4-H Update

May 25, 2012 by Leave a comment

Volume 15, Number 11

Dates to Remember:

• May 28:  University Holiday, offices closed
• June 1:  Colorado 4-H Foundation Golf Tournament, Pelican Lakes Golf & Country Club, Windsor
• June 1:  Youth leadership and Citizenship applications due
• June 19-21:  State 4-H Conference, Colorado State University Campus
• June 23 – 30:  Citizenship-Washington Focus, National 4-H Center, Chevy Chase, MD
• July 4:  University Holiday, offices closed

HOST FAMILIES NEEDED – 4-H JAPANESE EXCHANGE – 2012

Host families are needed for 65 inbound Japanese boys and girls, ages 12-21, coming to Colorado through the 2012 inbound Colorado-Japan Teen Exchange.  Hosting dates are July 23 – August 18 OR July 25 – August 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, youth camps.  They are expected to become part of the family, including attending church, helping with household chores, follow house rules, and participate 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. Orientation for host families is done in Denver on the same day as delegate pickup.   Carpools are planned to transport delegates to homes if host families are not able to attend orientation or pick up their exchange student.  A complete orientation packet including program information, culture information, and complete application of the delegate they are hosting will be mailed to host families.

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 MEMBER OF THE FAMILY, RATHER THAN A “GUEST.”

Please contact Courtney Loflin, 4-H International Programs, Colorado State University, 970.491.2711, or email courtney.loflin@colostate.edu

- Ellen Butler

2012 Inbound IFYEs to Colorado – Hosting Opportunity

The Colorado 4-H Foundation (former 4-H Youth Fund) was initially established in 1952 to support two programs – IFYE (International Four-H Youth Exchange) and CWF (Citizenship Washington Focus).  Colorado began participating in the IFYE program in 1951, although the program was developed in 1948 as a post-war peace effort involving 4-H farm youth from around the world.  Currently, IFYE participants come from countries on every continent.  Colorado’s IFYE program is the strongest in the United States.

Austria – Franz Winkler  (male – age 29) – June 18 – July 7.  Speaks German and  English.  Hobbies are biking, running, playing football, skiing, cross country skiing, concerts, theater, choir, traditional Austrian dance, and Landjugen (4-H) activities.  His parents own a farm (grassland, grain, corn, forest).  He attended an agricultural school and finished as a skilled worker, followed by studying the occupation as a joiner and finished also as a skilled worker.  (No allergies/ nonsmoker)

Austria – Christine Dumfart  (female -  age 21) – July 9 – August 16.  Speaks German and English.  Hobbies are clarinet, friends, sports, running, biking, hiking, skiing, climbing, and Landjugen (4-H) activities.  She is interested in nature, sightseeing.  Her parents own a farm with livestock and hay.  She attends polytechnic school.  (No allergies/nonsmoker)

Finland – Annina Kirsti Marjatta (female – age 28) – June 18 – July 30.  Speaks Finnish, English, Swedish.  Hobbies are handicrafts, travelling, childcare, nature, 4-H, sheep, goats, flowers, horseback riding.  She has lived her entire life in the middle of the forest.  She is a teacher at a vocational school.  (No allergies/nonsmoker)

Germany – Maximilian Schulze Esking (male – age 24) – June 18 – July 23, July 29 – September 10.  Speaks German and English.  Hobbies are squash, soccer, badminton, piano, friends, playing poker.  He is interested in the American way of farming, especially large units of livestock and crop land.  He grew up on a family pig farm.  They also grew wheat, corn, barley.  He finished his agricultural apprenticeship in 2009 and is current studying agriculture, finishing in 2015.  (No allergies/nonsmoker)
Note:  Maximilian will attend IFYE conference in Nebraska on July 24-28.

Greece – Vladimiros Topalidis (male – age 17) June  18 – July 30.   Speaks Greek and English.  Hobbies are reading, friends, skiing, soccer, basketball, painting, studying, biking, dancing, cooking, music.  He would like to make new friends, see national parks, go mountain biking, rock climbing, and visit ghost towns and ancient ruins.   Father is a farmer raising peaches, apricots, wheat.  He is a student at the American Farm School where he has attended animal and gardening workshops (including milking cows, gathering eggs, engineering, painting and hydraulics classes).   (No allergies/nonsmoker)

Switzerland –Margrit Stalder  (female age 24 – June 18 – September 10.  Speaks German, French, and English.  Hobbies are music, skiing, mountain biking, rifle shooting riding horses, walking, and skiing.  Other areas of interest are farming and agriculture.  Parents operate a farm with milk cows.  She is currently a retail assistant and hopes to take over her parents’ farm in the future.  (No allergies/nonsmoker)

Taiwan – Ya-Lan Cheng (female age 35) – June 18 – July 23.    Speaks Taiwanese, Mandarin, and English.  Hobbies are music, reading, handicrafts, sewing, singing.  Other areas of interest are agriculture, crop production methods, teaching methods, 4-H clubs.   She lived for five years on a small mango farm.  She is currently a teacher.  (No allergies/ nonsmoker)

Inbound IFYEs from Austria, Finland, Germany, Greece,  Switzerland, and Taiwan will attend National IFYE Orientation in Wichita, Kansas, prior to arriving in Colorado.  They will also attend State 4-H Conference at CSU June 19-21.  (With the exception of Christine who arrives July 9)

IFYEs generally stay with a host family for two-three weeks.  The goal is for these exchange participants to learn about everyday life in the United States by participating in the homestay experience.  All delegates have medical insurance and personal spending money.

