Spring Fling!!!

We had a blast at Spring Fling this year. Seth and Alison Kenneway put together a wonderful program. There were fun crafts to do, games galore and super food cooked by our own Deanna Thompson and Debbi Cole.

Thank you Kenneways, Deanna and Deb for doing such a terrific job, and thanks also to the Moses family for taking pictures at the event. The photos will soon be up on the website. We hope this is an event we can continue next year; please let us know if you would like to help on the planning.

Acton Fair Food Booth

This is our last plea for you to help in the food booth. The food booth is our major funding source for the leaders Association. Programs like the Spring Fling and Fall Fest as well as scholarships are paid with these funds. Please help us continue our superior level of programming. Deanna Thompson is the contact person this year; she can be reached at 490-9040 or email at: deanna9040@yahoo.com.

Next Leader Meeting

Our next leader meeting will be on Monday July 16 at 7:00 in the Springvale extension office. If you have never been please try to make a meeting. A lot of wonderful information and ideas are exchanged at these meetings. It is very important for us have to have input into the future of our County’s 4-H program.

July Birthdays

Jack Bardwell

Saraphina Birtolo

Sam Brooks

Kortney Cole

Sierra Donnelly

Carl Hill Jr

Mariah Joiner

Caitlin Keating

Calli-Ann Leach

Isabel Leahy

Caleb Miller

Kendra Miller

Elizabeth Peverill

Alec Stapleton

Nicholas Thompson

Happy Birthday to You!!!

Calendar of Events

July 1-30 Vaughn Island Camp

July 6-9 Maine 4-H days at Windsor Fairgrounds

July 11-15 Ossipee Valley Fair

July 22-27 Trip Program at Vaughn Island

July 28 Acton Fair Ground Painting Day

Aug. 1-10 Vaughn Island 4-H Camp

Aug. 3-6 Southern Maine Horse Camp at Ossipee Valley

Aug. 23-26 Acton Fair

Sept. 14-30 Eastern States Exposition,

Springfield, Mass.

Ossipee Valley Fair

Don’t forget to go to Ossipee Valley Fair July 12-15 in South Hiram. It’s going to be wicked fun! For more information check out their website: www.ossipeevalleyfair.com

Animal Postings Clarification

I recently sent out in error an email about some sheep for sale, being fairly new to this position I didn’t know better. The University has a policy against the selling of items or animals on their property, so we will not be able to do this again. We are, however, allowed to post animals that are FREE. If you have an animal you would like to give away to another 4-H member please let me know.

~ Lynn Osgood

Maine Youth Learn Geotechnology

At Maine GIS Camp

What do solar-powered laptop computers, GPS navigation units, driftwood, tent poles, battered lobster traps and canoe paddles have in common? They were all part of the equipment used by campers at a York County camp this summer as the camp brought a technological spin to its traditional activities.

For 35 years Vaughn Island 4-H Camp in Cape Porpoise has helped youth to appreciate nature and to deepen their awareness of how they are part of Earth’s web of life, with over 120 campers attending each summer.

This is a high quality camp adventure that is one way the University of Maine brings research-based information to Maine youth and introduces them to the university. Camp activities include recreation, tidal pool and island explorations, canoeing, low-impact camping, and a visit to a lighthouse.

This summer we added a technology component that taught campers how to use geospatial technology (GPS) in navigation and community mapping projects. Our 21 campers created a top-notch map of Vaughn Island that includes trails, vegetation, poison ivy cautions, tidal lines, and more. This was an incredible achievement by youth from four southern Maine counties!

What is the Danish System of Judging, and how is it used in 4-H?

The Danish system is a method of evaluation where a product or process is evaluated against a set of standards, and recognition is awarded on the degree to which the standard has been met by each competitor. In the Danish system, the exhibitors are not judged against each other. In Maine 4-H, ribbons traditionally awarded by the Danish system are:

Blue – for excellence, exceeding the expected standard.

Red – for good work that meets the expected standard.

White – for work that falls below the expected standard.

The Danish system is used in 4-H because it is a way to provide recognition to greater numbers of youth who may all be making significant progress in their projects.

Acton Fair

York County 4-H Leaders, watch your mailboxes for the Acton Fair paperwork. The information will be mailed out soon. The Acton Fair Exhibit Hall guidelines are on the website now for your convenience.

http://www.umaine.edu/umext/york/4H/4-Hhome.htm

News from the State

4-H Healthy Lifestyles Team

The Healthy Lifestyles Team formed as a program leadership team about a year ago, under the new 4-H leadership structure, in order to increase, organize and broaden the state-wide efforts to educate youth in healthy lifestyle choices. Currently our team, with the help of a Kraft Foods Healthy Living grant, is working together to design and implement a health and wellness activity kit which will be available for loan through county offices.

We are excited to be sponsoring upcoming workshops at both the Maine 4-H Days and the Youth in Action Teen conference. Some of the materials and curricula we have been working on will be showcased at these two events. We hope you will join us, strap on one of our new pedometers, and help us reach our goal of a healthier Maine population!

GREAT OPPORTUNITY! With the support of the Pine Tree State 4-H Foundation, we will be selecting and paying for three teams consisting of one adult and 3-4 youth to attend the Northeast Regional Volunteer Forum on Healthy Lifestyles (NERVF-HL) to be held in Portland, Maine on October 11-14th. In return, the teams will be expected to teach at least one Healthy Lifestyles workshop in the year following the training and to join the statewide 4-H Healthy Lifestyles program leadership team.

