{"id":15410,"date":"2025-12-04T09:27:00","date_gmt":"2025-12-04T14:27:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/washington\/?p=15410"},"modified":"2026-01-14T11:49:33","modified_gmt":"2026-01-14T16:49:33","slug":"4-h-news-washington-december-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/washington\/2025\/12\/04\/4-h-news-washington-december-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"4-H News in Washington County – December 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"

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

November 28-December 14: <\/strong>Paper Clover Campaign at Tractor Supply Co. in Calais
\nDecember 5:<\/strong> 4-H Volunteer Huddle
\nDecember 6:<\/strong> Crafting SPIN 4-H Club, Perler Beads
\n<\/span>December 6:<\/b> Oh Yea 4-H Money Island Trail:\u00a0 Wreath Materials Hike \u2013 Seeds of Change Outdoor Club
\nDecember 14: <\/b>Oh Yea 4-H Tea Time for Bees:\u00a0 Ceramic Workshop at\u00a0Schoodic Arts for All
\nDecember 14:<\/strong> Registration Deadline for National 4-H Trips
\nDecember 18:<\/strong> National 4-H Animal Science Career Night
\nDecember 31<\/strong>: 4-H Re-enrollment Due
\nJanuary 2<\/strong>: 4-H Volunteer Huddle
\nJanuary 6, 2026: <\/b>Maine 4-H Intent to Sell a Market Beef Project at Fryeburg Fair
\nJanuary 15:<\/strong> 2026 Maine 4-H Beef ESE Intent to Participate
\nJanuary 21:<\/strong> 4-H Volunteer Connections
\nJanuary 22, 29th, February 5:<\/b> Farm Animal Care FUNdamentals 4-H SPIN Club
\nApril 10-15, 2026: <\/b>4-H Conference\u00a0in Washington DC<\/span>
\n<\/span>November 27-December 1, 2026:<\/strong> <\/span>4-H Congress<\/p>\n

<\/a>Club Updates<\/b><\/h3>\n

<\/a>Crafting SPIN Club<\/strong><\/p>\n

Eleven youth have come together to create and play at the first two sessions of the Crafting SPIN Club this November and December at Calais Elementary School, where youth are exploring different crafts that are inspired from cultures around the world. At the first session youth painted pine cones representing Kionobori, carp-shared windsocks that are flown in celebration of Children\u2019s Day. Just like carp, youth are resilient and strong. At the second session, youth were focused and engaged as they created corn husks dolls and added their own personal flare with felt clothes and yarn for hair. Corn husks dolls have a long, rich history with the Algonquin peoples, connecting to how and why corn is planted with other crops and why these dolls are traditionally faceless.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"youth \"youth<\/p>\n

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<\/a>Conservation Career 4-H Club<\/strong><\/p>\n

The club had its first site visit of the school year in November, learning about the mission, operations, and impact of a local land trust, Downeast Coastal Conservancy (DCC). Teens job shadowed Matt Kelley, Outreach Director at DCC and 4-H volunteer, where they gained insight into donor management and social media and website design, as well as what goes into putting up the story boards the public gets to see as they walk through Machias River Preserve\u2019s <\/span>Story Book Trail<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"youth \"youth<\/p>\n

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

In November, Seeds of Change Outdoor Club met for a chilly hike at Musquash Esker Trail. Our Dia de los Muertos event at Mano en Mano featured pozole (a chicken and hominy soup), screen printing of a great calavera design, and a trivia quiz that introduced the crowd of nearly 100 attendees to the history of this Latino celebration and its food. We had our first cooking class called \u201cBocados de Amor\u201d where we learned how to make corn tortillas, salsa, and pico de gallo.
\nDecember is set to be just as busy for Oh Yea 4-H and the Seeds of Change Outdoor Club, starting on December 6 at 11:00 am with a wreath foraging hike at the Muddy Island Trailhead in Machias. After gathering some materials to make some simple wreaths, we will put them together at the new barn recently erected by Healthy Acadia\u2019s Downeast Restorative Harvest.
\nThen on Saturday, December 13, a small group of the Princeton 4-H club will be attending a Ukrainian Egg Decorating Workshop for the holidays with stalwart 4-H volunteer, Tanya Zivkovik, at Calais Elementary. Unfortunately, this workshop filled up quickly and has no vacancies.
\nHowever, the very next day, we are inviting everyone to join us at Schoodic Arts for All at 12:00 p.m., December 14 where we will be enjoying crafts and helping our agricultural environment by making ceramic bee-sipping cups. These beautiful thimble-sized bowls are placed in a garden and make it easy for bees to drink water without drowning. If you would like to attend, please let us know beforehand by contacting the office at (207) 255-3345 or Jason Palomo at (207) 952-2969 so that we can prepare the necessary materials.
\nFinally, we will be off for the holidays and reconvene with a new calendar of exciting events in January!<\/p>\n

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<\/a>Re-enrollment DUE DECEMBER 31<\/b><\/p>\n

Time is running out\u2026don\u2019t forget to re-enroll in 4-H by <\/span>December 31st.<\/b><\/p>\n

Re-enrollment by the deadline ensures that youth can:<\/span><\/p>\n