• July 30: National 4-H Conference applications due
• August 18: State Fair exhibit check-in
• August 27 – September 6: Colorado State Fair
Help Needed to Display Exhibits at State Fair
It is that time of year again to ask for your help at state fair with 4-H project display. There is a new requirement asked of us from the State 4-H office this year. All of our volunteer help must be an enrolled 4-H leader, 4-H member or staff. This is to protect all of us with the insurance requirements.
Saturday, August 21, 2010
As in past years we will meet at 11:00 a.m. in the dining hall for introductions, registration and questions. Lunch wiill be at noon and then we can begin display.
For your generous help you will be provided with the following: lunch and dinner on Saturday and breakfast on Sunday; a bed frame with a covered mattress in Camp Tobin; hot and cold water and
credentials for entry to the fair will be provided to those who plan on returning after fair opens.
If you plan to help with display and attend State 4-H Fashion Revue that evening we need to know this so that adjustments can be made where necessary. We will also work on Sunday August 22, 2010 for those who didn’t finish or just want to help the rest of us finish. You may email or call any of the people below for questions or to confirm your help. Once you are confirmed through one of us, we will make sure you have a bed, meals and credentials if needed.
As always, if you know of someone who can help us and they meet the requirements, please have them contact us or send us their information. Thanks for all of your time and help!
- Mike, Lois and Maureen
National 4-H Conference Deadline Extended!
This is just a friendly little reminder that the application deadline for National 4-H Conference has come and gone. And, we have not received any applications! On that note, we are going to extend the deadline until July 30. Here is the link for conference information: http://www.colorado4h.org/events_opportunities/nat_conf/natconf_information.pdf. You can also get an application form in the Event and Opportunities section of our website. The 2011 dates for National 4-H Conference are April 2-7.
As you all know, we conduct interviews during state fair. If your nominee is unable to be at state fair during that time frame, we will conduct a telephone interview.
Please call me if you have any questions.- Ellen Butler
CYFAR Competency & Capacity Building Virtual Summit
Evidence-based Practices and Strategies for Working with Vulnerable Populations
September 14, 15 & 16, 2010
1:00 – 4:30 p.m. EDT each day
Join us in a Virtual Summit to build our capacity to work with vulnerable populations in today’s world. We will come together as experts and colleagues to learn more about key issues and research impacting our work, discuss effective practices and models, and identify ways to collaborate and continue the effort to advance our field and practice.
The Summit focus areas are:
- Growing Up Poor – Implications & Outcomes
- Economic Stress for Youth and Families
- Inclusive Programming – Reaching Out to the Whole Community
- Evidence-Based Strategies and Practices for Working With Vulnerable Populations
2010 National Science Day Experiment Kits Now Available!
Experiment kits for 4-H2O, the National Science Experiment, are available for pre-order online beginning on July 7th! The experiment kit has everything you’ll need to complete the first two tiers of this year’s experiment, providing enough materials for up to15 youth.
Each kit includes:
* One experiment facilitator’s guide
* Five youth workbooks
* A bottle of Bromothymol Blue solution
* Plastic cups and straws
* An eyedropper
* A roll of plastic wrap
* Antacid tablets
* Sealable plastic bags
http://4hlists.org/t/4178665/1340814/594/0/ The 4-H National Youth Science Day (NYSD) experiment kit can be purchased for $22 on the National 4-H Mall http://4hlists.org/t/4178665/1340814/993/0/. Additional printed copies of the facilitator guide and youth workbooks are also available for sale for $1 each. Kits will begin shipping on August 2, 2010.
What’s New? Ask the Expert
Need to know more about the significance of water quality? Go to the “About Water Quality” tab on the 4-H National Youth Science Day web site and you’ll find our new “Ask the Expert” section, featuring a fascinating Q&A with North Carolina A&T State University scientist Dr. Stephanie Luster-Teasley http://4hlists.org/t/4178665/1340814/986/0/.
Continue to Explore Water Quality
4-H National Youth Science Day is just one day of fun and scientific exploration. Continue the learning all year round by visiting our new “Resources” tab http://4hlists.org/t/4178665/1340814/987/0/ to:
* Learn how you can obtain algae for the extended third part of this year’s experiment,
* Find out how you can purchase the brand new 4-H curriculum “There’s No New Water” or
* Visit NYSD partner web sites that offer exciting scientific activities to explore.
What’s Coming Up Next?
Over the coming months, several new features will be added to the 4-H National Youth Science Day web site. Stay tuned for our animated How-To Video, materials you can use to plan your local NYSD event, template press materials and an exciting online learning game, created for 4-H by IBM.
Mini-grant to implement Operation Frontline’s cooking-based nutrition training for child care providers:
Eating Smart from the Start
Share Our Strength’s Operation Frontline is proud to present Eating Smart from the Start, a hands-on, cooking-based education program for child care providers serving low-income preschool children. This professional training program is specially designed to empower providers to plan, prepare, and serve healthy meals and create a healthy food environment for the kids in their care. Each of its five modules offer child care providers hands-on practice in the kitchen, interactive discussions on ways to make healthy choices about food served to kids, and strategies to promote positive attitudes about food among kids. This opportunity is ideal for organizations that are looking to initiate or expand the training they provide to child care providers.
Eating Smart from the Start is currently offered only through Operation Frontline’s existing program partners. Now, Operation Frontline is seeking to pilot the program with agencies outside of our traditional partnerships, with the goal of evaluating the feasibility of forming new relationships with agencies who would implement only this particular curriculum out of our suite of seven cooking-based curricula. Selected pilot partners will receive instructor and participant manuals, branded incentives to provide to course graduates, a $1,500 grant to cover incremental costs of the course, and an average of 8 hours of training and technical assistance. In addition, pilot partners will be able to provide fun, hands-on nutrition training for child care providers in their area, using an evidence-based curriculum launched by the nationally recognized Operation Frontline program. It is our intention that agencies will continue to implement the program following the pilot period if desired.
Please see the attached application that includes a FAQs section and instructions for applicants. Completed applications are to be submitted, through Share Our Strength’s Cybergrants no later than July 19th, 2010.
If you have any questions regarding the application, please submit them by email to Leigh Ann Edwards at laedwards@strength.org
Biosecurity at Fairs
It soon will be fair time and those of us at CSU Veterinary Extension wanted to remind those of you involved with fair about the importance of understanding proper biosecurity measures. Posted on our website ( http://veterinaryextension.colostate.edu/index.shtml )on the left hand column under Biosecurity for Farms is a manual reviewing these measures. The direct link is http://coloradodisasterhelp.colostate.edu/prefair/intro.html. Please circulate this email to the appropriate people in your office.
• July 30: National 4-H Conference applications due
• August 18: State Fair exhibit check-in
• August 27 – September 6: Colorado State Fair
2010 Leaders Forum
Please mark your calendars for Saturday, October 9, to be of this year’s Colorado State 4-H Leaders Forum. The Forum will be held at The Ranch in Loveland, CO. Below are links with detailed information. Hope to see you there!
This is just a friendly little reminder that the application deadline for National 4-H Conference has come and gone. And, we have not received any applications! On that note, we are going to extend the deadline until July 30. Here is the link for conference information: http://www.colorado4h.org/events_opportunities/nat_conf/natconf_information.pdf
You can also get an application form in the Event and Opportunities section of our website. The 2011 dates for National 4-H Conference are April 2-7. As you all know, we conduct interviews during state fair. If your nominee is unable to be at state fair during that time frame, we will conduct a telephone interview. Please contactl me (970.491.1152 or ellen.butler@colostate.edu) if you have any questions. – Ellen Butler
2010 National Science Day Experiment Kits Now Available!
Experiment kits for 4-H2O, the National Science Experiment, are available for pre-order online beginning on July 7th! The experiment kit has everything you’ll need to complete the first two tiers of this year’s experiment, providing enough materials for up to15 youth.
