July 2, 2009
Volume 13, Number 18
Reminders
• July 7: National 4-H Congress applications due
• July 15: National 4-H Conference applications due, State 4-H Office
2009 National 4-H Congress Application Deadline Extended
Applications for county delegates planning to attend National 4-H Congress are due in the State 4-H office by July 8, 2009. Counties are to select their own delegates, as there is no further screening at the state level. For more information go to http://www.colorado4h.org/events_opportunities/nat_congress/
Applicants are to check with school and/or employers prior to submitting their applications. The dates for this year’s trip are Nov. 27 – Dec. 1, in Atlanta, GA. We make no guarantees that late cancellation will be accepted without financial penalty. Trip deposits will not be refunded. - Ellen Butler
Teen Clerk Application Deadline Extended to July 17
The deadline for Teen Clerk applications for the 2009 Colorado State Fair/Camp Tobin has been extended to July 17. Judging begins at noon on Wednesday, Aug. 19 through Friday, Aug. 21 at 5 pm. Teen clerks must be 13 years or older prior to Dec. 31, 2008. Their application must be signed by the county extension agent. Applications can be foundon the State 4-H Website at: http://www.colorado4h.org/events_opportunities/state_fair/packet/TeenClerkApplicationForm.pdf. You can also receive an application via email or snail mail by contacting Sharie Harless at sharie.harless@colostate.edu. Thanks! - Sharie Harless
4-H Entomology Project
In order to help stimulate interest and participation in the 4-H Entomology project, we have established a prototype web site. It is located at: http://4hentomologyco.bravehost.com/
This site contains information on 4-H entomology projects, provides links to activities and sources that can assist the project, and has features that can allow participants to pose questions or submit photographs for identification. There is also a feature that can allow 4-H members to discuss entomology topics among themselves.
The site is established and will be maintained during the summer by LK Hart, myself, and others with my lab. At the end of the summer we will evaluate how it is working and, if it proves promising, will attempt to establish something more permanent in the future. In the interim, please check it out and spread the word to all who may be interested in entomology as a 4-H project. - Whitney Cranshaw, Professor/Extension Specialist, Entomology
Operation Military Kids Update
Operation: Military Kids Camps for August are coming up and we would like to invite any 4-H Clubs to help us at these camps. We will have a great time and this is a good way to support our troops by helping their families. Please contact me (shauna.woods@colostate.edu or 970.491.1807 or 970.988.6104) if your clubs or county is interested in helping. And, please share this with any military families in your area, including National Guard and Reserves.
Operation: Military Kids is offering a FREE camping experience for 50 girls from all branches of military families who have had a parent deployed in the past year, currently have a parent deployed or anticipate deployment of a parent in the next six months on August 2-4, 2009. Camps will be held at Girl Scout Sky High Ranch (Woodland Park CO) for girls ages 12 –18. This 3-day residential camp experience normally costs $230/girl and both Operation: Military Kids and Girl Scouts of Colorado are underwriting the costs of camp. Please contact Linda Fuller at linda.j.fuller@hotmail.com for the necessary forms. Time is running out – please contact ASAP.
YOUTH MOCK DEPLOYMENT for 100 military kids from all branches of the military at Buckley AFB in Aurora CO on Aug. 15 from 0700-1500 for youth ages 9-17. Priority will be given to youth in military families who have experienced a loved one deployed in the past year, currently deployed or about to deploy in the next six months. Application and a $10 refundable deposit are required to register. Please contact:
Shauna Woods, OMK State Coordinator, 970.491.1807; shauna.woods@colostate.edu
Linda Fuller, OMK Youth Program Specialist, 720.250.1188; Linda.fuller3@us.army.mil or linda.j.fuller@hotmail.com
Tom Cox, Youth Director at Buckley, 720.847.9992, thomas.cox@buckley.af.mil
Wendy Clouse, Recreation Assistant, Youth Programs, 720.847.6378, wendy.clouse@buckley.af.mil
“Night Under a Middle Eastern Sky” at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science Aug. 21 (Fri)- Aug. 22 (Sat) for military families from all branches of the military who have experienced deployment in the past year, have a loved one currently deployed or about to deploy in the next six months. OMK is working with the Museum on workshops, displays and a unique experience for you and your family. We are excited about the Middle Eastern Sky at the planetarium, the IMAX Theatre Grand Canyon movie, numerous Museum displays and the Denver Zoo. Please contact Shauna Woods, OMK State Coordinator, 970.491.1807; shauna.woods@colostate.edu. Each family must fill out a registration form and submit a refundable $25 deposit to hold your place and checks will be returned to you on the second day. - Shauna Woods, Colorado State University Extension - Operation: Military Kids
2009 CYFAR Conference
4-H had a major presence this year at the 2009 Children, Youth and Families at Risk (CYFAR) Conference held in Baltimore, Md. on May 18-21. There were over 60 workshops and presentations that focused on 4-H and youth. The keynote lecture given by Bonnie Braun, Ph.D., discussed the importance of family and positive communities. Braun was Virginia’s first female 4-H director, and in her 32-year Extension career she has focused on reducing barriers among individuals, families and communities.
“CYFAR provides a wonderful networking and professional development opportunity for 4-H and Extension professionals,” said Aggie Wright, program specialist at the National 4-H Council. “Through the 4-H Family Strengthening Lecture, high-quality research and its practical implications can be shared with the system in a creative setting. Many who were able to attend have said they were impacted both professionally and personally.”
After the lecture, the five winners of the 2008 4-H Families Count: Family Strengthening Award were recognized. For this award, the Annie E. Casey Foundation, through their partnership with National 4-H Council, honors 4-H Programs of Distinction with $15,000 each to further help build supportive communities using the 4-H program. - Ellen Butler
July 2, 2009
The Colorado Legislature established COYAC in 2008 to give young people an opportunity to participate in the policy-making process. Their primary purpose is to “examine, evaluate, and discuss the issues, interests, and needs affecting Colorado youth now and in the future and to formally advise and make recommendations to elected officials regarding those issues.” (Colo. HB 08-1157)
There are 40 young people serving on COYAC, ages 14-19, from all over Colorado. There is one member from each state Senate district, and 5 at-large members. They talk to other youth throughout the state to hear their concerns, examine bills in the legislature, decide whether or not to support them, and suggest ideas for new laws. Four legislators are also non-voting members of our Council. They help the council connect with the Legislature and provide support and feedback for ideas.
This year there are 17 two-year vacancies among the Colorado senate districts and at-large posts. You can go to the following website to learn more information: http://www.civiccanopy.org Click on the Youth Advisory Council link to download the application, find your senate district and learn more about the work of the council.
This is a great opportunity for older 4-H members interested in youth involvement and civic governance to get involved! Please contact us if you have more questions!
June 18, 2009
Volume 13, Number 16
Reminders
• June 13-21: Citizenship Washington Focus, Washington, DC
• June 15: National 4-H Conference applications due, State 4-H Office
• June 23-26: State 4-H Conference, CSU Campus
• July 1: National 4-H Congress applications due, State 4-H office
Reminder - 2009 National 4-H Congress Applications due July 1
Applications for county delegates planning to attend National 4-H Congress are due in the State 4-H office by July 1, 2009. Counties are to select their own delegates, as there is no further screening at the state level. For more information go to http://www.colorado4h.org/events_opportunities/nat_congress/
Applicants are to check with school and/or employers prior to submitting their applications. The dates for this year’s trip are Nov. 27 – Dec. 1, in Atlanta, GA. We make no guarantees that late cancellation will be accepted without financial penalty. Trip deposits will not be refunded. - Ellen Butler
Invasive Species Training Opportunity and Experiment
Greetings fellow CitSci.org and NIISS.org registered website users, concerned conservationists, and fellow Coloradoans!
