4-H News in Washington County – June 2023
Dates to Remember
June 16: Adulting 101 Registration Deadline
June 16: 4-H Camp and Learning Center Scholarship Deadline
June 17: Pride Festivities, Portland
June 21–July 26: 4-H Adulting SPIN Club
June 21: Registration Open for 4-H Teen Leader Program
June 23: 4-H Science Friday- Plants Around Us
June 25–30: Citizenship Washington Focus
June 30: Animal Approval Form Due (Unless an earlier date is designated by a fair premium book.)
July 5-August 10: 4-H Summer Learning Series
July 21: 4-H Science Friday- Kite Making
July 21-22: Maine 4-H Days, Windsor Fairgrounds
July 21-22: Maine State Dairy Show, Windsor Fairgrounds
July 21: Photo Submission Deadline for Washington County 4-H Photo Contest
August 18: 4-H Science Friday- DNA, Strawberries and You
August 26&27: Washington County Fair, Pembroke
Youth in the 4-H Vernal Pool SPIN Club found a hatched salamander larva during the last club meeting – what a great way to end this spring-themed club! 4-H staff and volunteers were excited to share their passion for vernal pools with local youth by exploring vernal pools at Middle River Park in Machias, participating in vernal pool inspired activities and simply spending time outside together. Let us know – should we do it again next year?
Jen Plaut, Cobscook Currents 4-H Volunteer, Awarded University of Maine Volunteer Pen Award
4-H volunteer Jen Plaut was the recipient of the University of Maine Pen Award, recognized for her work co-leading the Cobscook Current 4-H Club in Edmunds which focuses on public speaking, LEGO robotics and photography. This award was presented at the Washington County Extension Association Annual Meeting on Saturday, May 20th.
“Jen’s motivation to provide accessible, engaging and meaningful opportunities for youth in the community has inspired me to embrace what 4-H can do for youth in the county,” shared Washington County Extension 4-H Professional Gabby Brodek. “She knows her youth’s spark and is great at using me as a resource to fulfill those interests. I am so happy I can support her great work.”
State Senator Marianne Moore was also on hand to congratulate the recipients and present them each with a special legislative sentiment.
Congrats Jen!
Leslie Bowman Teaches Photography Workshop to Cobscook Currents 4-H Club
Cobscook Currents 4-H Club had a wonderful day at Crows Neck Farm with Leslie Bowman, who taught a photography workshop!
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- Photos by Jane Bell.
Washington County 4-H Photography Contest
Pull out those cameras and start snapping away! Now’s the time to show off your photography talents. The Washington County 4-H Photography Contest is open to all Washington County, Maine 4-H members. Ribbons and premiums will be awarded! To learn more, visit the website.
Deadline to submit photos to the Extension Office: Friday, July 21, 2023
Grow, grow, grow your seeds for the Washington County Fair!
Enrolled 4-H youth in Washington County can enter vegetables they’ve grown during this upcoming season to the Washington County Fair vegetable contest! Ribbons and premiums will be awarded. Don’t have seeds? No problem! The Washington County Cooperative Extension office has a variety of seeds available – stop by the Extension office during business hours (Monday – Friday, 8:00am-11:30pm and 12:30-4:30pm) to pick up seed packets.
CALLING KID CHEFS – It’s a 4H SPIN Cooking Camp! at Lubec Community Outreach Center
4-H SPIN (Special Interest) programs are short-term deeper dives into projects, offering kids more dedicated time to learn about something they care about. The 3 Squares Cooking Camp will be open to youth ages 8 and up (4-H membership not required) and will run from August 21 thru August 24 from 8:00am to 3:00pm.
Topics will include “The Edible Egg”, “That’s Salada Lettuce”, “Did I Just Hear a Taco Bell” and more. This is hands-on learning, with teachers as guides and kids are the cooks; youth will prepare and eat their own lunch together daily, learn budgeting, how to read a recipe and how to clean up after cooking (required); kids will have something yummy to take home and share with family each day.
Space will be limited to 15 children for this event; registration fee is $35 per child.
CLICK HERE to register and pay.
Last reminder…4-H Camp and Learning Scholarships Still Available
We still have a few scholarships available for 4-H Camp and Learning Centers this summer! To qualify, you must be an enrolled 4-H member in Washington County. Please complete the request form at this website: extension.umaine.edu/washington/washington-county-4-h-camp-scholarship. Request deadline is June 16, 2023.
News from the State
UMaine 4-H Invites You to be a Part of Pride 2023
4-H will be participating in Pride festivities in Portland on June 17, 2023. A pride event is a celebration of the LGBTQIA+ community, the rights won, and recognition of these individuals as existing and loved members of our communities. 4-H will participate in the parade portion by walking with a banner. Participants should plan on being at the event from 10:30am – 2:30pm.This event is open to any 4-H member or 4-H volunteer. Friends, family, and 4-H alumni are welcome but must have a 4-H member/volunteer hosting them.To register or for more information, go to this webpage. If you have questions you can email 4-hpride@maine.edu.
