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4-H Flash Newsletter

June 2007

Volume 2, Issue 6

Calendar
June 20- Internet Safety Training 5:30-6:30 p.m.

June 29– Animal Approval Forms Due-NO EXCEPTIONS (June 30th is a Saturday)

June 30-July 7-CWF

July 6-9- Maine 4-H Days at the Windsor Fairgrounds

July 21- VOLT Training at Penobscot County Extension Office

September 15- VOLT Training at Hancock County Extension

For a complete listing of what’s happening in 4-H check out the 4-H Calendar Page at: http://www.maine4h.umaine.edu/calendarpage.htm

4-H EDGE WEEKEND - A WEEKEND TO REMEMBER
I was lucky to have a chance to attend the EDGE 4-H weekend. I traveled to the University of Maine in Orono for the event. I checked into my dorm room and met up with my roommate. We had lots of choices of activities. The food was kid friendly, even had veggie burgers. I learned new skills with the camera and computer. I was actually starting to focus in on my goals for my future education at sixth grade! Rock climbing and swimming are always a blast. I now have lots of new friends. I wish I could of stayed longer. I think UMaine would be a great place to attend college. I plan to attend next years event. Maybe see you there!
By Blair Hudson, 4-H EdGE Knitting Club

Introducing Mocha Millennium
The 4-H Barn Buddies Club who anxiously awaited the arrival of a foal were delighted when Iris, an Appaloosa mare, gave birth on Tuesday, May 22nd to a healthy baby. The club along with 4-H volunteer Linda Huntley will enjoy watching this little one grow!

Congratulations!

Colleen’s Corner
I hope everyone is getting their summer plans in place. I encourage you all to consider trying Tanglewood- a 4-H camp right here in Maine. It is an adventure you won't want to miss. Check out the details in this newsletter. I realize that many clubs don't meet during the summer months so I want to remind club leaders to make sure youth finish up goals on project records as they are due the end of September. Continue to read the newsletter as it contains important dates and deadlines for summer activities. Most importantly, HAVE FUN and BE SAFE! I look forward to meeting with you all again in the fall! I will be available this summer if you need anything.

Washington County Bulletin Board Items

Changes in Our Newsletter!

Beginning with this issue we will post our newsletter on our website. Each month you will receive an email with a link to the newsletter. If your email address has changed or you have acquired email since the last enrollment, we would appreciate you contacting the office with this information. For those that do not have internet access, you still will receive a copy in the mail. The University is pleased with the amount each county office can save by using this method. As Waldo County 4H states:

Receiving the newsletter electronically…

¨ Is faster than US surface mail

¨ Helps UMCE 4H Program save money

¨ Will make a positive impact on our environment and natural resources by saving paper, print cartridges, electricity, stamps and more!

¨ Uses science and technology

We hope you like this new system!

4-H Chill Out with Food and Fun Summer Camp

4-H Chill Out with Food and Fun Camp for youth ages 6-9 will run at several different locations in Washington County from 9 a.m.—1:30 p.m. We still have slots available in Camp Cherryfield and Camp Edmunds. The camp program is designed to help youth discover exciting activities that will help them explore a healthy active lifestyle. Campers will also participate in games, crafts and cooking activities.

The cost of the camp is $15 for the three days program. Deadline for registration is June 22nd. Fore more information, contact the office at 1-800-287-1542 or email twood@umext.maine.edu.

June Jamboree

The annual multi-county livestock event had 75 participants this year. Youth learned about goats, sheep and horses; participated in GPS scavenger hunt; enjoyed a presentation on clicker training from Melissa Cox, a former 4-H member and took part in a quiz bowl event. Special thanks to Washington County volunteer Melanie Gay and her club members for offering a variety of educational horse activities.

Youth were given disposable cameras through a generous donation from Wal-Mart and teens practiced their digital video techniques using cameras provided by the Perloff Family Foundation. Special thanks to the Hancock County Leaders Association for sponsoring the event and inviting surrounding counties. We had a blast!

