4-H in Washington County – January 2022

January 11, 2022 4-H News, News

Dates to Remember

January 12: A Year in Nature SPIN Club Virtual Meeting 

January 17: Office Closed: Martin Luther King Jr. Day

January 19: 4-H Volunteer Cabin Fever Series, Re-engaging & Motivating Youth, 6:30 p.m.

January 22: Virtual 4-H Dog SPIN Club

January 24 & 31: Virtual All About Trees SPIN Club

January 29: A Year in Nature SPIN Club In-person Meeting

February 1: ESE Goat & Dairy Intent Forms Due

February 3: Winter Series 4-H SPIN Club: Pet Treats for Shelters

February 10 – 13: National Youth Healthy Living Summit 

February 12: In-person 4-H Public Speaking Workshop, 10:00 a.m.

February 16: 4-H Volunteer Cabin Fever Series, Designing Captivating & fun activities, 6:30 p.m.

February 28: Virtual Office Hours for Washington County 4-H Volunteers, 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.

March 1: Maine 4-H Foundation Scholarship Application Deadline

March 3: Winter Series 4-H SPIN Club: Planting for Spring

March 5: Washington County 4-H Public Speaking Tournament, 9:00 a.m.

March 10 – 13:  National Youth Agri-Science Summit 

March 12: SNOW DATE for Washington County 4-H Public Speaking Tournament, 9:00 a.m.

March 16: 4-H Volunteer Cabin Fever Series, Expanding possibilities for youth, 6:30 p.m.

March 17: A Year in Nature SPIN Club Virtual Meeting

 

A Year in Nature 4-H SPIN Club

In December, we discussed the changing season of late fall and signs of winter including documenting the first snow for our counties. Youth have been collecting observations and writing in their nature journals which included images of deer and other wildlife. Did you know that there are signs of wildlife all around us, even in the winter months? Club members discussed how to spot signs of wildlife such as tracks in snow, mud or sand, piles of empty shells, burrows, bird calls etc. What signs of wildlife can you find? 
 
Our next virtual meeting is on January 12th at 6:00 p.m. where we will find inspiration in nature to create poetry. Our next in person meeting is January 29th to participate in A Downeast Day on the Ice hosted by Downeast Coastal Conservancy and Downeast Lakes Land Trust. This event will have ice fishing, snowshoes, an ecology hike and so much more winter fun! 
 
Join us anytime by visiting our registration page.  Once registered, a confirmation email is sent with the details of each meeting.

 

Washington County 4-H Public Speaking 2022

Exciting news, the workshop and county event will be held in person (with masks) at UMM (subject to change in following University of Maine COVID guidelines). A virtual live Zoom will be available to 4Hers who would like to give their speech virtually on the day of the tournament.
 
Timeline
January: choose type of speech, topic and start the writing process
February 12th: In-person workshop at University of Maine Machias from 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. to work on speeches, Register here!
March 5th: In-person (option to live Zoom speech) Washington County 4-H Public Speaking Tournament at University of Maine Machias from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. 
April 9th: 4-H State Public Speaking at University of Maine Orono (for those who score 78 and higher)
 
The Maine Communication Science Team will be hosting three virtual workshops open to anyone interested in learning about public speaking, dates TBD. 

 

Volunteers Needed for Washington County 4-H Public Speaking Tournament

Do you have a spark for writing or public speaking? Our 4-H youth could use your expertise! Come join us for our Washington County 4-H Public Speaking Event at the University of Maine Machias.

The Washington County 4-H Program is seeking the support of 3-5 volunteers to judge and time/score keep for our Public Speaking event. No experience required! Training and support is available for those who would like to help! 

 
Objective: To help youth gain mastery of writing and delivering speeches and increase their comfort level in public speaking.
 
Where: University of Maine Machias
When: Saturday, March 5th 2022, 9:00 a.m. – Noon
Time commitment: 
  • 1 hr for one training/information session
  • 3.5 hrs on the day of the event
Judges Role: 
Use 4-H Public Speaking Evaluation methods to evaluate youth speeches in the following age groups:
  • Cloverbuds: ages 5-8
  • Juniors: ages 9-13
  • Seniors: ages 14-18
Judges will arrive at the event 30 minutes prior and stay to evaluate speeches for each category. Judges are encouraged to stay for the awards ceremony. 
 
Time/Score Keeper: 

Volunteer will arrive at the event 30 minutes prior, keep time during each speech and add up score cards. 