This is being sent to you to let you know about a free volunteer training opportunity and experiment being conducted by Colorado State University (CSU) and the Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory in Fort Collins, Colorado, July 11-12, 2009. The event will be held at the CSU Lory Student Center July 11, and at the CSU Environmental Learning Center July 11-12. We are offering free training on: (1) invasive species, (2) GPS use, (3) monitoring protocols, (4) invasive plant identification, and (5) how to use our website (www.citsci.org) to submit locations of invasive plants. Food will be provided!
We are in need of interested adult volunteers as both participants in our training experiment/event and as host volunteers for the event. To register as a participant, click here or go to:
http://tinyurl.com/ColoradoInvasivePlantEvent. If you are interested in helping us coordinate the event, please email me at newmang@nrel.colostate.edu or call Greg Newman at 970.491.0410.
Details can be found at http://www.colorado4h.org/blog/docs/2009/Citizen_Science_Announcement.pdf and are also summarized below.
Summary:
We need volunteers to:
(1) Participate in our online training and then demonstrate your new skills at the CSU Environmental Learning Center on July 11.
(2) Participate in our in-person training on July 11 at CSU and then demonstrate your new skills at the CSU Environmental Learning Center on July 12.
(3) Take our control group survey if you cannot attend.
(4) Help us coordinate the event as a host volunteer.
Are you a botanist? We need you to monitor the same plots those being trained will monitor anytime between July 5-12.
Details:
Come help us determine the effectiveness of training citizen scientists to monitoring invasive plants!
What?
An experiment designed to evaluate the effectiveness of three training approaches: (1) in-person, (2) online web pages, and (3) online multimedia presentations. To do this, we need your help and participation! We need 100 volunteers to take online tutorials and then be tested in the field about invasive species knowledge, GPS use, monitoring protocols, species identification, and use of our website (www.citsci.org). We need another 100 volunteers to participate in our in-person training and then be tested in the field about these same subjects. Our goal is to ensure that all volunteer participants, whether trained online or in-person, leaves with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to become successful citizen scientists. Food will be provided!
How?
We would greatly appreciate your participation in any way you can; there are three ways to help:
(1) Join our in-person group Saturday, July 11, at Colorado State University (CSU) and then demonstrate your newly acquired skills in the field at the CSU Environmental Learning Center (ELC) on Sunday, July 12!
(2) Join our online group and study tutorials at your home on your personal computer between July 5 and July 10, and then demonstrate your newly acquired skills Saturday, July 11, at the ELC. You will receive one of two versions of the tutorials: (1) traditional web pages, and (2) multimedia presentations. Having taken part in the online training, you will be tested in GPS use, plot set up, percent cover estimation, and species identification. For this option, your weekend commitment is only one day!
(3) Join our control group and complete our questionnaire to help us determine what people who have not taken training already know about these topics.
Where?
The study will be held at Colorado State University (CSU) and the Environmental Learning Center (ELC).
When?
The study will be held at Colorado July 11-12. Rain dates are July 18-19. For those being trained in person, training will be at the CSU Lory Student Center, Saturday, July 11, between 7:00 am and 4:30 pm. Your field test will be Sunday, July 12, between 8:00 am and 4:30 pm at the ELC. For those being trained online, training will be online and self-paced between July 4 and July 10 and your field test will be July 11 between 8:00 am and 4:30 pm.
If you have any questions or comments about this study, please ask! My work phone number is 970.491.0410; or you can email me at newmang@nrel.colostate.edu. Please register by filling out our very short online form at: http://tinyurl.com/ColoradoInvasivePlantEvent.
Thank you very much for your help with this important research. - Greg Newman, Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory
Host Families Needed – 4-H Japanese Exchange
Host families are needed for 65 inbound Japanese boys and girls, ages 12-21, coming to Colorado through the 2009 inbound Colorado-Japan Teen Exchange. Hosting dates are July 23 – Aug. 18.
This program is coordinated through Colorado State University and has been running since 1975.
Host families do not need to be a member of 4-H and may reside in urban, suburban, or rural settings throughout Colorado. They may share a room with their host sibling. Matches are made on the basis of same sex and closeness in age, as well as some common interests. Note: Host siblings may be as young as nine to match with a 12 year old Japanese participant.
All participants are 100 percent medically covered with 4-H insurance and may participate in host family vacations, camping trips, youth camps, etc. They are expected to become part of the family, including attending church, helping with household chores, following house rules, and participating in other aspects of daily life. The program covers costs for the exchange. Each participant has his/her own spending money.
Japanese participants will attend an orientation in Denver before going to host families and a debriefing in Denver before returning to Japan. Carpools are planned to transport delegates to homes if host families are not able to pick up or return their exchange student. Orientation for host families is also in Denver. In addition, there will be a host family orientation in the Montrose/Grand Junction/Delta area.
Host siblings have the option of traveling to Japan to participate in a four or eight-week exchange while staying with Japanese host families and learning Japanese culture.
The greatest success occurs when families treat the delegates as a family member, rather than a “guest.”
Please contact me at 970.491.2711 or courtney.loflin@colostate.edu. - Courtney Loflin
2009 Inbound IFYEs to Colorado – HOST FAMILIES NEEDED
Austria – Markus Zuzer. Markus is 26 years old and will be here from June 22 through July 29. He speaks German and English and his hobbies include jogging, skiing, and being around friends. Areas of interest include agriculture, economics, and politics. Markus lives on a farm and is currently studying economics education at a university.
England – Katharine Smaldon is 23 years old and will be here from June 22 through July 29. Her hobbies include her friends, photography, shopping, reading, current affairs, politics, and Young Farmers. Katharine lives on a poultry farm and has a degree in English Literature.
Germany – Anne Osterkamp is 21 years old and will be here from June 22 through Sept. 4. Anne speaks both German and English. Her hobbies are sports, horseback riding, swimming, friends, and movies. Anne lives on a dairy farm and has a three year apprenticeship in agriculture.
Greece – Anastasia Zaralt is 16 years old and will be here from June 22 through July 29. Anatasia speaks Greek and English. Her hobbies are biking, shopping, swimming, dancing, music, friends, reading, football, and volleyball. She is currently studying math at the American Farm School.
Greece - Anna Panagiotoudi is 18 years old. She will be here from Sept. 1 through Dec. 1. Anna speaks Greek and English. Anna’s hobbies include swimming, music, shopping, friends, reading, volleyball, and basketball. Anna is currently studying at the American Farm School.
Switzerland – Nina Hunziker is 22 years old and will be here from June 22 through Sept. 15. Nina speaks German, French, and English. Her hobbies are riding horses, reading, friends, and travel and plans to study social work. Nina is also a vegetarian.
Inbound IFYE’s generally stay with a host family for two- to three-weeks. The goal is for these exchange participants to learn about everyday life in the United States by participating in the homestay experiences. All delegates have medical insurance and personal spending money.
Please contact me in the State 4-H office for further information at 970.491.2711 or Courtney.loflin@colostate.edu. – Courtney Loflin
2009-2010 4-H International Exchange – Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX)
Host families are also needed for FLEX (Future Leaders Exchange) students. This program is funded by the U.S. State Department to instill democratic principles in exchange participants from the New Independent States (NIS) of the former Soviet Union (now called Eurasia): Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. Colorado will host eight participants, ages 15-18, who will stay with host families and attend high school August 2009 through mid- June 2010.
These delegates are proficient in English, have excellent grades, and speak a minimum of three languages. They are excited to learn about the United States and share their culture. Colorado schools have been very receptive to this program due to the high quality of the delegate applications. Fifty-five thousand youth apply from these Eurasian countries every year and 1,200 youth are chosen annually to spend 10 months in the United States.
Delegates receive $125/month for personal expenses. Host families receive $300 to assist with “startup” costs. To review the applications of the delegates available, please contact me at 970.491.2711 or courtney.loflin@colostate.edu for further information. - Courtney Loflin
USDA and NASA to Send 4-H Flag into Space on Shuttle Launch
Below is a press release from the United States Department of Agriculture. As you probably know, the space shuttle launch was delayed and it’s next launch attempt is targeted for July 11.