Each kit includes:
* One experiment facilitator’s guide
* Five youth workbooks
* A bottle of Bromothymol Blue solution
* Plastic cups and straws
* An eyedropper
* A roll of plastic wrap
* Antacid tablets
* Sealable plastic bags
http://4hlists.org/t/4178665/1340814/594/0/ The 4-H National Youth Science Day (NYSD) experiment kit can be purchased for $22 on the National 4-H Mall http://4hlists.org/t/4178665/1340814/993/0/. Additional printed copies of the facilitator guide and youth workbooks are also available for sale for $1 each. Kits will begin shipping on August 2, 2010.
What’s New? Ask the Expert
Need to know more about the significance of water quality? Go to the “About Water Quality” tab on the 4-H National Youth Science Day web site and you’ll find our new “Ask the Expert” section, featuring a fascinating Q&A with North Carolina A&T State University scientist Dr. Stephanie Luster-Teasley http://4hlists.org/t/4178665/1340814/986/0/.
Continue to Explore Water Quality
4-H National Youth Science Day is just one day of fun and scientific exploration. Continue the learning all year round by visiting our new “Resources” tab http://4hlists.org/t/4178665/1340814/987/0/ to:
* Learn how you can obtain algae for the extended third part of this year’s experiment,
* Find out how you can purchase the brand new 4-H curriculum “There’s No New Water” or
* Visit NYSD partner web sites that offer exciting scientific activities to explore.
What’s Coming Up Next?
Over the coming months, several new features will be added to the 4-H National Youth Science Day web site. Stay tuned for our animated How-To Video, materials you can use to plan your local NYSD event, template press materials and an exciting online learning game, created for 4-H by IBM.
Colorado State University and Dr. Tony Frank invite you to join in the grand opening of the Sterling Regional Engagement Center.
Monday, July 26, 2010
302 Main Street, Sterling, CO 80751 (Northwest corner of the 300 block of Main and Third St.)
Open house from 4:00 – 6:00 pm
Remarks by Dr. Tony Frank and Dr. Lou Swanson at 4:30 pm
The Regional Engagement Center is a partnership with Northeastern Junior College (NJC) and Morgan Community College (MCC) to bring a regional focus on the broader talent that CSU can bring to the region. The center will serve Kit Carson, Logan, Morgan, Phillips, Sedgwick, Washington and Yuma counties.
The center will also serve as a meeting site for state and federal partner agencies, with access to computers, the Internet and state of the art conferencing.
We invite you to come and meet Christy Fitzpatrick, Regional Extension Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Specialist and Dr. Casey Matney, Regional Range and Natural Resources Specialist who will be working in the engagement center.
Please bring your friends and enjoy your new Regional Engagement Center! – Ellen Butler
2010 4-H Shooting Sports State Contest Registration Materials now available!
Attention: Those with 4-H Sports Responsibilities –
I would like to let you know that the registration materials and on-line entry database for the 2010 Colorado 4-H Shooting Sports Program State Contest is now available! The entries will close on 8/2/2010. Please look over all the registration materials before you start making on-line entries. There are several important items that you need to be aware of prior to making entries.
Links to the registration materials are available from the following:
1. Main 4-H Shooting Sports Web Site: http://www.co4hshooting.org/
If you have questions on the contest and its related rules and procedures, please contact the Shoot Superintendent, Jeramy McNeely jeramy.mcneely@colostate.edu (719) 767-5716. If you have questions on the on-line entry database contact Darrin Goodman darrin.goodman@colostate.edu (970) 491-2734. Thank you for your time in this matter. – Perry Brewer
Biosecurity at the Fairs
It soon will be fair time and those of us at CSU Veterinary Extension wanted to remind those of you involved with fair about the importance of understanding proper biosecurity measures. Posted on our website (http://veterinaryextension.colostate.edu/index.shtml )on the left hand column under Biosecurity for Farms is a manual reviewing these measures. The direct link is http://coloradodisasterhelp.colostate.edu/prefair/intro.html
Please circulate this email to the appropriate people in your office.
Good luck and have fun at the fairs. – Ragan Adams, MS, DVM, Department of Clinical Science, Coordinator, Veterinary Extension Colorado State University radams@colostate.edu
Mini-grant to Implement Operation Frontline’s Cooking-based Nutrition Training for Child Care Providers
These applications are due by July 19th and will fund up to $1500, will provide the Eating Smart from the Start program materials and training, etc. in return for providing two 10 hour trainings for at least 45 child care providers by next April. Click on this link for further details: http://www.colorado4h.org/Blog/docs/2010/EatingSmart.pdf
Eating Smart from the Start
Share Our Strength’s Operation Frontline is proud to present Eating Smart from the Start, a hands-on, cooking-based education program for child care providers serving low-income preschool children. This professional training program is specially designed to empower providers to plan, prepare, and serve healthy meals and create a healthy food environment for the kids in their care. Each of its five modules offer child care providers hands-on practice in the kitchen, interactive discussions on ways to make healthy choices about food served to kids, and strategies to promote positive attitudes about food among kids. This opportunity is ideal for organizations that are looking to initiate or expand the training they provide to child care providers.
Eating Smart from the Start is currently offered only through Operation Frontline’s existing program partners. Now, Operation Frontline is seeking to pilot the program with agencies outside of our traditional partnerships, with the goal of evaluating the feasibility of forming new relationships with agencies who would implement only this particular curriculum out of our suite of seven cooking-based curricula. Selected pilot partners will receive instructor and participant manuals, branded incentives to provide to course graduates, a $1,500 grant to cover incremental costs of the course, and an average of 8 hours of training and technical assistance. In addition, pilot partners will be able to provide fun, hands-on nutrition training for child care providers in their area, using an evidence-based curriculum launched by the nationally recognized Operation Frontline program. It is our intention that agencies will continue to implement the program following the pilot period if desired.
Please see the attached application that includes a FAQs section and instructions for applicants. Completed applications are to be submitted, through Share Our Strength’s Cybergrants no later than July 19th, 2010. If you have any questions regarding the application, please submit them by email to Leigh Ann Edwards at laedwards@strength.org. – Shauna Woods
• July 8: National 4-H Congress application deadline extended
• July 15: State Fair Teen Clerk application deadline extended
2010 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, 2010. Counties are to select their own delegates, as there is no further screening at the state level. A $75 non-refundable deposit is required, per person, when submitting your delegate submissions to the state office. For more information go to http://www.colorado4h.org/events_opportunities/nat_congress/
Applicants should check with school and/or employers prior to submitting their applications. The dates for this year’s trip are Nov. 26 – Nov. 30, in Atlanta, GA. We make no guarantees that late cancellation will be accepted without financial penalty. Please call our office should you have any questions. – Ellen Butler
Colorado State Fair Teen Clerks
Requests for State Fair teen clerk applications have been slowly trickling into the State Office. Given that, we have extended the deadline application to July 15. Thanks very much for your recruiting efforts on our behalf.
On Wednesday evening, July 7, Garfield County will have a Rater’s Training introduction from 7-9pm; this is for adults who wish to become certified/re-certified to rate Levels 2-4 (reminder, raters must go through the Shadow process to rate 3 & 4). The second part of this Rater’s Training will take place on Thursday, from 9am until approximately 5pm, as we test and review the process with 4-H youth. (Note: for those who need to Shadow, we already have youth signed up to test for Level 3 in three disciplines, so this would be a good opportunity). The cost for this training for adults is $25. Please feel free to contact our office with questions about the venue, directions, etc.; please contact Dessa Watson at 970.878.9490 to sign up. Adults who need to Shadow, who also would like to confirm what disciplines/levels will be tested on Thursday, are welcome to call 970.625.3969 with their inquiries.
