February 2012 4-H News
February 1st, 2012Mini Forum: Save the Date
Don’t forget that March 10 is the big date for Mini-Forum 2012! There will be dozens of great workshops for all ages of 4-H’ers. Registrations will be sent out in a few weeks and your family will be able to register either via the internet or on paper.
Mini Forum Needs Your Donations!
We are looking for donations for a woodworking project to be built at Mini Forum in March. We will be building 12 bins to hold empty cans for recycling. They will be placed around the fairgrounds to replace the hard-to-handle can receptacles and the proceeds from the cans will go to 4-H.
We are looking for the following items:
3@ sheets 1/2″ plywood (exterior) would be nice if one side was decent
2 @50′ x 4′ rolls of 1″ chicken wire
30@ 2 x 4 x 8′
paint?
Save the date: 4-H @ UMaine 2012
The annual 4-H @ UMaine conference will be held May 18-20, 2012 at the Orono campus. This event is for Maine youth ages 12-17. This popular conference takes place at the University of Maine-Orono, where youth participate in workshops and activities that familiarize them with campus life. Information regarding cost, registration forms, transportation and workshop options will be available in mid-March. For more information on 4-H @ UMaine, including a list of last years workshops, please go to the website: http://umaine.edu/4h/youth/4-h-events/4humaine/ or contact Mitch Mason @ mitchell.mason@maine.edu, 781-6099. If you have ideas or would like to volunteer, do not hesitate to contact us!
All Star Dairy Pancake Breakfast!
The All-Star 4-H Dairy Club is putting on a pancake breakfast on March 25 in conjunction with Brookridge Boilers (Rick and Sue Guillemette) at 2144 Alfred Rd. in Lyman for Maine Maple Sunday. We will start serving at 8:00am and it is an “All you can eat” Pancake Breakfast for $6.00 and $7.00 if you want to add sausage. There will also be a basket of maple products made and donated by Sue Guillemette that will be raffled off with the proceeds going to Relay for Life. Come and support 4-H and the Cancer Society.
Student Essay Contest for Portland Flower Show
University of Maine Cooperative Extension and the organizers of the Portland Flower Show are asking kids to “use your imagination to describe in detail a celebration you would plan outdoors” for the Portland Flower Show’s sixth annual student essay contest. For a contest application and rules, contact the UMaine Extension office in Cumberland County by phone at 800-287-1471 or by e-mail at amy.witt@maine.edu. Applications can also be downloaded from the Cumberland County Extension website http://umaine.edu/cumberland/. The deadline for submitting entries is Thursday, February 16.
Maine residents aged 6–18 are invited to participate in this contest. Three prizes ($50, $30 and $20) will be awarded in each of the three age categories (6–9, 10–13 and 14–18). Essays will be judged on criteria such as creativity, focus, and passion for the topic. The winning essays will be announced at the show’s opening night preview on Wednesday, March 7, and selected essays will be posted for public viewing for the duration of the show. The Portland Flower Show runs from March 8 to 11, 2012 at the Portland Company Complex, 58 Fore Street, Portland.
Maine Tree Club
Maine citizens and visitors can learn more about one of our state’s greatest resources by joining the Maine Tree Club, an educational project designed for people of all ages to learn about trees, offered by University of Maine Cooperative Extension and the Maine Forest Service.
The annual registration fee for the Maine Tree Club is $20 per person, $30 per couple, $35 per family, and $65 per group of up to 15. A limited number of Maine Tree Club scholarships are available for those in need. There is no deadline for registration. Request a free informational brochure by calling University of Maine Cooperative Extension at 207-781-6099 or 1- 800-287-1471 (in Maine), or e-mailing extension.cumberland@maine.edu.
The Maine Tree Club is planning at least three outings around the state in 2012 to get people into the woods for hands-on learning and enjoyment. These outings, guided by experts, are planned for the mountains and coastal regions as well as other parts of Maine. Through these outings and two monthly fact sheets featuring different Maine tree species, club members will learn to recognize 50 different types of trees over a period of two years and gain skills that can be applied in their own yards and communities.
Participants receive additional materials including a 10X hand lens for close-up viewing of tree parts, an attractive notebook for the tree species fact sheets, a pocket guide to Maine trees, and several practical guides related to tree growth and care.
Maine’s trees attract tourists by the thousands, support the state economy, and deliver constant inspiration to area artists, poets, naturalists; they are at the root of Maine’s identity. As one Maine Tree Club member states, “the Maine Tree Club has been a great way to reacquaint myself with the trees I grew up with and for so many years was distant from.”
