4-H News in Washington County – March 2025
Dates to Remember
Crafting Clovers 4-H Club
Oh Yea 4-H Grows True Leaders
4-H Science Fridays
News from the State
Dates to Remember
March 8: Speak Up, Washington County 4-H: Showcase your Sparks! Event
March 8: MEPC Engineering Expo, Orono
March 8: Hike – Oh Yea 4-H Crisscrossing Paths with Maine Coast Heritage Trust, Long Point PreserveTrailhead, Machiasport at 10 a.m.
March 12-16: Ignite by 4-H Conference in Washington DC
March 18: 4-H Page Day in Augusta
March 19-23: Maine Science Festival, Bangor
March 19: 4-H Volunteer Connections: Growing Beyond the Ribbon
March 22: Oh Yea 4-H Family Ice Skating , Penobscot Ice Arena, Brewer
March 28: 4-H Science Friday, Power of Wind
April 5: Speak Up, Maine 4-H: Showcase Your Sparks! A Public Speaking Event in Orono
April 11-16: 4-H Conference in Washington DC
May 16-18: Northeast Livestock Expo (NELE)
June 14-15: Explore Vet Science, UMASS Farm facilities in Hadley, MA
July 7-August 8: 4-H Summer of Science Learning Series
November 28 – December 2, 2025: 4-H Congress in Atlanta, GA
Crafting Clovers 4-H Club
Crafting Clovers 4-H club met on February 22nd at the Calais Library. We had an ice breaker that helped us take our first steps in public speaking. We each picked an M&M and each color had a different question that we all answered out loud to the group. We were able to learn a little bit more about each club member from these questions. Gabby Brodek, our 4-H coordinator, gave a public speaking demonstration of how to make a delicious and healthy snack using apples and peanut butter. We all learned how to be good audience members. Public speaking is a valuable skill that is taught and used frequently in 4-H. These winter months there is time to work on our presentations at home and we would love to work with our CloverBud members to be able to share their presentations at our club. If members are interested please reach out to Gabby for further guidance and the dates of the 4-H public speaking competition. There is always a lot of fun on our club meeting days. Our library has a great play area and there are always snacks, smiles, and laughter to share with our friends.
Next month we will have a craft activity and discuss our plans for spring gardens. See you then!
– Submitted by 4-H Volunteer
Oh Yea 4-H Grows True Leaders
Oh Yea 4-H Grows True Leaders did not let the brevity of February keep us from piling on the activities. We joined Mano en Mano for a “Family Technology Activity,” where we printed t-shirts and canvas bags with our screen-printing equipment. We braved the icy-hill at Middle River Park in Machias at Downeast Coastal Conservancy’s “Winter Family Fun Day.” To end the month, we pivoted from our Stargazing event that was too cloudy for telescopes and had a night of space trivia, science experiments, and space-related crafts.
The month of March will be no less active. Oh Yea 4-H will hit the ground running with our Crisscrossing Path initiative that aims at bringing multiple generations and cultures together to stay healthy outdoors. We have a hike at Long Point Preserve Trailhead in Machiasport, ME at 10:00 a.m., Saturday March 8th, led by Cathy Lookabaugh from Maine Coast Heritage Trust. Anyone and everyone can attend by meeting us at the trailhead.
The very next week, a group of Oh Yea 4-H teens will make our third trip to Washington D.C. with some youngsters who have never been on a plane before! Between sightseeing in the city, teens will attend workshops on innovations in agriculture, S.T.E.M. and healthy living.
When we come back, we’ll end the month with our annual pilgrimage to Brewer for family ice-skating at Penobscot Ice Arena on Saturday, March 22nd at 2:30 p.m. Together with Mano en Mano, we’ve rented out the entire ice-skating rink, so contact Jason Palomo at the UMM Cooperative Extension by calling 207-255-3345 or Maria Paniagua at Mano en Mano by calling 207-546-3006 if you want to join us. We are providing transportation, but there are only so many seats available so RSVP early.
