AROOSTOOK COUNTY NEWS

4-H NEWSLETTER

January 2008

“to make the best better”

Other Important Dates Coming Up:

Intent form for the Eastern States Beef Team due in York County on January 10

January 13 OC MEETING 2 pm Nordic Heritage Center PI-Carpool from Houlton USDA 12:45

January 24^th – Leader’s meeting – trying something new - see inside for details!

February 10- 4-H Goes Out in the Cold to keep Other Warm –Ski and Snowshoe-A-Thon - Pledge form inside!

March 1—Tubing at Mars Hill Mountain-

CLUB NEWS AROUND THE COUNTY-

     The Crafty Critters 4-H Club recently celebrated the Holidays by enjoying a ride on a “two-horse open sleigh” on Mike Carpenter’s back 40 in Houlton.  The entire club toured Mr. Carpenter’s farm before heading out on the sleigh.  Afterwards everyone gathered for snacks and presents at a local eatery.

      The Caribou Clovers 4-H Club sponsored their sixth annual Giving Tree with WINGS and the assistance of the Caribou Public Library and their staff.

     Wings for Children and Families is a non-profit organization and provides support for children in Aroostook county with moderate to severe mental health needs.  The table holds some of the gifts contributed by the local community to support local children served by WINGS.  With overall charitable contributions down this year to WINGS, the Caribou Clover 4-H members also voted to donate $300.00 to WINGS to provide for even more children.  The Caribou Clovers 4-H members continued their tradition of community service and helped to brighten the holidays for many local area children

Hip Hoppers had a costume contest, gift exchange and began work on Project Linus blankets during the Holiday season.

 THE WEBSITE IS HERE!!!

The new Aroostook County 4-H Website is up and running! Check it out at www.umext.maine.edu/Aroostook4H

On the website, you will find links to forms you need, information about our clubs, a calendar of upcoming events which we invite you to put your club events on, and lots more.

Go give it a look!

If you find anything that needs fixing or you have any questions, just email Emily, Laurie or Christy-our email addresses are right there!

Take a look at your club page.  Want to add more? If you have photos, club information, or an event for the calendar, please send to Emily who is our webmaster!

 

And what else should be sent to Emily? 

HUGE THANKS FOR MONTHS OF WORK TO GET OUR SITE UP, READY

AND LOOKING GREAT.

THANK YOU EMILY!!!

 

On February 10

4-H Goes Out in the Cold to Keep the County Warm!

If there is one thing we know about this winter so far, it is that it has been snowy and COLD!  We also know that keeping homes warm is increasingly hard for some of our County families.

The Aroostook County 4-H Officer’s Council is sponsoring a Ski and Snowshoe-A-Thon to raise funds for the ACAP Heating Assistance program.  The event will be at the Nordic Heritage Center in Presque Isle from 1-4 pm on Sunday February 10.

            Every 4-H family will be receiving a pledge form in the mail next week.  You can estimate how far you plan to ski or snowshoe and ask people to donate an amount per potential km (kilometer-don’t worry a km is only 3/5 of a mile) or just have people make a donation toward the fund.  We are asking every 4-H member to collect pledges and to invite their non-4-H friends to also take part by skiing/snowshoeing and collecting pledges.  We want to raise lots of money for this important cause! 

            The Maine Winter Sports Center will be helping us set up Beginner and Intermediate level routes for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing and we plan to have equipment available as well.  See your pledge form mailing for all the details.

            We will be setting up carpools from Houlton to Presque Isle on this date to help get everyone there with a minimum of gas used!  If you would be willing to be one of the drivers, please let Christy or Laurie know.

Details are included on the Pledge From.  Please SAVE THE DATE and come help us Keep the County Warm!!

 OC Meeting

 Sunday January 13 at 2 pm at the Nordic Heritage Center

We will be checking out the Center and making our plans for the Ski and snowshoe a thon.  All clubs should send representatives.

For Houlton members, we will meet at the USDA building at 12:45 to carpool up.  Please let Christy know if you will be needing a ride.

For directions or additional information, call the office at 532-6548.

 

A New Look for the January 24th Leaders’ Association Meeting

We are planning for the January 24 meeting for the Leader’s Association to be a video-conference using sites at the Houlton Higher Education Center and UMPI.  Reduced driving for Southern Aroostook folks!

We will still meet at 6:30, but the leaders in Southern Aroostook will go to Room 125 at the Houlton Higher Ed Center and Central Aroostook leaders will go to a site that has yet to be arranged at UMPI—the scheduler is away until next week.  You will be receiving a card or email with the final details.

Please plan to come! It is important to have a good turn-out if we are using these facilities!

 

Good-bye and Hello from Orono...

Dear 4-H’ers, leaders and families,

     December 14 will be my last day with Cooperative Extension, and my last day as the Program Administrator for 4-H.  The last four years have been a great experience for me, especially because I got to know many of you who give so much to our 4-H program.  I have learned a lot from you, and will carry many memories of events and meetings where exciting learning and wonderful connections were happening — for youth and adults!  It has been a privilege to support the staff and volunteers who make our Maine 4-H program one of the best in the country.  I am moving on into the next phase of my life - retirement, sort of - and I’m sure I’ll be seeing some of you at fairs and events, especially around Franklin county where I will be living.