Register Now for the 2023 4-H Summer Learning Series
2023 marks the FOURTH year Maine 4-H is offering a Summer Learning Series! This year, workshops will run from July 5 – August 10, and there is something for everyone. Registration is now open for all enrolled Maine 4-H members, and opens to all others on Monday, June 5.Would you like to learn more about the different birds in your backyard and beyond? How about a chance to bake along with a real chef – they will send you the ingredients in the mail! You can learn to paint different creatures in the ocean, or discover how ANY person can become a real scientist at home! Dive into the different workshop options! To register or learn more, head to our website!
New Project Records are HERE!
Co-designed with Maine 4-H volunteers, youth and staff; these project records have been designed to best serve the needs of Maine youth. Please visit our newly designed project record website https://extension.umaine.edu/4h/volunteers/project-records/. Project records are required for all Maine 4-H Youth. Stay tuned for upcoming trainings. Please contact your county 4-H staff with questions.Did you know you can complete your project record through ZSuite? There are simple instructions for getting started on the ZSuite User Help page. You can work on your project record through the year – and even upload photos directly from your phone!
4-H Adulting 101 SPIN Club
The “4-H Adulting 101 Series” will introduce basic adult life skills by exploring a different topic each week including personal values; building healthy relationships; buying and caring for a car; youth entrepreneurship; mindfulness and stress management; and a topic chosen by the participants. UMaine Extension 4-H staff and guest speakers will lead the discussions.The club is free; limited to 20 participants. Register by June 16 on the event webpage to receive the Zoom link and introductory email. For more information or to request a reasonable accommodation, contact 207.324.2814; erin.mcdonald1@maine.edu. Additional information also is available on the Extension 4-H Virtual Learning webpage.
4-H Tick Project
Registration is now open for the 4-H Tick Project, a community science project where youth collect, identify, and learn about ticks – while also contributing to real research about ticks in Maine! Sign up to receive tick collection materials, access to youth activities, educational resources, and UMaine Extension Tick Lab testing services. This is a great project for 4-H clubs, SPIN clubs, homeschool groups, and more. For more information and to register, visit the 4-H Tick Project webpage.
Save the Date for 4-H Dairy State Show!
The Maine State 4-H Dairy Show will take place on July 22nd and 23rd at the Windsor Fairgrounds in Windsor, ME in conjunction with Maine 4-H Days. The contest is open to all 4-H members who want to participate and will include educational workshops, a fitting contest, a grilled cheese contest, and more!For more information on upcoming 4-H dairy events visit umaine.edu/4h/dairy or contact sadee.mehuren@maine.edu; 207.342.5971
Maine 4-H Days: Save the Date! July 21 – 22, 2023
We’re back for fun times, workshops, overnight camping and more at the Windsor Fairgrounds in Kennebec County! More information to come, so save the dates!
Registration Opening June 21st for New 4-H Teen Leadership Program: YOUth Have a Voice!
YOUth have a Voice!: Youth in Governance and Civic Engagement is a nine-month program open to teens and recent high school graduates who are interested in taking a more active role in serving their local communities, the state, or the country. Youth will learn leadership skills and ways to participate in civic action by completing a service project in a topic of their interest. Youth projects will be in one of three categories:
1.) Youth Board Member: Join a board or advisory council as a youth representative
2.) Policy Leader: Provide input to a policy or rule being developed
3.) Public Service Leader: Carry out a community service project.
Teens will be mentored by adults to assist their learning of civic processes and ways to meet their project goals. The program will be from late August 2023 to May 2024 and the total time commitment may vary from 30 to 80 hours depending on the type of project.
The program will be open for teens ages 14+ years old or entering high school in the fall of 2023. Interested teens will need the following items to register for the program:
- Fill out the application form found on this link.
- Two letters of recommendation from adults who are not related to the applicant
- Briefly describing (100 to 500 words) why you are interested in this program
- A signed Program Requirement Summary Form
Registration will be open from June 21 through July 31, 2023. The program will be limited to 16 youth.
To learn more about the program, you can attend one of the following 45 minute information sessions on June 7th:
- June 7, 3:30pm – 4:15pm, Zoom link: https://maine.zoom.us/j/85968212242?pwd=dDJTRGtmVVVpb0JNZ1duQ0cwS0pUdz09
- June 7, 5:30pm – 6:15pm: Zoom link: https://maine.zoom.us/j/83422511923?pwd=VTlwUDg2NDI3V3F0RnRST1hwUWZCUT09
For questions, please contact Andrew Hudacs, andrew.hudacs@maine.edu, (207) 581-8204