YOUTH wishing to take a riding test: Pre-enrollment is REQUIRED. To sign up for a youth riding test, contact JEN at the Garfield County Extension Office 970.625.3969. Jen is the person handling sign-ups for youth Levels tests for July 7 and 8 at the Garfield County Fairgrounds. All riders must be signed up through her for testing, thank you!
Priority will be given to 3 and 4 and particularly those who plan to go to State Fair. Youth must have passed their written test; we will need confirmation of this from your county before the event. There will be no written tests administered on the July 7 or 8. Youth will be charged a testing fee of $15. You are most welcome to contact me with any questions, 970.625.3969 or coopext_garfield@mail.colostate.edu. – Ellen Butler
2010-2011 4-H Afterschool Mini-grants: Creating After-School Slots for Youth
In 2010-2011 National 4-H Council is providing a minimum of 550 mini-grants totaling $250,000 funded by the JCPenney Afterschool Fund to county-based 4 H programs to increase access for youth currently not in after-school programs, or on the verge of leaving after-school programs due to a lack of funds. These 550 slots are for young people in kindergarten through 12th grade (ages five to eighteen).
FUNDING INFORMATION
• 550 mini-grants totaling $250,000 are available – the amount per slot will average $450
• A 100% cash match is required
• Grant checks will only be issued to 4-H Extension entities (Land-Grant Universities, 4-H Foundations, 4-H Councils, Extension Development Committees, etc.)
• Grants that are approved for funding will be distributed in the following manner:
- 75% of the total approved amount will be sent within 14 days of receipt of a properly executed Grant Acceptance Agreement (see attached sample)
- 25% of the total approved amount will be sent upon submission and acceptance of the Interim Report due December 3, 2010
AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS must:
• Operate daily: Monday through Friday during the school year approximately August 18, 2010 – June 30, 2011 (funds cannot be used to support youth in summer programs)
• Operate within twenty (20) miles of a JCPenney Store or unit (such as a Catalog Center)
• Provide 100% cash match for the cost of each slot created or sustained
• Be a 4-H/Extension after-school program or a partner with 4-H
• Refill slots if initial recipient leaves the program (refilling slots should be tracked and submitted with interim and final reports)
• Recognize JCPenney Afterschool Fund as the funder of these grants; donor logos can be found on the 4-H BrandNetwork at http://4-h.org/d/Pages/Layouts/brandnetwork.html
• Use 4-H name and Clover emblem on all program-related promotional items
• Recognize the JCPenney Afterschool Fund on a social networking site like Facebook and/or on their local county website and other appropriate locations
MINI-GRANT RECIPIENTS WILL USE THE FOLLOWING SCHEDULE:
- Application Deadline: July 16, 2010 (6:00 pm ET). Questions will be accepted up until 4:00pm
- Grant Project Implemented: During the 2010-2011 school year. Approximately August 18, 2010 through June 30, 2011.
- Interim Report due to National 4-H Council: December 3, 2010
- Final Report due to National 4-H Council: June 3, 2011
AWARD SELECTION
A 50 point scale will be used to select the winners.
• All proposals MUST be submitted via National 4-H Council’s online portal at http://grants.4-H.org by Friday, July 16, 2010 by 6:00pm Eastern time.
• Tips on writing a successful proposal can be viewed at: http://4-h.org/grants/applyforgrants.html
• Winners will be notified via e-mail
- Willa Williams
Announcing ATV Safety Video Contest – $10,000 in Awards
The ATV Safety Institute (ASI) is sponsoring a “Do the Ride Thing” video contest from June 18 to September 6, 2010. Youth ages 6-18 may enter for a chance to win up to $2,500 of the $10,000 in total prize money. The winning 30- and 60-second videos will be used as public service announcements (PSAs) by the ATV Safety Institute.
To enter, youth create a 30- or 60-second video/PSA including one or more of the Golden Rules of ATV Safety, upload it to the official ASI YouTube page, and complete an official entry form found on the ASI website. A maximum of two video entries per person or team is allowed. Visit http://www.atvsafety.org/ATV_PSA_Contest/index.html for official video content requirements, contest rules, and entry forms.
Three winners will be chosen in each age category: age 6-10, age 11-14, and age15-18. First place winners will earn $1,100, second place receives $800, and third place receives $600. All age categories are also eligible to win the $2,500 Grand Prize.
There are nearly ten million ATVs in use across the United States, being operated by more than 35 million Americans. Many ATV owners share their ATVs and equipment, so it is essential that riders and non-riders alike understand the importance of safe and responsible use of ATVs.
Parental supervision is a key element to a child’s safety and children under the age of 16 must be supervised at all times when operating an ATV. Nearly 90 percent of youth ATV-related injury incidents occur when a youth is operating an ATV manufactured and intended for use by an adult. Parents hold the key to their children’s safety.
To learn the eight Golden Rules of ATV safety and enter the Do the Ride Thing video contest, visit the ATV Safety Institute website at www.ATVSafety.org. – Willa L. Williams
4-H Involvement in United We Serve
United We Serve: Let’s Read. Let’s Move. 4-H Involvement
Summer is a time for fun – but it is also the time when many youth lose what they learned during the school year and pick up unhealthy eating habits. The United We Serve Let’s Read. Let’s Move. initiative was just launched to help solve these challenges – watch this video of First Lady Michelle Obama launching Let’s Read. Let’s Move. at a service event with members of Congress. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZRwVqY5gnc
America’s youth are our nation’s greatest assets, and ensuring that they are on the path to success will require the work of all of us. United We Serve’s Let’s Read. Let’s Move. initiative needs your help. This is why 4-H is joining in the effort with United We Serve to fight childhood obesity and summer learning loss. Recognized as a leader in positive youth development and community building, 4-H is being asked to participate in this summer’s United We Serve activities.
4-H National Headquarters asks two things of 4-H programs. First, post related success stories at serve.gov/share. These stories will serve as a catalyst for other groups to get involved. Second, we ask that you promote some simple strategies to engage in this initiative through your communications channels.
These strategies will be distributed to mission mandate contacts in your state. Examples include:
• Identify local community gardens
o Volunteer to deliver produce
o Help at a farmer’s market
o Help to maintain the gardens
o Assist in harvest
• Gleaning of Produce
o Find a local organization that can use produce to serve those in need
o Set up a process to get leftover produce to the organization from fairs, farmers markets, festivals, etc
o Contact local produce farmers about gleaning their fields at the end of harvest
• Take the The President’s Active Lifestyle Challenge.
o Distribute The President’s Challenge to 4-H campers
o Encourage children and parents to download and complete the challenge
Partnering 4-H Science Efforts and the President’s “United We Serve” Initiative
This summer, by participating in activities like community gardening, 4-H’ers can engage youth in the President’s United We Serve initiative- helping meet our national need for volunteers during tough economic times- while simultaneously fulfilling a top 4-H priority by cultivating young people’s appreciation for the sciences through hands-on activities.
Now is the perfect time to combine current 4-H efforts with the First Lady’s summer initiative called “Lets Read. Lets Move.” One of the 3 priorities identified by the First Lady for this summer initiative is providing access to healthy, affordable foods for youth. Volunteering in community gardens is not only a great opportunity to spark students’ interests in science ( a vital aspect to helping fulfill the 4-H campaign for “One Million New Scientists, One Million New Ideas”), but it also is a great way to positively contribute to your community.