Join us for our Pickle Labs
Pickle Lab is a hands-on, multi-media educational program for children 7-12 years old.
Costs $2 per child. Students will learn about the science behind food preservation by dissecting a pickle, identifying pickle flavors through smell and taste, playing pickle Jeopardy and sampling different pickled products.
Pickle Labs (each session limited to 24 participants) will be held on these dates at UMaine Extension Office, 75 Clearwater Dr., Ste 104, Falmouth, ME 04105:
February 22nd,2012
Session 1: 9:30-11:30am
Session 2: 1:30-3:30pm
February 23rd, 2012
Session 3: 9:30-11:30am
Session 4: 1:30-3:30pm
April 17th, 2012
Session 5: 9:30-11:30am
Session 6: 1:30-3:30pm
April 19th, 2012
Session 7: 9:30-11:30am
Session 8: 1:30-3:30pm
To register, call (207)781-6099 or 1-800-287-1471 (in Maine). UMaine Extension programs are open and accessible to all in accordance with program goals. Please contact us 10 days prior to this event at the University of Maine Cumberland County Cooperative Extension Office 1-800-287-1471 if you are a person with a disability and will need any special accommodations to participate in this program.
Raffle at Mini Forum to support CWF trip
There will be a raffle to support the Citizenship Washington. DC Focus (CWF) trip, so please bring money to Mini Forum to support the cause.
We are also looking for about 10 items to put in the raffle at Mini-forum that raises money for CWF. Items ought to have a value of at least $10.00 and can be anything from gift certificates, to homemade items or any new item you think someone else would want. Variety is great, if you are willing to donate something, please call Connie at 625-4644 and then just bring the item to Mini-forum for the raffle. Thanks for your support.
Raise a “Heritage” Breed of Sheep
The Youth Conservationist Program encourages 4-Her’s to raise “Heritage” breeds of sheep. The program is sponsored by the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival and is in its 16th year. The program works to encourage youth to raise “Heritage” breeds of sheep by having donors give a yearling ewe to a youth and mentor them through the year. An application is required and is due April 1, 2012. Youth must be between 9 and 18 years of age and must submit an essay which introduces you and your experience with animals. Complete details are attached and also on our 4-H Sheep page on our website at http://umaine.edu/4h/youth/4-h-projects/animal-science-resources/sheep/2012-youth-conservationist-program/.
Hold The Date! Dr. Temple Grandin
May 13th, 2012, Dr. Temple Grandin will be speaking at Pineland Center in New Gloucester, ME Dr.Temple is the author of several books including “Animals in translation” and “Animals Make Us Human”. Her life story has also been made into an HBO movie “Temple Grandin” starring Clare Danes. In 2010, Time Magazine named her one of the 100 most influential people.
Co-sponsored by: Maine Grass Farmers Network, Pineland Farms Natural Meats, Maine Beef Producers Association and the University of Maine Extension
Dairy Quiz Bowl
– February 19, at the Farm Bureau office in Augusta.
Quiz Bowl will start at 1:00 pm and finish up before 4:00 pm.
Quiz Bowl is open to all 4-H Dairy project members.
Snow date is the following day, Monday, February 20.
Snow cancellation will be determined the evening before.
Call 581-3872 for a message announcing the cancellation of Quiz Bowl if there is a storm. The message will also give the Monday start time if there is a cancellation.
Young Farmers Winter Olympics
February 11, 2012
Beside Andy’s Agway
River Road, Dayton
Events Begin at 10:00
Bonfire Cookout, Toboggan Races, Snowshoe Haybale Hurdles
Open To Young Farmers Of All Ages
Sponsored By York County Farm Bureau
For more information call Clint Harris 499-2472
More stars. Less light. Participate in “GLOBE at Night!”
Calling all Earthlings! Take a few minutes to get involved in the “GLOBE at Night”campaign to preserve dark skies! “GLOBE at Night” is a citizen-science campaign open to people all over the world to raise awareness of the impact of light pollution by inviting citizen-scientists to measure their night sky brightness and report their observations to a website from a computer or smart phone. Light pollution threatens not only our “right to starlight”, but can affect energy consumption, wildlife and health. Through 2011, people in 115 countries contributed 66,000 measurements, making “GLOBE at Night” one of the most successful light pollution awareness campaigns to date. Please join us to participate in the 2012 campaign an hour after sunset until about 10pm January 14 through 23, February 12 through 21, March 13 through 22, and April 11 through 20. For information and resources, visit us at www.globeatnight.org.