Please contact Courtney Loflin at the State 4-H Office for more information regarding these IFYEs,  970.491.2711
Courtney.loflin@colostate.edu

- Ellen Butler

State 4-H Conference

4-H to the Xtreme!

The 2012 Colorado State 4-H Conference will be held June 19-21. State 4-H Conference provides great training and an opportunity for 4-H members, leaders, and Extension agents to strengthen their leadership skills. It also hosts the following state contests including: Livestock Bowl, Livestock Judging, Consumer Choices, Consumer Bowl, Horse Bowl, Horse Judging, Hippology, Horse Demonstration and Public Speaking, Prepared Speech, Impromptu Speech, and Parliamentary Procedure. We look forward to your participation!

Registration
State 4-H Conference information will be available on the web at http://www.colorado4h.org/events_opportunities/stateconference. Registration is $70 per person and for those participating in contests, there is an additional $20 entry fee per contest. For your convenience, we have provided a participant registration form and parent letter for your use; just add your registration deadline and payment information. Please share this information, along with a copy of the workshop descriptions and tentative schedule, with those interested in attending conference. There is also an informational piece to share with parents that you can edit and print on letterhead.

Registration instructions and online registration will be available through 4-H Online May 3 through May 31. Registrations entered after May 31 will be charged a $20 late fee per participant. Online registration will end on June 6 at 12:00 Midnight. Changes can be made directly with Melissa Oliver via email at melissa.oliver@colostate.edu, or by phone, 970.213.0899, after June 6.  Cancellations between May 31 and June 6 will incur a cancellation penalty of a minimum of $20 up to the full registration dependent on what numbers have been turned in and guaranteed.  NO refund will be given for cancellations after June 6.

Payment
Payment for the entire amount is due by June 6. Please use Extension, county government, 4-H leader or youth council checks when paying your registration. Personal checks will not be accepted as it places the entire conference at risk of paying City of Fort Collins taxes. Please make your check payable to the Colorado 4-H Foundation and have it postmarked by June 6. Upon arrival on June 23, we will calculate for additional billing or refunds as necessary.

Please mail to: State 4-H Events Office, ATTN: Melissa Oliver

Rocky Mountain Camps Open to Military Kids Ages 13-17!

Please help us fill our Rocky Mt. Adventure Camps! $25 registration fee for military youth ages 13-17. Go to http://www.active.com/military-camp/golden-co/rocky-mountain-adventure-camp-colorado-state-university-military-youth
Rocky Mountain Adventure Camp 2012-Buses pick up at Fort Carson, The Academy and Buckley AFB.

May 29-Jun 01 RMAC Pingree Camp 1-
Jun 05-Jun 08 RMAC Pingree Camp 2
Jun 19-Jun 22 RMAC Pingree Camp 3
Jul 09-Jul 12 RMAC Pingree Camp 4
Jul 17-Jul 20 RMAC Pingree Camp 5

We have just added 13 year olds so please help us spread the word. Contact Amy Quinn amy.quinn@colostate.edu with any questions.

- Shauna Vail Woods, Operation: Military Kids Program Coordinator – Colorado Military Liaison

Exciting News: Daniels Scholarship Moves to Open Application Process

We are excited to announce that, starting in fall 2012, students will no longer need a nomination to apply for the Daniels Scholarship. A new “open application process” will allow students to initiate the scholarship application themselves, rather than the process beginning with a nomination from a Referral Agency.

While the new approach will provide greater access to students interested in applying for the Daniels Scholarship, we will still rely on the assistance of high schools, youth serving agencies, and college prep providers to share the opportunity to apply with viable candidates and provide recommendations for their scholarship applications.

“We are grateful for the input we received from hundreds of referral agency representatives who responded to the survey sent after the close of the recent application process,” explained Kristin Todd, senior vice president for Scholarships. “The complexity of the application process was a common theme, but we also heard from a number of respondents that many of their students struggled with the nomination and recommendation process,” she explained.

The Daniels Fund listened carefully to these concerns and believes that the open application will streamline the process to make it easier for students to complete and submit their application, as well as confirm that their recommenders have submitted their information.

Students will have access to the 2012-2013 online scholarship application via the Daniels Fund website. The students and all student- identified recommenders will also have access to an online portal to monitor progress during the scholarship application process.

As in past years, the scholarship application will launch in early September and close in late November.

As always, please contact your regional representative should you have questions about the Daniels Fund scholarship.