1) Is Collaborative (between volunteers, neighbors, or organizations. Local partnerships can carry out the People’s Garden mission).
2) Benefits the Community (it can create public leisure or recreation space, provide grown produce to a local food bank, be a wildlife friendly landscape, etc.).
3) Incorporates Sustainable Practices (like composting, capturing rainwater in rain barrels, etc.) .
• Lastly, be sure to report your stories to Serve.gov to let people across the country know about the important work 4-H’ers are doing this summer and to inspire and educate others who are also positively impacting their communities!
Partnering 4-H Citizenship Efforts with the President’s “United We Serve” Initiative
People involved in 4-H programs have long known about the personal and collective benefits of directly involving youth in programs to improve their communities. This summer presents a great opportunity for 4-H’ers to partner their volunteer and civic efforts with a national initiative called “United We Serve” which seeks to increase service activities across the country. One activity that fits well with the 4-H program is gleaning.
What is “gleaning”?
Gleaning is the process of going to places like nearby farms, farmers markets, or county and state fairs and collecting good food that would otherwise go to waste to instead be donated to a soup kitchen where it will be prepared and served to those in need. This simple act can help simultaneously address two important problems: while our nation produces enough food for all individuals, over 100 billion pounds of food are wasted in our country annually and nearly 50 million people in America were at risk of going hungry last year.
How can I get involved?
- Visit the website of the Society of St. Andrew’s – one of the most prominent national gleaning organizations- to learn about local volunteer opportunities and the impact of gleaning. http://www.endhunger.org/
- Find a food bank near you which accepts fresh food donations from gardens and farms: http://www.ampleharvest.org/
- Visit http://www.serve.gov/healthyfoods.asp for more information on the summer “Let’s Read. Let’s Move” national initiative and for a forthcoming toolkit on gleaning.
- Lastly, be sure to report your stories to Serve.gov to let people across the country know about the important work 4-H’ers are doing this summer and to inspire and educate others who are also positively impacting their communities! – Ellen Butler
Healthy Living: Participating in the President’s Physical Fitness Challenge
What is the President’s Active Lifestyle Challenge? The President’s Active Lifestyle Challenge is a “challenge for both children and adults to build healthy habits by committing to regular physical activity five days a week, for six weeks.” The Active Lifestyle program is ideal for 6-17 year-old children and adolescents striving to participate in 60 minutes of physical activity a day. The Challenge offers four categories of awards for individuals based on amount of points earned by taking part in physical activities.
What are the steps involved in the Active Lifestyle program? The Active Lifestyle Challenge is easy and fun. It consists of only four simple steps and can be tailored to activities that suit the group or individual’s needs.
• Step One: Choose an activity
• Step Two: Get active
• Step Three: Track your activity
• Step Four: Order your award!
What kind of activities count towards the Active Lifestyle Challenge? When taking part in the Active Lifestyle Challenge, you’ll be surprised how much fun it actually is. Supported by the program are traditional activities such as cycling, aerobics, and organized sports, but also include innovative activities like sledding, fishing, and dancing. For more ideas, there is a list on the website of almost 100 different activities in which you and others can participate. For more ideas on activities, visit the website of Up2Us, a national coalition of Sports-Based Youth Development organizations, at http://www.up2us.org/ or call 212.563.3031. – Ellen Butler
• June 18-20: 4-H Shooting Sports Family Campout, Victor, CO
• June 22-25: State 4-H Conference, CSU Campus
• June 26-July 2: Citizenship Washington Focus, National 4-H Center
Colorado State Fair Teen Clerks
Requests for State Fair teen clerk applications have been slowly trickling into the State Office. May this email serve as a gentle reminder that the teen clerk application deadline is July 1. Thanks very much for your recruiting efforts on our behalf.
There will be a Robotics Showcase Exhibition at this year’s Colorado State Fair on Sunday, August 29, 2010 from 1:00pm to 3:00pm. Robots will be required to perform a task. This year it is only an exhibition, not a contest.
Click on this link http://www.ext.colostate.edu/4_h/robotics.docx for a copy of the judging sheet that will be used for the exhibition and next year for the contest. The STEM specialists will use this judging sheet to provide feedback to participating youth. In Robotics showcase there are seven areas to look at: Technical Merit, Aesthetics, Task Utility, Entertainment Value, Presentation, Originality and Difficulty for Age of Participant. Please let your 4-H members know about this opportunity. I will provide lodging at Camp Tobin at State Fair for all those 4-H members and families that are participating. I will also provide lunch on Sunday for the participants. Please let me know the names of the 4-H members in your county who are going to participant in this event by July 30, 2010.
- Connie Cecil
School Gardening Best Practice Publication
This publication was developed by the Louisiana State University AgCenter 4-H Youth Development Program as part of a grant requirement from the Louisiana Learn and Serve Grant. Because of your contributions this publication has a wealth of valuable school gardening advice and information that will be useful to all who read it. http://www.ext.colostate.edu/4_h/school-garden.pdf
In the next few months, the School Gardening Best Practices will be submitted to the America’s Learn and Serve National Service-Learning Clearinghouse website at: http://www.servicelearning.org/ to be shared with a wide audience of educators, non-profits and gardeners. – Ellen Butler
2011 Western Regional Leaders Forum
The 2011 WRLF promotional DVD is now available for viewing through our website. Because it is created in HD It does take a few minutes to load, but it’s well worth the wait. It can be found at: http://4h.wsu.edu/conferences/2011wrlf/2011WRLF.avi
View and enjoy! AHOY! – Pat BoyEs, Washington State 4-H Program Leader
4HOnline Training at State 4-H Conference
I will be conducting a 4HOnline Training for Agents/Coordinators next week at Conference. We will be going over the Group Enrollment process for ES237. If you have any Group Youth, Group Volunteer or Leader Information to enter please bring them along as this will be a hands on training and an opportunity for you to get a jump start on the data entry process.
Details as follows:
Workshop Date: Wednesday, June 23
When: 1:00 – 2:30 pm
Where: Computer lab in the Morgan Library, Classroom 2.
Thanks and hope to see you then! – Joy Bauder, Database Systems Coordinator
2010 Colorado Operation Military Kids Camps
Please share with any military families. If you have 4-H youth who want to come and help us volunteer, please let me know! Thank you for your support of Operation: Military Kids! These camps are a lot of fun. Click on this link for a copy of the registration form: http://www.ext.colostate.edu/4_h/camp-reg.doc. Upon receipt of your refundable $25 check you will receive an email confirmation with additional information on the camp of your choice.
All Camps are FREE for Military Families with:
• A parent deployed in the last year, parent is currently deployed or about to deploy
• Parent(s) must accompany their children
• Selection is on a first-come, first served basis with a $25 refundable deposit and application received by Operation: Military Kids. Contact us at shauna.woods@colostate.edu 970.491.1807, or linda.fuller3@us.army.mil 720.250.1188.