  • Cloverbuds: 3-5 minutes in length
  • Juniors: 3-8 minutes in length
  • Seniors: 5-10 minutes in length
If you are interested in volunteering for this event, please contact 4-H Professional, Brittany Foster by email: brittany.foster@maine.edu or phone: 255.3345
 

New for 2022: Open Office Hours for Washington County 4-H Volunteers! 

  • Hosted by: Brittany Foster, 4-H Youth Professional for Washington County
  • Who: All Washington County 4-H Volunteers 
  • What: Open office hours to check in with your 4-H Professional, find out about upcoming volunteer resources, training and program opportunities and ask questions.
  • Where: Virtual by Zoom
  • When: Monday, Feb. 28th from 5:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
  • How: A link will be sent out prior to each session to all enrolled 4-H Volunteers

 

Mainely Dish Recipe: Winter Black Bean Soup

 

State 4-H News

New 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.

Maine 4-H ESE Goat Intent Forms are Now Available
The 2022 Maine 4-H Goat Eastern States intent to participate form is available online at https://extension.umaine.edu/4h/goat/. In order to be eligible for participation on the Maine 4-H Goat Eastern States Team this fall, 4-H members must complete the online intent form or mail a hard copy of the intent form to the Waldo County Cooperative Extension office before February 1, 2022. Please contact Sadee Mehuren at mehuren@maine.eduor  207.342.5971 with any questions.

Maine 4-H ESE Dairy Intent Forms are Now Available
The 2022 Maine 4-H Dairy Eastern States intent to participate form is available online at https://extension.umaine.edu/4h/dairy/. In order to be eligible for participation on the Maine 4-H Dairy Eastern States Team this fall, 4-H members must submit their completed intent form to the Waldo County office before February 1, 2022. Please contact Sadee Mehuren at mehuren@maine.eduor  207.342.5971 with any questions.

Maine 4-H ESE Beef Intent Forms are Now Available
The 2022 Maine 4-H Beef ESE Intent to participate form is now available online at https://extension.umaine.edu/4h/beef. This is a requirement for all youth intending to participate as members of the 4-H Beef Team at the Eastern States Exposition in September. Please contact Sadee Mehuren at mehuren@maine.eduor  207.342.5971 with any questions.

4-H Pitch Project
The Youth Trustees have established a fund to support young entrepreneurs in 4-H. Pitch us your idea for a business and we may fund the start-up idea. Check out the Pitch project at https://extension.umaine.edu/4hfoundation/funding/.

Citizenship Washington Focus (CWF)
We have exciting news! We are now planning for an in-person CWF 2022! Many things are changing within the programming schedule and event place.  As some of you know the National 4-H Center has been sold or is in the process.  Therefore, CWF will no longer be held there but will be held at the Hyatt Regency in Bethesda, Maryland.  This event center is not far from where we previously have been, but we will forever miss our own 4-H Center. 

In 2020, CWF was canceled due to the pandemic, and the 2021 program was held virtually.  We as a state did not participate in the virtual 2021.  We still do, however, have a list of participants that have never been able to go on the trip.  This list is currently being contacted to see if they are still enrolled members wanting to participate. Once those numbers have been finalized, we will open up the list to “fill the bus” for 2022.  All delegates must be currently enrolled and between 14-18 years old as of January 1, 2022.

We have held records of who in the past has paid monies and are also working that through.  The total cost for this year’s trip will be available very shortly.   A note will be going out to your local office with all information and please note: we will be on a short timeframe to get delegate information in.  The date that has been reserved is June 25-July 1, 2022.  We will be leaving on a Saturday and coming home on the following Friday.  As always in today’s world all plans are Covid sensitive but as the true 4-Hers that we are, we adapt!  If you have questions, please feel free to email Heidi Palmer, State Activities Coordinator at:   thuotte@maine.edu.

2022 4-H National Trip Interviews
As in the past, we will be holding interviews for National trips in the early spring. Websites are currently being updated to work towards that same schedule with a date to be announced very soon.  At this time, we will be interviewing for National Congress in 2022 and National Conference in 2023.  National Conference 2022 that will be held on March 20-24, 2022 is currently still being reviewed within our state guidelines due to the Covid travel situation that seems to be strengthening daily, information will be shared as it becomes available. If you have questions. Please feel free to email Heidi Palmer, State Activities Coordinator at: thuotte@maine.edu.