- Ellen Butler

Invitation to 4-H Members to the CSRN GPS Day Event, June 9, 2012

On behalf of the Colorado Spatial Reference Network, CSRN, (www.csrn.us) a chapter of the Professional Land Surveyors of Colorado, PLSC, I would like to extend an invitation to 4-H members in Colorado to the CSRN GPS Day Event to be held on June 9, 2012, 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, Utah Park, 1800 S Peoria St, Aurora, CO 80012.

The event is free and open to youth and adults to learn about Global Positioning Satellites, GPS, Geographic Information Systems, GIS, Land Surveying, Geocaching, and Geodesy.  There will be professionals who work with GPS, GIS, Land Surveying, Geocaching, and Geodesy volunteering to share their knowledge to those that attend this event.

Click on these links for further information.

http://www.colorado4h.org/Blog/docs/2012/CSRN-GPS-Day-SaveTheDate.pdf
http://www.colorado4h.org/Blog/docs/2012/CSRN-GPS-Day-Program.pdf
http://www.colorado4h.org/Blog/docs/2012/CSRN-GPS-Day-EventSummary.pdf
http://www.colorado4h.org/Blog/docs/2012/CSRN-GPS-Day-SiteMap.pdf
http://www.colorado4h.org/Blog/docs/2012/CSRN-GPS-Day-CertificateOfCompletion.pdf

The CSRN would like to have this posted as an activity for 4-H members to attend.  This is open to any age group interested in GPS and the ways it is used.

- Ellen Butler

Awards for State 4-H Conference

I just wanted to remind all of you about the two awards that the Colorado State 4-H Officer Team sponsors.  The 4-H Senate Raleigh Brooks Outstanding Leader Award and the 4-H Senate Mile High Outstanding Youth Leader Award.  The applications for the these awards can be found on the 4-H website at: http://www.colorado4h.org/councils/senate/Forms/forms.php

These two awards are given during the banquet at State Conference.  Please look them over and please recognize your outstanding leaders and 4-H members.

Awards Nomination Forms
•    4-H Senate Raleigh Brooks Outstanding Adult Leader Award
•    4-H Senate Mile High Outstanding Youth Leader Award

- Connie Cecil

4-H Foundation Scholarships Awarded

The Colorado 4-H Foundation Scholarship Committee has completed its assessment of the scholarship applications, and the winners of this year’s scholarships have been selected.  This year we received a total of 92 applications for all the various scholarships.

Those receiving scholarships are:

1st Choice After School Kare ($1,000) (new scholarship this year) – Kelly Buchanan (Boulder)

Colorado Agricultural Development Authority ($1,000 each)
- Taylor Hett (Weld)
- Tyler Konieczka (Jefferson)
- Derek Schroder (Baca)
- Kortnee Spelts (Yuma)
- Emily Wellman (Moffat)

Bill and Barbara Holthaus Scholarship ($1,000 each)
- Conner Gerken (Morgan)
- Abbey Pizel (Rio Grande)
- Thomas Price (El Paso)

Kimberling Family Scholarship ($1,000) (increased from $500 to $1,000 for this year since extra funds were available)
- Nikki Buhrdorf (Delta)

Murdoch’s Ranch and Home Supply Scholarship ($1,000) (five scholarships awarded this year rather than just one as in previous years)
- Natalie Curtiss (Boulder)
- Karisa Fuerniss (Larimer)
- Kasey Miles (Delta)
- Brandon Morgan (Montrose)
- Ayla Newman (Morgan)

Portouw Photography Scholarship ($300)
- Katie Server (Boulder)

Audrey Sandstead Scholarship ($400)
- Kaitlin Williams (Jefferson)

Howard E. and Marjory M. Smith Scholarship ($1,000)
- Mallory Hoots (Routt)

- Bill Gargan, Colorado 4-H Foundation

NIFA Partnership Awards

The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) recognizes there are many outstanding contributions that our partners in the land-grant universities and other cooperating institutions and organizations have achieved.  To recognize these achievements, the Partnership Awards Program was established in 2007.

NIFA invites all land-grant universities and cooperating institutions and organizations supported by NIFA to submit nominations for the 2012 NIFA Partnership Awards Program.  This program recognizes outstanding contributions, aligned with NIFA strategic goals, in support of the USDA mission.  Awards for this year will recognize excellence in:
•         Mission Integration of Research, Education, and Extension
•         Multistate Efforts
•         Innovative Programs and Projects
•         Effective and Efficient Use of Resources
•         Program Improvement through Global Engagement

Nominations can be submitted for individuals or teams of up to 35 members.  Each institution may submit up to two nominations (combined total across all categories), meaning the entire institution including research, education, and extension functions.

Specific instructions and other information regarding this awards program are attached (2011 NIFA partnership criteria.doc).  Nominations must be submitted via the NIFA Partnership Awards Nomination Form, also attached (2012 NIFA partnership Nom-form.doc).  All signed nomination forms must be submitted by July 13, 2012, via email using scanned files that have been saved as .pdf or .jpg files to Chevon Gibson at Chevon.Gibson@ars.usda.gov according to instructions in the attached guidelines.