Maine Military Adventure Camp Path – Winter Survival
Join us for a weeklong winter adventure learning survival skills and wilderness travel by snowshoes and dogsled. You will learn about winter survival including shelter building, ice fishing, outdoor cooking and primitive living while exploring the amazing world of winter in Maine.
- dogsledding
- snow lesson Rick Ryan
- snowshoe walk
Ages: 14-18
Program Dates: February 19th -24, 2012
Cost: $10 registration fee includes 4-H water bottle
Register online
http://www.umext.maine.edu/forms/bryant-pond/registration-military.htm
Cumberland Fair Exhibit and Club Display Tips
Cumberland Fair will soon be here and we have put together tips on Cumberland Fair Club Display’s and Tips on Individual Project Exhibits.
Activity Corner
Want to learn more about digital storytelling and videography? Visit the 4-H Filmmaking Studio at http://www.4-h.org/resource-library/curriculum/4-h-filmmaking-studio-and-workshop/
4-H Demonstration/Public Speaking Program
The 2012 4-H Demonstration/Public Speaking Program will be held on Saturday, February 18th, at the Inn at Village Square on Rte. 114 in Gorham at 1:30 p.m., Registration & Set-Up 1:00 p.m.
This year, you will be able to do either public speaking or a demonstration. Please see the guidelines below to help you decide which one you will do. The Inn at Village Square is an assisted living facility in Gorham and the All Star Dairy Club regularly meets with the seniors that live there and they are always looking for more visitors. They are excited for our program to be at their place. So please plan on joining us on February 18th.
Public Speaking Guidelines:
Your speech will have three main parts: 1. Introduction 2. Body 3. Conclusion
The Introduction, is where you greet and warm up your audience, then stimulate their appetite for what you are about to tell them.
Secondly, there is the Body of the speech, which is the main portion of your talk. Hopefully, this should have no more than three to five main points – more may confuse you and your audience.
The Conclusion will present a brief summary of your main points and you may find it effective to close on a high note with a poem, quotation, joke, surprise statement or challenge and, of course, a warm compliment to the audience.
Outlined below are suggestions:
Age Group Presentation Time Suggested Presentation
5 – 8 year olds Approx 3 – 5 min. Poetry
9 – 11 year olds Approx 3 – 5 min. Poetry
12 – 13 year olds Approx 5 – 7 min. Poetry or Original Talk
14 – 18 year olds Approx 7 – 10 min. Original Talk
(Notes should be used but not read)
Demonstration Guidelines:
What is a Demonstration?
Demonstration is an opportunity for any 4-H participant to prepare, organize and present an idea by using visual aids and teaching skills. Such things as showing a friend how to tie a knot, take a picture or play cribbage are all examples of giving a demonstration.
Why should I do a Demonstration?
Giving a demonstration in front of an audience will help you to think on your feet and to speak in front of a group of peers and families. This is a great and fun way to begin to prepare you for more challenging events that may involve public speaking.
What will I get out of doing a Demonstration?
Once you’re done you will feel proud of yourself for taking part in a County event and talking to an audience. You will boost your confidence to try other events. You just might meet some new people and make a new friend.
Each participant is encouraged to demonstrate a topic or activity that interests you. Anything goes and the sky’s the limit!! Remember to be a successful 4-H Demonstrator, you must understand what you are demonstrating, keep it simple and comfortable to do, and most of all have fun doing it!
State 4-H News
2012 Maine 4-H Days
The 2012 Maine 4-H Days will take place June 22 – 24, 2012 at the Windsor Fairgrounds. More information and registration packets will be available in mid-Spring of 2012 at: http://umaine.edu/4h/youth/4-h-events/maine-4-h-days/.
UMaine Day at the Legislature – 4-H Honorary Page Program
UMaine Day at the Legislature, Thursday, March 29th, is quickly approaching. Since legislators like to see 4-H members from their districts, 4-Her’s (recommended age 13 or older) are encouraged to serve as Honorary Pages. The Maine 4-H program has up to 30 slots for Honorary Pages.
What does a Page do? Pages hand out information to Representatives or Senators, or place the paper information on their desks. They also hand phone and other messages to Representatives and Senators on the floor.
If you are interested in serving as a Page, please contact Debra Kantor in Somerset County at 1-800-287-8957 or debra.kantor@maine.edu. We will attempt to have Pages from different parts of the state. Slots, representing different State Senators and Representatives, will be filled in the order they are received, but the final deadline is February 11th. If the slot for your legislative district has been filled, your name will be added to a wait list in the order it is received. If you are leaving a message, please be sure to say “I am interested in serving as a 4-H Page at the Legislature on March 29th”. Your slot will be reserved if you leave this complete information:
- full name
-age
- mailing address
-county
-phone number
-email address
-name of your school
-name of your 4-H Club
-name of your Maine State Representative
-name of your Maine State Senator
4-H Honorary Pages will be in the Capitol from 8:30am– 3:00pm. A parent or 4-H volunteer provides transportation and chaperoning.
