University of Maine Cooperative Extension homepage

4-H Flash Newsletter

November 2009
Volume 4, Issue 10

Nov. 11      Veteran’s Day - Extension Office closed
Nov. 14      VOLT Training - Hancock Extension Office-9:00 am - 2:00 pm
Nov. 26      Thanksgiving Day - Extension Office Closed
Nov. 27      Office Closed
Dec. 1        “Kids Can Grow” -Hancock Extension Office
Dec. 25      Christmas Day - Extension Office Closed
Dec. 31      Enrollments are due in the Extension Office - No exceptions

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

Rose M. Gaffney Wind Power

~submitted by Mrs. Bridges, Science Teacher, Rose M. Gaffney School

As the final days of school came upon us last June, our seventh grade science class celebrated the commencement of their 4-H Power of the Wind curriculum that was provided by the University of Maine Cooperative Extension. Our seventh grade students paired with Mrs. Hanscom's first grade class to design and create large pinwheels. The students demonstrated their experience with wind power by designing these simulated turbines to be the most effective. Students had a chance to practice their engineering process and problem solving techniques once they took them out on the soccer field to see how well they worked. We had a great time learning about alternative renewable energy resources, and collaborating with the Extension office. The class is looking forward to another great year of projects including GIS projects and another look at the Wind Power curriculum. Thanks to the first grade, we have colorful memories of all our hard work and look forward to creating new memories! A big thanks to all those volunteers that helped to integrate these projects into our classroom.

Washington County Bulletin Board Items

Super Sitter Babysitting Course to be Offered

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Women’s Resource Center, Milbridge

10:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

Cost- $10 for 4-H members and $15 for nonmembers

Registration is required. Please register by calling our office at 1-800-287-1542 or online at http://www.umext.maine.edu/washington/supersitter.htm

Quoddy Kids Feed the Hungry

The Quoddy Kids 4-H Club led by Denise Harris and Anne Bitar donated 41.5 pounds of produce to the Labor of Love Food Pantry in Eastport. The club participated in the Plant a Row for the Hungry Program sponsored by the University of Maine Cooperative Extension. The club members grew carrots, beets, potatoes, turnip and zucchini. Great job Quoddy Kids!

4-H Demonstration Day Coming Soon

Most Americans rank fear of public speaking above fear of death. Don’t let this happen to you! Doing demonstrations in 4-H can make you a confident and entertaining public speaker, and can actually help you land a job later on. 4-H Demonstrations are fun and rewarding. All you have to do is prepare a short 3-5 minute talk and hands-on demo that shows and tells how you do one of your favorite activities, such as handling your pet, baking brownies, creating a homemade greeting card – or anything you like!

Washington County 4-H will be hosting our annual Demonstration Day sometime in the next few months – details to come. Start thinking now about what activity you would like to demonstrate. Beautiful ribbons will be awarded to each demonstration participant. Watch your Flash newsletter for more details!

Please visit http://www.umext.maine.edu/4h/forms/projectrecord/demonstration.htm for more information.

Condolences

We wish to express our condolences to 4-H volunteer, Linda Huntley and her family. Linda’s son, Joseph Jones, was one of the three men who lost their lives in the recent fishing accident. We keep you close to our hearts in thoughts and prayers during this difficult time Linda.

4-H Demonstration Day Coming Soon

Please visit http://www.umext.maine.edu/4h/forms/projectrecord/demonstration.htm for more information.

Dennys River Manure Movers: Not Just Horsing Around

One of the valuable things about 4-H is that it’s not just a program for learning about animals, crafts, robots, or GPS, it’s a place for life lessons, too. The members of Dennys River Manure Movers 4-H Club found that out this year while learning about horses with club leader Nancy Curtis.

The Manure Movers meet biweekly in the summer at Nancy’s barn to learn about horses and to practice grooming and feeding them. As of this past summer, none of the members owned a horse, so the club was a great chance to get to know the animals well and feel comfortable around them before taking that plunge. Nancy’s horses Cassie and Sassy seemed to greatly enjoy the attention and were gentle with several children in each stall.

