4-H Update

October 26, 2009

Volume 13, Number 28

Reminders:

• November 20-22: Colorado Leadership Camp, Glenwood Springs
• November26-27: University holiday, offices closed
• November 27-Dec. 2: National 4-H Congress, Atlanta, GA
• Dec.23-25: University holiday, offices closed
• Dec. 31: University holiday, offices closed

Colorado Leadership Camp

I just wanted to remind everyone of the upcoming Colorado Leadership Camp – November 20-22 in Glenwood Springs, CO. The deadline for registration is Nov. 13.  Help the State Officer Team make this camp happen by getting 4-H members in the 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th  grades to attend this camp. Thanks! – Connie Cecil

Call for Programs of Distinction Peer Reviewers

Please click on the following links for further information and the application for Programs of Distinction Peer Reviewers – a professional development opportunity for 4-H youth development educators and specialists as well as Extension professionals familiar with the field of youth development—including those working in human development, natural resources, and more.

http://www.colorado4h.org/Blog/docs/2009/POD-2010-2011-ReviewerApplication.doc

http://www.colorado4h.org/Blog/docs/2009/POD-2010-2011-ReviewerApplicationInformation.pdf

Programs of Distinction is a peer-reviewed collection of high quality youth development programs.  Programs accepted into the collection demonstrate scholarship in research, education, and extension—they help tell the story of best practices and measurable outcomes in youth development work. Programs of Distinction Peer Reviewers enhance their critical thinking, program development, evaluation, and communication skills while reviewing manuscripts submitted for consideration as a Program of Distinction.   In the process, they help select outstanding Cooperative Extension youth development programs for inclusion in the national Programs of Distinction database.

For more information about the Programs of Distinction, visit http://www.national4-hheadquarters.gov/about/pod.htm.

As described in the  applications and two letters of recommendation are due to pod@nifa.usda.gov Nov. 30.

Thank you for reviewing these materials and sharing them with anyone who may be interested in becoming a POD Peer Reviewer.

- Maria Arnold, Youth Development Program Specialist, 4-H National Headquarters

Youth Program Assistants Needed for Great Programs at National 4-H Council

National 4-H Council is looking for Program Assistants (PA) for the Wonders of Washington (WOW) and the Citizenship Washington Focus (CWF) programs. This is a great chance for youth to experience professional and leadership development opportunities of a lifetime.

“My experience as a Program Assistant was a significant influence in my decision to pursue a career related to national government, and helped me develop the wide breadth of skills that it took to achieve my goal,” said former PA, Cori Byrum. Byrum is now working as a consultant for Booz Allen Hamilton in the DC metropolitan area.

The WOW program, which takes place from February through May, gives youth the chance to explore, develop, and refine the skills necessary to become outstanding citizens and leaders in their communities. Using Washington, D.C., as their living classroom, WOW PAs help youth learn about the history of our nation and various leaders who have shaped it. PAs receive opportunities for professional development not only through interactions with school groups, but also through internship experiences with various departments of National 4-H Council.

The CWF program gives 4-H’ers the opportunity to strengthen their communication, leadership, and other citizenship skills on a national level. Held during the summer, CWF PAs lead nearly 2,000 youth in exchanging ideas, practicing respect, and forming friendships with other youth from across the country. PAs guide hands-on activities, simulations and tours of many of Washington’s monuments and memorials, as youth CWF participants find out what citizenship means to them and how to make a difference in their own communities. PAs have the unique ability to make a lasting impression on the lives of many youth, while spending summer just outside of the Nation’s Capital.

Check out the program Web sites to find out more information on your chance to become a Program Assistant. Visit: Citizenship Washington Focus at http://4-h.org/news/www.citizenshipwashingtonfocus.org, and Wonders of Washington at http://www.wowwashington.org/index.html today! – Ellen Butler

National Western Stock Show Group Sales Ticket O ffer

All Colorado 4-H employees, families and invited guests are eligible for discounted prices on reserve seating at the National Western Stock Show, January 9-24, 2010. The prices offered are unavailable to the general public and tickets purchased through this special offer are free of all service charges, an additional savings of $3.75 per ticket, plus $2.25 per order if reserving without this agreement. (Tickets must be purchased through Group Services. Discounts are not available at the Stock Show Box Office.) Please click here for further information:  http://www.colorado4h.org/Blog/docs/2009/Colorado4-H.pdf

Additional events available at group rates. Call 303.295.2979 for details.  Order through Jan. 23, 2010 – orders are subject to availability. – Ellen Butler

4-H Youth Take the Lead on Alternative Energy

Reading, writing, arithmetic and biofuels. Youth across the country celebrated 4-H National Youth Science Day Wednesday by learning about and creating their own biofuel in the Biofuel Blast National Science Experiment.  https://www.4-h.org/NYSD/

“It’s vital for young people to understand, gain exposure to, and to develop a passion for the sciences,” said Donald T. Floyd, Jr., National 4-H Council president and CEO. “4-H National Youth Science Day makes science fun, real, and accessible. Kids will learn about cutting edge technologies and then take the next step to lead by applying what they’ve learned and teaching others in their very own communities.”

4-H National Youth Science Day was created as part of 4-H’s One Million New Scientists, One Million New IdeasTM campaign. It is designed to spark an early youth interest in science education in order to combat a national shortage of young people pursuing science in college and future careers.

The innovative Biofuel Blast experiment was a success in many classrooms, after-school programs and 4-H Clubs nationwide. Youth mixed combinations of water, corn syrup and yeast in drinking bottles, and covered the mouth with a balloon. The chemical reactions created carbon dioxide as a waste product, which filled the balloon. What was left in the mixture contained an amount of ethanol, a common additive in gasoline.

“I think it went fantastically,” said Jeff Howard, 4-H Director with the University of Maryland Extension, speaking at the university’s event. “[Students] needed to have a hypothesis and then decide if this is working or not. And if not, why?”

Youth at the University of Maryland, College Park, were given a variety of material to use, in addition to corn syrup, to discover other potential sources of energy. Some material proved to be more useful than others.

“I observed the scientific inquiry, trying to figure out what was going on, and every exposure we give them causes them to think outside of the box in regards to what they’ve historically known,” said Howard. “I feel like we were successful with that today.”

University of the District of Columbia Extension Agent, Chris Coggins, lead 60 excited fifth graders through Biofuel Blast at Janney Elementary School in Washington, D.C.

Coggins taught the youth about fossil fuels and clean energy, explained the scientific reaction of the experiment ingredients, and helped them measure their balloons as they grew.

Nationally, 4-H National Youth Science Day was covered by the Associated Press and stories appeared in many publications, including the New York Times. Events were also covered across the country in local media, as with Orange County Register and the Indianapolis Star.

“Renewable resources such as biofuels are a very good alternative to what we’re using now,” said Elena Bode, a University of Maryland student and a graduate of 4-H.  “I feel like this is a field that needs to be researched more so that we have fuel for our future.”

Biofuel Blast was developed in conjunction with the University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension and Wisconsin 4-H with generous sponsor support provided by John Deere and DuPont. – Ellen Butler