WASHINGTON, June 11, 2009 - USDA’s National 4-H Headquarters and NASA will send the 4-H flag, depicting the familiar 4-H Clover, into space aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour on June 13, 2009, as part of the STS-127 mission.
“The inclusion of the 4-H flag on this mission is reflective of the commitment 4-H has to building young leaders in science, engineering and technology,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “As the global economy expands, these leaders will strengthen the United States’ global competitiveness and leadership in these fields.”
4-H promotes positive youth development, facilitates learning and engages youth in the work of the land-grant universities and USDA to enhance their quality of life. Nearly 7 million youth, ages 5-19, participate in 4-H youth development experiences in all 50 states, territories and military installations worldwide.
The STS-127 mission will deliver the final components of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s Kibo laboratory to the International Space Station. The 16-day mission will include five spacewalks and the installation of two platforms outside of the Japanese module.
Azeem Ahmed, 17, who is an avid space enthusiast and 4-H member from Alabama and President of the Alabama 4-H Council, made the original request to NASA to have the flag flown with a future space shuttle mission.
“4-H is more than green and white - it is a collage,” Ahmed said. “It is agriculture and it’s also healthy living, leadership and citizenship and science, engineering and technology. Science, engineering and technology is one of the missions of 4-H, and by flying a 4-H flag into space, I hope we shine a new light on 4-H.”
Ahmed has been a 4-H member for seven years. He has participated in a variety of leadership and science, engineer and technology programs on the state and national level and wants people to see 4-H as he and thousands of other youth do.
The 4-H Youth Development Program began at the start of the 20th century to help rural youth gain technical and leadership skills. More than 100 years later, the organization continues to promote positive youth development in the areas of citizenship; healthy living and science; engineering; and technology. According to a two-year study in New York, young people who participate in 4-H clubs do better in school, are more motivated to help others, develop skills in leadership, public speaking, self-esteem, communication and planning and make lasting friendships.
National 4-H Headquarters, along with its private partner National 4-H Council, has set the goal of preparing one million new young people to excel in science, engineering and technology (SET) by 2013. National 4-H Headquarters seeks to promote positive youth development, facilitate learning and engage youth in the work of the land-grant niversities and USDA to enhance their quality of life.
More information is available at www.national4-hheadquarters.gov.
National 4-H Headquarters is a unit within USDA’s Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES). Through federal funding and leadership for research, education and extension programs, CSREES focuses on investing in science and solving critical issues impacting people’s daily lives and the nation’s future. For more information, visit www.csrees.usda.gov. - Ellen Butler
Children’s International Photography Contest Focuses Worldwide Lens On Biodiversity
WASHINGTON - Youngsters around the world are invited to enter the “See the Bigger Picture” photography contest by submitting images illustrating plants, animals or anything else that captures biodiversity to www.seethebiggerpicture.org. The winner will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to National Geographic headquarters in Washington, D.C., and will meet with renowned photojournalist Joel Sartore, a contest judge. Entries must be received by Sept. 8, 2009.
“See the Bigger Picture” is a joint project of Airbus, National Geographic and the Secretariat of the Convention of Biological Diversity in support of “The Green Wave” — an outreach program that promotes the goals of the United Nations biodiversity treaty and that will contribute to the celebration of the International Year of Biodiversity in 2010. As part of “The Green Wave” project, children and youth in schools worldwide plant a local tree species on May 22 each year, uniting to send a “green wave” across time zones from east to west.
The organizers hope the “See the Bigger Picture” contest will encourage children around the globe to snap and submit a photograph illustrating biodiversity in their community or from their travels and help to create the world’s largest biodiversity outreach program. “I am thrilled that Airbus is getting behind the biodiversity photo contest” said Sartore. “If we stand a chance of preserving the delicate balance of life and protecting the future of the fragile planet I’ve been photographing for 20 years, big business must be involved. It’s great to involve kids, too, and to motivate them to take notice of the environment around them. I hope this will be a fun summer project for them.”
Sartore, one of National Geographic’s best wildlife photographers, suggests a few photo tips to get the perfect shot.
-Shoot early in the morning or late in the day for the best light. This is also when many kinds of animals are most active and interesting.
-Work all the angles; walk around your subject 360 degrees to find the best background, then also go from a bird’s eye view (up high) to a worm’s eye view (low to the ground) to get photos that are fresh and unexpected.
-Study your subjects, and have patience. While nature can be unpredictable, some animals have routines just like people. Spending a little time observing what your subjects do and when they do it can pay off with much better photos.
-You don’t have to travel around the world to view and photograph wildlife. The variety of animals in your own back yard — from insects to birds to amphibians — may surprise you.
“See the Bigger Picture” contest rules can be found on www.seethebiggerpicture.org as well as in the July and August issues of National Geographic magazine and in the June/July and August issues of National Geographic Kids magazine. In the United States the contest is open to kids ages 6-14, and internationally to kids ages 6-16.
About Airbus
Airbus is a leading aircraft manufacturer with the most modern and comprehensive family of airliners on the market, ranging in capacity from 100 to more than 500 seats. Sensitive to its position as an industry leader, Airbus strives to be a truly eco-efficient enterprise. To that end Airbus is the first aeronautics company in the world to have earned the ISO 14001 environmental certification for all production sites and products for the entire life cycle. Airbus seeks to ensure that air transport continues to be an eco-efficient means of transport, delivering value while minimizing its environmental impact. Headquartered in Toulouse, France, Airbus is an EADS company.
About the Convention of Biological Diversity Opened for signature at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, the Convention on Biological Diversity is an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and the equitable sharing of the benefits from utilization of genetic resources. With 191 Parties, the CBD has near-universal participation among countries committed to preserving life on Earth. The CBD seeks to address all threats to biodiversity and ecosystem services, including threats from climate change, through scientific assessments, the development of tools, incentives and processes, the transfer of technologies and good practices and the full and active involvement of relevant stakeholders including indigenous and local communities, youth, NGOs, women and the business community. The Secretariat of the Convention is located in Montreal. For more information, visit cbd.int.
About National Geographic
The National Geographic Society is one of the world’s largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations. Founded in 1888 to “increase and diffuse geographic knowledge” the Society works to inspire people to care about the planet. It reaches more than 360 million people worldwide each month through its official journal, National Geographic, and other magazines; National Geographic Channel; television documentaries; music; radio; films; books; DVDs; maps; exhibitions; live events; school publishing programs; interactive media; and merchandise. National Geographic has funded more than 9,000 scientific research, conservation and exploration projects and supports an education program promoting geographic literacy. For more information, visit nationalgeographic.com. - C. Eddy Mentzer, Interim 4-H Military Partnership Program Manager, 4-H National Headquarters
Douglas County 4-H Golf Tournament at Perry Park
Take advantage of a once in a lifetime opportunity to play the world class golf course at Perry Park Country Club in Larkspur, Colorado! The Douglas County 4-H Foundation is sponsoring a benefit golf tournament on July 13. Registration begins at 8:00a.m. with a shotgun start at 9:00 a.m. The tournament is a scramble format. An awards banquet will follow the tournament, plus lots and lots of door prizes! Proceeds from this tournament will be used for educational financial assistance to Douglas County youth through 4-H scholarships. Since its inception the foundation has given over $1,000,000 in scholarships. The Foundation has a long and successful history of providing educational programs and scholarships to the youth of Douglas County. Please join us in continuing this effort. Sponsorship opportunities are available. For further information please click on: http://www.colorado4h.org/blog/docs/2009/FoundationBroch2009.pdf or contact Maryjo Woodrick at the Douglas County office at 720.733.6930. - Ellen Butler
June 10, 2009
Volume 13, Number 15
Reminders
• June 13-21: Citizenship Washington Focus, Washington, DC
• June 15: National 4-H Conference applications due, State 4-H Office
• June 23-26: State 4-H Conference, CSU Campus
• July 1: National 4-H Congress applications due, State 4-H office
2009 National 4-H Congress Applications due July 1
Applications for county delegates planning to attend National 4-H Congress are due in the State 4-H office by July 1, 2009. Counties are to select their own delegates, as there is no further screening at the state level. For more information go to http://www.colorado4h.org/events_opportunities/nat_congress/
Applicants are to check with school and/or employers prior to submitting their applications. The dates for this year’s trip are Nov. 27 – Dec. 1, in Atlanta, GA. We make no guarantees that late cancellation will be accepted without financial penalty. Trip deposits will not be refunded. — Ellen Butler
Teen Clerk Applications due July 1
Teen Clerk applications for the 2009 Colorado State Fair/Camp Tobin are due by July 1. Judging begins at noon on Wednesday, Aug. 19 through Friday, Aug. 21 at 5 pm. Teen clerks must be 13 years or older prior to Dec. 31, 2008. Their application must be signed by the county extension agent. Applications can be found on the State 4-H Website at: http://www.colorado4h.org/events_opportunities/state_fair/packet/TeenClerkApplicationForm.pdf. You can also receive an application via email or snail mail by contacting Sharie Harless at sharie.harless@colostate.edu. Thanks! - Sharie Harless
Host Families Needed – 4-H Japanese Exchange
Host families are needed for 65 inbound Japanese boys and girls, ages 12-21, coming to Colorado through the 2009 inbound Colorado-Japan Teen Exchange. Hosting dates are July 23 – Aug. 18.
