Happy Birthday!
Dates to Remember
Activity Corner
As the new 4-H year approaches and we begin to gather our clubs and plan for the coming year, think about including a team building activity during your club meetings. Check out this Web site for some ideas, or feel free to share some of your own!
Volunteers Needed
Blazin’ A Trail for a Cure volunteers needed! For table registration, t-shirts, things that come up with the equine, helping guests settle in, the food table, decorating, and whatever else comes up on that day.
We really need breakfast items (fruit, muffins, donuts, juice, coffee, water etc…) and paper goods.
Thank you very much!
Clubs Needed to Host Activities!
What: Lisbon Harvest Festival
When: Sept 29 from 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Where: MTM Center, Lisbon Falls
Looking for 4-H clubs to do kid-friendly activities and talk with people about 4-H. If you are interested in hosting a table please email Ross Cunningham.
4-H Club News
Equine Etc. – Equine Etc. 4-H Club had a fun month in August. Most of the members of Equine Etc. participated in the 4-H horse shows and had a great time learning, riding and helping out.
Our car wash was rained out so we are having a bake sale at Tractor Supply in Brunswick on September 15th. It will be a fun day, please come support us if you can. In September we are, also, having a family day at Rocky Ridge Farm to go apple picking and share a treat.
Pink Spurs 4-H Club Fun Town Trip!
4-H Science Experiment Series 2012
Tuesdays, October 2nd thru November 6th starting at 4:00 p.m. Patten Free Library, Bath ME
Join in the 2012 National Science Experiment, the 4-H Eco-Bot Challenge, exploring how robots can be used to preserve and protect the environment, while offering a glimpse into the future of science, technology, engineering and math.
The 4-H Eco-Bot Challenge is
Register at the library with Carol. For more information about the experiment, contact Sarah Sparks at 207-353-5550 or 1-800-287-1458 (in Maine), TDD: 1-800-287-8957 or by email. See a full schedule of events on the UMaine Extension Events Calendar.
UMaine Extension programs are open and accessible to all in accordance with program goal. Any person with a disability who needs accommodations for this program should contact Sarah Sparks at 1-800-287-1458 to discuss their needs.
4-H National Youth Science Day Experiment
The 2012 National Science Experiment, the 4-H Eco-Bot Challenge, explores how robots can be used to preserve and protect the environment, while offering a glimpse into the future of science, technology, engineering and math. Youth will assemble their own Eco-Bot, then discover how the robot functions. Youth will, also, design a set of control surfaces to program the Eco-Bot to perform a simulated environmental clean-up project.
Join in the experiment at one of these sites, or host your own 4-H National Youth Science Day site!
The 4-H National Science Experiment Day is
Register at the hosting library. For more information about the experiment, contact Sarah Sparks at 207-353-5550 or 1-800-287-1458 (in Maine), TDD: 1-800-287-8957 or by email. See a full schedule of events on the UMaine Extension Events Calendar.
UMaine Extension programs are open and accessible to all in accordance with program goal. Any person with a disability who needs accommodations for this program should contact Sarah Sparks at 1-800-287-1458 to discuss their needs.
4-H News
Registration for the 2012 Northeast Region Volunteer Forum is Still Open!
For the first time, we are offering a virtual forum so that more participants can take advantage of this fabulous opportunity. You will gather at sites within your state on three consecutive Monday evenings to hear from experts in the field, discuss with your colleagues and peers, and interact with those in other states via video technology. Webinar topics include: How to manage a club with youth of all ages and diverse needs; how to deal with difficult people as well as how to include teen leaders; and the final video will focus in on parents, specifically how to handle challenging parents and how best to include them in 4-H programming.
Don’t delay! Register online now! Anyone requiring disability-related accommodations is asked to note that in the box or contact Ellen Rowe at 802-751-8307 or via email no later than October 8 in order to best assist you. The first 100 volunteers and teen leaders to register will be placed into a drawing for a $100 Visa gift card! And, for those interested in taking something home with them, we’re pleased to offer a virtual auction. Bidding opens October 29 and all proceeds will benefit the Vermont Food Bank and American Red Cross.
New England 4-H Dog and Beef Poster Contests
There are great opportunities for youth in the 4-H Dog Care Project, and the 4-H Beef Project to participate in The Big E, even without going to W. Springfield, MA. 4-Hers of all ages can give their entries to a team member or chaperone headed to The Big E for submission. All entries must be received in time for display September 30, 2012. There are two different contests available:
The New England 4-H Beef Poster, Ad or Logo Contest
The New England 4-H Dog Program Poster Contest
Fall Paper Clover Promotion
The fall Paper Clover promotion at all Tractor Supply Company stores is coming September 19th-30th, 2012. Maine 4-H Paper Clover runs the month of October at businesses across the county. Clubs are invited to participate and contact their UMaine Extension office about how they can help promote 4-H.
Cumberland Fair 4-H Dog Show
The Cumberland Fair 4-H Dog Show will be held on Friday, September 28, 2012 at 3:30 P.M. at the Livestock Arena, Cumberland Fairgrounds, 197 Blanchard Road, Cumberland. The 4-H Dog show will include showmanship, obedience, and a fun obstacle course. Entry forms are due by September 21, 2012. This show is open to 4-H youth in any county. More information and entry forms for the Cumberland Fair 4-H Dog Show are available on the Web site, or email Sara Conant or call 207-892–5855.