Denver Zoo, Denver CO – “Bunk with the Beasts” Family Overnight Camp
• June 18-19 OR July 9-10, 2010
• School age youth must be accompanied by a parent
• 6:00 pm-10:00 am the following day
• Ages 6-18
Families participating will:
• have full access to zoo exhibits
• participate in special animal and behind-the-scenes zoo encounters
• have dinner, snack and breakfast provided
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, CO Springs – “A Wild Night” Family Overnight Camp
• July 16-17 OR July 31 –August 1, 2010
• 6:00 pm-8:00 am the following day
• School age youth must be accompanied by a parent
• School Age children, Kindergarten- 12th Grade
Families participating will:
• have full access to zoo exhibits
• participate in special animal and behind-the-scenes zoo encounters
• have dinner, a snack and breakfast provided
Denver Museum of Nature & Science, Denver CO – “Under a Middle Eastern Sky”
• August 13-14 OR September 17-18, 2010
• 6:00 pm-10:00 am the following day
• School Age children, Kindergarten- 12th Grade
• School age youth must be accompanied by a parent
Families participating will:
• engage in interactive workshops and learn more about ancient Middle Eastern culture of Iraq and Afghanistan
• view a comparison of the Middle Eastern and Colorado skies at the planetarium
• attend the IMAX theater
• have full access to museum exhibits with a visit to the Denver Zoo
• have a snack and breakfast provided
Mock Deployment, Buckley AFB, Aurora CO
Fall 2010 tbd
Using the program created by 4-H Youth Development, University of Alaska Fairbanks and held at a local military installation, this is a special opportunity for Guard or Reserve military youth in Colorado who may not feel attached to the military as well as Active Duty military youth affected by deployment. Military youth will receive orders, debriefings, go through health and wellness checks, learn about military culture, explore military equipment, eat MRE’s and develop a better understanding of their military parent’s deployment experience.
- Shauna Woods, Program Coordinator and Military Liaison, CSU
With the arrival of Windows 7, more and more users will of course be using Internet Explorer version 8 (IE8). As usual, there are issues with the new version of IE.
One issue that has become evident is related to encrypted websites. All of our online registration systems are encrypted; you may notice that you access them via https:// rather than via http://. The ‘s’ represents that you are using a secure and encrypted connection to the server. Ordinarily, when on the 4-H website, when you click on a link to enter one of the event registration systems, you are taken to a login page. If you are using Firefox, Opera, Safari, or one of the other modern standards-compliant web browsers, you would be taken directly to the login page and everything would be fine. With IE8, when you click on a link that points to an https:// web address (as with our registration systems), you will be asked whether or not you want to view external content that exists outside of the web page. This is a security feature of IE8 and has been implemented for your protection, but for the average computer user, this is probably more of a nuisance than anything.
The visual appearance of our web pages are all defined using what are called Cascading Style Sheets (CSS); these are a handful of pages that are connected to all pages on our website. The idea is that when you want to make a change to the layout or appearance of your website, you can make changes to your CSS files and the changes will take place across your whole website; this technology makes life much easier for web developers.
“Do you want to view only the web page content that was delivered securely?”
IE8 is essentially asking if you want for the web page to load the CSS content. The “Yes” button is highlighted by default, so if you just hit your Enter key on your keyboard, you’ll be specifying that you do not wish to view content that is not directly part of the page that you wish to access. If you select Yes, you will see the text content of the page minus any of the visual formatting:
If you select “No”, then you will be allowing the defining content from our CSS pages to be loaded into the page, and you will see that the page visually looks as it should:
Other IE Related Issues
Every version of IE is a bit different in how it renders web pages, and it seems that web developers are always having to come up with various “hacks” and fixes in their code so that things will display properly in various versions of IE. Many of the other web browsers that are freely available are designed to be W3C standards compliant, and although IE seems to become a bit more compliant with each version, there always seems to be issues that we developers have to work around. As of the time this article was written, Colorado State University officially supports the following web browsers: IE7, Firefox3, Safari, Mozilla. The University Extension Technology Unit supports IE7 and Firefox3; however, in general, we try to point people towards using Firefox for their daily web browsing. Because Firefox does not utilize Active-X controls (unlike IE), there are often times less virus issues when Firefox is used. You can download Firefox for free at their website: http://www.firefox.com
Disclaimer: the content of this article are not necessarily the opinion of Colorado State University or of University Extension, but are the sole opinion of the article’s author.
• June 18-20: 4-H Shooting Sports Family Campout, Victor, CO
• June 22-25: State 4-H Conference, CSU Campus
• June 26-July 2: Citizenship Washington Focus, National 4-H Center
NRA Grant Applications
To everyone with 4H shooting sports responsibilities:
We just received the information below from the NRA Foundation. Please be sure that this information gets out to those who need it.
In August of 2009 the NRA Foundation Grant application submission became an online-only process. This application is available for access on the NRA Foundation website (www.nrafoundation.org) and must be submitted electronically via the internet.
We are currently making improvements to the online grant application. Applications will be closed and the application form unavailable between June 1st and July 1, 2010.
Please return to the NRA Foundation website on July 1, 2010 to begin your application submission process. Previously saved applications must be redone in the new format to insure accurate submission of your proposal.
You will notice a new process in budget preparation – please follow directions closely to properly prepare your budget. We apologize for any inconvenience. Please contact the NRA with any additional questions at 1.800.554.9498. – Jim Hamilton, Shooting Sports Coordinator
2010 National Science Experiment
Announcing the 2010 National Science Experiment: 4-H2O
Join us on October 6 for the third annual 4-H National Youth Science Day, where youth across the nation examine one of the most important issues facing our nation today—water quality. These young scientists will discover and explore the powerful effects of carbon dioxide on our natural water sources in 4-H2O, the 2010 National Science Experiment.
Developed in conjunction with North Carolina Cooperative Extension and North Carolina A&T State University, the experiment is designed to spark an early youth interest in science—all part of 4-H’s bold goal to engage a million new young people in science, engineering, technology and applied math programs by 2013.
Resources Are Now Available Online
You can find everything you need to participate in 4-H National Youth Science Day online at www.4-H.org/NYSD. The site provides all the tools you will need to begin a comprehensive scientific exploration and plan an exciting science event in your community.
Current Online materials include:
• an experiment facilitator’s guide
• the youth experiment workbook
• an experiment overview
Coming Soon:
• event planning kits
• promotional materials, including flyers, web banners and more
• the 2010 4-H National Youth Science Day kit for purchase on the 4-H Mall
• an interactive game that demonstrates the importance of water quality
New features, information and promotions will be added in the months and weeks leading up to October 6—so make sure to register online to receive the latest event updates.
We look forward to you joining us for the 2010 4-H National Youth Science Day! – Willa Williams, STEM Specialist
USA Science Festival Kavli Video Contest
National 4-H Council is partnering with the USA Science & Engineering Festival,
a national celebration of innovation in science held in Washington D.C. on October 23rd and 24th . The event is the country’s first national science festival and promises to be the ultimate multi-cultural, multi-generational and multi-disciplinary celebration of the sciences in the United States. The culmination of the Festival is a two-day Expo that will provide more than 500 science & engineering organizations from all over the United States the opportunity to present hands-on, fun science activities to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers.
Through this partnership, National 4-H Council has been alerted to a great opportunity for 4-H’ers to showcase the innovative 4-H Science work taking place across the nation. The Kavli Science Video Contest is looking for young people around the country to create and submit videos that answer the question “Why is science cool?”
Winning submissions will be creative, surprising, and “contagious” in terms of spreading youth enthusiasm about science to others. Videos might explore a specific scientific concept, demonstrate the wonders of nature, provide a glimpse into the future, show what scientific discovery has done for us in the past or simply explain why you think science is cool.
We are encouraging the entire 4-H system especially those that participated in the Films on video- SET in Urban Communities Kickoff and The Filmmaking Work Group to submit videos.
* Who Can Enter – Individual students or groups from K-12 schools, home school networks, after-school programs, science clubs or any other organization the student is representing for the purpose of the Kavli Science Video Contest. All prize monies must go to an educational institution rather than an individual student.
* Types of Videos Eligible – Videos should explain Why Science is Cool and may explore a scientific concept, provide a glimpse into the future or show us what scientific discovery has done for us in the past, or whatever else the inspires the entrant. USA Science & Engineering Festival videos must be 30-90 seconds in length, educational and suitable for general public screening.