4-H Foundation Post-Secondary Education Scholarships
The 4-H Foundation’s Post-Secondary Education Scholarships are available to participants in the 4-H Program, pursuing higher education. Because some scholarships have different sets of guidelines, please refer to the 4-H Foundation’s website (http://umaine.edu/4hfoundation/funding/) when applying. Deadlines for the applications are as follows: March 2, 2012 to the UMaine Cooperative Extension County Office, March 9, 2012 to the 4-H Foundation Office. Recipients receiving the scholarship awards will be invited to the Foundation’s Annual Meeting on May 16, 2012.
National 4-H Trips Applications Due
National 4-H Trips are excellent opportunities to meet 4-H members from across the nation. Participants learn about many career options, and learn through educational workshops at Congress or become a part of a team making recommendations to National 4-H Council at Conference. To learn more about these trips, visit: http://umaine.edu/4h/home/national-4-h-trips/.
Any Maine 4-H Youth, ages 14 to 18, is eligible to apply. Application packets must be sent to your county office and postmarked by March 16, 2012. If you have any questions, please contact Sarah Sparks at 1-800-287-1458 or sarah.sparks@maine.edu.
4-H Dairy Project members—Hold the Dates in 2012
Please hold the following dates for your participation in the State 4-H Dairy Programs:
- Dairy Quiz Bowl – February 19, at the Farm Bureau office in Augusta. Quiz Bowl will start at 1:00 pm and finish up before 4:00 pm. Open to all 4-H Dairy project members. Snow date is the following day, Monday, February 20. Snow cancellation will be determined the evening before. Call 581-3872 for a message announcing the cancellation of Quiz Bowl if there is a storm.
- Dairy judging – April 14, time and location to be announced. Open to all 4-H Dairy project members.
- Intent to Participate Form- due May 1, 2012 for 4-H Dairy Team to Eastern States: http://umaine.edu/4h/youth/4-h-projects/animal-science-resources/dairy/
- Fitting Competition – July 21, 5:00 pm at the Windsor Fairgrounds
- Maine State 4-H Dairy Show – July 22, 9:00 am at the Windsor Fairgrounds. The new dairy packet will be posted in February.
Citizenship Washington Focus (CWF)
Start making plans now to visit our Nation’s Capitol during the week of July 1 to 7, 2012. CWF is a leadership program conducted by the National 4-H Council for high school youth ages 15 to 18. Delegations of 4-Hers from across the country spend six days touring the city and attending leadership skill-building workshops. This summer, the Maine delegation will travel on July 1 to July 7, 2012. You will stay at the National 4-H Conference Center just outside Washington, DC. Visiting the most popular sites in Washington will be a part of the trip, including spending the 4th of July in our nation’s capitol. There is a mandatory orientation for Maine delegates on April 28th. For more information visit http://umaine.edu/4h/youth/4-h-events/citizenship-washington-focus/. Contact your county 4-H office for details about how to be a part of this experience.
Tanglewood 4-H Camp February Vacation Camp in Lincolnville, Maine
Journey through the snowy forest and embark on adventures to find where animals hide in winter and how they survive. Enjoy sledding, art, and the warmth of hot chocolate and a cozy wood-heated cabin.
February 21-22: Ages 6-8; February 23-24: Ages 9-13. From 9-2PM each day with after care till 4PM.
Bring a bag lunch and snack.
Cost: $65/child for each 2-day program, after care is $15/2-days
Visit: http://umaine.edu/tanglewood/year-round/february-vacation-camp/ or call Patti at 207-789-5868
Winter Survival – Military Adventure Camp
The Winter Survival MAC program will be held February 19 – 24, 2012 at the Bryant Pond 4-H Camp & Learning Center. This camp is available to children of military families and the cost is only $10.00. For more information please go to the website: http://umaine.edu/bryantpond/summer-camp/military-families-youth-programs/maine-military-adventure-camps/winter-survival/, or contact the Bryant Pond 4-H Camp office at 207-665-2068, extension.bryantpond@maine.edu.
ESE Announces Heidi Thuotte Appointed As Youth Working Steer Superintendent
The staff at ESE announced with great pleasure and confidence the appointment of Heidi Thuotte of Gorham, Maine as the new Superintendent of the Eastern States Exposition Youth Working Steer Show. “Many of you know Heidi as she has been a strong proponent of this program for many years. Heidi is currently with the University of Maine Cooperative Extension in the York County office as a 4-H Aide. We look forward to working with Heidi and are sure that you all join us in welcoming her to this position.”