This program is coordinated through Colorado State University and has been running since 1975.
Host families do not need to be a member of 4-H and may reside in urban, suburban, or rural settings throughout Colorado. They may share a room with their host sibling. Matches are made on the basis of same sex and closeness in age, as well as some common interests. Note: Host siblings may be as young as nine to match with a 12 year old Japanese participant.
All participants are 100 percent medically covered with 4-H insurance and may participate in host family vacations, camping trips, youth camps, etc. They are expected to become part of the family, including attending church, helping with household chores, following house rules, and participating in other aspects of daily life. The program covers costs for the exchange. Each participant has his/her own spending money.
Japanese participants will attend an orientation in Denver before going to host families and a debriefing in Denver before returning to Japan. Carpools are planned to transport delegates to homes if host families are not able to pick up or return their exchange student. Orientation for host families is also in Denver. In addition, there will be a host family orientation in the Montrose/Grand Junction/Delta area.
Host siblings have the option of traveling to Japan to participate in a four or eight-week exchange while staying with Japanese host families and learning Japanese culture.
The greatest success occurs when families treat the delegates as a family member, rather than a “guest.”
Please contact me at 970.491.2711 or courtney.loflin@colostate.edu. - Courtney Loflin
2009 Inbound IFYEs to Colorado – HOST FAMILIES NEEDED
Austria – Markus Zuzer. Markus is 26 years old and will be here from June 22 through July 29. He speaks German and English and his hobbies include jogging, skiing, and being around friends. Areas of interest include agriculture, economics, and politics. Markus lives on a farm and is currently studying economics education at a university.
England – Katharine Smaldon is 23 years old and will be here from June 22 through July 29. Her hobbies include her friends, photography, shopping, reading, current affairs, politics, and Young Farmers. Katharine lives on a poultry farm and has a degree in English Literature.
Germany – Anne Osterkamp is 21 years old and will be here from June 22 through Sept. 4. Anne speaks both German and English. Her hobbies are sports, horseback riding, swimming, friends, and movies. Anne lives on a dairy farm and has a three year apprenticeship in agriculture.
Greece – Anastasia Zaralt is 16 years old and will be here from June 22 through July 29. Anatasia speaks Greek and English. Her hobbies are biking, shopping, swimming, dancing, music, friends, reading, football, and volleyball. She is currently studying math at the American Farm School.
Greece - Anna Panagiotoudi is 18 years old. She will be here from Sept. 1 through Dec. 1. Anna speaks Greek and English. Anna’s hobbies include swimming, music, shopping, friends, reading, volleyball, and basketball. Anna is currently studying at the American Farm School.
Switzerland – Nina Hunziker is 22 years old and will be here from June 22 through Sept. 15. Nina speaks German, French, and English. Her hobbies are riding horses, reading, friends, and travel and plans to study social work. Nina is also a vegetarian.
Inbound IFYE’s generally stay with a host family for two- to three-weeks. The goal is for these exchange participants to learn about everyday life in the United States by participating in the homestay experiences. All delegates have medical insurance and personal spending money.
Please contact me in the State 4-H office for further information at 970.491.2711 or Courtney.loflin@colostate.edu. – Courtney Loflin
2009-2010 4-H International Exchange – Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX)
Host families are also needed for FLEX (Future Leaders Exchange) students. This program is funded by the U.S. State Department to instill democratic principles in exchange participants from the New Independent States (NIS) of the former Soviet Union (now called Eurasia): Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. Colorado will host eight participants, ages 15-18, who will stay with host families and attend high school August 2009 through mid- June 2010.
These delegates are proficient in English, have excellent grades, and speak a minimum of three languages. They are excited to learn about the United States and share their culture. Colorado schools have been very receptive to this program due to the high quality of the delegate applications. Fifty-five thousand youth apply from these Eurasian countries every year and 1,200 youth are chosen annually to spend 10 months in the United States.
Delegates receive $125/month for personal expenses. Host families receive $300 to assist with “startup” costs. To review the applications of the delegates available, please contact me at 970.491.2711 or courtney.loflin@colostate.edu for further information. - Courtney Loflin
Special Needs Youth Thrive in 4-H
Vicki Hoefer with son Terry, and Ra, rescued mini horse--photo courtesy of Vickie Hoefer
In Kitsap County, Washington State, 4-H clubs welcome youth with differing abilities. They recently formed two new clubs specifically for children with special needs. These clubs provide an opportunity for 4-H’ers with special needs to thrive in their 4-H club by completing their projects successfully, while also giving back to the community.
Vickie Hoefer leads the Justice Riders Club in Olalla. Her son Terry, 16, has cerebral palsy and David, 18, a mild form of autism. “4-H has made them feel so independent,” said Hoefer. “They like being part of a group and knowing they are part of society. Their disabilities don’t stop them from participating,” she added. Terry’s mini horse, Ra, and David’s quarter horse, Buddy, provide life skills in responsibility, caring and communication. Record books are a collaborative effort as Vickie does the typing and the boys track the data.
Community service is intrinsic to Hoefer’s club. Their current project is sending greeting cards and raising money to help a soldier in Iraq. Since joining 4-H, Hoefer has seen her sons’ willingness to reach out to others grow. “They like working with other people and getting things done,” said Hoefer. “It brings them a sense of well being. They have a feeling of ‘I did it and nothing can stop me.’ It’s a great sensation.” This past summer the brothers participated at the Kitsap County Fair showing Ra and doing herdsmanship in the barn. “I liked taking leadership in the group,” said David. “I helped decorate the stalls and I liked helping others and encouraging my fellow club members.” Terry also took his horse to the petting farm at the Fair. “I liked telling the public about my animal and letting the public see a disabled person can have fun in 4-H,” said Terry.
Kelly Fisk, Kitsap County 4-H Youth Development Coordinator, works with clubs to ensure members receive services to accommodate individual needs. “It’s important for people to understand that special needs members are just as capable as anyone else in challenging themselves and achieving success,” said Fisk. “A number of people see the disability and not the child. Expectations are then lowered and the child is not pushed to their individual capabilities because of lack of knowledge or inexperience with the disability and modifications that can be made,” added Fisk.
