University of Maine Cooperative Extension homepage

4-H Flash Newsletter

November 2007

Volume 2, Issue 10

Calendar

November 12- Veteran’s Day - Office Closed

November 22- Thanksgiving Day - Office Closed

November 23- Office Closed

November 30– Cloverfest Celebration

December 25- Christmas Day - Office Closed

December 31- Re-enrollment Forms due in office - No Exceptions

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.

Cloverfest Celebration

The Cloverfest Celebration will take place on Friday, November 30th at 7:00 p.m. at the Columbia Falls Community Hall. There will be an award ceremony and an ice cream party! All 4-H members and volunteers are encouraged to attend. Please RSVP by Monday, November 26th by calling the office at 255-3345 or 1-800-287-1542 or emailing twood@umext.maine.edu.

Come join the fun in celebrating Washington County’s 4-H Program!

Colleen’s Corner

Re enrollment is underway. Please don't forget these forms are due December 31st, 2007. There will be NO EXCEPTIONS! Volunteers need to have volunteers enrollment packet completed and returned, re-enrolling members need to have papers completed and returned, NEW members are youth who have never enrolled in 4-H or in your club can enroll anytime. If you have any questions about this, please call the office.

Thank you to the volunteers who participated in the conference call to plan the Cloverfest Celebration. I’m looking forward to a nice event celebrating 4-H in Washington County.

Washington County Bulletin Board Items

Re-Enrollment

If any leader or any independent member has not received their packet or if you have any questions, please contact the Extension Office as soon as possible. Leaders please be sure to complete ALL paperwork and return it to the Extension Office by December 31st. There will be no exceptions.

Club Reports

We would like to hear what your club is doing! Please submit articles and photos to twood@umext.maine.edu or by mailing them to 34 Center Street, Machias, ME 04654. We’ll put them in the 4-H Flash Newsletter. Thank you!

4-H Happenings

How Are 4-H Cloverbud Clubs Different From Other 4-H Clubs?

With Maine’s recent adoption of the Cloverbud policy, you might find this information helpful as you work with our youngest members between the ages of five and eight. In most instances you will find that only minor changes will need to be made in your clubs. If you have Cloverbud members integrated into your 4-H club with older members, a bit more creativity may need to go into how you design your 4-H time to meet the age-appropriate needs of all your members.

1. Cloverbud clubs do not conduct formal business meetings or elect officers. Five to eight year olds are not yet ready to fulfill the responsibilities of club officership and require much more adult guidance when making group decisions. However, a structured routine is important to this age group. Starting each meeting with the same opening ritual, roll call and pledges to the American and 4-H flags, provides structure while introducing the children to some of the elements of a business meeting. Use of a closing ritual is also recommended. Members can be assigned an “office of the day” to help conduct these rituals. This prepares Cloverbuds for future roles as club officers when they become old enough to assume such roles.

2. Cloverbud clubs do not conduct nor participate in competitive events.

Five to eight year olds are sensitive to criticism and do not accept failure well. They cannot easily separate the “doer” from the thing that is done – so, failure in an activity is translated into personal unworthiness. Their development is uneven making it nearly impossible to level the playing field,” a necessity if competition is to be fair. For these reasons participation in competitive activities is developmentally inappropriate for Cloverbuds.

Even evaluation that does not compare one child’s work to another’s but simply defines a level of achievement (excellent, good or worthy) is ill advised. Cloverbud activities should be conducted in a positive environment that focuses on the members’ strengths rather than analyzing their deficiencies. Cloverbuds need opportunities to practice skills, discover talents and learn about fairness in a non-judgmental environment. Their work should be proudly displayed and their participation recognized. Recognition should be informal with all members being recognized equally.

3. Cloverbud clubs follow a set of program guidelines based on developmental appropriateness.

While Cloverbud activities relate to the same set of program areas, as do projects for older members, they are designed to suit the cognitive, social, emotional and physical development of children within this age group. That often involves using different kinds of equipment or providing more adult supervision. (See the Maine 4-H Cloverbud Policy for information about specific program areas.) Sometimes a Cloverbud will be physically capable of doing something but will not be able to understand the reason for the process or the result. Participation in that activity would be just as inappropriate as participation in an activity that is unsafe because of physical limitations.