Upcoming Oh Yea 4-H Activities
Mar. 8 at 10:00 a.m.: Hike – Crisscrossing Paths with Maine Coast Heritage Trust, Long Point PreserveTrailhead, Machiasport
Mar. 12–16: Ignite Teen Summit, Washington, D.C.
Mar. 22 at 2:30 p.m.: Family Ice Skating , Penobscot Ice Arena, Brewer
4-H Science Fridays
Youth at the February 4-H Science Program built and tested their own Eco-Bot, made out of simple materials. The creativity in the room was unmatched as the kids engineered solutions and new designs as they observed the shortcomings of their robot’s movement and ability to stay upright. Once youth had a working prototype, they were tasked with the challenge of getting their bot to clean up a simulated toxic spill. With innovative designs and barriers, their bots did the job!
We got the engineering bug and will build two different wind measuring prototypes at the next Science Friday!
4-H Science Friday: Power of Wind, March 28th 3-4:30pm
During this program youth will discover the power of wind by building two of their own wind-measuring devices and testing them, in comparison to a scientific wind-measuring tool.
For more information or to register, visit the 4-H Science Fridays website.
News from the State
Save the Date – 4-H Summer Learning Series
This year, the 4-H Summer Learning Series will take place from July 7 – August 8. Volunteers and staff work together to provide high-quality, hands-on, experiential learning experiences via Zoom. For most workshops, materials are mailed to participants ahead of time, making it even easier (and less expensive) to participate! Workshops and Registration will go live on May 23, 2025. For volunteers interested in presenting workshops, information will be updated in early March. Sign up for updates on our website.
4-H Page Day in Augusta – Sign up Now!
Date: March 18, 2025
Where: Augusta Maine State Legislature
Time: 8:30 am – 12:30 pm
Deadline: First come, first serve, March 7
If you are interested in serving as a page – please complete this form.
An opportunity to participate in 4-H Page Day is being offered on Tuesday, March 18. It is Maine Agriculture Policy Day in the Maine Legislature, a time dedicated to celebrating the hardworking farmers, producers, and agricultural leaders who sustain Maine’s economy and rural heritage. It’s also a time for youth to get actively involved in their democracy, to see how and who makes decisions that impact our state, and to be involved in that process themselves. 4-Hers age 13 or older are encouraged to serve as Honorary Pages. The Maine 4-H program has up to 20 slots for Honorary Pages and registration is first come, first serve with a deadline of March 7.
What does a page do? Legislators are constantly communicating and making decisions while in session and pages make that communication possible. Pages hand out information packets or place the paper information on their desks. Pages will also run communication and documents directly from legislator to legislator. It’s fast paced and pages will be moving around the chambers quite a bit, taking direction from the Clerks. We will meet at 8:30 for pictures and an orientation. Then at 9:00am we will divide our group with one going to the House and the other to the Senate where each group will receive their instructions. Session will begin by 10:00am and will likely conclude around 12:30pm, but the timing is never certain. Lunch will be on your own.
If you have questions or would like to request an accommodation please do so by March 7 by contacting Karen Giles, giles@maine.edu . Thank you!
Public Speaking – Save the Date
The state Public Speaking event has a new name! Speak Up, Maine 4-H! A Public Speaking Showcase will be held on Saturday, April 5, 2025, at the University of Maine in Orono. The snow date is Sunday, April 6. Stay tuned for events and details on our website Please contact your local county office for information about your local events happening soon.
Become a 4-H Tick Project Mentor!
We are looking for volunteers to guide youth in learning about ticks and community science through the 4-H Tick Project.
Mentors will:
Facilitate hands-on learning experiences through 4-H activities in classrooms, after-school programs, and/or community events.
Model tick collection protocols and identification techniques.
Share best practices for tick safety with young people.
Make a valuable contribution to their communities.
No prior experience with tick science is required. The training will provide all the necessary knowledge and resources. This opportunity requires volunteers to work with educators and youth in various learning environments, including outdoors in tick habitat.