To learn more about this club and find out how you can form a club in area, please contact Vickie Hoefer at 253.857.0555. - Ellen Butler
May 29, 2009
Volume 13, Number 14
Reminders
• June 1: Outstanding Volunteer Leader award applications due, State 4-H Office
• June 5: Paul Hoshiko Jr. Memorial Golf Tournament, Windsor, CO
• June 13-21: Citizenship Washington Focus, Washington, DC
• June 15: National 4-H Conference applications due, State 4-H Office
• June 23-26: State 4-H Conference, CSU Campus
National 4-H Conference Nomination Deadline Extended
The National 4-H conference nomination deadline has been extended to Monday, June 15. Please have interested 4-H members go to http://www.colorado4h.org/events_opportunities/nat_conf/index.shtml for further information and an application.
National 4-H Conference is an annual event planned and conducted by The National 4-H Headquarters, located in the Families, 4-H, and Nutrition Unit of the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The purpose of the conference is to solicit input from a diverse cross-section of the Cooperative Extension System to strengthen and expand the 4-H Youth Development program at local, state, and national levels. This event brings together youth, volunteer leaders, state, and county Extension staff from across the U.S., its territories, and the Canadian Provinces. National 4-H Conference is usually held at the end of March or the first week in April. - Ellen Butler
Colorado 4-H Ambassador Program
Last year during the Winter Muster there was some discussion about establishing a county/state Colorado 4-H Ambassador program. Many of you were interested in pursuing this idea. Your thoughts at the time were to utilize 4-H members to market county (or state-wide) programs to other youth, commissioners, the local community and other organizations.
Agents will have an opportunity to discuss and design the goals of the Colorado 4-H Ambassador program while at State 4-H Conference next month. On Thursday, June 25, from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. there will be an adults-only forum where you can all sit down and brainstorm on ways to get this program started. There will be two Douglas County 4-H members giving a brief presentation on their desire to start a state-wide 4-H ambassador program! The location of the meeting will be printed in the conference program.
Questions or comments? Contact the State 4-H Office, or Mary Baldwin at 720.733.6940. - Ellen Butler
Nominate an Inspirational 4-H’er to Carry the Olympic Torch
The Coca-Cola Company is offering ten U.S. teens the chance to be selected as an Olympic Torchbearer in the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Torch Relay–a great opportunity for 4-H teen leaders to be recognized. The deadline for submissions is May 31, 2009.
The nominated 4-H’er, between the ages of 13-19, should be recognized for being an outstanding teen that personifies positive living and serve as a source of inspiration to their friends, family, and community. A torchbearer must stay physically fit and active, as well as participate in their community and in recycling programs. Click on this link for more details! http://www.colorado4h.org/Blog/docs/2009/OlympicTorchbearerFlyer.pdf
To nominate a 4-H’er, please visit Coca-Cola in the Community at http://www.livepositively.com/. Don’t forget to mention the nominee’s affiliation with 4-H in your submission. Self-nominations are not permitted. - Ellen Butler
WRLF 2010 Workshop Proposals Wanted!
On behalf of the 2010 Western Regional 4-H Leaders’ Forum Planning Committee I would like to remind you to submit a workshop proposal. The 2010 Leaders’ Forum is being held in Albuquerque, NM, March 11-14. You can help make this event a success by sharing your expertise and great ideas with others. Simply complete and submit the proposal form by June 1, 2009 (that is next Monday). Workshops should be appropriate for volunteers, staff and teens working with the 4-H Program. Here’s the link! http://www.colorado4h.org/Blog/docs/2009/CallForProposals.pdf
Adult volunteers, Extension staff and teens are all welcome to submit proposals and have an equal opportunity to be chosen. You may submit proposals for multiple workshops as an individual or a team. Your input is invaluable. Please forward this email to anyone you think might be interested in presenting at this event. Proposals are due by June 1, 2009; primary presenters (as named on the proposal form) will be contacted about the status of their proposal by July 20, 2009. You may submit your proposal in any of the following ways:
• By mail to: Mindy Turner, PO Box 30003 MSC 3AE, Las Cruces, NM 88003
• By FAX to: Attn: Mindy Turner 575.646.3027
• By email to: midenny@nmsu.edu
• Online at http://aces.nmsu.edu/4h/wrlf2010/workshop-proposal.html (go to http://nm4h.nmsu.edu click on WRLF 2010 more details, then click on Workshop Proposals) Select Online Workshop Proposal Submission.
PROPOSALS MAY BE SUBMITTED AS ONE OF FOUR TYPES:
• 90 minute session – hands on learning experiences designed to provide comprehensive coverage of subject matter,
• 45 minute mini-session – introduction or promotional workshop designed to engage learners, but cover less subject matter; mini sessions will be paired in a time slot to allow for consistency in the schedule,
• two- part session - hands on learning experiences designed to provide comprehensive coverage of subject matter that cannot be covered in one 90 minute session,
• Off site/Educational tour – hands on learning experienced conducted away from the hotel (ex: at a local dairy; food plant; arena; etc.); off site workshops will be allotted two- 90-minute sessions to allow for travel.
All attendees of WRLF are required to pay their own registration fee and travel expenses. A registration form will be available online at nm4h.nmsu.edu. Workshop presenters who are at WRLF only during their workshop and are not participating in any other part of WRLF do not need to register. If not attending the entire conference, day registration, including the meals, breaks, workshops and activities on that day will be available.
You can find more information on the event and proposal forms at: http://aces.nmsu.edu/4h/wrlf2010/ or go to http://nm4h.nmsu.edu and click on “Details” under the WRLF 2010 Logo. Dale Leidheiser
Assets for Colorado Youth 2009 Training Series Reminder!
Communities, local and state agencies, and community organizations are seeing the need to meaningfully engage youth in the daily life of community. A growing body of research shows that youth who are connected to opportunities to serve, work and make decisions about the things that affect them enter adulthood with a solid set of skills for life, work and civic engagement. Want to create a youth commission, a youth board, a service learning project, or a youth volunteer project? Easier said than done? An Insider’s Guide to Youth Engagement will build on the youth engagement experiences of a wide range of communities and organizations around Colorado to help you begin to plan for engaging youth in meaningful ways.
During this workshop, you will:
• Receive helpful tips for turning your concept into action;
• Learn from the mistakes of others and gain practical tools and ideas for guiding and supporting youth and the adults who work with them; and
• Have time to share ideas, ask questions, and brainstorm with other participants.
When: June 11, 2009
Time: 8:30-9am – Breakfast & Check In; 9-12 pm - Training
Where: The Gardens at St. Elizabeth, 2835 West 32nd Avenue, Denver, CO
Cost: $40 - Includes breakfast, training materials, and great resources
Contact Katherine Plog Martinez at katherine@buildassets.org or 303.832.1587 for registration information or with any questions.
________________________________________
And That’s Not All…
Watch for the second half of the 2009 Training Series. Dates and locations will be announced in late June.
August – Creating a School Where ALL Students Can Thrive
September – The Power of Parents
October – The Spirit of Culture
November – Read Between the Lines - Literacy and Positive Youth Development
________________________________________
About Assets for Colorado Youth … Engaged citizens. Thriving youth. Thriving communities.
Assets for Colorado Youth (ACY) connects people to the many practical applications of research from the positive youth development field, and helps spark systems change that creates successful and thriving communities. ACY’s comprehensive package of services helps to bridge the gap between having an awareness of positive youth development and taking action.
For more information on Assets for Colorado Youth go to: http://www.buildassets.org/
________________________________________
Thank you for all you do to help create successful & thriving communities!