Cooking with the Kids

Cranberry - Orange Relish

Ingredients:

1 12-oz package (3cups) cranberries (fresh or frozen)

1 orange

3/4 cup sugar

Directions:

1. Wash cranberries and orange.

2. Slice unpeeled orange into eight pieces and remove seeds.

3. Put 4 orange slices and 1 1/2 cups cranberries in a food processor. Process until fruit is evenly chopped. If you don’t have a food processor, mince fruit by hand in small batches.

4. Pour chopped fruit into a large bowl. Repeat step 3 with the rest of the fruit and add it to the bowl.

5. Stir sugar into fruits. Serve with your turkey dinner instead of cranberry sauce. Store covered in the refrigerator for up to a month, or freeze

for future use.

Makes about 2 1/2 cups

Cloverbud Policy

October 31, 2007

Dear 4-H members and families,

As many of you are aware, this year Maine 4-H will be adopting a new set of policies concerning the 4-H participation of 5-to-8 year olds, otherwise known as 4-H Cloverbuds. This is being done to put Maine into compliance with national policy expectations and to insure that the programs we offer to our youngest 4-H members are:

Safe,
Developmentally appropriate and
Fun and engaging.

Being in compliance with national expectations is also a protection for4-H volunteers and staff. This policy insures that volunteers who are following the policy will be covered by University liability coverage. Volunteers acting outside the policy cannot be assured of this coverage and could incur personal liability in the event of an accident.

Enclosed with this letter is the 2007-2008 Maine Cloverbud policy. Please read the entire policy carefully and feel free to address any questions to your county educator or professional.

In the course of developing this policy, input has been gathered from 4-H staff and volunteers. A group of volunteers and staff, “The 4-H Cloverbud Committee”, created a state-wide survey which was sent out last summer. This group studied the survey responses and considered the best way to balance national requirements and local concerns. While the feelings and opinions expressed in every survey could not be completely incorporated, we worked to include as many of the elements that Maine 4-H volunteers found important as possible while still complying with the national expectations.

As you read through the policy, here are some of the things you will find and some of the ways we attempted to address concerns.

In many states, if 5 to 8 year olds are allowed to join 4-H at all, it is through completely separate Cloverbud clubs. Maine volunteers and families strongly voiced the benefits of having 5 to 8 year olds in clubs with older youth. Because we value the mutual benefits of interaction between younger and older members and because of travel and time constraints in our rural state, Maine 4-H continues to support the age range of 5 to19 for our clubs. Separate Cloverbud clubs may also be formed.
4-H Cloverbud work involves activities instead of projects. Projects, defined as long-term, planned series of learning activities around one topic, are appropriate for 4-H members 9 and older. Younger members will instead do a variety of activities, short term experiences (also called “sampler” activities) that introduce them to a wide range of 4-H project areas. This will mean that during some meetings in 5 to 19 year old clubs, younger members will need to work on their own separate activities. If you are a parent, perhaps you can check with your current volunteers to see how you could help with some of these activities.
The national policy is very clear that Cloverbud members may not have animal projects. Our surveys emphasized the value of engaging youth with animals at a young age in order to build long-term interest. However, youth of this age should combine short animal related activities with activities in other 4-H topics. The policy regarding animals is focused on the safety of Cloverbud members and requires one-on-one supervision when Cloverbud members are around animals of any size.
4-H Cloverbud activities are to be cooperative instead of competitive. Children ages 5 to 8 are not yet ready for competitive activities, but do best in settings where they can focus on experimentation and process rather than an end product. Also, young children take criticism very personally and perceive competitive rankings as value judgments on themselves rather than on their work. Much of the feedback we received expressed concern that without competition, youngsters would not learn how to improve their work. Therefore, our policy states that Cloverbuds should receive constructive feedback on work they produce and exhibit: positive methods of receiving feedback will continue to be a part of the 4-H program for this age group.
Cloverbuds may not participate competitively at fairs and other events. However, no one wants them to be excluded from these important experiences. Cloverbuds may exhibit displays about their activities and should receive identical participation recognitions. The form(s) that this will take will be decided by each county/fair. In place of animal shows, 5 to 7 year olds may participate in an unranked clinic, skill-a-thon or other educational activity with one-on-one supervision. Beginning in 2008-2009, eight year olds will be permitted to take part in non-competitive demonstration shows (fair regulations permitting) with one-on-one supervision.
For the 2007-2008 year only, eight year olds will be allowed to continue in all previously allowed shows and activities.

