York County 4-H Newsletter, May 2022

May 9, 2022 York County 4-H News

Upcoming Dates: 

  • May 14th — York County 4-H Fashion Revue at Alfred Parish Church Hall, 10am
  • May 17th — 4-H Leader’s Association Meeting, 6:30pm
  • June 3rd — Registration opens for the 4-H Summer Learning Series
  • June 8th — Deadline to register for Adulting 101 SPIN Club, co-hosted by York Co. 4-H
  • June 10th — Fryeburg Market Lamb Intent Form due
  • June 15th — Career Exploration for Teens at the Center for Wildlife

County News

Acton Fair will be here sooner than you think!

The 4-H Leader’s Association is already making plans for the 4-H Food Booth and we’re all getting excited about another year in the exhibit hall! If you are interested in volunteering at either (or both) venues, keep a look out for more information coming soon!

For all you creative 4-Hers (you are all creative), this year’s Novelty Theme for the 4-H Exhibit Hall is ‘4-H Rocks!’ Pick up a nice cobblestone and paint whatever you like on it. Clubs or families can come up with themed rock paintings, or everyone can paint their own idea. See some examples on the I Love Painted Rocks website.

The Fair board has shown interest in having more 4-H presence at the fair. It was suggested that anyone who participated in Public Speaking or the Fashion Revue, who would like to present their work may be able to do so on the small stage. If you are interested in participating, please complete this survey.

Career Exploration for Teens at the Center for Wildlife

Are you a teen interested in pursuing a career in animal science, wildlife rehabilitation, or wildlife management? Then you should attend the Career Exploration workshop at the Center for Wildlife! This workshop is specifically for teens and will provide participants with the opportunity to learn more about what it takes to be a wildlife rehabilitation specialist. The Center for Wildlife has been kind enough to offer this program through York County 4-H. If you are interested in attending, you can find more information on the Career Exploration at CWF registration page.

 

State News

4-H Summer Learning Series

After an incredibly successful 4-H Summer Learning Series over the past two years, Maine 4-H will once again offer virtual experiential learning workshops and clubs to youth ages 5-18 from July 5 – August 5, 2022. Planning is still taking place, but topics in previous years have ranged from engineering, art, science, animals & agriculture, food & nutrition, teen leadership, and more.

Early registration will be available to enrolled 4-H’ers on Friday, June 3, 2022 and will open to the public the following Monday, June 6. Help us spread the word to your friends and communities – enrollment in 4-H is not required to participate, this event is open to all! For more information, visit the 4-H Summer Learning Series webpage.

Fryeburg Market Lamb Intent Forms- Deadline Change

Youth planning to participate in the market lamb program at Fryeburg Fair need to submit a 2022 Fryeburg Fair Market Lamb Intent to Sell form by June 10th. An online form, as well as a pdf form, can be found at https://extension.umaine.edu/4h/sheep/. The lamb’s tag number and bill of sale must accompany the intent form. Market lambs must be owned and in the possession of the 4-H member by June 1, 2022. Please contact your local Cooperative Extension office with any questions or to obtain a printed copy of the form.

Adulting 101: 4-H Virtual Club

Are you a teen worried about impending adulthood? Do you want to know how to find answers to your questions about money, jobs, and roommates? Consider joining the Adulting 101 SPIN Club! Over the course of six meetings, we will learn some basic adult skills, including how to manage stress, interview for a job, and take advantage of existing resources in your community. Each week will cover a different topic: life/work balance and stress management; saving, spending, and credit; nutrition on a budget; resumes and interviews; rent and roommates; and a topic chosen by the participants! Access to a computer is required for participants, a smartphone won’t be sufficient.

Youth ages 13 – 18 need to register by June 6, 2022 for this club which will meet via Zoom on Wednesdays June 22 – July 27 from 4:00 – 5:30 pm.

4-H For All: Spring 2022

The purpose of this virtual club is to provide new and potential members and their families a place to learn about 4-H; and to connect youth across the state. Youth will choose a project to complete and learn more about 4-H and how to become involved. We want you to join and engage in our 4-H program! There is no cost, and meetings will help challenge you to create new goals and discover new passions. Open to youth 5-13, the last meeting will be held May 26 at 10am. Register at: umaine.edu/4h/4-h-for-all-club.

Maine 4-H Foundation Summer Camp Scholarships

The Maine 4-H Foundation has a limited number of scholarships for 4-H members for Blueberry Cove, Bryant Pond, Greenland Point, and Tanglewood. These scholarships are applied by the camp when you register and pay the deposit for camp. Scholarships are available from $50 to $200 depending on the camp expenses and needs.

Summer Camp Opportunities

Visit the Summer University Youth Programs’ Youth Summer Camps page to learn about a huge variety of camp experiences available to youth. From our traditional 4-H Camp and Learning Centers, to camps that focus on Academics, Art, Music, or Sports – there is something for everyone.

The Maine App Challenge

Love technology? Here is a chance to put your passion to a purpose and win a scholarship along the way! The Maine App Challenge is an incredible opportunity for Maine middle school and high school students who are 13 years of age and older to create a mobile application with a chance to win a scholarship and other valuable rewards. A series ofinnovation workshops from the University of Maine Foster Center for Innovation will help you get started! There are three scholarships available for the top mobile apps: $6,000 for first place, $3,000 for second place, and $1,000 for third place.

Other awards include: $500 to the high school with the highest participation, Tablets to the first 50 completed submissions, a guaranteed internship interview for the top 10 submissions following his/her college sophomore year.  Visit the Tyler Technology Maine App Challenge website for more information; the deadline for submissions is May 15th.

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.

 

Oxford County June Jamboree

This year’s Oxford County June Jamboree will be held June 11th & 12th at the Fryeburg Fairgrounds.  This is an opportunity for youth enrolled in sheep, swine and horse projects to join us for our livestock clinic! We will have presenters teach about showmanship and animal care. We will be doing t-shirts, rabies vaccinations for sheep and horse, and Coggins vaccines for horses as well! Overnight accommodations and meals will not be provided (besides Saturday night pizza if you request it).  Registration cost will vary depending on number of attendees. Please see the registration page for further details. Register by May 9th.

EFNEP Recipe of the Month: Turkey Pasta Salad!

Now that we have successfully navigated through this winter, we’re looking ahead and can see summer on the horizon!  Memorial Day is the official kick-off to grilling, picnics, and fun in the sun, and this summer-inspired Turkey Pasta Salad is sure to be a hit at any cookout.  Remember to keep your food safe to eat with these Barbecue and Tailgating Food Safety Tips as well.  For more delicious recipes, check out our UMaine EFNEP Mainely Dish Video Series.  By Debbie Barnett (EFNEP CEA in Kennebec, Knox, Lincoln, and Waldo counties – deborah.barnett@maine.edu)

Expanded Food & Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) offers FREE nutrition education classes to income-eligible adults with children, or young adults 19-25 years old, and if you are eligible for programs such as SNAP, WIC, or Head Start. Find out more online.