Winning nominations will be recognized at the NIFA Day of Appreciation tentatively scheduled for October.  NIFA will pay travel expenses for one person from each winning nomination, whether it is an individual or team award.

Nominations should include only individuals or teams who have performed truly distinguished service.  We ask that Deans, Directors, and Administrators thoroughly review each submission for validity of accomplishments before signing his or her approval on the nomination form.

We have many excellent examples of success in these categories across our partnership, and NIFA looks forward to recognizing great accomplishments in October.

- Chavonda Jacobs-Young , Ph.D., Acting Director
National Institute of Food and Agriculture

USDA Childhood Obesity Challenge Area RFA Released

Hello everyone-Please see the following for the release of the USDA childhood obesity challenge area RFA: http://www.nifa.usda.gov/newsroom/news/2012news/04091_obesity_rfa.html

Please note the application deadline of June 5 and focus area of adolescents ages 15-19.

Suzanne Le Menestrel
National Program Leader, Youth Development Research
4-H National Headquarters, Division of Youth & 4-H
Institute of Youth, Family & Community, NIFA, USDA
Phone:   (202) 720-2297
slemenestrel@nifa.usda.gov
http://www.csrees.usda.gov/youthdevelopment4h.cfm

Filed under 4-H Foundation, 4-H Military Clubs, 4-H News, 4-H Update, Info for County Agents, International, OMK, State Events, Uncategorized Tagged with , , , , , , , , , , ,

4H Update

March 23, 2012 by 1 Comment

Volume 15, Number 9

Dates to Remember:

March 24-29: National 4-H Conference, Washington, DC
April 1:  State scholarship applications due
May 1:  4HOnline Youth Enrollment Data due
May 1-3: CAE4-HA, Albuquerque, NM
June 1:  Colorado 4-H Foundation Golf Tournament, Pelican Lakes GOlf & Country Club, Windsor
June 1:  Youth leadership and Citizenship applications due

National 4-H Congress Update

We wanted to remind you all that the process for National 4-H Congress delegate selection has changed.  Beginning this year, delegates will now be selected by earning Grand Champions status at state fair in 14 different project areas.  Click o this link to see a list of the project areas http://www.colorado4h.org/Blog/docs/2012/National4hCongress.pdf.  A 4-H member may attend National Congress only once.  If a 4-H member is a selected as a Grand Champion more than once throughout their 4-H career, they can still only attend Congress one time.  The Reserve Grand Champion will not be moved up to fill the position if a member decides not to attend Congress or has been selected as a Grand Champion in more than one project area.
- Connie Cecil

International 4-H Youth Exchange Reporting

Please click on this link to read a brief promotional piece regarding a great opportunity to have our IFYE delegates provide an educational experience in your counties to a variety of audiences.  The three reporting IFYEs still have several time slots available.  Please promote this and let me know if you have any questions.  http://www.colorado4h.org/Blog/docs/2012/IFYE-ReportingPromotion.pdf
- Courtney Loflin

4-H Robotics

Looking for a one-page hand out to describe 4-H robotics? The attached flyer, created by Kyle Jones at National 4-H Council is just that! You might even recognize Colorado’s guest celebrity! Check it out!  http://www.colorado4h.org/Blog/docs/2012/4hRobotics.pdf
- Ellen Butler

$10,000 AND $25,000 Grants Available to Rural School Districts through America’s Farmers Grown Rural Education

Statistics show that the United States ranks only 25th in math scores and 21st in science compared to 30 industrialized nations. These facts show that education is strongly in need of support. To help, Monsanto Fund, the philanthropic arm of Monsanto Company, is launching America’s Farmers Grow Rural Education℠ to aid rural school districts by providing $10,000 and $25,000 grants in 1,245 counties across 39 states.

“We believe our rural communities are the heart of America,” said Deborah Patterson, Monsanto Fund president. “We want to help strengthen local communities and education systems, especially in the areas of science and/or math. A strong science and math education helps build a foundation for many careers in agriculture, but also will help our students to be more competitive with those in larger cities and other nations.”

America’s Farmers Grow Rural Education gives farmers the opportunity to nominate a public school district in their rural community to compete for a grant. Nominated school district administrators can then submit an application for either a $10,000 or $25,000 grant to support a science and/or math educational program by April 30, 2012. School districts that apply for a $10,000 grant will compete against other school districts that are located in the USDA-appointed Crop Reporting District (CRD); except that CRDs with fewer than five eligible school districts will compete against each other for a single grant. A school district that applies for a $25,000 grant will compete against schools that are located in its state or designated region.

The Monsanto Fund will award 199 grants this year. There will be 177 $10,000 grants and 22 grants of $25,000 awarded. Visit growruraleducation.com to see a complete list of eligible states and regions. Overall, the Monsanto Fund will donate more than $2.3 million to school districts in 39 states through this program.