GPS Training Provided from Grant Funds

The University of Maine Cooperative Extension 4-H Youth Development program in Washington County and the Cobscook Community Learning Center have been awarded a 2007 ESRI GIS Youth Club Software Grant, valued at approximately $42,000. As one of 92 successful applicants from across the country and one of five sites in Maine, they have been awarded an ESRI’s ArcView and ArcPad software, along with Virtual Campus courses and curriculum. The organizations will work specifically with youth in the Salmon Superstar 4-H club to help them develop community-based projects as they learn how to use GPS and GIS technology. Members of this group will start by mapping trails at the learning center and seek out additional GIS project opportunities in the community. As part of the grant project, a GIS Mapping workshop was offered at the CCLC to local community members. Fourteen youth and adults participated in the five-hour hands-on training. For more information about the project, contact Kara McCrimmon, CCLC Director of Curriculum and Programs at 207-733-2233 or Jen Lobley, 4H Extension Educator at 1-800-287-1542.

Second Annual Dog Show Held

The Horse Power 4-H Club hosted it's second annual Dog Show at Hill Crest Farm in Columbia on Saturday, May 26th. Hill Crest Farm is home to two generations of 4-Hers. The Dog Show had many different classes. Some of which were Showmanship, Costume, Obstacle Course, Best Handler, and Best Friend Award. Natasha Davis and her dog Maggie placed first in the Showmanship Class. Kaitlin Rau and her dog, Daisy received first place in the Costume Class. Sabrina Dulisse and her dog, Mr. B. earned first place for the Best Friend Award. Laz Johnson and his dog, Angel came away with the Best In Show Trophy. Anna Cowperswhite and her dog, Emmy also brought home a Blue Ribbon for their efforts in the Dog Show. Three year old Sarah Rose Bickford did a fantastic job with her rescued dog, Nikki. This is just a few of the awards given that day to this outstanding dog handlers. Josh Wilbur was our Ring Master for the day. Sally Dulisse was our judge. Special thanks to Jamie Wilbur for helping to organize the show. Also, thanks to Andrew Davis and his family for providing a place for our show. Many of the dogs in our show were dogs that have been rescued. We thought it fitting that our proceeds go to an Animal Rescue Organization. This show was made possible from a grant from the Maine Community Foundation.

-Submitted by Patty Wilbur, 4H Volunteer

Internet Safety Web Based Training

With the growing popularity of the internet we must learn about internet safety issues. To help us learn more about internet safety we discovered a helpful website that we would like to pass on to all of you. NetSmartz.org is a website designed for parents, educators, law enforcement and youth and it is all about internet safety and includes resources and activities to use with all age groups. We learned about this site through the Maine State Police as it is the site they recommend and it also endorsed by the Maine Department of Education as a credible resource.

Below are the dates for the training. All you will need to participate is access to a computer with preferably high speed internet access (DSL, Broadband, etc) and access to a phone. The audio portion of the meeting will occur through the phone (need a separate phone line) and there will be a toll free number you will call. Here are the dates:
Internet Safety Training Date - June 20th from 5:30-6:30pm
Here are the instructions you need to participate in the training:
At the meeting time, simply click on the following link or copy and paste it into your browser to enter the meeting: http://connect.extension.iastate.edu/maine/

When you go to that URL you will find yourself at a login page. Simply click on "Click to Enter" under the "Enter as a guest" heading. You will then be prompted for your name. Enter your name and click "Ok" to enter the meeting space. The instructions that detail how to join the integrated phone audio conference will be on the screen when you join the meeting.

Anytime before the meeting you can visit the following URL to confirm your ability to connect to the Breeze server: http://connect.extension.iastate.edu/common/help/en/support/meeting_test.htm

Also please call Lisa Phelps 1-800-287-8957 to register if you plan to join via your own computer (note, you will need a separate phone line for audio) or call Jen Lobley at 1-800-287-1542 if you would like to join the training at the WA County Extension office.

4-H Happenings

An informational source for 4-H leaders in Hancock and Washington Counties

4H Exhibit Hall ~ Time to Begin Preparing!