For more details and to register for the training, please visit: extension.umaine.edu/hancock/tick-project/volunteer.
The deadline to register for the training is March 30, 2025.
Summer Camp at Tanglewood and Blueberry Cove
Registration for Summer Programs at Tanglewood and Blueberry Cove 4-H Camps is now open! We would love to see you at one of our 4-H Camps this summer! 1 and 2-week overnight camps, day camps, outdoor trips, and teen leadership camps are open for anyone to attend. This is a great opportunity to diversify your 4-H experience and continue building awesome skills. Scholarships are available from the Camps and the 4-H Foundation to help with tuition costs.
Some sessions fill up fast! To start planning your summer experience, please check out the program pages on our website which have more information and dates. We are excited to welcome you to the Tanglewood and Blueberry Cove Family! For questions, please email or call Emma at the contact information below.
Website: umaine.edu/tanglewood
Email: extension.tanglewood4h@maine.edu
Phone: 207.789.5868
4-H Volunteer Connections: Register Today!
Join us for a regional training and networking opportunity with 4-H volunteers from our 13 states in the North East Region!
– Growing Beyond the Ribbon – March 19, 2025 – 6:30 – 8:00 pm
To read more about the session and register, go to this link! https://extension.umaine.edu/4h/volunteer-connections/
The session is free, but you must register! Questions? Reach out to Jen Lobley at lobley@maine.edu We hope to see you there!
2025 Engineering Week Expo
The Maine Engineering Promotional Council (MEPC) Engineering Expo will be held Saturday, March 8th from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm at the University of Maine Field House in Orono. This family-friendly FREE event invites the community to explore the world of engineering through demonstrations and hands-on activities. The 4-H Science and Engineering Center will be there along with Maine engineering firms, schools, government agencies, and societies who are invested in engaging young minds in career pathways involving engineering. For more information on the Engineering Expo please go to the website: https://www.engineeringme.com/expo.
Maine Science Festival
The Maine Science Festival will be held March 19-23 times TBD in February at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor. This FREE event includes a Field Trip Day for 7th- 8th graders, a Teen Tech Night, and Exploration Stations that include demonstrations and hands-on activities involving the sciences. Be sure to put it on your calendar because it really is a fun event! For more information on the Maine Science Festival please go to the website: https://www.mainesciencefestival.org/.
Explore Maine’s Aquaculture Industry with Virtual Field Trips from 4-H
Virtual Field Trips (VFTs) are an innovative way for youth to explore and learn about places and people that would otherwise be infeasible! These immersive, online experiences bring Maine’s thriving aquaculture industry to life—no travel required.
Accessible at no cost, the Virtual Field Trips are designed to break down geographical and financial barriers, making high-quality, hands-on learning available to all. Register online to receive a link to the VFTs. Each field trip also comes with complementary 4-H activity guides and lesson plans to help facilitate meaningful engagement with youth.
The first VFT currently available features the University of Maine’s Center for Cooperative Aquaculture Research (CCAR), a large-scale, land-based aquaculture facility in Franklin, Maine. Additional virtual field trips are in development and will be rolled out throughout 2025 and 2026. These experiences offer insight into seafood production, workforce development, career exploration, and STEM concepts related to aquaculture technologies.
To register for a virtual field trip, visit umaine.edu/hancock/aquaculture/vft.
For more information: contact Carla Scocchi, 4-H Youth Development Professional, carla.scocchi@maine.edu.
4-H Science Toolkits
Maine 4-H has a lending library of 4-H Science toolkits. These come with activities and materials around a variety of topics. Recent additions include:
– eBird Explorers, exploring Ornithology for Cloverbuds
– Harmful and Shifting Species, which examines species impacting the Maine coast
– Power Protectors, which involves exploring energy use and an introduction to renewable energy through engineering design challenges.
Reach out to your local 4-H staff person or email 4-HScience@maine.edu to make a reservation or with any questions.