Grants will be awarded based on merit, need and community support. The America’s Farmers Grow Rural Education Advisory Council will select the winning grant application. This group is made up of 26 farmer leaders from across the country, who are passionate about both farming and rural education. The council members are actively engaged in their local communities through various leadership positions, such as a member of the local School Board, an active Farm Bureau leader or a member of an educational organization or committee within various organizations. The council is responsible for reviewing the top grant applications to select the winning school. These individuals are passionate about both agriculture and education, which is essential when choosing the best grant.

The program started with a successful pilot in Illinois and Minnesota, in which farmers were given the opportunity to nominate a public school district in 165 eligible counties in those two states. The Monsanto Fund awarded more than $266,000 to local schools in 16 CRDs through the pilot.

The America’s Farmers Grow Rural Education program is part of a broad commitment by Monsanto Fund to highlight the important contributions farmers make every day to our society by helping them grow their youth. Visit www.growruraleducation.com for additional information and to view a complete list of winning school districts.

About Monsanto Fund The Monsanto Fund, the philanthropic arm of the Monsanto Company, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening the farm communities where farmers and Monsanto Company employees live and work.  Visit the Monsanto Fund at www.monsantofund.org.
- Ellen Butler

Announcing the Toyota Innovation Awardees

This year three 4-H National Youth Science Day events earned the top award for their creativity, their ability to build momentum around a Wired for Wind event and their commitment to community impact. These submissions were selected from more than 700 events nationwide and more than 100 submissions overall.

$4,000 Creativity Award Winner University of Illinois Extension, Unit 19 – On Oct. 5, 2011, 75 fourth graders from Cumberland Elementary School visited Lake Land College campus where they spent three hours conducting the Wired for Wind experiment, led by Lake Land College technology division instructors. This community event invited partnerships from University of Illinois Extension, Unit 19, Lake Land College, Cumberland Elementary School, University of Illinois Extension, State 4-H Office and First Neighbor Bank.Read more

$3,000 Revolution of Responsibility Award Winner Harris County 4-H Family Science Night, Houston, Texas – 4-H National Youth Science Day inspired Harris County to form new 4-H Science partnerships that would build capacity for reaching youth audiences with exciting projects in science, engineering and technology. In September, Texas AgriLife Extension and Harris County 4-H Urban Youth Development (UYD) partnered with Alief Independent School District After School Program (ASP) to bring the Wired For Wind experiment to diverse youth audiences. Extension staff secured $1,500.00 in grant funds for the project from Texas 4-H Science Liaison, Matt Tarpley in support of a “family science night” event.

$3,000 Media and Promotion Award Winner WSU Colville Reservation-Ferry County 4-H – Intending to build a buzz about their 4-H Super Science Saturday event, Colville Reservation Extension 4-H initiated their promotion plan by sending press releases to four local newspapers. But, they didn’t stop there. They didn’t stop there: posters were printed in advance of the event and posted in local businesses and community bulletin boards. Handbills were sent home with students at area schools, an ad was displayed on the Ferry County Extension website and an email announcement was sent out to Colville Tribes employees across the reservation.

Stay tuned, we’ll announce the 2012 National Science Experiment in April! Can’t get enough of 4-H National Youth Science Day? Visit our Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/4-h for updates about 4-H science, scholarship opportunities and more.
- Ellen Butler

Dodgeball Tournament at State 4-H Conference

Please let all of your 4-H members know that we are going to have a District Dodge Ball Tournament at State Conference.  It is going to be a blast!!!!!  Click on this link for more information about the tournament. http://www.colorado4h.org/events_opportunities/stateconference/2012/DistrictDodgeBallTournament.pdf

Even the agents and leaders get to have a team.  So anyone who is going to State Conference and would like to be on the adult team –just let me know.    The tournament will be on Wednesday afternoon from 3:45 to 5:00pm.  So what do you say?!  Let’s have a great turn out for this great fun event.
- Connie Cecil

Great Opportunity for Young Women who will be in the 11th or 12th grade in 2012-2013

Vital Voices and ANN INC., the parent company of Ann Taylor and LOFT, have teamed up in a groundbreaking partnership, the ANNpower Vital Voices Initiative. Together, they are working to train and empower young women in the U.S. to invest in their communities and begin their journey as the next generation of leaders.

ANNpower Fellows will be invited to attend the ANNpower Vital Voices Leadership Forum, a three-day leadership training program in Washington, DC from June 4-6, 2012. The Forum’s curriculum will be based on the Vital Voices Leadership Model, and the girls will be mentored by 12 global women leaders who are part of the Vital Voices Global Leadership Network, which includes some of the most influential women from around the world. After completing the curriculum, the 50 ANNpower Fellows will be challenged to go back to their communities and create a project that will affect change at the local level. They will also be eligible later in the year to win project grants to put their ideas into action.

This is a unique opportunity for young women who are committed to reshaping the world for positive change to meet their peers from across the United States and be mentored by distinguished leaders. We invite you to share this information with outstanding rising high school juniors and seniors who you believe will be the next generation of global trailblazers. The application is available online here http://www.vitalvoices.org/annpower and you can read about the inaugural class of ANNpower Fellows here http://vitalvoices.org/annpower-2011. Please direct any questions to mailto:LaurenWollack@vitalvoices.org.

