{"id":14362,"date":"2024-10-02T12:47:03","date_gmt":"2024-10-02T16:47:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/washington\/?p=14362"},"modified":"2024-10-21T09:43:22","modified_gmt":"2024-10-21T13:43:22","slug":"4-h-news-washington-october-2024","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/washington\/2024\/10\/02\/4-h-news-washington-october-2024\/","title":{"rendered":"4-H News in Washington County – October 2024"},"content":{"rendered":"

Table of Contents<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Dates to Remember<\/a>
\nThank you, Jane Bell<\/a>
\nOh Yea 4-H Grows True Leaders<\/a>
\nCrafting Clovers 4-H Club – Update<\/a>
\n4-H Science Fridays<\/a>
\nBate\u2019s teen opportunity to participate in research <\/a>
\nProject Records Due October 30<\/a>
\nNews from the State<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

<\/a>Dates to Remember<\/strong><\/h3>\n

October 2024 – July 2025<\/strong>– Conservation Career 4-H Club
\nOctober 12:<\/strong> Crossing Paths, Fall Foliage Walk at Pigeon Hill in Steuben 
\nOctober 12:<\/strong> Fall Family Day at Tanglewood
\nOctober 15-November 12:<\/strong> Super Sitters Virtual 4-H SPIN Club
\nOctober 15: <\/strong>Northern Maine Children\u2019s Water Festival at UMaine
\nOctober 17: <\/strong>4-H Climate Civic Action SPIN Club Registration Deadline
\nOctober 19:<\/strong> Pumpkin Carving at UMaine Machias
\nOctober 25:<\/strong> 4-H Science Friday- Forensic Science
\nOctober 30:<\/strong> Project Records Due
\nNovember 1:<\/strong> 4-H National Trips Applications Due
\nNovember 12 & 19: <\/strong>Start Your 4-H Volunteer Journey Virtual Training
\nNovember 29: <\/strong>Washington County Deadline for 4-H Re-enrollment 
\nDecember 31:<\/strong> State 4-H Re-enrollment Due
\nApril 11-16, 2025: <\/strong>4-H Conference in Washington DC
\nNovember 28 – December 2, 2025: <\/strong>4-H Congress in Atlanta, GA<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/a>Thank you, Jane Bell<\/b><\/p>\n

We want to thank Jane Bell for her 15 years of being involved with 4-H in Washington County. Jane has been an outstanding advocate for 4-H. She has provided hundreds of hours of time, energy and enthusiasm to three<\/span> <\/b>clubs during her years of service, in addition to helping at various local, state and out-of-state events. She has shared her expertise and knowledge with 4-H youth, volunteers, new staff and the larger community. Although her retirement as a 4-H leader is upon us, Jane will continue to be a pillar and advocate for Washington County 4-H. <\/span><\/p>\n

\"Jane
Jane Bell<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/a>Oh Yea 4-H Grows True Leaders<\/strong><\/p>\n

New programs for Oh Yea! 4-H Grows True Leaders start this month, and both locations in Washington County are open to all kids and teens who are interested in being part of our youth development program. Kids 8-13 years old would be enjoying outdoor excursions, S.T.E.A.M. experiential learning, and cultural exploration.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, the high school participants will be taking on leadership roles as they help out with the younger group. The teens also attend youth empowerment conferences and contribute their ideas as part of our regional 4-H youth council. Most excitedly, those 16 and older can get paid an hourly wage when working under Maria Paniagua from Mano en Mano and Jason Palomo from UMaine 4-H. These older teens will be part of the the Maine Department of Education\u2019s \u201cExtended Learning Opportunity\u201d program where they will shadow different professionals as they work in their respective field of expertise. This great opportunity was spearheaded by youth program manager, Corrie Hunkler for Washington County teens.<\/p>\n

