents, Youth, and Teachers have to say about these 4-H VirtualLearning offerings: Visit the 4-H Parents, Youth, Teachers: Stories and Testimonials page.
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ESE Approval Form Reminder
All 4-H members intending to exhibit a horse or dairy animal at Eastern States Exposition this fall must submit their 4-H animal approval form, as well as their accompanying lease forms and health documents, to their county Cooperative Extension office by May 1st. Copies of 4-H approval and lease forms can be found online at https://extension.umaine.edu/4h/forms. Please contact your county office with any questions.
EFNEP Recipe of the Month: Egg Bites!
The sound of songbirds, crocuses poking their heads out of the snow, vacation week, new calves, and lambs in the fields were all signs for me as a child to celebrate the beginning of Spring. It got me thinking of celebrating the beginning of the day and an EGGcellent recipe for breakfast, or anytime! Eggs are a great affordable source of protein. In this Egg Bites Recipe, you can easily change up the optional add-in ingredients to fit your taste or mood! Check out this and many other great recipes in our Maine Dish Recipe Video Series. By Debbie Barnett (EFNEP CEA in Kennebec, Knox, Lincoln, and Waldo counties – deborah.barnett@maine.edu)
Expanded Food & Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) offers FREE nutrition education classes to income-eligible adults with children, or young adults 19-25 years old, and if you are eligible for programs such as SNAP, WIC, or Head Start. Find out more online.
2022 Intent Form for Maine 4-H ESE Equestrian Team Now Available
The 2022 Maine 4-H ESE Equestrian Team Tryouts intent to participate form is available online at https://extension.umaine.edu/4h/horse/. In order to be eligible for participation, 4-H members must submit their intent forms by May 1st. Forms can be completed online or a hard copy of the form can be mailed to the Franklin County Cooperative Extension office. For more information or for questions, please contact Tara Marble at tara.marble@maine.edu or 207.778.4650.
Maine 4-H Offers Agriculture Symposium for Teens
You are invited to join Maine 4-H staff for the 4-H Agriculture Symposium, an immersive agriculture experience for Maine teens. The 4-H Agriculture Symposium is an overnight experience for Maine youth ages 14-18. Participants will take part in hands-on learning opportunities, engage with industry professionals on UMaine Orono and UMaine Augusta-Bangor campuses, develop leadership skills, and make friendships with teens from around the state. Current 4-H membership is not required. Assistance with transportation can be provided upon request. The program is free and registration is required. Register on the program webpage. Current CDC and University of Maine health guidelines will be followed for all in-person events. For more information or to request a reasonable accommodation, contact Alisha Targonski at 207.622.7546; 4hagleadership@maine.edu. This program is made possible with generous support from the Alton ’38 and Adelaide Hamm Campus Activity Fund.
Maine 4-H Dairy Judging Tryouts Scheduled for April
The 2022 Maine 4-H Dairy Judging Contest will be held on April 23rd at Juniper Farms in Gray, ME, and Pineland Farms in New Gloucester, ME. The event is open to all enrolled 4-H dairy members and will serve as the official tryouts for the 2022 Maine 4-H Eastern States Dairy Judging Team. Visit https://extension.umaine.edu/4h/judging/for a complete schedule, contest rules, and directions to the farms. For more information or to request a reasonable accommodation please contact Sadee Mehuren at sadee.mehuren@maine.edu or 207.342.5971.
Wildlife Workshop with WHEP and 4-H
Come for a full day of activities dedicated to learning about Maine wildlife and habitat management. Are you interested in learning about wild animals and the places they call home? Do you want to feel and examine an otter’s pelt or hold a bear skull in your hands? Then you should sign up for the Junior (9-12 year old) Workshop! Do you want to delve deeper into ecology and food webs? Are you interested in exploring wildlife and habitat management as a career? Then sign up for our Teen (13+) Workshop! Both age groups will have the chance to participate in hands-on activities and learn from wildlife experts with the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.There are two opportunities to participate:
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- April 19th 9am-4pm at the 4-H Camp and Learning Center at Tanglewood, in Lincolnville
- April 22nd 9am-4pm at the Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine in Augusta
The workshops will be identical, so you only need to sign up for one! More information about the day will be emailed to you as the day of the event approaches.
Spaces are limited. Please be sure you can commit to attending before signing up. Visit the Wildlife Workshop Registration page to register today.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Erin McDonald at erin.mcdonald1@maine.edu or 207-324-2814.