4H Club Citizenship Exhibit
4H programming focuses on four essential elements of positive youth development which include belonging, mastery, independence and generosity. As you begin to reflect on all that you and the members of your club have accomplished this year, I encourage you to think about the area of generosity and how you can help tell the story about the good things that 4H members are doing in their communities. One way to do this is to create a 4H Club Citizenship exhibit for the Blue Hill Fair. Your club simply needs to put together a scrapbook displaying all the citizenship your club has worked on throughout the year. Check out the Blue Hill Fair book for details or call Methel Wilbur at 565-2308 if you have questions! And by the way, you could earn up to $50 for your club!

4H Club Exhibit
Here is another great way to showcase what your 4H club is doing! All clubs are invited to enter a 4H Club Exhibit. This year’s theme is: Promote and advertise 4H in a way that will encourage new members to join your club! Awards of $35 will be given to the top three club exhibits and a $10 gratuity will be awarded to non-winners. For more details, look for the insert in the Blue Hill Fair book this year. Due to space, exhibits can not exceed 4’ X 4’. Questions? Be sure to call Methel Wilbur at 565-2308.

Maine Agricultural Fairs
Visit the following link for more information about Maine Agricultural Fairs: http://www.getrealgetmaine.com/visit/maine_fairs.html.

Maine State 4-H News

1. Have Summer Fun at Camp Tanglewood The staff at Tanglewood 4-H Camp and Learning Center is getting excited about the warm weather and the approach of Tanglewood’s 26th summer. There are still openings available in many of Tanglewood’s great programs. Be sure to call (207) 789- 5868 or visit www.tanglewood4h.org soon to reserve your spot in one of these programs: Tanglewood 4th of July Celebration (Ages 8-14): Residential summer camp’s first week-long session will celebrate Independence Day the Tanglewood way, with outdoor celebrations, music and special games.

Discovery trips including Blueberry Cove Adventure, Teen Quest, Outdoor Living, Appalachian Trail Expedition, and Islands and Sea Exploration (Ages 9-15): Rain or shine, these campers spend all their time outdoors, on the trails, in tents, or in boats. Blueberry Cove Day Camp (Ages 6-10): In Tenants Harbor, the activities are centered on the salt-water living themes and exploration: marine ecology, creative arts, boating, water safety and sustainable living. The perfect way to beat the summer heat!

2. 4-H Tanglewood Camp Special The Tanglewood 4H Camp and Learning Center is offering a $50 discount to any Maine 4-H youth between the ages of 8 and 14 that registers for a 2007 summer program. This Statewide offer is limited to 50 4-Hers, on a first come/first served basis. Please note: space is limited to sessions that are not yet filled. For 4-H youth currently registered in a 2007 Tanglewood program, the camp will offer a $50 rebate to the participant if they can successfully recruit a new camper (non 4-H member) this summer. For more information, please contact Jim Dunham, Summer Program Director if you have any questions (789-5804), and visit the website, www.tanglewood4h.org, to learn more about the programs being offered.

3. Dog Camp at Maine 4-H Days and the Bangor State Fair Dog Show Dog Camp will begin on Friday July 6 and continue through the 7 and 8 at the Windsor Fairgrounds. This camp is mandatory if you plan on participating in ESE for Dog this year or next. Dog Camp is open to 4-H participants of all ages even if you don’t wish to attend ESE. This year our focus will be on the Terrier Group. There will be presentations about the Canine Good Citizenship Program, Earth Dog Trials and much, much more. There will also be a chance to take the CGC Test on Saturday. As usual, we will have Showmanship, Obedience and Quiz Bowl workshops. New this year, are Agility workshops, a pizza party/movie night and Candy Bar Bingo. On Sunday at 2:00 there will be a fun practice show using 4-H judging rules. The practice show is a great opportunity to show off what you learned during camp. Dog camp is always a fun experience for everyone. The Bangor State Fair Dog Show will be held at the Bangor Fairgrounds on July 28 at 1 P.M. This is also a requirement if you plan to attend ESE for Dog. This is the only state 4-H 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. All award winning classes come with a ribbon and premium. For more information go to www.bangorfair.com and click on Contest and Premiums to find the rules and registration forms.