May 22, 2009
Volume 13, Number 13
Reminders:
• June 1: National 4-H Conference applications due, State 4-H Office
• June 1: Outstanding Volunteer Leader award applications due, State 4-H Office
• June 5: Paul Hoshiko Jr. Memorial Golf Tournament, Windsor, CO
• June 13-21: Citizenship Washington Focus, Washington, DC
• June 23-26: State 4-H Conference, CSU Campus
• July 1: National 4-H Congress applications due, State 4-H Office
2009 Colorado 4-H Foundation Scholarship Recipients
On behalf of the Colorado State 4-H Foundation Scholarship Committee, we are pleased to announce the winners of the 2009 4-H scholarships:
Colorado Agricultural Development Authority 4-H Youth Scholarship (five $1000 scholarships)
• Virginia Baker - Larimer County
• Haydn Christensen – Rio Grande County
• Ryan Dreitz – Morgan County
• Jessica Hartman – Pueblo County
• Garrett Liss – Elbert County
Bill & Barbara Holthaus Family 4-H Scholarship (three $1000 scholarships)
• Peter Ambrose – Park County
• Collene Kiefer – Larimer County
• Traci Schlegel – Eagle County
Kimberling Family 4-H Scholarship ($500 scholarship)
• Jami Reed – Delta County
Portouw Photography Scholarship ($300 scholarship)
• Courtney Tracy – Douglas County
Audrey Sandstead Scholarship ($400 scholarship)
• Traci Schlegel – Eagle County
Howard E. and Marjory M. Smith 4-H Scholarship ($1000 scholarship)
• Kalli Fox – Garfield County
Congratulations to all of you! - Gary Small, Colorado 4-H Foundation
Camp Tobin, Colorado State Fair
Camp Tobin at the Colorado State Fair is a great resource for families who want to experience the fair but don’t want to blow their whole budget on an expensive hotel and eating out.
Camp Tobin dorms are the cheapest in town –$5 per person per night. Health forms are required for all youth 19 and under. A deposit of $10 is required per person, family or group and is collected at check-in. This deposit will be refunded at check-out. Camp Tobin dorms are equipped with mattresses on bunk beds. You will need to provide bedding (sleeping bag), pillow, towels and personal items. All youth must have an adult from their county with them and supervising them during their stay. No youth reservations will be accepted without adult supervision being provided by the county, club or parent.
Camp Tobin will have a new cook this year - Pat Peru, from Otero County. We are very excited to have Pat on board and know that she will do an excellent job serving great meals during your stay at state fair.
Meals will be provided from Aug. 19 – Aug. 23, Aug. 28 – Aug. 30 and Sept. 5 – Sept. 7. Meals include breakfast, lunch and dinner. Children 4 and under may eat from a parent’s plate. Child discount applies to youth ages 5-10 and adult prices are for 11 and older. Below is a breakdown of meal costs:
• Breakfast Child $6.25 Adult $7.25
• Lunch Child $6.75 Adult $7.75
• Dinner Child $7.25 Adult $8.25
This is the best deal in town so come and stay with us during this year’s Colorado State Fair! Registration will go live around the middle of July. For more information about Camp Tobin please click on: http://www.colorado4h.org/events_opportunities/state_fair/packet/index.shtml.
Also, Teen Clerk applications are due July 1; this is a change from previous years. Applications and information for teen clerks and adult volunteers can be found at: http://www.colorado4h.org/events_opportunities/state_fair/packet/index.shtml.
Please call or email if you have questions! – Connie Cecil
2009 National 4-H Congress Applications due July 1
Applications for county delegates planning to attend National 4-H Congress are due in the State 4-H office by July 1, 2009. Counties are to select their own delegates as there is no further screening at the state level. For more information go to http://www.colorado4h.org/events_opportunities/nat_congress/
Applicants are to check with school and/or employers prior to submitting their applications. The dates for this year’s trip are Nov. 27 – Dec. 1, in Atlanta, GA. We make no guarantees that late cancellation will be accepted without financial penalty. Trip deposits will not be refunded. — Ellen Butler
Nick Offers Grants and Features 4-H Million Trees Project On-Air
Nickelodeon is offering grants ranging from $2,500 to $5,000 to 10 Green Teams—extraordinary youth across the nation that are helping to make smart, eco-friendly changes in their home, school and community. This initiative is a part of the “Big Green Help,” an environmental awareness campaign and kid-led movement that provides information and tools to help explain climate change to young people, and connects them to energy-saving and earth-friendly activities in their everyday lives.
This is a great opportunity for 4-H’ers that are currently engaging in environmental projects. Youth can register their projects online and through the end of the year. Details about “The Big Green Help” and the grants are available online at www.4-h.org.
Also, Laura Webber, who conceived the 4-H Million Trees community service project with her Belmont, California 4-H Club, will be featured in a 20-second profile airing on the network on Earth Day. As a part of their “Big Green Help” initiative, Nickelodeon will highlight youth who make a huge impact on the environment. To learn more about these grants and the 4-H Million Trees Project profile airing on Earth Day, visit www.4-H.org or contact Nancy Cole (ncole@fourhcouncil.edu) at National 4-H Council. - Ellen Butler
Announcing 4-H’s New Online Grants Management Portal!
National 4-H Council is pleased to announce their new grants portal! This portal will be a one-stop resource, housing a wide variety of funding opportunities and related forms (applications, reports, etc.). The site can be found at http://grants.4-H.org. You will need to register to begin using the system and to review the benefits this new software provides. Click on this link for a brief instructional guide on how to register and apply for grants: http://www.colorado4h.org/Blog/docs/2009/HowtoRegAndApplyFor4hFundingOpp.pdf
Grants and award information will continue to be available on our program Web pages (http://4-h.org/programs_mission_mandates.html), but this new system will be the primary resource for all funding opportunities.
Additionally, the first grant to utilize this new system has been posted - The Wal-Mart Foundation Healthy Living Youth Grants. More programs and opportunities will be listed soon, so be sure to log in for those updates.
This new portal will make learning and applying for funding opportunities, submitting reports, and receiving information from National 4-H Council much easier.
In the meantime, if you have any questions concerning the new portal, you can email 4HGrants@fourhcouncil.edu.
Please feel free to share this information with those in your state that may be interested in applying for 4-H grants and awards. - Ellen Butler
OMK Camp Announcement!
Operation: Military Kids is offering a camping experience for girls from military families who have had a parent deployed in the past year, currently have a parent deployed or anticipate deployment of a parent in the next six months on August 2-4, 2009. Camps will be held at Girl Scout camps Tomahawk (Bailey CO) for girls ages 7 – 11 and Sky High Ranch (Woodland Park CO) for girls ages 12 –18. This 3-day resident camp experience normally costs $230/girl and both Operation: Military Kids and Girl Scouts of Colorado are underwriting most of the costs of camp so that families need only pay $85. Can’t afford $85? Please see below for scholarship options.
Great opportunities and new experiences await girls at resident camp. And when you’re spending time with other girls from military families, sharing this new experience while acknowledging the unique bonds you share as a daughter in military family, you can anticipate lifetime memories and adventures. Military Family Life Consultants will be available to any campers during the camp.
In addition to the traditional camp experiences of hiking, outdoor cooking, watchable wildlife and sleeping in rustic settings, participants will learn more about their parent’s deployment, increase their awareness and understanding of military life and share these experiences in a supportive atmosphere with girls from similar backgrounds. Girls from military families will learn independence, self-confidence and leadership skills while gaining an appreciation of nature.
Please contact Shauna Woods at shauna.woods@colostate.edu or Linda Fuller at linda.j.fuller@hotmail.com for the necessary forms. Resident camps require the following items which MUST be received by the Girl Scouts of Colorado camp registrar by July 3, 2009, in order to complete your daughter’s camp registration. We regret that the failure to submit fees and/or forms by July 3, 2009, will result in your daughter being dropped from this camp session to make room for a girl on the waiting list.
