All posts by Serena

Announcements & Breaking News, Of Interest, Opportunities

Virtual National Youth STEM Summit

National Youth STEM Summit: Mars Basecamp
November 6-8, 2020

The Delaware 4-H Program will support Delaware 4-H youth and volunteer leaders/staff to attend the virtual National Youth STEM Summit.

The National Youth STEM Summit caters to high school aged
students who are curious and industrious. Your team of astronauts is stranded on Mars. Your supplies are dwindling. How will you survive, and how will you return to Earth? At the 2020 STEM Summit,
students will work with peers and group leaders on a variety of workshops and exercises built around solving this main problem. Each collaborative exercise will test and strengthen both the STEM skills and the teamwork and collaboration it takes to solve complex problems in the real world – and on Mars.

This Summit is open to any high school student in grades 9-12 as of September 2020.

Delaware 4-H members must complete an application (attached) to be considered to attend this virtual conference.
This application is due to Doug Crouse by Wednesday, October 14, 2020.
Email application to: de4h@udel.edu

STEM Summit 2020 Application

National-Youth-Summit-on-STEM-2020-Agenda

Crafting

Craft Corner

Try this fall themed craft!

Here is a fast and easy way to make a beautiful arrangement for fall. These toilet paper roll pumpkins are fun to make!

Items needed
15″ by 15″ square of material (fall colors in both solids and prints work well)
Roll of toilet paper
Piece of batting long enough to go around toilet paper roll
2 brown pipe cleaners
2 green pipe cleaners
1 brown paper lunch sack

Instructions
1. Put batting around toilet paper roll.
2. Lay material wrong side up on work surface.
3. Place roll of toilet paper in center of material.
4. Starting with any corner, pull material up around toilet paper roll and tuck into center of roll.
5. Continue to tuck material into roll until all material is tucked.
6. Fold brown paper lunch sack in half.
7. Roll the lunch sack until it looks like a stem. Tuck it into the roll of toilet paper where you put material.
8. Curl pipe cleaners on a pencil.
9. Tuck pipe cleaners into toilet paper roll around lunch sack so that they look like vines.
10. Make several using different materials and have a pumpkin patch you can admire year round! To make it look more real, place leaves around pumpkin bottoms and tuck one or two into toilet paper roll.

Announcements & Breaking News, Of Interest, Opportunities

Tractor Supply Paper Clover Campaign

October 7-18

Tractor Supply stores in communities across the country have long supported 4-H clubs, and now, Tractor Supply Co. has entered into an official partnership with the National 4-H Council as your source for 4-H project supplies.

100% of funds raised benefit 4-H. 90% fund State level scholarships to 4-H camps and leadership experiences and 10% supports National 4-H Council for administration. Tractor Supply Company guarantees a minimum donation of $200,000 per Paper Clover Campaign (or $400,000 a year).

Each Spring and Fall, Tractor Supply will help raise money for 4-H programs with the Paper Clover Campaign, a national in-store fundraiser that benefits 4-H programming.

Please visit www.tractorsupply.com for info on how you can donate.

Agent Letter

Agent Letter

September Images, Stock Photos & Vectors | Shutterstock

Hello 4-H Family,

 

This Summer sure has flown by and I’d like to welcome everyone to a new 4-H year! As it will look different this year, please know that we are working hard to bring you activities online- for now-and to move events that we are trying to still hold in-person to later in the 4-H year. We will do our best to communicate all changes as soon as we get them and appreciate everyone’s flexibility.

Some of the upcoming events: Judging Contests, State Archery Contest and Lawn Tractor Driving Contest will complete the Fair contests and will be held safely in person (social distancing practices in place) during September. Please make sure to sign up for the Archery contest and Tractor Driving. Record books and Diamond Clover forms are due September 18th, you can either Dropbox, email or drop them off in person to the physical drop box on the side door of the Extension office. Please also hold the date for the Achievement Banquet on Sunday October 4th starting at 2pm, this will be held via Zoom.

This September, we will be migrating to an upgraded version of our membership system, 4-H Online.  In order to ensure all re-enrollments take place in the upgraded system, Delaware 4-H enrollment and re-enrollment for the 2020-2021 year will start on October 1, 2020.  More information and re-enrollment guidelines will be shared with members soon.