If you are interested in applying for this great opportunity, please contact Karen or Ellie for an application. To find out more about the NERVF-HL, see: http://www.umext.maine. edu/4-HVolLeadersForum

Please consider joining our team in our efforts to provide meaningful health and wellness opportunities for Maine’s youth. We meet by phone conference calls, the UNET video system, and in person. To find our more about our/your Team, please contact:

Karen Hatch Gagne at 1-800-287-1481; e-mail: karenhg@umext.maine.edu, or

Ellie Libby at 1-800-244-2104, e-mail: elibby@umext.maine.edu

Morris Scholarship

Every two years Maine has the opportunity to select an Eastern States Exposition team member to receive a $500 scholarship toward continuing his or her education beyond high school. This year the award will be presented during 4-H Day at ESE on Saturday, September 15, 2007. Consider applying.

Criteria: To be eligible for the Maine 2007 Big E Morris 4-H Scholarship, nominees must:

1. Be a member of a 2007 or prior Maine ESE team (Beef, Dairy, Dog, Goat, Horse, Sheep or Working Steer).

2. Graduate from high school in 2007 or 2008 and continue their education beyond high school in one of the following: two or four-year colleges or universities, technical schools, professional training, or apprenticeship programs.

3. Have demonstrated leadership as a Maine 4-H member at local, state, or regional level.

4. Be a junior or senior in high school and in good academic standing.

5. Be recommended by their Animal Science Committee.

Application Process: Applications will include these three components:

1. A letter from the applicant regarding their qualifications for the scholarship that includes information about their:
    a. Participation on a Maine ESE team in 2007 or before.
    b. Intention to continue their education beyond high school in 2007 or 2008, including area of study or training and possible location.
    c. Leadership as a Maine 4-H member at the local, state, or regional level.

2. A copy of the applicant’s high school transcript or equivalent.

3. A letter of recommendation from the Activity Coordinator of the appropriate Animal Science Committee. If the Activity Coordinator of your commodity is an immediate family member, have someone else on the committee write the recommendation.

Mail or fax application materials to:
            Jessy Brainerd
            5741 Libby Hall, Room 103
            University of Maine
            Orono, ME 04469-5741
            Fax: 207-581-1387

*Faxed entries will be accepted up until 4:30 pm on August 17, 2007.
*Mailed entries must be postmarked by August 17, 2007. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

The winner will be notified by Friday, August 31, 2007. ESE has requested that the scholarship recipients be present at ESE on 4-H Day on September 15 to receive their award. If you have any questions, contact Donna Flint at 1-800-287-1535 or Michaele Bailey at 1-800-287-0274.

The Bangor State Fair Dog Show

The Bangor State Fair Dog Show will be held at the Bangor Fairgrounds on July 28 at 1 P.M. This show is open to all 4-H members in the dog project that have reached their ninth birthday but not exceeded their 19^th birthday as of December 31, 2006. This is also a requirement for attending ESE for Dog.

This is the only state 4-H dog show in Maine. Showmanship and Obedience will be the primary award winning classes and there will be a fun agility class. All classes are judged using the Danish System and all award winning classes come with a ribbon and premium. For more information see www.bangorfair.com; click on Contest and Premiums to find the rules and registration forms. Registrations are due to the 4-H representative by July 23, 2007.

The Skowhegan Fair

The Skowhegan State Fair, August 9 – 18, is open to all 4-H’ers in Maine. For detailed information about both 4-H livestock and the 4-H exhibit hall, please contact your Cooperative Extension office or go to the Skowhegan State Fair web page http://www.skowheganstatefair.com/ and select the “Premium Book” link in the left column of their main page.

Please direct your questions to the 4-H Staff in the Somerset County Cooperative Extension office at 1-800-287-1495 or email: jclift@umext.maine.edu or dkantor@umext.maine.edu

2007 Northeast Regional 4-H Volunteer Leaders Forum

October 11-14, 2007 –

Doubletree Hotel Portland, Portland, Maine

Maine will be hosting the 2007 Northeast Regional 4-H Volunteer Forum. Starting in 2005, NERVF switched to having a non-traditional forum with an emphasis on the National 4-H mission mandates and states sending learning teams consisting of teens and a 4-H volunteer. In 2005 the emphasis was in Science, Engineering and Technology. This year our focus is on Healthy Lifestyles.

Since the forum (October 11 - 14, 2007) will be in Portland, the 4-H Foundation will pay to send three team from Maine. A team consists of three to four 4-H members and one 4-H adult volunteer. Attached is an application form that Ellie and Karen developed and sent out a couple of weeks ago.

For more information on the forum, please go to the forum web-site: http://www.umext.maine.edu/4-VolLeadersForum/

Healthy Lifestyles Leadership Team

Application to Participate in N.E. Leader Forum

Dates: October 12-14

2007 Northeast Regional 4-H Volunteer Leader Forum,

Maine State 4-H Office, 5741 Libby Hall, Room 103,

Orono, ME 04469-5741

Name_____________________________________________ DOB______________ Age_____

Mailing Address________________________________________________________________

City/State/Zip _________________________________________________________________

County_________________________

____ I make a commitment to attend the Healthy Lifestyles training in South Portland on October 12-14.

____ I make a commitment to be part of a team to teach at least one Healthy Lifestyles workshop in a year following the training.

____ I make a commitment to join the statewide 4-H Healthy Lifestyles program leadership team.*

*Slots for 12 youth (3 teams) and 3 adults geographically dispersed around the state.

Date: October 12-14, 2007

Location: ______________ Portland

Cost: Paid for by the Pine Tree State 4-H Foundation and Healthy Lifestyles Grant

My activities that show I live a healthy lifestyle:

My leadership skills and activities which I have used teaching, mentoring, using Healthy Lifestyles:

My 4-H projects – Leadership/Community Service