     I am delighted to be turning over this role to Lisa Phelps, who brings much knowledge and experience in Maine 4-H, a great sense of humor, and commitment to all that 4-H stands for.  I know that many of you already know her, and if you don’t, you will love getting to know her.  4-H will be in very good hands.

     Best wishes to you all, always,

 

                                    Shirley Hager

 

Hello from Lisa Phelps!

     I am very excited to be moving into my new role as the 4-H Program Administrator.  Prior to this new role I was an educator working with 4-H Youth and Family Development Programs in Cumberland County.  I enjoyed working in Cumberland County and I will for sure miss the great volunteers and youth I left behind to begin a new position within UMaine Extension.  Shirley has done an outstanding job with her support and growth of the Maine 4-H program and I will do my best to continue on with this good work.  What I do know for sure is that without all of the incredible 4-H volunteers we have in Maine we would not have a 4-H program, and I am confident that all of you will continue on with your good work as we make this leadership transition.  I began my new role on December 1st and one of the reasons I did that was to make sure I could spend as much time as possible with Shirley before her last day which was December 14th.  My primary office will be in Lisbon at the Androscoggin/Sagadahoc County office and I will also have an office in Orono.  If you need to reach me my email address is: lphelps@umext.maine.edu and my cell phone number is (207)356-3851.  Thanks and I look forward to working with all of you in my new role with the Maine 4-H program.

 4-H EDGE Weekend 2008

It’s Back!  4-H EDGE WEEKEND 2008: Connecting Kids to Campus

May 17 & 18, 2008

An on-campus experience for 4-H youth ages 11-15.  “College Life at the EDGE of your future!”

For youth participants: Hands-on workshops with UMaine departments, meals in The Marketplace and University Commons, over night in a residence hall, experience on-campus recreation and activity opportunities, find out what excites YOU about the college experience.

 

For parents and older teens:  Special workshops on college life, financial aid, and becoming “college-ready”.

 

Save the dates!  Registration forms will be mailed in January.

Tanglewood 4-H Camp and Learning Center

Tanglewood 4-H Camp and Learning Center, a program of the University of Maine Cooperative Extension, will release their 2008 program catalog in January and will be accessible online.  Affordable program offerings for 2008 include family camps and a variety ofyouth day and residential, discovery, and leadership camps for ages 5-18 years old.  New programs will also be highlighted, including family camp and residential camp at Blueberry Cove in Tenants Harbor.  Gift certificates are available and can be purchased in any amount and can be used toward any Tanglewood program.

 

To see or request a catalog or to buy gift certificates visit www.tanglewood4h.org or call (207) 789-5868.

 IS ENGINEERING IN YOUR FUTURE?

2008 Brain Power Engineers Week Expo

 

Saturday, March 1, 2008

University of Maine Orono

For more information go to:

 www.EngineerinME.com

 

Cost:  $2.00 per person donation suggested

 CITIZENSHIP WASHINGTON FOCUS (CWF)

 Start making plans now to visit our Nation’s Capitol during the week of July 5 to 12, 2008.  Citizenship Washington Focus is a leadership program conducted by the National 4-H Council for high school youth ages 15-19.  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 leave on July 5 and return on July 12, 2008.  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.

 Contact either Christy or Laurie in the Houlton office by phone or email.  If you live in Northern Aroostook, contact Stacy Paradis at the Fort Kent Extension office.

 

TEEN LEADERSHIP and

ENTREPRENEURSHIP ROAD TRIP

The 4-H program leadership team focusing on teen leadership and entrepreneurship is planning a road trip for this summer to learn more about Maine success stories.

 We need your ideas to create the road map for our adventures.

Do you have a favorite place in your community that highlights a local leader or business???

 Let us know by contacting Debra Kantor by phone at 474-9622 or by email at dkantor@umext.maine.edu.

 

If your idea is selected, you’ll get to be part of the road trip for ˝ price.

Want to have a voice in the 4-H Program’s Teen Conference Planning?

 

The Youth in Governance Program Leadership Team needs your voice to help guide the Maine 4-H Program while you learn new skills & build your resume…

 

Join us via email, conference calls, or video conferencing to:       

Plan Teen Conferences

Award Mini-grants for youth projects in the community

Renew ideas for a statewide Teen Council

 

Contact Debra by phone at 474-9622 or by email at dkantor@umext.maine.edu

 UMaine Day at the Legislature - 4-H Honorary Page Program

 UMaine Day at the Legislature, Thursday, March 27th, is quickly approaching.  Since legislators like to see 4-H members from their districts, 4-Hers [recommended age 13 or older] are encouraged to serve as Honorary Pages.  The Maine 4-H program has reserved 20 spots 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.  To learn more about what Honorary Pages do, visit the website listed at the end of this article.