Light Up the Night: Maine 4-H STEM Toolkit of the Month
Each month we will be highlighting a different 4-H STEM Toolkit available from UMaine Cooperative Extension 4-H Program!

Developed by the Boston Museum of Science, Light Up the Night is a hands-on engineering adventure for youth in grades 3-5! In this unit, after experimenting with circuits and sculpting materials, kids will design a light display that replicates the Northern Lights. The activities are fun and engaging with well-developed resources and an immersive storyline. Comprehensive facilitator resources make planning and preparation easy.

Learn more about this, and other 4-H STEM Toolkits online, where you can see what is available for different age groups or topic areas.

Maine 4-H Foundation Scholarships
The Maine 4-H Foundation is pleased to announce a number of scholarships available to 4-H members. They range in value from $1,000 to $2,500. Donors from around the state have been very generous in supporting our 4-H seniors as they pursue their dreams and aspirations. Scholarships are due March 1, 2022 to your county office. Please check out the Maine 4-H Foundation website at https://extension.umaine.edu/4hfoundation/funding/.

Virtual 4-H Dog SPIN Club!
A new, statewide 4-H Dog SPIN (SPecial INterest) Club will be starting on January 22 at 9 am and will continue monthly on Saturdays. This club will meet virtually over zoom and will focus on all things dog. This short-term club is open to anyone (humans) in the state of Maine ages 9-18. A dog is NOT required to participate. We are also looking for adult volunteers who are interested in helping out with this club. You do not need to be knowledgeable about dogs, just willing to help.

For more information on the Virtual 4-H Dog SPIN Club please go to the website: https://extension.umaine.edu/4h/animal-science-resources/dog/club/ or contact Emily Mott at j.mott@maine.edu or 207.942.7396.

All About Maine Trees!
This virtual SPIN club for all youth ages 9-16 will meet the Mondays of January 24, 31, and February 7, 14, and Tuesday February 22. 4:30pm.  The program also includes an optional in-person Maple workshop day on Saturday, February 26 in Greenwood.  We will learn about tree ages and characteristics, practice tree identification, explore the versatility of trees, careers involved with forests, and learn about tapping maple trees for syrup. Youth will receive kits in the mail for accompanying hands-on activities including tree ring counting, tree cookie ornaments, tree identification books, maple candies, and maple syrup thickness and taste samples. Register by January 12th https://extension.umaine.edu/4h/virtual-learning-hub/open-registrations/. Please contact king@maine.edufor questions.

New Impromptu Category at State Public Speaking Tournament
The Maine 4-H Public Speaking Committee is pleased to announce a new category at the State Tournament in April 2022!

Impromptu is a fun and exciting category that gives participants the opportunity to practice off-the-cuff presentations. Youth will be given three topics to choose from and then have several minutes to prepare a short presentation for an audience. For this year, Impromptu will be a non-scored category. However, participants can expect to receive feedback from judges and peers. Youth who participate in the Maine 4-H Public Speaking Tournament will also be able to participate in the Impromptu category as a bonus opportunity.

4-H Volunteers SAVE THE DATES!
January 19 * February 16 * March 16 – 6:30 – 8:30 pm

This year’s Cabin Fever Series for 4-H Volunteers is combining efforts with other states in the Northeast region! The following three topics will be featured in virtual workshops this winter:

    • re-engaging and motivating youth
    • designing captivating and fun activities

expanding possibilities for youth to broaden their world 

These workshops will offer a great chance to learn something new, brush up on your skills and connect with 4-H volunteers from across the Northeast! Mark your calendars to save the dates and look for more information in January! Hope to see you there!

4-H Club Resources
The Norma Hardison Fund has been created to support 4-H club special projects. 4-H Club Creativity Grant application ideas should tie into the 4-H program priorities for Maine, including club and community learning projects, philanthropic projects that engage members in the community supporting 4-H program work, and/or new creative educational ideas. Funds can be requested for amounts up to $200; on a rare occasion, the grant request may be considered for more than $200. Sponsor: Maine 4-H Foundation Youth Trustees in Philanthropy. Application Form.

4-H Service Innovative Education, and Philanthropy Grants
Grant application ideas should tie into the 4-H program priorities for Maine including club and community service learning projects, philanthropic projects that engage members in the community supporting 4-H program work, and/or new creative educational ideas. Funds can be requested for amounts from $100 to $500; on a rare occasion, the grant request may be considered for more than $500. Sponsor: Maine 4-H Foundation Youth Trustees in Philanthropy. Application Form.