We love to hear all of the great things you are doing with your club members; club reporters don’t forget to submit your club news to Serena by the 25th of each month to be included in the newsletter.

Be sure to look at our online newsletter, emails and Delaware 4-H Facebook for updates, news and challenges- we realize we’re working in a world of information overload, but things are constantly changing and we are trying our best to keep you informed. Please make sure to sign up for events, both county and statewide. Thank you for continuing to be patient and on the lookout for changes.

If you need anything, please reach out, I am always here for my 4-H families and happy to help with anything you need during this time.

Yours in 4-H,

Kaitlin Klair

Extension Educator, 4-H

kklair@udel.edu

Announcements & Breaking News, County 4-H News, County Events & Contests

Tips for submitting Record Books and Diamond Clover via DropBox

This year, 4-H’ers are encouraged to submit their Record Books and Diamond Clover via Dropbox. All are due on September 18.

Please see instructions and Record and Project Book forms below and contact Kaitlin with questions.

If you are unable to submit via Dropbox, Kaitlin will be setting up office hours so that you can drop off directly to her. Please contact her to make arrangements.

Delaware 4-H Record Book Form

Delaware 4-H Project Book Form

Info on Diamond Clover Final Reports

NCC dropbox tip sheet

Announcements & Breaking News, Delaware State Fair, Opportunities

2020 Virtual State 4-H Clothing & Textiles Showcase

As you are aware, the State 4-H Clothing & Textiles Showcase event was not able to take place during the recent Delaware State Fair.  As we continue to plan various state 4-H events, we have made the decision to coordinate and conduct the 2020 State 4-H Clothing & Textiles Showcase through a “Virtual Showcase.”

The major components of this event will take the following format:

  1. Participants will be asked to complete the 4-H Clothing & Textiles Showcase application. This application can be found on the State 4-H Website under the section:  Contest and Event Information (and then under Clothing and Textiles Showcase).  The information is currently being updated on the website and will be available to retrieve shortly.

 

  1. Participants will be asked to develop a script (as they would do each year) that will be read when they wear and model their garment in a video that each participant will be asked to produce. Guidelines on how to develop a script can be found in the application document.   In is expected that scripts for younger youth will be shorter than those for older youth.   In developing this script, participants should limit the length to a minimum of 30 seconds and a maximum of 60 seconds.

 

NOTE:  Since we plan to upload these on our website and to use on social media, we ask that you introduce yourself using your FIRST NAME ONLY.  Please do not use your full name in your script.

 

  1. Participants will be asked to produce a video of them wearing and modeling their garment. While they are doing their modeling, participants should have someone read their script.  NOTE:  All videos should be done in a HORIZONTAL mode (not vertical).  The completed video should be uploaded to UD Dropbox using the following directions:
  • Send videos via UD Dropbox
  • Click the “Drop-off” button.
  • Enter your information in Box 1.
  • In Box 2 for recipient email, enter: de4h
  • Upload your file in Box 3 and then hit the “Drop-off the file(s)” box.

 

  1. Participants will be asked to bring their completed Clothing Showcase garment along with their completed application to their respective County 4-H Office on September 30th. Specific times for drop-off of these items will be shared by your County 4-H Office.

 

  1. The State 4-H office will coordinate the judging of the garments with designated judges.

 

  1. The State 4-H Office will coordinate all videos submitted into a combined video. This combined video will be shown on a Zoom session that will be scheduled on Thursday, October 15th at 6:30 pm.  The Zoom link connection will be provided prior to the event to all participants.  We hope that all participants as well as their families can join to participate in this Zoom session, but attendance is not mandatory.    Awards will be announced at the end of the session.  The combined video will also be shared later on our State 4-H website as well as on our social media pages for additional audiences to view.

 

  1. Awards will be presented based on the 4-H Danish system with each entry receiving a ribbon. Each blue ribbon will entry receive a $15.00 monetary premium.  Any monetary premiums awarded will be mailed out to participants by the Delaware State Fair at a future date.  Please be aware that we will not utilize an Honor Court system for the 2020 Clothing Showcase event.