While Quarter Horse Cassie took all the attention in stride as a “princess” should (Nancy’s word), Sassy, a paint, was a bit more shy. Sassy is a rescue horse, found severely neglected last year. Her feet were in bad shape, and despite several months of care by Nancy, Sassy’s lameness now prevents her from getting to her food. Within a week of this writing, Sassy will be put down to save her from going through a very difficult winter.

“The kids were sad about it, but understood that keeping her for the winter would not have been kind,” says Nancy. “We discussed how important basic care is and how often neglect happens, just because people don’t have enough knowledge to take proper care of horses. We plan to visit a shelter in the spring and look into this more.”

So along with hay quality, grooming skills, and horse anatomy, the Manure Movers have learned another important lesson this year – compassion.

The Dennys River Manure Movers are Cierra Seeley, John Johnson, Amanda Ward, Kaylee Brown, Leah Kirshman, KiKi Matthews, and Jenna Koehne.

4-H’ers Complete 2009 Project Records

Congratulations to the following Cloverbuds and 4-H members for a job well done!

Princeton Pioneers:

Robert Burgo

Devonte Stevens

Cheyenne Keyes

Savannah Keyes

Kaily Keyes

Quoddy Kids (Perry):

Haley Calder

Riley Fraser

Katie Bitar

Elizabeth Bitar

Alex Harris

Tierra Newell

Jodie Lee Harris

J.D. Turner

Jade Consalvi

Jasmine Consalvi

Wren Fraser

Each of the youth listed completed a 4-H activity or project record to highlight some of their work during the past year. From gardening to rabbits, dogs to drawing, kids demonstrated they are learning life skills and having fun! Ribbons and prizes will be sent to all who submitted an activity or project record!

Cloverbud Activity Records and 4-H Project Records

Cloverbud leaders can be thinking about which activities they might want have their members do records for this year. If you are a 4-H member, age 9 and older, now is the time to start your new project records. 4-H club leaders can help members as they set goals for themselves and make a plan for how they will accomplish their goals. Remember, one record per project. (Ex. If you are in a rabbit project and a dog project, each project would have a separate record.) Working on them a little bit at a time throughout the year is a great way to help members learn good record keeping skills. You can find the project record forms at

http://www.umext.maine.edu/Washington/washington4-Hforms.htm. Questions? Don’t hesitate to call the office!

Governor Calls on State’s School Children for Energy Tips

October is Energy Awareness Month and to kick it off, Maine Governor John Baldacci is calling on the State’s school children to be leaders in efforts to conserve energy.

The Maine Public Utilities Commission’s Efficiency Maine program is sponsoring the seventh annual Energy Saving Tips Contest for students in the 4th, 5th, and 6th grades.

Governor Baldacci is encouraging students to submit one or two tips on how to save energy in their homes or schools. He will present the winners with a solar-powered iPod Nano at a special award ceremony in December.

“We want to inspire students to talk about saving energy in their homes and schools, and also learn how simple changes can help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” the Governor said. “The earlier we get our students focused on these issues and what they can do, the better the outcome will be for Maine and the world. Their children and grandchildren will be living with the consequences of energy decisions made now,” the Governor added.

Winning suggestions in prior contests have ranged from “Ask if the janitors could install thermostats that you can program so that the temperature can be turned down at night and on weekends when nobody is in the building,” from Samantha Richard, a 5th grader at George E. Jack Elementary in Standish, to “Be a fan of windmills,” from Megan Seward, a 6th grader at Presque Isle Middle School.

“Maine’s students are enthusiastic about energy efficiency; they get it,” said Sharon M. Reishus, Chairman of the Maine Public Utilities Commission. “This contest is a way to channel their creativity and help raise awareness among Mainers about simple steps to reduce energy consumption and energy costs for Maine citizens and ratepayers.”