* Selection of Winners – Winning videos will be chosen by a distinguished panel of judges that includes Brian Schwartz, founder of Science & the Arts at the City University of New York Graduate Center and Sheri Potter, a founder of the Coalition on Public Understanding of Science (COPUS).
* Deadlines and Prizes – The contest is open now and all entries must be submitted before midnight on July 15, 2010. First prize is $1,000 plus a $500 electronics gift certificate or HD Camcorder (valued up to $500) and a travel stipend to travel to Washington DC for the Expo. Second prize is $500, plus a $250 electronics gift certificate, third prize is $250, plus a $125 electronics gift certificate.The People’s Choice Award prize is $250.
ATTENTION: Those with 4-H Shooting Sports Program responsibilities –
The time for the 2010 (23rd Annual) Colorado 4-H Shooting Sports Family Campout is just around the corner! The camp will be held on June 18-20, 2010 at the Grainger Ranch near Victor, Colorado. Please pass this message along to any 4-H Shooters, Leaders or Families that might be interested. The direct link to the Campout Registration Materials is: http://www.co4hshooting.org/family_campout.html . The deadline for Registration is June 5 so get your forms in ASAP! Send your Registrations (and if you have questions about the camp) to Rick Romanin (rlromanin@netzero.net) or call 303.761.5651.
Please hurry to secure a spot for you and your family! This is always a fun event for everyone and very affordable for all the activities available!
4-H Million Trees Project Invitation to 4-H Afterschool
Below is information on the 4-H Million Trees Project. Wouldn’t this be neat to tie in to a GPS/GIS project?
The 4-H Million Trees Project (4HMT) invites all 4-H Afterschool programs to become project participants. Please forward this message to all 4-H Afterschool Leaders and Managers in your state. The attached Flyer explains 4HMT and contains a link to the project website at www.4hmilliontrees.org.
Since the first trees were planted in Spring, 2008, over 30,000 4-H youth in 44 states and provinces have planted over 250,000 trees Our goal is to involve all 6 million 4-H youth so they can become personally involved in the climate crisis. – Willa Williams, 4-H STEM Specialist
Upcoming Science Opportunities
Below are some opportunities that may be of interest to 4-H Science participants. These are not 4-H sponsored activities. This is provided for information purposes and does not constitute an endorsement of organizations, programs, products or services by 4-H, NIFA or USDA.
• May 15: IFYE host applications due, State 4-H Office
• June 4: 4-H Golf Tournament, Pelican Lakes Golf & Country Club, Windsor
• June 22-25: State 4-H Conference, CSU Campus, Fort Collins
• June 26 – July 2: Citizenship Washington Focus, Washington, DC
You will notice a new scholarship from Murdochs Ranch and Home Supply for $1,000 was added this year. Murdoch’s believe strongly in college scholarships and asked us to establish one using funds from their annual donation to the 4-H program. Every 4-H member who submitted an application from a county where a Murdochs Store is located or lives in an adjacent county were considered for the scholarship. This will be an ongoing scholarship which will be listed in next year’s application materials.
This year’s applicant pool was the largest (54) and most qualified in the Foundation’s history. Congratulations to the winners and thank you to all of the members who applied.- Gary Small
2010 National 4-H WHEP Invitational
Below are links for the announcement letter and draft agenda for the 2010 National 4-H Wildlife Habitat Evaluation Program Invitational. This year’s event will be in Los Alamos, New Mexico July 25-29. Please forward this information on to the appropriate contact person or persons in your state that are involved in WHEP. For more information please visit http://www.whep.org/
As I was driving home last night I was reminded by all the lightning flashing around me that this is the season for thunderstorms and now is the time to get out and take some pictures for the Lightning Photography contest that we are again offering this year. Remember, these photos have the potential to be part of our traveling exhibit and the 2011 exhibit at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. All of the information you’ll need is on our website. Here’s the link: http://colorado4h.org/project_resources/erecords/activities/lightning/index.shtml#overview
Counties must submit their lightning photos at state fair check-in on Wednesday, August 18, 2010. – Ellen Butler
Camp Rocky
Outdoor Environmental Adventure for Youth
Register by June 25, 2010; Program runs July 4 – 10, 2010
Camp Rocky is an outdoor educational opportunity for youth ages 14 through 19 who are looking for an outdoors adventure. Camp Rocky, sponsored by the Colorado Association of Conservation Districts (CACD), U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, Colorado State Forest Service, Natural Resources Conservation Service and other partners, will be held July 4-10, 2010 in a mountain setting above Colorado Springs near Divide at the foot of Pikes Peak. The camp provides a great opportunity for teens who enjoy the outdoors and are interested in learning more about Colorado’s natural resources. The program is entering its 48th year! Click on these links for further information: http://www.colorado4h.org/blog/docs/2010/2010-CampRockyFlyer.doc http://www.colorado4h.org/blog/docs/2010/2010-CampRockyBrochure.pdf http://www.colorado4h.org/blog/docs/2010/2010-CampRockyProgramPressRelease.pdf
- Ellen Butler
Colorado Youth Advisory Council
The Colorado Youth Advisory Council (COYAC) is taking applications for membership on next year’s Council. COYAC was created in 2008 by the Colorado General Assembly to advise the legislature on policy issues from a youth perspective. The Council is made up of 40 members-one from each state senate district (35) and five (5) at-large members to help maintain geographic and cultural diversity. It offers an extraordinary opportunity for youth to not only learn about the policy-making process from the inside, but to carry forward the perspectives of their peers from around the state to influence and improve policy in Colorado. While previous leadership experience is of value, COYAC strives to be a diverse group that includes both traditional and non-traditional leaders. Most importantly, it needs to be a body that is credible in the eyes of youth from all walks of life and backgrounds.
We hope you will help us increase COYAC’s ability to represent the youth of the state, and to improve the policies developed by the legislature, by passing this information on to youth who would be interested and able to serve on the Council. The time commitment is manageable-only 4 in-person meetings per year, but we really need youth who are willing to stay engaged in between meetings by phone, texts, email, and the web. If you or someone you know would make a good representative, the application is available online at www.coyac.org. The deadline is this Friday, May 21, but in the case of seats not filled by that time, we will extend the deadline as needed to fill the Council.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Bill Fulton at 720-331-4210 (cell) or by email at bill@civiccanopy.org
- Ellen Butler
• May 15: IFYE host applications due, State 4-H Office
• June 4: 4-H Golf Tournament, Pelican Lakes Golf & Country Club, Windsor
• June 22-25: State 4-H Conference, CSU Campus, Fort Collins
• June 26 – July 2: Citizenship Washington Focus, Washington, DC
100 Years/100 Stories!
Share your 4-H Experience: With the 100 year celebration of 4-H in Colorado, we are launching “100 Years/100 Stories” — this compilation of the 4-H experience in Colorado will be shared through the web, in exhibits, and at celebrations. You can participate by sending your answers to the questions to Joanne.Littlefield@colostate.edu, or via video or audio tape interview at State 4-H Conference, June 22-24. Look for the booth on the 2nd floor of the LSC, or find the State Officers with video cameras throughout the conference.”
• Please provide your name, age and where you grew up
• Tell me about your 4-H experience…
• How do you think your 4-H experience has influenced your life?
• What did you learn in 4-H that has helped you in other areas of your life?
• How long were you involved in 4-H?
• What were some of your projects?
• How long ago were you in 4-H?
COLORADO 4-H… READY FOR THE NEXT 100 YEARS!