Eastern States Bus Trip, September 29, 2012
It’s time to reserve seats for the buses traveling to Eastern States Exposition (ESE aka the “Big E”) in West Springfield, MA, for Maine Day on Saturday, September 29, 2012. This is the day that Maine Dairy Goat, Sheep, and Dog teams will be showing – so come and root for your fellow Maine 4-Hers!!
This one-day trip is sponsored by the Maine Trustees of the ESE to encourage Maine 4-Hers who don’t presently participate in ESE events to see the activities for 4-H youth. Two buses are reserved for us, but seats fill up quickly, so please make your registrations early.
All youth must go with a chaperone but, because this event is primarily for youth, seats are limited to no more than two adults per child. The bus ride and admission to the “Big E” are free, but all individuals on this trip are expected to march in the parade at 5 pm. It works well if you wear a 4-H t-shirt if you have one, and for clubs to bring their club banner to display during the parade.
Items you might want to bring along are: light snacks, water, a good book, Rated G movies (there is a DVD/VCR on the bus), a pillow, and a blanket. There will be rest stops along the way. Other items to consider bringing: clothing to identify your club, a comfortable pair of walking shoes, a hat with a visor, sun glasses, sun screen, a back pack, personal spending money, a camera, and a watch. If you have a cell phone, it will be helpful for logistics. Please include your cell phone number when you register.
Please leave valuable items at home. We will not be responsible for lost or stolen items. Bus stops will be determined based on location of riders. Reservations must be made in writing or by email to Jessy Brainerd, 103 Libby Hall, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469-5741
When you register, please give full name(s), child’s age, address, home phone and cell phone number of each person in your group. Reservations are due by Friday, September 7, 2012 (call after this date to check on seat availability). A confirmation letter will be sent to you two weeks before the trip giving you the time and pick up location. Pick up will be bright and early in the morning, but the return trip will be staggered. One bus will leave right after the parade; the second bus will leave after the evening events. So when you register, let us know if you’d like to return on the early or late bus (we will try to assign you to your preferred bus, however, there are a limited number of seats on each).
Volunteers are needed to serve as Bus Monitors. Bus Monitors will serve as the contact person for other passengers on their bus, and will make sure everyone gets back on the bus at the rest stop. If you’d be willing to serve in this capacity, please let us know when you sign up. If you have questions, please contact Jessy Brainerd or Michaele Bailey at 800-287-0274 or 207-581-3877.
Jolly 4-H Market
The Jolly Farmers and Jolly Juniors of Coopers Mills would like to invite all 4-Hers and/or 4-H groups throughout the state of Maine to join us in our first Jolly 4-H Market. Bring crafts and market items of all kinds to sell. Items might include jewelry, ornaments, flowers, pumpkins, etc. No raffles or bake/food sales allowed. All exhibitors must be active members of 4-H.
The Market will run October 6, 2012, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Windsor Fairgrounds in the Commercial Building. Crafters may set up at 8:00 a.m. Cost: $10.00 for 8’ space (you provide your own tables and chairs) or $15.00 for 8’ space including 1 table and 2 chairs. The Jolly Farmers and The Jolly Juniors 4-H clubs will have a concession stand with hotdogs, popcorn, drinks and other delectable goodies. For more information contact Darlene Newcombe or call 207-549-4532.
Robotics Expo
You’re invited to join us for a day of fun with robotics and science on Saturday, October 27, 2012, at the University of Southern Maine’s Gorham campus. The event is open to any youth, ages 5-18, participating in or interested in 4-H robotics program. Prior robotics experience is not needed to attend. In the morning, individuals and teams will have the opportunity to share their ideas and creations with judges and other participants in a non-competitive ‘science fair’ format. During the day, youth participate in a workshop and in an on-site challenge event. Pre-registration is required.
More information is available online, or contact Sarah Sparks or call 1-800-287-1458 if you have any questions.
National 4-H Notes Maine Project Success
The National 4-H Council has posted a report on its “Join the Revolution of Responsibility” Web site about a $4,000 grant from the University of Maine Cooperative Extension’s 4-H Engaging Youth, Serving Communities program. The grant helped a fundraising effort by students at Sebasticook Valley Middle and Nokomis Regional High schools in Newport to raise $6,000 to build an off-road walkway between the two schools. Located less than a half-mile apart, students from the two schools previously walked along the side of the road.
Military Teen Adventure Camps 2012-2013
Nearly 1600 military teens ages 14-18 will have an opportunity to participate, at little to no cost, in adventure camps scheduled April 2012 through March 2013. These high energy, high adventure, and high experience camps are planned across the United States from Alaska to Maine and from Colorado to Georgia as well as states in between.
Each camp offers a unique outdoor experience that will allow a teen to build leadership, self-confidence, and teamwork skills while participating in activities like backpacking, river rafting, canoeing, wilderness survival, rocketry, rock climbing, GPS use, mountain biking, first aid, winter camping, dog sledding, ropes courses, camp cooking, archery, and other camp activities. Camps for youth with special needs are also planned in California, Ohio, and New Hampshire. For military youth already in the Pacific Rim, two camp dates are available in Hawaii. Information may be found at the following Web site.
Image Description: Pink Spurs at Fun Town
Image Description: Pink Spurs at Fun Town Carousel