 If you are interested in serving as a page on March 27th, please contact Jane Haskell, Extension educator in Waldo County at 1-800-287-1426 ext. 1013 or jhaskell@umext.maine.edu.  She will be serving as the coordinator of the 2008 program.  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.  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 27th”.  Your slot will be reserved if you leave your full name, mailing address, county, phone number, email address, 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.  For a complete list of expectations and duties, visit the 4-H Honorary Page Program webpage at www.umext.maine.edu/Waldo/4H/Pages.

 4-H Healthy Lifestyles Team

 The 4-H Healthy Lifestyles Team is looking forward to promoting healthy living choices for youth, families and communities in 2008!  To help you enjoy a healthier 2008, here are some simple changes you can put in place in the New Year, one step at a time!

·     Eat more foods made from fresh ingredients to lower sodium intake.  Most sodium in the       food supply comes from packaged or processed foods.

·         Get outside and move/play every day!  Tumble in the leaves, build a snowman, splash in a puddle, go for a hike, ski or snowshoe adventure.  Walk with your dog or your favorite person!  (For health benefits, physical activity should be moderate or vigorous and add up to at least 30 minutes a day.)

·         Eat more whole grains.  Substitute a whole-grain product for a refined product - such as eating whole-wheat bread instead of white bread or brown rice instead of white rice.

·         Plan a garden with your family or friends.  It’s a great way to eat nutritious, local food, get lots of fresh air and exercise and put your artistic abilities to work through the planning of your garden design!

·         Eat fruits and veggies every day with meals or as snacks and eat a rainbow of colors!

·         Try a new activity: learn how to play a musical instrument, take an art or a dance class through your local adult ed. or community center, start a writing journal, learn how to ice skate - use your creativity!

 

Check out these great resources:

·         Healthy Maine Partnerships web site has many tip sheets and useful posters & brochures.  See this link to their “Tips for a Healthy You, A healthy Family” 

      http://www.healthymainepartnerships.org/tips.aspx

·         After School Physical Activity web site features twelve thematic activity modules (average of 6 activities each) designed for children ages 9-13.  The themes of a few of the modules are:  “Survivor,” “Beach Party,” and “Athletics with a Twist.”  Some activities have video clips to show how the activity is performed.  www.afterschoolpa.com

·         The USDA My Pyramid web site is full of information for both kids and adults on making healthy food choices and increasing physical activity.  The *items in the list above are all from this web site: www.mypyramid.gov (Also, our UMaine Extension Nutrition folks are a wonderful resource right here in Maine! See www.umext.maine.edu/topics/nutrition.htm

·         Maine in Motion web site from the Maine Governor’s Council on Physical Activity has downloadable information sheets in the “resources” section and a great newsletter called “Get ME Active: Promoting Healthy Lifestyles Through Physical Activity” -check out the Winter Issue!  www.maineinmotion.org

 

Thanks to the support of the Pine Tree State 4-H Foundation, 12 teens, 4 adult volunteers and 2  educators attended the Northeast Regional Volunteer Forum on Healthy Lifestyles in October.  These teams will be bringing healthy lifestyles activities to locations around Maine in 2008.  Stay tuned for more details in upcoming newsletters!

 

For more information on Healthy Lifestyles or to join our team, please contact Ellie Libby at 1-800-244-2104, email: elibby@umext.maine.edu or Karen Hatch Gagne at 1-800-287-1481, email: karenhg@umext.maine.edu

 Have You Herd?

I have been receiving an interesting weekly email newsletter about all things horses called Have You Herd?  You too can sign up to receive this by going to MyEquineNetwork.com.  The lead story on the December 31 page is called Introducing HorseJobsOnline.com.  Among the resources available are sections on nutrition, breeding and facilities as well as Vet Corner and “How Do You Whisper?”.

 

Deadline for Market Hog Auction Drawing is January 25

Send in Your Name Today!
There is still time to put your name into the drawing for the Market Hog auction!  We will be choosing 6 names out of a hat to be the participants in this year’s auction at the Houlton Fair.  Remember, if your name is not drawn, you can still raise and show a market hog and can participate in the meetings and clinics put on by the Market Hog project group led by Jeff Svoboda.  Market hog is a fun project that involves not only learning how to raise and show an animal, but also about economics, marketing, food production and other entrepreneurial skills.

To put your name in the drawing, call or email Christy or Laurie before January 25.  For answers to market hog project questions, call Jeff at 496-3199.

 

PIGGIES FOR PANTRIES NEEDS VOLUNTEERS

We also hope to have funding to raise two Piggies for Pantries so we need volunteers for this project!  Maine Potato Board funds are used to purchase and buy food for one or two pigs.  4-H members care for, train and show the pigs and then the meat is donated to local food pantries.  Over the past four years we have donated meat to food pantries from Oakfield and Haynesville to Houlton and Mars Hill.  A volunteer from the Central Aroostook area could help spread our project northward, but call from anywhere if you want to help!