 

  1. Garments will be returned to your respective 4-H Club Leader for further distribution to the 4-H members.

 

2020-Information-on-County-Clothing-and-Textile-Showcase

 

4-H Contact for Questions:

Doug Crouse, State 4-H Program Leader

dcrouse@udel.edu

(302) 233-1750 (Cell)

Announcements & Breaking News, County 4-H News, County Events & Contests, Opportunities

Yard Sign Contest

Design, create, and display a yard sign promoting 4-H to our community during the COVID 19 Pandemic.

Signs will be judged using the following criteria:

  • Message creativity
  • Artistic design
  • Adherence to contest rules

 

Entries:

E-mail 1 high quality photos or PDF to County Agent by September 28th.

Photo 1 – Close up picture of sign only

Winners will be announced on during national 4-H week.

 

Recognition:

  • 1st & 2nd place winners in each division will move to the state fair
  • All 4-H’ers that submit entries will receive 4-H ribbons

 

Divisions:

  • Division 1

Individual 4-H yard sign

  • Division 2

Club or Group 4-H yard sign

 

Contest Rules:

  • Signs must be 18 X 24 inches.
  • Signs may be horizontal only.
  • Signs may be made by any 4-H’er or by a team of members
  • 4-H Clover must be on front of board – do not place text or other images over or on top of it. No photo, drawing, symbol, word or other figure or object may be placed on or obscure the 4-H Emblem.
  • Well known cartoon figures such as Sponge Bob, superheroes, etc. cannot be used because they are copyrighted.
  • *Late entry photos will not be accepted.
Announcements & Breaking News, Of Interest, Opportunities

4-H in Action

A special suppliment to the Delmarva Farmer by 4-H’ers for 4-H’ers

 

While the coronavirus has changed so much of our lives, we know
4-H youth are still active and have stories to tell.
Share those stories in 4-H in Action!

What is 4-H in Action?

4-H in Action is an annual newspaper written by 4-H members from Delaware, Maryland and Virginia, showcasing the diversity of the program. 4-H members can write stories, columns, and take and submit photos for the supplement.
In support of 4-H Youth Development, a portion of the advertising revenue will be donated to the 4-H Programs in each of the states.

What is the format of stories to be included?

News Story:

This is an article about an event/happening/experience/person written in the 3rd person point
of view. Length is about 500 words.
Example: A reporter interviewing 4-Hers about the impact of their County Fair having to cancel.

Opinion/Editorial :

The author’s opinion on a topic or issue supported with facts. Example: A 4-Her’s opinion on the power of 4-H on youth.

Column :

A story told from the first person point of view, with opinion, reflection. Example: What Virtual 4-H Camp meant to me this summer.

News Brief :

Short article announcing small news. Covers the basics — who, what, where, when and why. 100-200 words. Example: A new 4-H club forms in your county.

Feature photo:

A picture with a longer caption. Caption has 2 or more sentences explaining the photo and giving context. Example: Photo of projects you completed during the year.

How do you participate? Where do I submit my article?

When articles are complete, email them as a Word document to Sean Clougherty, sean@americanfarm.com
Attach high-resolution photos separately in the e-mail. Include your County, 4-H Club name and age in the message. You can also reach Sean with questions at 410-822-3965 or sean@americanfarm.com.

When is the Deadline?
Articles and photos are to be submitted by Monday, September 23, 2020
Scheduled publication date is October 6, during National 4-H Week.

Awards & Recognition, Of Interest

Club Spotlight

Phillip C. Showell Afterschool Club

4-H afterschool program at Phillip C. Showell Elementary School has been an integral part of the Indian River School District for the last four years. Federally funded by the Nita. M Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers program, this afterschool program is not your traditional 4-H.

With our 21st CCLC programs, we strive to improve academic performance and school attendance, improve the connection between the school and i’s families, and increase the capacity of participants to become productive adults.

The program meets every Monday-Thursday during the school year, from 2:35 until 5:45. Each day at the program, participants are provided with opportunities for physical activity, extensive homework help and remediation, a free meal, and all kinds of STEM and Art’s activities.

We also offer a full day program for eight weeks each summer. The summer program includes all the fun of the afterschool program, while also adding in a big day at the Delaware State Fair, field trips to places like Assateague Island, Jungle Jim’s, and Killens Pond State Park.

To cap it all off, each year, about ten of our students who best exemplify Head, Heart, Hands, and Health, are chosen to go on a three day trip to the 4-H National Conference Center in Washington D.C.