Over the course of the next two to three months, more information on working with Cloverbuds will become available. We anticipate some live, on-line training sessions, activity materials will be placed in all county offices, fact sheets will be published and monthly articles in county newsletters will offer new ideas and resources for working with our 5 to 8 year old members. We also will be working with fair officials and those of you who work with the fairs to make this transition as smooth as possible.

Many thanks to the volunteers and staff members on the Cloverbud Committee who took the time to create a survey, discuss the results and make recommendations for the policy. While this was not a situation any of them would have chosen, their input and insight has done much to make the policy as close to Maine’s values as possible.

Thank you for your participation in our Maine 4-H program. Please be assured that the changes we have outlined here have been instituted in order to make “our best better” by creating a program that is safe, developmentally appropriate and full of new fun, learning, and challenges for our youngest 4-H members.

Sincerely,

Christy Fitzpatrick, 4-H Program Coordinator

Shirley Hager, Program Administrator

On behalf of the 4-H Program Leadership Team

Maine 4-H Cloverbud Policy

This policy has been created for the protection of our youth and our volunteers and staff. The policy will help us make sure that our programs for our youngest members are safe and developmentally appropriate while offering guidance on the many ways that young 4-H members can participate. This policy, which complies with the national Cloverbud policy, insures that volunteers who are following the policy will be covered by University liability coverage. Volunteers acting outside the policy cannot be assured of this coverage.

What is a Cloverbud?

The term Cloverbud is used to identify 4-H members who are 5 to 8 years old. Any Maine youth between the 4-H ages of 5 and 8 years old may join the

4-H program. Children in this age group are a distinct audience for 4-H with developmental and learning characteristics that are different from older members. Participation, safety, personal development, learning, and fun in a cooperative, non-competitive setting are the priorities of the Cloverbud program. Cloverbuds should experience programs that are developmentally appropriate, activity-oriented, involve cooperative learning and are focused on learning activity skills and life skills through a wide variety of topic areas.

Cloverbuds in clubs:

· Cloverbud members may participate in multi-age clubs or in clubs that are limited to members 5 to 8 years old. Counties and volunteers may decide what kinds of clubs they would like to offer.

· No matter what the club format, 5 to 8 year olds must meet the requirements of the Maine Cloverbud policy.

· When 5 to 8 year old members enroll, their project area (on the back of the enrollment sheet) should always be listed as 60074 “Introduction to 4-H Projects” FD

· Programs for Cloverbuds should consist of introductory level (“sampler”) activities that build skills in a variety of 4-H project areas. (Fact sheets with information and ideas about these activities will be available soon.)

· When 5 to 8 year olds participate in multi-age club activities, activities should be modified or another activity substituted if the activity is inappropriate for the age group for safety, skill level, or attention span reasons.

· In any setting, the adult: youth ratio for this age group should be 1:6. Adults working with the youth should be VOLT trained or working under the direction of a VOLT trained volunteer.

· While Cloverbuds may not hold elected club offices, they should have a chance to learn about club leadership roles. Assigning short term officer roles by random drawing or rotation or shadowing older officers are ways for Cloverbuds to learn about club officer jobs.

· Business meetings involving Cloverbuds should be brief and run by adults or older teens with the focus on learning about planning, decision-making and leadership skills.

· Cloverbuds may not handle money. They may be involved in club fundraising events with the direct supervision of an adult or older teen. They may not go door to door to raise funds.

Cloverbud Activities:

· The purpose of the 5 to 8 year old program is to introduce young

· 4-H members to the full range of 4-H project areas. Cloverbud “sampler” activities let them learn a variety of topics and skills that provide immediate positive feedback. Curriculum resources specifically for Cloverbuds will be available through your county office soon.