Applicant Eligibility:

*         Applicants must be enrolled in high school in the United States or Puerto Rico

*         Applicants must be enrolled in 11th or 12th grade for the 2012-2013 academic year

*         Applications must be received by March 31, 2012 at 5:00pm EST.

Daphna Kapnik Program Coordinator, Global Leadership Network Vital Voices Global Partnership

Web Conference:  A Focus on Building Military Family Resilience

The Family Development concentration of eXtension’s Military Families Learning Community invites you to participate in an interactive 60-minute web conference focused on resilience among military families.   Mark your calendars and plan to participate!  No registration is needed.

Balancing Work and Family:  A Focus on Building Military Family Resilience

Thursday, April 5 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. (EDT)

Angela Wiley, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Applied Family Studies and Extension Specialist University of Illinois

Commander David Allen Shirk United States Navy Chaplain Camp Johnson, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina

• Attend this 60-minute web conference focused on work-life challenges facing military families • Learn about strategies that build on the strengths of military families that can effectively manage work-family issues • Share your experiences and ideas through this interactive session

No registration is needed To attend link to http://connect.extension.iastate.edu/milfam a few minutes before 11:00 a.m. (EDT)

Angela Wiley, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor in Human and Community Development and Extension Specialist in Family Life Education at the University of Illinois. Dr. Wiley’s research focuses on work life management, child care and promoting family resilience. She is interested in identifying how family strengths influence family resilience during stressful periods. Her research has been published in Family Relations and in Child Development.  Dr. Wiley has developed a curriculum to help people balance work and their personal lives.  She is currently conducting an evaluation of this curriculum focused on couple well-being.

Commander Shirk is currently assigned as the Officer in Charge, Chaplain and Religious Program Specialist Expeditionary Training Course at Camp Johnson.  He holds a Master’s of Divinity, M.A. in Child Development and Family Relation and B.S. in Business Administration, and is ordained by the Baptist General Conference. While based at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, Commander Shirk served in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, Individual Augmentation with 82nd Airborne Division.

To avoid technical difficulties, please test your connection prior to April 5 at:  http://bit.ly/MFLNAdobeTest

Suggested reading to prepare for the web conference:

Drummet, A. R. (2003). Military families under stress: Implications for family life education. Family Relations, 52(3), 279-287. http://reachmilitaryfamilies.arizona.edu/sites/default/files/upload_material/Drummet,%20et%20al.%202003.pdf

- Shauna Woods

WFCO Girl’s Leadership Council Launch – Opportunity for Sophomore Girls

Skills to Pay the Bills: Mastering Soft Skills for Workplace Success

We would like to alert you to a new publication from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy’s Youth team. “Skills to Pay the Bills: Mastering Soft Skills for Workplace Success” is a curriculum specifically designed for youth service professionals working with young people ages 14 to 24. The document was field-tested in seven career development youth programs across the country serving all youth, including youth with disabilities.   The basic structure of the publication was created through a lens of Universal Design, with a focus on providing flexible, hands-on, engaging activities that focus on six key skill areas: communication, enthusiasm and attitude, teamwork, networking, problem solving and critical thinking, and professionalism.   The curriculum is available in both English and Spanish on the ODEP website. The Office of Disability Employment Policy invites you to use this curriculum, forward it to your colleagues and/or membership base, and provide us with your feedback. Check this out:  http://www.colorado4h.org/Blog/docs/2012/GirlsLeadershipCouncilFlyer.pdf  – Jennifer Kemp

Seeking Submissions for Directory of Successful Urban 4-H Programs

NAE4-HA Directory of Successful Urban 4-H Programs The Urban Programming Task Force of the NAE4-HA programs committee is coordinating the sharing of ideas through the Directory of Successful Urban 4-H Programs. The purpose of the directory is to provide 4-H professionals across the country ideas about successful 4-H programs in the urban environment—without having to “reinvent the wheel.” We plan to add more examples of these successful programs to this directory on an annual basis. The call for submissions to the directory is made twice a year. Directory Submission Forms are due: March 15th and August 15th.   New submissions have not been sought for the Directory since 2008, as we worked to move the directory onto the NAE4-HA website.  The Urban Programming Taskforce is excited to once again start collecting submissions.  The Directory of Successful Urban 4-H Programs can be found on the NAE4-HA website at: http://nae4ha.com/urbanprograms.htm  To reach the Directory from the NAE4-HA home page…highlight “Committees” on the left side bar, then scroll down and click on “Research, Evaluation & Programs Team.”  On the Research, Evaluation & Programs Team page, scroll down to Urban Programming and select the Directory of Successful Urban Programs.  We know you do good work in Urban Environments.  Please consider submitting your good work into the Directory of Successful Urban 4-H Programs.  For more information about the directory or the submission process, contact Paul Henderson at West Virginia State University Extension Service at henderpm@wvstateu.edu or by phone at 304.550.4210.
- Ellen Butler

Filed under 4-H Military Clubs, 4-H News, 4-H Update, Info for County Agents, International, Research / Impact, State Events, STEM - Science Technology Engineering & Math, Uncategorized Tagged with , , , ,

4-H Update

June 18, 2010 by Leave a comment

Volume 14, Number 10

Reminders:

• 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.