Here are the items:
• The fee balance (if any)
• Immunization Form (must be on the enclosed form or must contain all of the information on this form with a proper signature)
• Camper Information Form
• Release of Liability Form
Mail the above to:
Girl Scouts of Colorado
Attn: Registration Department
PO Box 9407
Denver, CO 80209-0407
For more information:
• Questions about camp fees or forms? Please call the Girl Scouts of Colorado camp registrar, 303-778-8774. Our Military Kids Program, different from Operation: Military Kids, can assist with the fees but you must apply to them individually at www.ourmilitarykids.org.
• Questions about the Camp sponsored by Operation: Military Kids (OMK)? Please contact Shauna Woods, OMK State Coordinator, shauna.woods@colostate.edu, 970-491-1807, or, Linda Fuller, OMK Youth Program Specialist, linda.fuller3@us.army.mil, 720-250-1188.
ADDITIONAL FORMS:
• Registration form OMK 2009
• Health form OMK 2009
• Camper letter 2009 – for either Tomahawk Ranch or Sky High Ranch
- Shauna Woods, State 4-H- Operation: Military Kids
May 15, 2009
Volume 13, Number 12
Reminders
• May 15: IFYE host applications due, State 4-H Office
• June 1: National 4-H Conference applications due, State 4-H Office
• June 1: Outstanding Volunteer Leader award applications due, State 4-H Office
• June 5: Paul Hoshiko Jr. Memorial Golf Tournament, Windsor, CO
• June 13-21: Citizenship Washington Focus, Washington, DC
• June 23-26: State 4-H Conference, CSU Campus
Host Families Needed – 4-H Japanese Exchange
Host families are needed for 65 inbound Japanese boys and girls, ages 12-21, traveling to Colorado through the 2009 inbound Colorado-Japan Teen Exchange. Hosting dates are July 23 – Aug.18.
This program is coordinated through Colorado State University and has been running since 1975.
Host families do not need to be a member of 4-H and may reside in urban, suburban, or rural settings throughout Colorado. They may share a room with their host sibling. Matches are made on the basis of same sex and close in age, as well as some common interests. Note: Host siblings may be as young as nine to match with a 12-year-old Japanese participant.
All participants are 100 percent medically covered with 4-H insurance and may participate in host family vacations, camping trips, and youth camps. They are expected to become part of the family, including attending church, helping with household chores, following house rules, and participating in other aspects of US daily life. The program covers costs for the exchange. Each participant has his/her own spending money.
Japanese participants will attend an orientation in Denver before going to host families and a debriefing in Denver before returning to Japan. Carpools are planned to transport delegates to homes if host families are not able to pick up or return their exchange student. Orientation for host families is done in Denver. In addition, there will be a host family orientation in the Montrose/Grand Junction/Delta area.
Host siblings have the option of traveling to Japan to participate in a four or seven-week exchange while staying with Japanese host families and learning Japanese culture.
Experience shows that the greatest success occurs when families treat the delegates as a member of the family, rather than a guest. For further information please contact me at 970.491.2711 or courtney.loflin@colostate.edu. — Courtney Loflin
Grand Champion Senior Clothing Award
The Grand Champion Senior Clothing Construction exhibitor will be presented with a Baby Lock Decorator’s Choice sewing machine during the Colorado State Fair 4-H Fashion Revue, Saturday, August 22, 2009, at Sangre De Cristo Arts and Conference Center, Pueblo, Colorado. The recipient must be present to accept this generous donation. Please advise senior clothing construction members that if their garment goes to State Fair and is selected as the Grand Champion Clothing Construction exhibit, they must attend the State 4-H Fashion Revue to receive their award.
The Baby Lock Decorator’s Choice is sponsored by Baby Lock Sewing Machine Company and Sprinkles Sewing Center of Pueblo. This sewing machine offers a non-stick foot, adjustable zipper/piping foot and 11 other feet, the Decorator’s Choice will give you the versatility to express your own personal style. This sewing machine is valued at $1,399. Special appreciation to Jerry and Kathy Binfet, Sprinkles Sewing Center, for their continuous support of the 4-H clothing construction projects! - Connie Cecil
Check Out the New 4-H Page on Facebook!
On March 31, with a goal to create a more prominent presence on Facebook, National 4-H Council created a 4-H page on Facebook. In four days, the 4-H page fan base increased to more than 5,500 fans. Within a couple of weeks, the membership grew to more than 30,000 4-H fans! With significantly more fans than Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, BGCA, and FFA combined; 4-H is one of the top 130 non-profits on Facebook, based on fan size.
Jess Falkenthal, Educational Technology Specialist at National 4-H Council, was able to secure a meeting with Andrew Bosworth, a Software Design Engineer at Facebook, who just happened to be a California 4-H alumni. He was also invented the News Feed feature in 2006. Through this partnership, the page was able to get a vanity URL, facebook.com/4-h, making it even easier for fans to get to the page.
Through creating discussions, idea and advice sharing, participating in contests and of course posting 4-H memories in photos or videos, 4-H fans will be able to connect with other 4-H fans. In the coming months, National 4-H Council will continue to work with Andrew and Facebook finding better ways to market 4-H on Facebook and making more features available for 4-H fans.
Click on the button below to become a fan. If a fan already, use the “Suggest to Friends” button under the big clover to show everyone how awesome 4-H is by inviting all your 4-H friends. – Ellen Butler
Rabbit School
You are all invited to attend the first, of what we hope will be many more rabbit schools in Colorado on June 20, 2009 in Loveland at the Ranch. This school is sponsored by Rocky Mountain High Shows (RMHS), our state rabbit breeders association (chartered by the American Rabbit Breeders Association or ARBA). We also have had the support of various feed vendors in this effort. Please check out the enclosed registration application and make plans to attend this event.
There is a limit to the first 150 who apply due to local fire code constraints for the facility. Responses are due back to Terrie Hersh no later than June 6. Emailed applications will be accepted with application fees collected on the day of the school. Please click on the following link for registration information: http://www.colorado4h.org/countyevents/09/larimer-rmhs-rabbit.pdf
Any questions, please feel free to contact me Marie Adams, Small Animal Coordinator, Colorado State Fair, marie.adams@ag.state.co.us, 719.404.2035 or 719.404.2027. - Ellen Butler
Toolkit Sale for 4H Partners
Toolkit Special for 4-H Partners
The Innovation Center is proud of our history with National 4-H Council. As an organization birthed as a division of 4-H we have, over the years, remained true to the ideals of leadership and citizenship in all of our work, be it with community organizations, government institutions, or individuals.
We continue to work closely with our partners in Cooperative Extension across the nation and still very much value the opportunity to provide 4-H member organizations with resources to advance their work. For over 10 years, we have provided 4-H offices across the United States our toolkits to inform and guide their work in communities and with young people. It is with this unique relationship in mind that we now offer all 4-H clubs and extension service offices a special opportunity to purchase our toolkits and resources and share them with your constituents.
All 4-H clubs and extension service offices who wish to buy at least ten of any and all of the Innovation Center’s award winning toolkits will receive a reduced bulk rate of 30% off the listed price. It is our hope to encourage local distribution of our toolkits; if you would like to add our toolkits to your catalog of for-sale materials we would be happy to work with you to receive a portion of the profits.