To help students come up with ideas for the contest and to learn about the energy efficiency, they can visit http://www.powersleuth.org. (PowerSleuth is a new FREE curriculum series that is available to all Maine Teachers, and is designed to engage students through inquiry-based experiences, addressing different aspects of energy in Maine.) Contest entries must be postmarked or e-mailed by Friday, November 13th to:

Joy Adamson
Efficiency Maine Educational Program Manager
Maine Public Utilities Commission
18 State House Station,
Augusta, ME 04333-0018
joy.adamson@maine.gov

The energy tip entries must include the student’s name, the school’s name, school address, teacher, telephone number and grade level. There are two entry categories: 1. Tips For Saving Energy In Your Home; and, 2. Tips for Saving Energy at Your School. (This is not a poster contest.)

Winners will be chosen on Monday, November 30th. The Governor will present the awards in December.

Efficiency Maine is a statewide program of the MPUC that promotes more efficient use of electricity, helping Maine businesses and residents reduce energy costs, and improving Maine’s environment.

For further information on the contest, contact Joy Adamson at (207) 287-8350 or at joy.adamson@maine.gov.

Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,

Joy M. Adamson, Tel: (207) 287-8350 Fax: (207) 287-1039
E-mail: joy.adamson@maine.gov , Website: EfficiencyMaine.com

Leading the way to a brighter future.

Maine State 4-H News

1. Great Opportunities for Service Learning Monetary Awards

4-H Eligible Monetary Service Learning Project Awards of $1,000 or $4,000 focused on STEM activities (science, technology, engineering, math).

Time Warner Cable and the Maine Commission for Community Service are excited to offer Maine Schools and community programs, working with children (k-12), Service Learning Project Awards of $1,000 or $4,000 focused on STEM activities (science, technology, engineering, math).

Projects should address a local community need while developing students' academic skills in the areas of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Projects should also provide students the opportunity to reflect on civic responsibility and the impact of their service.

Applications are due on November 13, 2009 by 12noon. To access the application, go to the Commission website, www.maineservicecommission.gov.

TO READ THE COMPLETE NEWS RELEASE, GO TO

http://www.maineservicecommission.gov/news/release.php?nID=1360.

For more information about 4-H SET contact Jen Lobley jlobley@umext.maine.edu or Christy Fitzpatrick cfitz@umext.maine.edu. For more information about Service Learning or 4-H Youth Community Action; contact Barb Baker baker@umext.maine.edu.

2. Maine 4-H Online Creative Technology Club

Are you a writer, artist, techno buff? Do you want to learn about HTML, digital photography, journalism, or do you have something completely different in mind? Come explore your creative interests in a new on-line 4-H virtual club. This club is open to 4-H members of all ages through out Maine. It is a password protected site where you log in, read, watch or listen to the content, respond through writing or video or interact with the group or a mentor through conferencing. For more information or to join, Contact Salie Davis, 4-H volunteer, saliecmt@gmail.com.

3. Horses – EEE Information

Do you know what to look for if you think your horse has EEE, Eastern Equine Encephalitis? If you vaccinated this spring, is your horse still protected? Take a look at this very interesting list of Frequently Asked Questions by Dr. Anne Lichtenwalner and Dr. Donald Hoenig on our website at: http://www.umext.maine.edu/4h/resources/horse/eee.htm.

4. VOLT Training Corner - Hancock County - Saturday, November 14th from 9:00 am - 2:00 pm at the Hancock County Cooperative Extension Office. To register please call 667-8212 or email jfortier@umext.maine.edu.

Androscoggin/Sagadahoc - Saturday, November 14th from 10:00 am – 2:30

pm at the Androscoggin/Sagadahoc Counties Office, 24 Main Street, Lisbon Falls. To register, please call 207-353-5550, or email drickman@umext.maine.edu.

Penobscot County - Saturday, November 7, 2009 or January 9th, 2010 from 9:30 am – 3:30 pm in Bangor at 307 Maine Avenue - 4-H Office from 9:30 to 3:30 each day. Bring a lunch, snacks available, donation of $5 for notebook of materials - no one turned away for lack of funds. Reserve a space by contacting Theresa ttilton@umext.maine.edu or Barb bbaker@umext.maine.edu at 207-942-7396 or 1-800-287-1485.