· A Cloverbud activity focuses on developing a skill or concept related to a short term experience. 4-H projects, a long-term planned course of study in one subject area, are designed for 4-H members 9 and older. The skills Cloverbuds learn from their activities will prepare them for project work later.

· The 5 to 8 year old years are the time to build habits and skills to safely participate in 4-H projects independently as older 4-H members. An adult or experienced older teen should provide direct one-on-one supervision of Cloverbuds who are using potentially harmful tools such as scissors, knives, needles, hammers, etc. Cloverbuds may not independently operate power-driven equipment such as sewing machines, power drills, small engines, clippers, etc. By learning a progression of skills under careful supervision of an adult or experienced teen, Cloverbuds should begin to master the skills needed to use this equipment as an older 4-H member. Portions of activities requiring the use of items such as rotary cutters, hot glue guns, power tools, roto-tillers and other tools with high potential for injury should be carried out when Cloverbud members are not nearby.

· Cloverbuds must use appropriate safety equipment such as helmets, life jackets, safety glasses, hard toed shoes, etc as required.

· Cloverbuds should have the opportunity to be introduced to simple record keeping skills using an age appropriate method such as an “Activity Portfolio”.

Cloverbuds and Animals

· The national 4-H policy states that for safety and developmental reasons, 5 to 8 year olds may not have animal projects, but recognizes along with Maine 4-H that engaging 5 to 8 year olds in activities with animals builds long-term interest in working with animals. Therefore, carefully structured, well supervised activities with animals are encouraged.

· Cloverbud animal activities are designed to introduce 5 to 8 year olds to various kinds of animals and to develop safe basic care and handling skills. ( See “Cloverbuds and Animal Activities” available in December for more information.)

· One-on-one supervision by an adult or experienced older teen who maintains ultimate control of the animal is required any time a 5 to 8 year old is working with any animal regardless of size.

· The focus of Cloverbud animal activities is on learning through activities other than livestock showing such as clinics, skill-a-thons, and pairing up with older 4-H member “animal buddies” to learn about the care and training of the animals.

Cloverbuds and Fairs

· While Cloverbuds may not participate as competitive exhibitors in any 4-H events, they are encouraged to participate in fairs and other county events on other ways.

· For the 2007-2008 4-H year only, members who are 4-H age 8 may continue to participate in competitive classes as they have done in the past.

· Cloverbuds are encouraged to exhibit their activities in 4-H Exhibit Halls. As exhibitors, they should receive a standard participation ribbon or other small token as designed or chosen by each county/fair. Cloverbuds may not receive premiums. However, a small stipend or honorarium may be paid to the club or the member in an amount to be determined by each county/fair.

· Although Cloverbud exhibits are not ranked or scored, it is important for the children to receive feedback on their exhibits. They may participate in a “show and tell” activity about their exhibit or receive written feedback that includes positive encouragement and constructive suggestions for growth. (A fact sheet “Cloverbuds and Fair Participation” will be available in December.)

· Each county/fair may determine how Cloverbud exhibits will be displayed, either in a separate area, within each club’s area, etc.

· Cloverbuds may not show any animals competitively in 4-H classes at Maine fairs or other 4-H events.

a) Beginning in 2008-2009, 8 year old members may participate in a non-competitive “demonstration show” with one-on-one supervision with a rabbit, dog, poultry, kid goat or non-market lamb.

b) Beginning with the 2007-2008 year, 5 to 7 year olds may participate in a clinic, skill-a-thon or other educational (non- showing) activity with one-on-one adult supervision with adults or older teens with at least 3 years experience maintaining primary control of the animal.

c) Cloverbuds may receive standard participation ribbons or other identical tokens for participation in these events as determined by each county/fair. Premiums are not permitted. A small honorarium or stipend in an amount to be determined by each county/fair may be provided to the club or the member in an amount to be determined by each county/fair, but this should not be comparable to premiums received by older youth showing in competitive 4-H shows.

· Any Maine Agricultural Fair age participation rules more restrictive than those of this policy take precedence.

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.

University of Maine Nondiscrimination Statement

In complying with the letter and spirit of applicable laws and in pursuing its own goals for 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 Employment Opportunities, 101 North Stevens, (207)581-1226.

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Last Modified: 02/22/08
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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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