Archives of the Newsletter	4-H on the Move A Newsletter for 4-H Families  JANUARY
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Maine 4-H Core Principles

Maine 4-H Youth Development programs are research-based and founded on the principles of positive youth development.  Our educational programs focus on:

·         Science, engineering, and technology tied to agriculture, the environment and our communities;

·         Healthy lifestyles tied to informed decision-making and action for health and safety;

·         Citizenship tied to youth involvement with government and other institutions;

·         Sustainable lifestyles and communities tied to ecological literacy and responsible choices.

 

Our youth can expect the opportunity to:

·         Be valued and contributing members of their clubs and communities (belonging)

·         Identify and meet goals for their own hands-on learning (mastery)

·         Take meaningful learning and leadership roles (independence)

·         Engage in community service (generosity)

 

Volunteers, youth leaders, families and staff can expect:

·         The education, training and support needed to make this vision a reality

County News

 Teaching Kids to Relax. Creating Family Photo Bingo, Celebrating Birthdays                                                          

arenting Press’s January issue of “News for Parents” has at least a dozen fun activities for families and other preschool, school, and youth development groups to use or copy.  Looking for additional ideas? 

Check out “Tip Archive” at www.ParentingPress.com/weeklytips.html.   You will find previous issues of the newsletter with more ideas available for your use at www.ParentingPress.com/ezine.html.

 

 Youth Events in Knox/Lincoln County                                                                                                                          

Waldo County 4-H youth are invited to join 4-Hers from Knox/Lincoln in some fun 4-H activities and events (snow tubing, public speaking clinic, Tanglewood Winter Ecology Day and Public Speaking Tournament).  For a complete listing visit the Waldo County 4-H web calendar at www.umext.maine.edu/Waldo/4H/Calendar.  To sign up or for more information contact Ellen Libby, Knox/Lincoln Extension Educator (elibby@umext.maine.edu or call 1-800-244-2104).

 

 Volunteer Question Corner                                                                                                                                          

Question:  Why do 4-H members have deadlines, but state administrative or leadership groups can seemingly change the date deadline for their own work? 

Answer:  Getting information out to 4-H families is a challenge.  The Maine 4-H Program communicates 4-H information through email, the Maine 4-H web site and on county websites, and if time permits USPS mail.

As a collective 4-H organization, 4-H staff and volunteers serving on committees are very sensitive to getting information out as soon as possible to 4-H youth and their families. On occasion, changing of 4-H dates do happen with circumstances of inclement weather, conflict with dates, meeting places or availability of 4-H staff and presenters. With fairs, committees set the policies and procedures for the necessary forms for exhibiting, fitting and showing animals.

The State 4-H Office has recently launched a newly re-designed website which has the intention of making it easier to find information, dates, and forms for members and volunteers. You can find it at www.umext.maine.edu/4h    

 

 National 4-H Congress/Conference                                                                                                                              

Now is the time to start thinking about 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. At 4-H Congress participants learn about the many career options, and learn through other educational workshops.  At 4-H Conference, participants learn about and are part of a team making recommendations to National 4-H Council at Conference.

When are the programs held?

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

   National 4-H Conference - in April

What is involved in applying for a State Award?

Step 1 - Work on your 4-H Portfolio (Please follow portfolio guidelines available at your Extension.)

Step 2 - Submit your Portfolio on or before March 28 to:

             Jane Haskell, Extension Educator, 992 Waterville Rd, Waldo ME 04915

Step 3 - Our screening committee will review Portfolios and invite 4-H members to interview.

Step 4 - An in-person interview will be held in early June in a central location for those applying.

Decisions Announced - Mid-June

             Decisions will be announced by the following methods:

·    By email to all Extension Offices

·    By mail to all applicants

·    By newsletter in the following month

 

 Funds Available for Volunteer Development                                                                                                              

Effective October 2003, the Waldo County 4-H program has funded volunteer development activities.  These activities may include in-service training which benefits the professional development of the volunteer.  After a volunteer has been enrolled for at least one year, each volunteer may apply for up to $50 per year.  Use of these funds should benefit the individual in ways that will contribute to the benefit of the Waldo County 4-H program, and must be approved by the Waldo County 4-H staff.  A written request is expected from the volunteer, addressed to the 4-H staff, outlining the activity, the cost, the relation to the volunteer’s plan of work and what the anticipated benefit to the Waldo County 4-H program will be.  A copy of the Request for 4-H Volunteer Professional Development Funds is located on the Waldo County 4-H website www.umext.maine.edu/Waldo/4H/Volunteer or by calling Joyce at the Cooperative Extension Office. 

 

 Volunteer Training for New Leaders                                                                                                                            

4-H Volunteer training for all new leaders and assistant leaders happens as needed in Waldo County.  Remember that assistant leaders are not 4-H certified volunteers until they have gone through the entire volunteer training program.

What do you learn in 4-H Volunteer Training?

            *  You learn about 4-H and UMCE

            *  You learn about starting and working with a club

            *  You learn about new opportunities and resources

            *  You learn different ways to teach life skills

            *  You learn about leadership and group work

And you become a member of a national community of caring people who are helping young people to reach their goals in life.