At Princeton Elementary, students are back in class, and the 4-H kids are continuing to keep their fish swimming in the tanks they received last year. During the S.T.E.A.M. block implemented by Principal Williams, 4-H has already begun to germinate seeds that they are growing indoors, and they plan to get the aquaponics system they started last year back up and running. To open opportunities up for more members, 4-H will also do cultural exploration through holiday-related craftmaking every Monday of the month while the teachers have their faculty meetings. The first one is this Monday, Oct. 7th with a craftmaking Fall Foliage garland. The next activity will be pumpkin carving on Saturday, Oct. 19th at the UMaine Machias campus from 1 – 3 p.m. (This location may change, so call the Cooperative Extension ahead at 207.255.3345.)<\/p>\n

Meanwhile in Milbridge, Oh Yea! 4-H will be meeting twice a month, once at the monthly Nuestra Voz community meetings and then two weeks later to continue projects we may not have finished or to introduce new activities. The first event is this Saturday, Oct. 5th from 9:00 am \u2013 11:00 am at Mano en Mano, where Mano en Mano is hosting their annual planning retreat. While the parents participate in the community meeting, kids can will be learning about fall celebrations in different cultures and making skullmasks for Halloween and Dia de Los Muertos. (Note: Nuestra Voz meetings are usually on the first Friday evenings of every month.)<\/p>\n

Most excitedly, 4-H has created an outdoor outreach program Crossing Paths with the help of Cathy Lookabaugh from Maine Coast Heritage Trust. Crossing Paths signifies overlapping generations and cultures eager to take advantage of the outdoors around them as they explore Maine trails, broadening their understanding of our natural environment and how to preserve it. Our first excursion is Oct. 12th for a \u201cFall Foliage Walk\u201d through Pigeon Hill in Steuben. Kids and their parents are encouraged to attend, and we will meet at 9:00. If you\u2019re interested, you can always show up on the day of the event, but please try to register with the UMaine Machias Cooperative Extension first by calling 207.255.3345 or emailing jason.palomo@maine.edu<\/a>. <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/a>Crafting Clovers Club UPDATE<\/b><\/p>\n

Seasonal scents, tastes and experiences filled the air at our last club meeting. Youth celebrated their accomplishments from the Washington County Fair and took part in the 4-H tradition of record keeping by filling out their first project records.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Youth
Youth working together to make a traditional fall recipe, leaf stew (not edible).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Youth
Youth wears a necklace made at the Crafting Clovers 4-H Club meeting.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

<\/a>4-H Science Fridays UPDATE<\/b><\/p>\n

Youth explored all things apples during September\u2019s 4-H Science Friday! Youth learned an apple grafting technique, whip & tongue, and modeled the skill using various supplies. Participants learned fun facts about apples while exploring apple trees on the University of Maine at Machias campus, including what climate factors impact Maine\u2019s apple production and industry. <\/span><\/p>\n

The final 4-H Science Friday of 2024 will take place on October 25th. Youth, led by 4-H Community Education Assistant Becca Whitney, will use forensic science to solve a fictional break in. Register here!<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Youth
Youth works on an apple grafting activity at 4-H Science Friday.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/a>Bate\u2019s teen opportunity to participate in research<\/b><\/p>\n

Bates College\u2019s <\/span>Youth ACT Lab<\/span><\/a> is inviting<\/span> high school students to participate in <\/span>the Rural Youth Sociopolitical Development and Wellbeing (RYSE-Well) Study. This opportunity is not affiliated with Maine 4-H. \u201cWe are seeking participants in Maine who are ages 14-18 (currently attending high school) and reside in rural areas (towns with less than 2,500 population). We will be providing up to $100 in research incentives for participation!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The Rural Youth\u2019s Sociopolitical Engagement and Wellbeing (RYSE-Well) study will highlight rural youth\u2019s civic and political experiences and well-being during the 2024 presidential election season. <\/span><\/p>\n

Participants will contribute to the study in the following ways: <\/span><\/p>\n