4. 4-H Earth Connections Sustainable Living Team The 4-H leadership structure includes an active team focused on environmental education – the Earth Connections Sustainable Living Team. Our team brings together 4-H members and staff to discuss and make decisions on supporting environmental education in the 4-H program across the state. 4-H Earth Connections began in Maine in the mid-1980’s out of a deep and growing concern among ordinary people about the environment and our ability to adopt sustainable living practices. Rather than using the conventional youth environmental education model of teaching about nature, 4-H Earth Connections teaches that humans are part of nature; part of the interconnected web of all life. The overarching goal of 4-H Earth Connections is to educate and mobilize youth, adults and families so that they recognize themselves as part of an interconnected world and become committed to sustainable living. If you’d like to learn more about Earth Connections & Sustainable Living, check out the Maine 4-H earth Connections web site: http://www.umaine.edu/umext/earthconnections/ We are recruiting new members, seeking funding to support teams, creating new resources, preparing marketing materials and curriculum for counties to use, and supporting statewide efforts. The ECSL Team generally meets at Tanglewood, in part to avail us of the great staff resources there. The team is open to meeting elsewhere around the state and by phone and video conference if there is interest to do so. We are seeking volunteers to join us in our work, so please help us get the word out. The Earth Connections Sustainable Living Team welcomes all to join our efforts. To find our more about the ECSL Team please contact Jon Prichard at 1-800-287-1535 or 324-2814.

5. Maine 4-H Teen Leadership Conference This event has been cancelled due to low enrollment.

6. CYFERnet Game & Animation Contest This month, CYFERnet features a Game & Animation Contest that lets young people show off their creativity and programming skills. Using Scratch (available for free at http://scratch.mit.edu/), participants get a chance to develop their own computer games and/or animations. Youth may work independently or in teams, with an entry deadline of Aug. 5, 2007. Once they've finished, they can submit their work for all to view and enjoy. CYFERnet's panel of judges will notify the winners later this summer.

Help youth build 21st-century skills that will allow them to be successful in the future, including thinking creatively, communicating clearly, collaborating effectively and learning continuously. Visit http://www.cyfernet.org/4htech/missions.html today to get started!

Cooking with the Kids

Father’s Day Chicken Yumsticks

Ingredients:

2/3 cup plain low-fat yogurt

2 tsp. brown sugar

2 tsp. hot sauce, plus extra to eat with the chicken

1 tsp. ground cumin

2 garlic cloves, minced

1/4 tsp. salt 8 chicken breast halves

Lemon wedges (optional)

Directions: Combine a few tablespoons of the yogurt with the brown sugar in a medium-sized bowl and mix until well blended. Add the remaining yogurt, hot sauce, cumin, garlic and salt. Cut each chicken breast half into 6 to 8 equal pieces. Add to the yogurt mixture and stir until well combined. Thread the chicken onto eight skewers. Place in a doubled gallon-size ziptop bag (to guard against leaks). Chill for 30 minutes to 2 hours.

Grill the kebobs over medium heat, rotating sides every few minutes, until cooked through, about 10 to 14 minutes total.

Serve with extra hot sauce and lemon wedges. Serves 6 to 8.

(Cook up some veggie kebobs to serve alongside the chicken.)

Fresh air food from FamilyFun

Telecommunication Device for the Deaf (TDD) Phone Numbers 1-800-287-8957.

If you are a person with a disability and will need any accommodations to participate in any programs, please call the Hancock County Office at 1-800-287-1479 or Washington County Extension Office at 1-800-287-1542 to discuss your needs. Please contact us at least 20 days prior to the event to assure the fullest possible attention to your needs.

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Last Modified: 08/06/08
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Send comments, suggestions or inquiries to twood@umext.maine.edu

In complying with the letter and spirit of applicable laws and in pursuing its own goals of diversity, the University of Maine System shall not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin or citizenship status, age, disability, or veterans' status in employment, education, and all other areas of the University. The University provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request.

Questions and complaints about discrimination in any area of the University should be directed to the Director of Equal Opportunity, 101 North Stevens, (207) 581-1226.

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