 

State and National News

 

 The Passing of Kenneth C. Lovejoy                                                                                                                              

Earlier this year Kenneth C. Lovejoy passed away.  KC, as many of us knew him, was a vibrant part of the Maine 4-H program for most of the 20th century.  KC began his career with the University of Maine Agricultural Extension Service in1928 as a 4-H Club Agent in Waldo County.  In 1935 he became the State 4-H Club Leader.  He held this position until he retired in 1964.  While his 36 years of service are very significant, KC made his most enduring contribution to 4-H after he retired.  With several friends and 4-H supporters KC established the Pine Tree State 4-H Club Foundation in 1961.  KC was the first Executive Director of the 4-H Foundation and served in that role until 1987.  In 1985 KC was awarded Emeritus status by University President Arthur Johnson.  KC worked tirelessly to raise funds to help the 4-H program in Maine.  The legacy he leaves behind is a 4-H Foundation that is worth over $3.6 million and is one of the top ten 4-H Foundations in the United States.  KC was active well into his 90’s and many of us remember his wit, bravado and willingness to tell a story.  His dedication and commitment will be long remembered.

John Rebar, Executive Director
University of Maine Cooperative Extension

 Good-bye and Hello from Orono                                                                                                                                   

Dear 4-H’ers, leaders and families,
December 14th  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: May 17 and 18, 2008                                                                                                                  

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

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:  FREE workshops on college life, financial aid, and becoming “college-ready”.  Save the dates!  Registration forms will be mailed out in January.

 

 2008 Brain Power Engineers Week Expo                                                                                                                     

Saturday, March 1, 2008
University of Maine Orono
For more information go to www.EngineeringME.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 to 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 your county 4-H office to find out how to apply for this trip. Each county will have their own selection process.

 

 VOLT Training in Penobscot County                                                                                                                             

The next VOLT training will be held Saturday, January 12, 2008 from 9:30—3:30 at the Penobscot County Extension Office, 307 Maine Ave, Bangor, ME.  Please bring a brown bag lunch. To cover supplies, the cost is $5/person. Scholarships are available if the fee is a problem. Please call Barb (942-7396) to sign up.  It’s fun!

 

 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!

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

2. 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 favorite person! (For health benefits, physical activity should be moderate or vigorous and add up to at least 30 minutes a day.)

3. 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.

4. 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!

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

6. 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 six 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/nutritio.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

 

 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 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 half 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.

 

 2007 New England Regional Leadership Forum (NERLF)                                                                                            

At the forum, we learned a lot about healthful eating, healthy cooking, and exercise. We also learned how easy these things are to incorporate into our clubs and everyday lives.  In addition, we had the opportunity to meet a representative from Monsanto, which is one of the leading agriculture research companies that sponsored the 4-H Volunteer Leaders Forum on healthy living. It is our intention to present what we have learned in many different ways in our county.  We hope to do a workshop in March at our County 4-H Fest and, although we have not arranged dates yet, we also hope to present at several local 4-H clubs such as Penobscot Valley Homeschoolers Association, the sheep club, and the computer club, to show them fun ways to exercise and "how to eat what you know and know what you eat.”   We’d also like to share some information we picked up on having a healthy brain. Although still in the planning stages, we hope to include some of what we have learned during the Maine Teen Conference in July, which we are currently on the planning team for.  This will give us the venue for reaching more counties than just our own. We really had a good time at the conference and look forward to sharing the information we learned with our friends and peers.

--Caleb, Matt, Nathan, and Andrew
Junior Leaders 4-H Club, Penobscot County

 

 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 25 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 x1013 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 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.  For a complete list of expectations and duties, visit the 4-H Honorary Page Program webpage at www.umext.maine.edu/Waldo/4H/Pages.

 

 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 of youth 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.

 

 Winter Activities Abound at Tanglewood                                                                                                                      

With perfect snow conditions on the midcoast this season, you don’t have to travel very far to find pristine trails to ski, snowshoe, or winter hike.  The University of Maine Cooperative Extension’s Tanglewood in Lincolnville operates more than nine miles of trails in the Camden Hills State Park open to the public year round.

 

Offering an array of outdoor educational programming throughout the year on more than 900 acres, the Tanglewood site becomes the perfect spot for winter exploration when the snow falls.  Trail maps, information, and safety guidelines are available at the kiosk at the head of the trails.

The Tanglewood Trail Recreation Area may be reached by turning on Ducktrap Road in Lincolnville about 1 mile north of Lincolnville Beach. Once on Ducktrap Road continue .7 miles to first gravel road on right, Tanglewood Road. Follow this road for another .8 miles until the parking lot.  For more information on Tanglewood’s public trail system call (207) 789-5868 or visit www.tanglewood4h.org

 

 Pine Tree 4-H Foundation Support                                                                                                                               

Each year the Pine Tree 4-H Foundation offers much appreciated financial support to the 4-H program state-wide.  The funds come from interest earned from a large trust fund invested for the maximum yield.  Support to 4-H state-wide in Maine exceeds $80,000 in various ways:

·         Environmental programs

·         Teen and adult volunteer leadership development

·         New programs development

·         4-H Congress and Conference

·         Citizenship Washington Focus

·         Eastern States Tryouts

·         Scholarships

·         Creative Community Coalition Grants

·         Professional development

·         Support to the National 4-H Center, and

·         Business/operating expenses.

For more information go to www.umaine.edu/4hfoundation and click on Receive Funding from the Foundation.