4-H Connections
A Newsletter for 4-H Volunteers and Families February, 2006

YORK COUNTY 4H NEWS

March 15 – Save the Date!

4-H Leaders Celebration

Our leaders are at the heart of the 4-H club program, and it’s an honor to be able to celebrate and recognize you each year.

This year’s 4-H Leaders Celebration will occur March 15 at the Extension office in Springvale

The agenda will include recognizing our incredible leaders, awards, a short evening program by Jon Prichard, and desserts (potluck).

If you haven’t seen our new offices this will be a great chance to do so.

We will be sending out invitations in the weeks ahead, but for now – save the date!

Art Saturday - March 11 – April 1

This year’s program will occur on four consecutive Saturdays, March 11 – April 1.

The series is available to youth aged 7 and up (exceptions will be made for younger youth accompanied by an older sibling or youth mentor).  Youth over age 14 may consider attending as a “teen leader”, helping the younger children with their projects. This is a good way to learn the art yourself and learn leadership skills, while offering a valuable community service.  Of course, older youth are certainly welcome to come simply as a participant.

The program will offer a series of arts projects including, paint, recycled arts, card-making and other new and fun art projects.

Youth may enroll in the entire series, or select individual classes.  During the 4-session program, classes consist of 2-hour sessions

that offer a short lesson followed by hands-on creative study.  Our young artists will be invited to show their work in August at the 4-H Exhibit Hall at Acton Fair.

Last year this program “sold out”, with over 20 participants!    So save the date and be sure to sign up early.  We will be mailing registration materials to all 4-H families in mid-February.

Art Saturday is part of York County Extension’s DISCOVERY ARTS PROGRAM, a program that helps youth to “discover the art of life".

DISCOVERY ARTS provides youth with opportunities to:

• Experience the expressive arts

• Learn about themselves, their communities and the world around them

• Use the arts to learn broader, valuable life skills

• Have fun!

Research has shown that the arts can help youth to develop self-esteem, appreciation of the work of others, self-expression, cooperation with others, and critical thinking skills.

Welcome to Our Newly Trained 4-H Leaders

Eight volunteers attended the new volunteer training on January 25, and either have been certified or will be shortly. 

Please welcome our 4-H family:

Tammy Hussey      
Ann Tripp
Russell Osgood     
Martha Dumont
Marcia Miller          
Debbie Sparks
Lynne Benoit         
Sam Kenneway

The training included many elements of 4-H, such as: 

·         4-H philosophy, goals and history.

·         The connection of 4-H to Extension and the University of Maine.

·         The Four Essential elements of 4-H.

·         Strategies for leading a successful 4-H club.

·         Opportunities within 4-H, local, county, state and national.

 They are also an opportunity for new leaders to get to know one another.

4-H Dairy Quiz Bowl February 19 in Augusta

The 4-H Dairy Quiz Bowl will be held on Sunday February 19th, 2006 at the Maine Farm Bureau Office in Augusta. The competition will start at 1:00 PM.

For youth wishing to participate and study for the event, most of the questions will come from the following three resources. 

·         Virginia Tech Dairy Quiz Bowl Study Materials available online at: http://www.dasc.vt.edu/youth/bowlmat

·         Hoard’s Dairyman Magazine from January 2005 to present

·         Dairy Herd Management Magazine from January 2005 to present

For more information contact:

David Marcinkowski
1-800-287-7170
davidm@umext.maine.edu
Webpage: www.umaine.edu/livestock

STATE AND NATIONAL NEWS
Citizenship Washington Focus

CWF is a week-long program, held at the National 4-H Conference Center in Chevy Chase, Maryland, just outside of Washington, DC. 

The program is sponsored by the National 4H Council and includes workshops and activities that let you experience the processes of U.S. government, visit your congressional delegation on Capitol Hill and see many of Washington’s most famous sites. 

The Maine 4H delegation will be attending CWF July 8-15, 2006.  Registration materials and information will be coming our way soon, so be sure to read upcoming newsletters for updates and registration information. 

There are a limited number of slots for this trip, so if you want to go, let Jon know if you’re interested.  And talk with 4-H members Kendra West, Greg Goodrich or Elizabeth Hilton about their experiences in 2005.

National 4-H Conference and Congress

Now is the time to consider applying for a State Award to National 4-H Congress or National 4-H Conference.  Both of these national programs are excellent opportunities to meet 4-H members from across the nation.  Participants learn about the 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.

“National 4-H Congress was the best educational conference I have ever attended.”
 – Daniel, 4-H Teen

“I was impressed by the people, the work, the planning, the national sites, the presentations, and the seriousness our organization had for our thinking, opinions, experiences, and recommendations.” 
- Audrey, 4-H Alumni, past teen participant of National 4-H Conference

When are the programs held?

·         National 4-H Conference – in March

·         National 4-H Congress – in November, immediately following Thanksgiving

4-H club members will receive a separate mailing in the near future. Please consider applying for these great opportunities and adventures!

Apply by completing your 4-H Story and 4-H Resume and sending them to the York County Extension Office by April 5^th.

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