Horse Quiz Bowl
Maine State Quiz Bowl practices have begun. The next practice will be Saturday February 11 at 1:00pm, at the University of Maine campus in Augusta. These meetings are for 4-Hers of all ages who are interested in participating in quiz bowl locally, state wide, or nationally. These practices are a requirement for 4-Hers interested in trying out for the State Quiz Bowl team which competes in Kentucky, but practices can also be very educational for younger 4-Hers wanting to compete in quiz bowl at Maine 4-H Days, or for 4-H leaders who want to learn about educational club activities.
If you are interested in quiz bowl but can’t make the February 11 practice or if you want study material, please email or call Edie Kershner at 322-4601 or ediekershner@yahoo.com You can read more about Horse Quiz Bowl on the Maine 4-H Website at http://umaine.edu/4h/youth/4-h-projects/animal-science-resources/horse/maine-state-horse-quiz-bowl/.
2011/2012 4-H Calendar
http://umaine.edu/cumberland/programs/cumberland-county-4-h/2010-4-h-calendar/
4-H Club Happenings
Iron Giants
Reporter & Leader: Kelli Kelihor
For December the Iron Giants met on 12/9 with 12 members in attendance. We learned about sensors.
Future Phenologist members attended Winterfest on December 4th.
Robotica
Reporter Bennett Family
On January 13th, we had our first meeting for 2012. The Perloffs, who funded the robots for our group, stopped in to see what we were up to. It was our first chance to work with our new temperature sensors. We gathered temperature data from different items from snow to water and then the investigator program in Robolab graphed our data. It was cool to see the changes in temperature and to see the investigator program do its work. We built a Lego air-conditioner unit to test the temperature sensor. While the older kids in our group worked on that, the younger kids learned more about temperature and the difference between Fehrenheit and Celsius. They used thermometers to measure various items and then built a smart house to test the temperature sensor. It was a great first of the year meeting.
Merry Makers 4H Club
January Meeting
Reporter: Anna
This month for our Merry Makers meeting, we learned about electricity. We broke up into groups to make blades for wind turbines. A turbine is like a fan. After we made the blades for our turbines we tested them by putting them in front of a real fan and saw how fast they would spin. We had a machine that told us how much electricity it was making. Then we would go and make improvments. Some groups made rainbow blades, some made swan shaped blades and some made blades shaped like flowers. It was really fun!
Merry Makers Club
All Star Dairy
Reporter: Maddy
Our last meeting was called to order on January 8th at the Gorham Savings Bank building. Before the meeting, we did a buddy activity then the meeting was called to order, we did flag salute and 4h pledge. We accepted the Treasurer’s and Secretary’s reports and asked who brought in bottles and cans.
In Old Business:
Kaysia gave us a report on how craft day went. We then had an update on the Oakhurst Tour that will be February 23rd at 10:00. CWF applications are due at the end of February and CWF will be held on July 1st -7th. We then had an update on Quiz Bowl practice that will be held on January 24th and January 29th.
In New business:
Jr quiz bowl meeting will be at 6:30 January 10th to plan Jr.Quiz bowl.
We were reminded that on January 15th there will be a record sheet talk for Tails and Trails to help them with their record sheets for the coming year if anyone is interested in helping with that.
The Pancake Breakfast Committee meeting will be held at the Haleys’ at 7:00 on January 15th.
We then talked about the possible activities for after Jr.Quiz Bowl. And were reminded of public presentation workshop on January 25th at Bailey hall at USM at 6:00 PM, then the presentation day will be on February 18th at the Inn.
If you are interested in being a page in Augusta watch for the newsletter for the date of page day.
For our February meeting, we will have a speaker for local food production.
Aryn then asked if anyone would like to be the team captain for Rely for Life and that is pending at the moment.
The meeting was then adjourned.
After the meeting we had a panel of college students, consisting of; Ashley, Allison, Katie, Ashley, and Mitchell, that came in and told us all about their college experiences, what they did, what they would do again, what they wouldn’t recommend.The panel was very informative and interesting.
The Bullseyes Club
Reported by Lucia
The Bullseyes club received a $500 donation from the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office this January. All the kids would like to thank the Cumberland Country Sheriff’s Office very much for donating the money to the club!
The club also had members shoot in the 4-position competition held at the West Cumberland range this month. In February some members will go up to compete in Augusta too.
Bullseyes Club
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