Please click on the following link for an application: http://www.colorado4h.org/events_opportunities/state_fair/packet/TeenClerkApplicationForm.pdf
- Sharie Harless

Robotics Showcase Exhibition at State Fair

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

Filed under 4-H Military Clubs, 4-H Update, Enrollment, Info for County Agents, OMK, State Events, Uncategorized, Western Regional Leader's Forum (WRLF) Tagged with , , , , ,

4-H Update

April 16, 2010 by Leave a comment

Volume 14, Number 6

Reminders:

• 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.

Please click on these links: http://www.colorado4h.org/Blog/docs/2010/enrollverification.doc, http://www.colorado4h.org/Blog/docs/2010/enrollverification.pdf

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:

http://www.co4hshooting.org/shooting_opportunities.html

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).

Click on these links for further information:  http://www.colorado4h.org/Blog/docs/2010/HostFamiliesNeeded-JapaneseSummer2010.pdf,

http://www.colorado4h.org/Blog/docs/2010/FLEX-RecruitmentRelease-2010.pdf

- Courtney Loflin, State Program Coordinator, courtney.loflin@colostate.edu, (970) 491-2711

New Everyone Ready Seminar

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

Filed under 4-H Foundation, 4-H Military Clubs, 4-H Truck Giveaway, 4-H Update, County Events, Enrollment, Info for County Agents, Policies, Project Resources, Uncategorized

4-H Update

July 2, 2009 by Leave a comment

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

Filed under 4-H Military Clubs, 4-H Update, Info for County Agents, K-12 School Enrichment, Uncategorized Tagged with , , , ,

4-H Update

May 29, 2009 by Leave a comment

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!

Filed under 4-H Military Clubs, 4-H Update, County Events, Info for County Agents, OMK, State Events, Technology, Uncategorized, Volunteer, Western Regional Leader's Forum (WRLF) Tagged with , , ,

4-H Update

May 22, 2009 by Leave a comment

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

Filed under 4-H Foundation, 4-H Military Clubs, 4-H Update, Info for County Agents, International, OMK, State Events, Technology, Uncategorized, Volunteer Tagged with , , , , ,

4-H Update

May 15, 2009 by Leave a comment

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

Filed under 4-H Foundation, 4-H Military Clubs, 4-H Update, Info for County Agents, International, Project Resources, Technology, Uncategorized Tagged with , , , , , , , , , , ,

4-H Update

April 17, 2009 by Leave a comment

Volume 13, Number 10

Reminders:

• May 1: Blue Ribbon Enrollment Data due
• May 9: Catch-a-Calf breakfast, Denver
• May 15: IFYE Applications due
• June 13-20 Citizenship Washington Focus, Washington, DC
• June 23-26:  State 4-H Conference, CSU Campus, Fort Collins

Blue Ribbon Enrollment Data Due

May enrollment data is DUE soon – Friday, May 1! – MANDATORY (Gilpin County only send group enrollment data in October)

Remember – don’t worry if all enrollments are not entered by the May deadline.  This data collection is for internal purposes only, it is not sent to the National 4-H office.

1) You can send your data by regular mail (diskette, CD or Zip) or by email (WinZip). Instructions for sending data via diskette or zip can be found at: http://www.ext.colostate.edu/ye/help/backup_youth.pdf.  If you are burning your data to a CD, be sure your CD is a “CD/RW” drive not “CD-ROM.” Also make sure that the CD burning software is installed.  Instructions for sending your data via WinZip are located at: http://www.ext.colostate.edu/ye/help/winzip.pdf.  BE SURE WinZip is installed before you try this! (If not installed go to winzip.com and download the free trial — call the help desk @ 970.491.5351, if you need assistance).

2) Whether you email or use regular mail, EVERYONE must fill out and sign the Enrollment Verification Document: http://www.ext.colostate.edu/ye/forms/enrollverification.doc.  The following methods are used to determine the accurate numbers that are provided to accounting. For Total 4-H Club Members — open Blue Ribbon — Select ES237 |ES237 Verification — Check Members and Cloverbuds (this includes New, Return, and Terminated Status.) Click Preview — when the report has generated go to the last page and that is the total club number, which you then multiply by 5 and list on the first line of the enrollment verification document.  Special Interest numbers are found by Selecting ES237 | ES237 Statistical Report. Click “Test-Group Data” under “Testing Report” and member/Leader Stats” under “Report” type, click “Preview.” When the report is generated, look at “Page 1”, “Total Column” (Line #4 – Youth Participating in 4-H Special Interest/Short-Term Programs).  The total number is listed on the second line of the enrollment verification document.  The only printed report I need is the “Enrollment Verification Document.”  DO NOT print any ES237 reports, I only need those for October.