Please call 970.491.1152 if you have any questions! – Ellen Butler
Announcing MoonBots…
A Google Lunar X PRIZE LEGO® MINDSTORMS® Challenge!
MoonBots is an exciting new contest that challenges teams of students (ages 9 and up) and adults from around the globe to learn about robotics, the Moon, and space exploration by designing and constructing a LEGO® MINDSTORMS robot that performs simulated lunar missions. The MoonBots challenge is divided into two phases:
Phase 1 (April 15-May 28)
During Phase I, teams study the Moon’s surface and an illustration of the challenge field and use the results of this study to digitally design a LEGO MINDSTORMS robot that can solve the MoonBots challenge. A team of judges select 20 teams to move on to Phase II.
Phase II (June 21-August 14)
During Phase II, teams are given a LEGO MINDSTORMS set and a MoonBots challenge field and must build their robot and solve the lunar challenge. A live, online video demonstration caps the team experience!
Prizes will be awarded to the top three teams of Phase II with the grand prize being a trip for the team to the LEGO Company headquarters in Billund, Denmark! All Phase II team members will receive a two-year subscription to Wired magazine. To learn more or register a team, visit www.MoonBots.org! Registration is open April 15-May 15. There is no cost to participate. Hurry though – registration ends soon! – Ellen Butler
The Afterschool Alliance seeks afterschool student artwork for our 2010 Lights On Afterschool poster. The deadline to submit is June 11, 2010. The winning image will be printed on 70,000 posters sent to afterschool programs from coast to coast to use at their Lights On Afterschool celebrations.
The image will also be featured on our Lights On Afterschool webpage and facebook page. The Afterschool Alliance will work with the artist and/or program on an appropriate credit for the artwork.
The Apple Pi 4-H Robotics team of Guilford, Conn., poses with its robot. Like many youth involved in FIRST, Julian Capriles (third from left) plans to enter the engineering field.
4-H robotics teams had stellar performances in robotics tournaments across the country this year. In addition to the many teams who placed well in state and regional competitions, nine 4-H teams competed in the national FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Championship in Atlanta, and a Minnesota 4-H Robotics team was invited to compete in international competition in Turkey.
Over 300 4-H robotics teams from across the United States and six countries met on the floor of the Georgia Dome April 15-17 for the FIRST Robotics Championship, where engineering and sports come together with a bit of imagination.
“Over the past few days in Atlanta, we have had the opportunity to inspire the next generation of innovators and engineers,” said Dean Kamen, inventor and FIRST Founder in a prepared statement.
“This is increasingly important as we try to build momentum in the U.S. to fuel a robust talent pipeline of innovative 21st century STEM professionals. For the thousands of young problem-solvers who participated in the FIRST Championship, we caught a glimpse of the great things that are in store when these students tackle greater challenges in years ahead.”
Julian Capriles of the 4-H Apple Pi team from Guilford, Conn., is one of those young problem-solvers who plans to pursue a career in engineering.
“I want to be a mechanical engineer,” said Capriles. “I like to work with other people on other projects that I have to work on, and do things as a group, and learn about the mechanics of things and the engineering and programming and working as a team and getting everything done in a timeframe.”
4-H teams were leaders in the two-day competition. AIR Strike, the competitive team of the
AIR Strike Robotics (far right) looks on as the team directs its robot during a match.
Aquidneck Island Robotics 4‐H Club, was ranked second in its division at the end of regular rounds, and made it to the second round in the tournament to finish in the semifinals.
This year, Exploding Bacon of Winter Park, Fla., placed first in the North Carolina Regional and won the Imagery Award and Regional Chairman’s Award. At the FIRST Robotics Championship, it was selected to join two other teams in an alliance for the tournament rounds, and finished in the first quarterfinal round.
Team EMS of Windermere, Fla. was seeded 35th out of 85 other teams headed into its division qualifier. The other 4-H teams in Atlanta were:
Prototype X of Salt Lake City, Utah
Camdenton 4-H Laser of Camdenton, Mo.
Flaming Monkeys of Belvidere, Ill.
Team Paradox of Encinitas, Calif.
While the FIRST Robotics teams were in Atlanta, “The Things,” a 4-H FIRST Lego League team was preparing for another competition. The team of middle school youth from Elk River, Minn., received the Champions award at the Minnesota First Lego Robotics State Championship in January. The win earned them an invitation to the FIRST Lego League Open European Championship in Istanbul, Turkey, to compete against teams from 60 other countries.
As the team arrived in New York on the way to Istanbul, they learned that the volcano eruption in Iceland disrupted air travel to and from Europe, and made it impossible to travel to the event. Because many other competitors were unable to make it as well, the competition was rescheduled for June 2-5
Wild Bug Fish Camp and YHEC Information
2010 Wild Bug Fish Camp! – The Wild Bug Fish Camp is designed to allow leaders and members to participate together in a learning experience focusing on natural resources and the environment. http://www.4hfishing.org/2010_wbf_camp.html
2010 Flagler YHEC Event – Do you enjoy hunting, shooting or just being outdoors? Would you like the opportunity to enhance your skills and learn more about hunting methods, game species, hunter ethics and safety? http://www.co4hshooting.org/shooting_opportunities.html
Exciting news from Pueblo… Jessica Hartman, one of our past 4-H members, is Miss Colorado USA 2010!!! She will be leaving next week to compete in the Miss USA Pageant in Las Vegas. When Jessica competed in the Miss Colorado pageant – she talked about 4-H. Her family quickly attributes Jessica’s skills and much of her success to the 4-H program. Jessica’s dad and grandfather were also 4-H members in Pueblo County. Her main 4-H projects were leadership, beef and sheep. She was a State 4-H Officer in 2009 and received the Outstanding Citizenship Leadership Award in 2009. Jessica’s goal is to become a news anchor or broadcast journalist. She is currently a freshman at CSU-Pueblo studying mass communications.
On Sunday, Pueblo County 4-H sponsored a community “Send Off” for Jessica before her departure for Las Vegas. Dr. Jeff Goodwin, the Assistant Director of 4-H & Youth Development Programs in Colorado, came from Fort Collins to emcee the event. Over 400 community members were in attendance! During the formal program – speakers and well wishers included a Pueblo County Commissioner, City Council Member, Chief of Police, State Representative Sal Pace, President of the Chamber of Commerce and Jessica’s High School Principal. It was a terrific day for Jessica and a proud day for Colorado 4-H. Below is Jessica’s video interview with Dr. Jeff Goodwin.
The Miss USA 2010 pageant will be live from Las Vegas May 16 at 5:00 p.m. MT on NBC.
Colorado has many outstanding youth who have developed leadership and strong life skills through the 4-H Youth Development Program – and this is one of our famous alumna! Congratulations to you Jessica in your achievements, and best of luck to you in the Miss USA Pageant!
Exciting news from Pueblo…Jessica Hartman, one of our past 4-H members, is Miss Colorado USA 2010!!! She will be leaving next week to compete in the Miss USA Pageant in Las Vegas. When Jessica competed in the Miss Colorado pageant – she talked about 4-H. Her family quickly attributes Jessica’s skills and much of her success to the 4-H program. Jessica’s dad and grandfather were also 4-H members in Pueblo County. Here main 4-H projects were leadership, beef and sheep. She was a State 4-H Officer in 2009 and received the Outstanding Citizenship Leadership Award in 2009. Here goal is to become a news anchor or broadcast journalist. She is a freshman at CSU-Pueblo studying mass communications.