5. Market Beef & Lamb Forms

All 4-Hers in the Market Beef project who plan to raise a steer for the Windsor Fair or Fryeburg Fair, need to send in an “Intent to Sell” form to their County Cooperative Extension office by January 2, 2010. The forms are available at your county office and on- line at http://www.umext.maine.edu/4h/forms/beef/beefintent.htm.

In January, you will be contacted about the time and place to tag your steer. The person tagging your steer will have an approval form for you to fill out and s/he will record your tag numbers. Your approval form for your Market Beef project is due in your county Cooperative Extension office on February 16, 2010. Market Lamb “Intent to Sell” forms are available online at: http://www.umext.maine.edu/4h/forms/lambintent.htm, these forms are due to the county office by May 2, 2010.

6. Want to Learn More About GIS?

Join us for the Second Annual Conference of Maine GIS Educators, Nov. 13th in Carter Hall at Kennebec Valley Community College in Fairfield. The agenda, registration form, directions and other information are now available on the conference website: http://megischamps.org/annual_mtg.html. The meeting will include two hands-on workshops, a report on research on Maine's geospatial workforce, a poster session for sharing information about programs, projects and student work, and more. The conference will appeal to any educator interested in geospatial technology in Maine, including K-12 teachers, informal educators, and faculty in both private and public institutions of higher education. 4-H leaders, there are still a few scholarships available that will pay for your registration fee! If you are interested, please contact Sarah Sparks at ssparks@umext.maine.edu to sign up!

Cooking with the Kids

Turkey Guzzler

No, there’s no turkey in this Guzzler. But it’s the perfect drink to serve the kids during the Thanksgiving holidays or anytime.

Ingredients:

¾ cup skim milk

1 3-ounce package low-fat cream cheese, softened

2 cups vanilla nonfat frozen yogurt

1 8-ounze can jellied cranberry sauce

1 cup canned or frozen cranberries

Pour milk into a blender, add cream cheese, and whirl until smooth. Add yogurt, sauce, and cranberries and blend until well mixed and smooth. Pour into glasses. Makes 5 cups

Taken from Healthy Treats and Super Snacks for Kids

Kids Can Grow

An Experiential Youth Gardening Program

What: A Train the Trainer Program for UMaine Extension Staff and Volunteers who wish to consider launching a pilot program in your region in 2010.

Where: UMaine Extension, Hancock County Office, 63 Boggy Brook Road, Ellsworth, ME

When: December 1, 2009, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Pre-registration Required: Contact Joyce Fortier at the Hancock County office at (207) 667-8212 or 800-287-1479 (in Maine) or E-mail: jfortier@umext.maine.edu

Are you interested in learning about a new program model for youth gardening? No – it’s not a gardening curriculum – Kids Can Grow is an experiential youth gardening program model developed by University of Maine Cooperative Extension in York County in 1999. Through this five-month comprehensive gardening program designed for children ages 7 – 12, youth learn how to grow nutritious vegetables, herbs and beautiful flowers for their families in their own 3 x 5 foot raised bed gardens at home using intensive square foot gardening techniques. The kids participate in a series of “hands on” gardening classes at a central location, and then repeat what they learn at home using materials we supply, and home visit help from a Master Gardener or 4-H Volunteer mentor to assist and inspire them.

The Kids Can Grow secret to success is this experience of the children designing their own home garden and successfully raising vegetables, flowers, and herbs of their choices that builds their self-esteem and starts them on a journey of what we hope will become a life long gardening hobby. Food safety and good nutrition are also incorporated into the program.

The goal of this training will be to present the Kids Can Grow program model, gauge interest in starting new programs at new sites, and develop a support network to help make that happen. We will be seeking grant funds to pay for a pilot project at each new program site. New Kids Can Grow pilot programs were launched in Waldo and Oxford Counties in 2009 through a Maine Community Foundation Grant; and the program has been adapted in Strafford County, NH by UNH Extension where they have been running successful a program for the past five years.

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: 11/05/09
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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.

Information in this web site is provided purely for educational purposes. No responsibility is assumed for any problems associated with the use of products or services mentioned in this web site. No endorsement of products or companies is intended, nor is criticism of unnamed products or companies implied.