****PLEASE DO NOT SEND CHECKS WITH THIS FORM – PLEASE WAIT UNTIL ACCOUNTING SENDS YOU AN INVOICE****

3) If you choose to send your data via email, please fax the enrollment verification form to 970.491.7932. If you are mailing your data please send to me at 4040 Campus Delivery; Fort Collins, CO 80523-4040. – Joy Bauder, Database Systems Coordinator

Fort Robinson Horse Camp

Mark your calendar for this popular training event!  The camp will be held at historic Fort Robinson in Nebraska from June 11-13.  The registration fee is $40 and is due to the UNL Extension by June 2.  More detailed informationcan be found at:

http://www.colorado4h.org/Blog/docs/2009/09HorseCampRegistration.pdf
http://www.colorado4h.org/Blog/docs/2009/09HorseCampProgram.pdf

Contact Scott Cotton at 308.432.3373 or scotton2@unl.edu for other questions you might have. - Ellen Butler

AED Center for Youth Development (CYD)

Announcing A National Call for Promising Practices in Afterschool!
April 6, 2009 through April 30, 2009

The AED Center for Youth Development in Washington, D.C. is pleased to announce the Spring 2009 call for promising practices in afterschool. This round of best practice submissions for promising practices, we are focusing on “THE AFTER-SCHOOL LINK TO LEARNING.”  The latest trend in after-school is to extend the school day with informal learning that ultimately also supports success in school. Do you have innovative practices that integrate both in- and out-of- school learning?

If your program embeds promising practices that, for example:  1) help youth strengthen learning by offering experiences to build skills that support school success; 2) offer techniques for teaching the practical use of math and science in afterschool; and 3) use art and drama to better acquire rich vocabulary–AED would like the opportunity to recognize your work through this promising practices submission process. AED is especially interested in practical, hands-on activities that result in skill-building. The link between afterschool and learning runs the whole range from informal skill development and hands-on activities, such as food preparation that also teaches math and reading skills to neighborhood and community service projects that are highly experiential and give youth the opportunity to demonstrate skills that they are learning in the afterschool hours.

AED is collecting these promising practices as part of the Promising Practices in Afterschool (PPAS) System funded by the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation.  For more information, please visit www.afterschool.org and click on “Submitting Practices” or read on for answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).  Practice submissions received after April 30, 2009 will not be reviewed until the next call for practices, so be sure to visit soon!

FAQs

What is the PPAS System? The PPAS System identifies the good things going on in afterschool and provides a lens through which practitioners can better understand the promising practices that lead to positive outcomes for children and youth.  Through this process, they will learn to be more intentional about their work.  The PPAS System can be an integral piece of training and planning for afterschool staff who are committed to improving the quality of their programs.

What is the difference between a practice, an activity, and a program? A practice is the underlying rationale or process for an activity.  An activity is the way a practice is carried out.  A program is a set of many activities.

What is a promising practice? Promising practices are the good things that underlie the activities that go on every day in after school programs. They have indicators or evidence of positive results, and key people-such as parents, children and youth, program staff, community members, and funders-have determined they are contributing to the quality of programming and the well-being of children, youth, families, and communities.

Promising practices in afterschool programs lead to positive social, emotional, cognitive, physical and cultural outcomes and are culturally, developmentally, age-, and gender-appropriate for the children and youth in the program.

Who can submit a practice? Anyone who is working in an afterschool program or an affiliated organization, such as an intermediary organization or government agency, that works with afterschool programs.

How do I submit a practice? Go to  the www.afterschool.org portal and click on *Promising Practices.*  Under the *Promising Practives in Afterschool (PPAS) Database* header, click on *create an account.*  Then complete the eight sections to submit your Promising Practice. The process will take approximately 1 1/2 hours to complete.

What do I do if I don’t have access to the Internet to complete the application? Please call 202.884.8715 or send an e-mail to PPAS@aed.org to request a hard copy of the application or to have an MS-Word version e-mailed to you.

Who decides whether my practice is promising or not? A panel of trained volunteer peer reviewers reviews all practice submissions using criteria developed by the PPAS Advisory Panel. Peer reviewers rate each practice as either “promising” or as an “aha!”

What’s in it for me and my program? There are many benefits to submitting a practice for review. Here are the top three: Benefit #3:  You will receive detailed feedback on your practice from a group of trained peer reviewers.  Benefit #2:  If your practice is recognized as promising, you will receive:  An electronic copy of the PPAS logo to use on your program*s website, newsletter, letterhead, and other communications tools!  An official letter of recognition that can be used to support your program*s funding efforts!  Also, your practice will be part of the PPAS database, featured on the website, www.afterschool.org. And the biggest benefit to you and your afterschool program:  Benefit #1:  You will be helping to build the field of afterschool by sharing your practice with other program directors around the country!

For more information, please call 202.884.8715 or send an email PPAS@aed.org.

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