Sunday, Pueblo County 4-H sponsored a community “Send Off” for Jessica before she leaves for Las Vegas. Dr. Jeff Goodwin came from Fort Collins to emcee the event. Over 400 community members attended! During the formal program – speakers and well wishers included a Pueblo County Commissioner, City Council Member, Chief of Police, State Representative Sal Pace, President of the Chamber of Commerce and Jessica’s High School Principal. It was a terrific day for Jessica and a proud day for Colorado 4-H. Below are a few photos of Sunday’s event.
The Miss USA 2010 pageant will be live from Las Vegas May 16 at 5:00 p.m. MT on NBC. My husband and I are fortunate enough to go Las Vegas for part of the contest –and are thrilled to see her compete in person. We are so proud of Jessica!
We just wanted you to know our great news! Colorado has many outstanding youth who have developed leadership and strong life skills through the 4-H Youth Development Program – and this is one of our famous alumna!
• April 13-15: CAE4-HA, Cripple Creek
• May 1: 4-H OnLine Youth Enrollment data due, Joy Bauder
• May 15: IFYE host applications due, State 4-H Office
ES237 Information Needed!
This is just a reminder that the May 3rd deadline is just around the corner! The good news for all is that the only documentation I need from you is to fill out the form below, get the appropriate signature (s) and either email, fax or mail to me by May 3 (information listed below). I will double check the totals within 4HOnline and then provide the information to the CSU Extension accounting office for invoicing. PLEASE DO NOT SEND MONEY UNTIL THE INVOICE ARRIVES!
Additionally there are still a few remaining counties that haven’t begun entering any data into 4HOnline, please don’t delay! 4HOnline will be the only mechanism for the final ES237 reports that are processed in October.
ATTENTION: those with 4-H Shooting Sports Responsibilities
Several 4-H Shooting Opportunities have been posted to the Colorado 4-H Shooting Sports web site. Please pass this along to those members or families who may be interested.
- 2010 Douglas County Fun Shoot (4/25/2010)
- 2010 Flagler Lake YHEC Event (5/1-2/2010)
- 2010 Weld County Shotgun Invitational (5/22/2010)
- 2010 Weld County All Event Invitational (6/5/2010)
Here’s a direct link to flyers and information on all shoots:
A reminder … we are looking for dedicated 4-H Leaders who are willing to serve on the State 4-H Shooting Sports Training Team. We need Leaders willing to give their time to train other volunteers in 4-H Shooting Sports disciplines. With the National 4-H Shooting Sports training coming to Grand Junction in May, this is a perfect opportunity to join our Training Team! Interested? Contact Jim Hamilton (jim.hamilton@colostate.edu) at 719.846.7403. – Perry Brewer
2010 4-H National Science Experiment
On behalf of 4-H National Headquarters at NIFA, USDA, National 4-H Council and the entire 4-H SET Management Team, we are pleased to announce that North Carolina A&T has been selected as the leading university for this year’s National Science Experiment which focuses on water quality and climate change.
Using a three-tiered experiment model, the experiment engages youth of all ages to learn at the simplest level how carbon dioxide can affect aquatic animals, plants and other living organisms in lakes, streams, rivers and oceans. These activities help facilitators lead discussions to help youth better understand climate change. Using worksheets and online guides, the experiment will help youth take the activities and connect back to their lives by measuring their own carbon footprint, their family’s footprint, and estimate energy savings by looking at gas and electric bills.
Visit 4-H.org to find the full news release about this year’s experiment. We look forward to sharing the final experiment materials with the 4-H community in late May. – Willa Williams
2010 Wild Bug Fish Camp and YHEC Information
Here’s what you’ve been waiting for – information on the 2010 Wild Bug Fish Camp! – The Wild Bug Fish Camp is designed to allow leaders and members to participate together in a learning experience focusing on natural resources and the environment. http://www.4hfishing.org/2010_wbf_camp.html
Do you enjoy hunting, shooting or just being outdoors? Would you like the opportunity to enhance your skills and learn more about hunting methods, game species, hunter ethics and safety? Then think about attending the 2010 Flagler YHEC Event. http://www.co4hshooting.org/shooting_opportunities.html – Perry Brewer
4-H International Exchange Programs 2010
4-H/Japanese Summer Exchange
Japanese exchange students have 100 percent medical coverage and may participate in host family vacations. Teens from hosting families in Colorado are subsequently eligible to participate in an exchange program to Japan during any of the following summers until they are 21 years old.
Inbound -Host families are needed for approximately 75 Japanese boys and girls, ages 12-21. Japanese teens from the Labo and Lex organizations arrive in Colorado on July 21 and join host families on July 23 after orientation by 4-H staff. Teens from the Utrek program arrive in Colorado on July 21, joining their host families on July 25 after orientation and a camp in the mountains. Both groups return to Denver on August 18 and depart for Japan on August 19.
Outbound-The outbound exchange involves a family that acts as a host for a Japanese youth. This enables their son or daughter, ages 12-19, to apply to be a delegate to Japan for a four-week (July 7 – August 5) or eight-week (June 10 – August 5) homestay experience. Travel expenses are assumed by the traveler. (Application due 2-1-10)
4-H/Japanese High School Exchange
Inbound-Colorado will host 10 Labo, Lex, and Utrek Japanese high school exchange students, ages 15-18. These participants stay with host families and will attend Colorado high schools from July 2010 through mid-June 2011. They are proficient in English and will attend an additional intensive English language class before arriving in Colorado. Families who host a high school delegate are eligible to receive a $1,000 scholarship toward the cost of sending their son or daughter to Japan for four or eight weeks.
Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX)
Inbound-Host families are needed for FLEX students, ages 15-18. 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. FLEX participants come from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan. Colorado will host 10 participants who will stay with host families and attend high school August 2010 through mid-June 2011.
International 4-H Youth Exchange (IFYE)
Inbound- IFYE delegates, ages 19-30, stay two to three weeks with several host families during their three-month stay in Colorado. IFYE’s come from many regions of the world: Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Latin America, Australia, Asia and Africa. They share information about their country, culture and the IFYE program with various community groups and travel throughout Colorado during their visit. IFYEs generally arrive in Colorado mid-June or mid-September.
International 4-H Youth Exchange (IFYE)
Outbound-IFYE delegates, ages 19-30, visit a foreign country for three or six months. The countries are located in Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Latin America, Australia, Asia and Africa. Six-month delegates leave the United States in late June and return in early December. Three-month delegates return in early September. The delegate lives and works with host families and gains a unique perspective about another culture. When delegates return, they travel throughout Colorado to share their experiences and broaden international awareness. The Colorado 4-H Foundation offers two full scholarships each year for IFYE representatives, (personal spending money excluded).
A new volunteer development seminar is now available: Bridging the Gap between Volunteers and zrmployees: Keys to Effective Partnership. One of the universal challenges in volunteer development is assuring that employees and volunteers who work together on a daily basis are enthusiastic and supportive of each other. This seminar examines the root causes of possible tension, analyzes the employee perspective, and discusses ways to improve attitudes and practices throughout the organization. Log in now! – Dale Leidheiser
Colorado Dairy Goat Association Award Available
The Colorado Dairy Goat Association(CDGA) has allotted a small amount of money to be divided across all of the Colorado counties that have 4H members enrolled in dairy goats. In order to qualify for a small (but hopefully helpful) monetary award, you must 1) respond with the number of kids enrolled in the dairy goat project in your county and 2) give an estimate of the number of dairy goats you expect to have at your county’s fair! Even if you only have one member entered, please respond to this opportunity.
There only request is that the award only be used within the DAIRY GOAT project! We would like to have your response by May 1. Please include the contact name that the check should be issued to and the address you would like to have it mailed to. Thanks for all you do for your 4H members! – Greg Larson - vl.larson@juno.com
AIR Strike Robotics (far right) looks on as the team directs its robot during a match.