Our toolkits offer practical tips, activities and tools on all manners of youth and community development work - from recruiting a community leadership team to creating and executing a plan of action to evaluating your efforts. Browse our toolkits and all of our resources on our website: http://theinnovationcenter.org/catalog/toolkits/resources
We hope you’ll take advantage of this great opportunity to share these invaluable resources with your community. Please contact me with any orders or questions - we are happy to work with you to create a package of resources that best meets your community’s needs. - Lisa Maholchic (lmaholchic@theinnovationcenter.org, 301.270.1700 ext 109)
President’s Environmental Youth Awards
I wanted to make all of you aware of the annual President’s Environmental Youth Awards initiated by the White House and awarded by the Environmental Protection Agency. I attended the awards luncheon yesterday to see two 4-Hers, middle school students from California, receive one of the 10 national awards. Youth receive a Presidential plaque as well as a trip to Washington, DC to receive their awards. For more information about the awards, please visit http://www.epa.gov/enviroed/peya/index.html. The applications are due December 31. To see a description of the 4-Hers’ project, click on http://www.epa.gov/enviroed/peya/peya2008.html and then Region 9 http://www.epa.gov/enviroed/peya/peya2008.html#9. Congratulations to Clay and Chance ontheir award! - Suzanne Le Menestrel, National Program Leader, Youth Development Research Acting Director, Youth Development 4-H National Headquarters Families, 4-H, and Nutrition Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service, USDA
4-H Alumni Find Success in Music Career
Collin Stoddard (keys) and Jason Barton (lead vocals), 4-H alumni, along with Chris Lockwood (guitar) comprise INO Records’ trio 33Miles. Stoddard was active in the 4-H equine program all four years in high school in Colorado Springs, CO in El Paso County. Barton was in 4-H for six years in junior and high school. He was involved in art, music photography and was also president of the chapter for a year.
Since their debut in 2007, these well-respected newcomers celebrated one of the highest-selling freshman albums of 2007 with their Gospel Music Award Dove nomination for New Artist of the Year. Journalists have also taken notice, calling these humble guys “a talented and devoted group of performers who possess some amazing gifts for music” (InFuze Magazine).
33Miles performed over 130 concerts last year alone, continuing to build new fans across the country. They also traveled to Guatemala during the summer of 2008 to support their partnership with Food for the Hungry. In addition, they have made tremendous impact on the radio charts garnering three consecutive radio hits, two of which broke in the Top 10. 33Miles’ sophomore project One Life debuted on the Billboard Top 2007. Their first single “One Life to Love” was selected as the iTunes ® Discovery Download and Napster ® featured a playlist from the band last year. – Ellen Butler
Win Prizes! Create a 4-H SET Video!
National 4-H Council, National 4-H Headquarters, and University of Arizona 4-H Youth Development, invite all 4-H professionals, staff and volunteers to produce their own digital video for front-line educators and volunteers to better implement SET programs.
The purpose of this contest is to build a vault of films to show great 4-H facilitation in practice. These films should help others know what great learning looks like. As the saying goes–A picture is worth a thousand words. They are looking for bold, creative, and exciting videos to help educate facilitators about how to implement SET, in particular The Power of the Wind.
Video entries will be accepted between May 8 - June 19.
Here are the basics:
Who can enter? - Any 4-H educator, volunteer, staff member or specialist
Format? - 3-5 minute digital video that can be posted to the internet
Prizes? - Will be Amazon.com gift certificates and include:
2 - $1,000 prizes
2 - $500 prizes
2 - $400 prizes
What? The video must help facilitators better implement SET and be in one of these categories:
SET Content
SET Experiential Learning
SET Hands-On Learning
Science Inquiry
SET Process (Abilities)
SET Content - specific to the new The Power of the Wind curriculum (extra points!)
To learn more and submit a video, visit http://4-h.org/set/videochallenge.html.
If you have questions, contact: Pam Garza - pgarza@fourhcouncil.edu or Kirk Astroth - kastroth@cals.arizona.edu.
Start filming today and use the great new videos to help you with your filmmaking — http://projects.4-hcurriculum.org/curriculum/filmmaking/. - Ellen Butler
4-H Expands Science, Engineering, and Technology Program with $1 Million from Noyce Foundation
The Noyce Foundation has awarded the National 4-H Council nearly $1.1 million in new grant funding to expand 4-H’s Science, Engineering, and Technology (4-H SET) programming. This gift will support 4-H’s ambitious goal to engage one million new youth in science and technology fields by 2013. The Noyce Foundation has provided 4-H with more than $2.1 million in funding for SET programming since 2006.
The new donation will contribute to three critical areas - boosting 4-H SET programming in urban communities, improving science-based training for 4-H professionals, and creating a system to evaluate 4-H SET’s long-term impact.
“National 4-H Council is dedicated to building America’s next generation of great thinkers,” said Donald T. Floyd, Jr., National 4-H Council President and CEO. “This generous Noyce Foundation grant will help broaden the reach of 4-H science, engineering, and technology programming, push more innovative activities to young people, and encourage 4-H youth to pursue education and careers in science and technology.”
To deliver high-quality 4-H SET programming to more urban youth, a 4-H SET “Urban Programming Team” will work to engage new partners, build staff capacity, and identify best strategies for reaching out to new audiences. Staffing 4-H programs with enthusiastic, well-trained volunteers is also a high priority of this initiative. To augment the scientific training of new and existing 4-H volunteers and build new curriculum, the organization is partnering with rocketry, engineering, and biotechnology organizations. Finally, rounding out the grant’s overall strategy, a 4-H SET evaluation system will be developed to track the program’s positive impact at the state and county level.
“Encouraging young people to enjoy learning about science, engineering, and technology to gain greater confidence, knowledge and skills is our utmost priority,” said Ron Ottinger, Executive Director of the Noyce Foundation. “4-H, with its broad, nationwide reach, and comprehensive, professional approach has been a strong partner in setting the pace to develop solid programming for the out-of- school time field and to build a more technologically and scientifically competent future American workforce.” – Ellen Butler
4-H and Discovery Team Up for Second Year on Science Competition
National 4-H Council is pleased to announce Discovery Communications and 4-H are teaming up for the second year to bring more science, engineering and technology opportunities to millions of America’s young people.
4-H’ers have a great opportunity to participate in the Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge, the premiere middle school science competition in the nation. This competition is for students in fifth through eighth grades and is designed to encourage a passion for science, and to promote the importance of science communication. Discovery Education and 3M are, like 4-H, committed to engaging America’s youth in science, engineering and technology education.
Don’t miss this opportunity to showcase 4-H youth and your state! For full entry details and more on the Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge, please visit http://www.youngscientistchallenge.com/.
In the summer, semifinalists will be chosen from 50 states and the District of Columbia. In October, ten finalists will win an all expenses paid trip to New York, NY, to compete in a series of challenges. Head Judge Steve Jacobs, science educator, creator of “Jake’s Attic” and founder of Faraday Studios will select the winner at the final event! The top young scientist will receive $50,000 in U.S. Savings Bonds!
The deadline for entry is May 20, 2009 which is quickly approaching, but hopefully many 4-H’ers will be able to enter before the deadline. Some may be able to adapt their current science, engineering and technology projects– if they relate to one of the competition’s four topics! Please share this email with your county and local 4-H professionals and volunteers. If you have any questions, please contact Nancy Cole with National 4-H Council at ncole@fourhcouncil.edu or Discovery at YSC@Discovery.com. – Ellen Butler
May 13, 2009
Monsanto, in their on-going support of 4-H volunteer development activities, will be sponsoring on-line training for all Extension agents this fall! Everyone Ready© is an on-line volunteer management staff development product of ENERG!ZE, a national leader in volunteerism. There will be a new topic every month such as handling problem volunteers, designing work for today’s volunteers, engaging highly-skilled volunteers and more. All featured topics will remain accessible through the collection archives. Because everyone in extension programs utilizes volunteers to some degree, all extension professionals will be able to take advantage of the enrollment. Take a look at www.energize.com and explore the resources and information they have available!
May 13, 2009
The new value of volunteer time is $20.25 per hour as established by the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. Last year’s value was $19.51.
The Volunteer Research, Knowledge and Competency study found that the average 4-H leader volunteered 128 hours per year on our behalf. Use these two figures to find the value of volunteer time in your county!
May 7, 2009
We still have outstanding checks and a few remaining bills from 2009 and we’re already starting to plan for 2010! Albuquerque is the location for next year’s WRLF, and we’re hoping for a great delegation ready to enjoy the Forum and not be totally engaged in running it!
Click on the The Workshop Proposal Form, fill it out and submit it by June 1. Take this opportunity to share you’re expertise, resources and wisdom with volunteers from across the western region!