Although COVID has forced us to close our program for the last few months, each Friday throughout the summer, we have been delivering STEM kits, 4-H goodies, and other fun things to our students. We have enjoyed making the best of an unfortunate situation this summer, but we are looking forward to getting back to school this fall and being all together once again!

Announcements & Breaking News, Opportunities

Delaware Virtual Dance Challenge

 

Delaware Youth Dance Challenge

When: Friday, September 18, 2020

Where: Join The Stream @HTTPS://TINYURL.COM/DEDANCE

Time: 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Video Requirements:

Video Submission Awards (winners announced day of event, September 18th)

 

1.      Elementary

2.      Middle School

3.      High School

4.      Family

 

All Amazon gift cards emailed directly to participants.

 1st 2nd 3rd
$50 $35 $20
$50 $35 $20
$50 $35 $20

$20

(each family member up to 5 people)

 

 $50 (total) $25 (total)

First 10 4-Hers to submit their videos will receive a $100.00 gift card. Please email Lindsay Hughes (lgooden@udel.edu) to verify your submission or for more information.      

 

 

Delaware State Fair, Opportunities, Youth Leaders

Delaware State Fair Junior Board Now Accepting Applications

The application period is now open through September 25, 2020.

There are six (6) open positions on the 12 member board. This opportunity to serve is available to youth ages 16-21 (as of 10/31/20) and once appointed, the term is for two (2) years. Members are required to contribute a minimum of 30 volunteer hours before and during the Fair. The purpose of the Junior Board is to develop leadership and interpersonal skills as well as expose youth to the many facets of The Delaware State Fair. A brief interview to take place in mid-October will be required. The application form can be obtained on the Delaware State Fair’s web site www.delawarestatefair.com (click on General Info / Jr. Board) or by calling Rebekkah at the Fair Administration Office – 302-398-3269.

Adult Volunteer Leaders

DE 4-H Foundation Club/Group Financial Aid

This is just a friendly reminder that the next deadline for requests to the Delaware 4-H Foundation for Club/Group financial aid is October 1, 2020.  

The Delaware 4-H Foundation is a non-profit organization supporting the 4-H program.  Financial Support Requests will be accepted twice a fiscal year:  March 1 and October 1

The applications will be reviewed and awarded at the discretion of the Board of Directors.  The attached form must be submitted electronically to de4h@udel.edu.  Notification of the receipt of the request will be confirmed within 72 hours to the contact person named on the request.  Once a decision has been made, the contact person will be notified of the Board’s decision.

This information can also be found on our website here:  https://www.udel.edu/academics/colleges/canr/cooperative-extension/personal-economic-development/4H-youth-development/about-4h/de-4h-foundation/

Agent Letter

Agent Letter

Hello 4-H Friends and Family,

I cannot believe it is already August- this summer has flown by even with the situation we are in. It was not a typical Summer with 4-H, but we made it work and I hope you participated when you could! We appreciate all of our families being flexible and patient as we navigate these new waters!

Congratulations to the following, who took on leadership roles this summer at the following camps. They all did a great job converting camps to a virtual platform:

4-H State Camp –

Matthew Trunfio, 1st week Turtle Echo

Jordan Harmon, 1st week Bear Echo

Hunter Willoughby, 1st week Thunderbird Voice

Jenna Harmon, 1st week Thunderbird Echo

Clara Watson, 1st & 2nd week Big Feet Voice

Day Camp Counselors –

Grace Ferry, Ava Ferry, Sydney Pyle, Cole Simpson, Matt Trunfio, Angelo Sisofo, Zeke Dichicrio, Chase Beck, Liam Jones, Katerina Kourpas, Brandon Tang, Savannah McMullen, Nicholas Ruggeri, Noah McDerby, Scott Lockard, Matthew Guariano and Sydney Phipps

 

4-H Activity Restrictions:

  • As we review the current COVID-19 situation, we need to update all clubs that current 4-H programming restrictions will remain in place until further notice.  This decision is made out of an abundance of care and with the priority of protecting the health and safety of our 4-H participants, families, volunteers and staff.  We will continue to monitor the current situation and advise club leaders as soon as any 4-H programming can begin again with our youth.
  • Please be aware that virtual programming is still acceptable.  We are all in this together and want to provide as many activities as possible to continue to make a positive impact on our youth members!

This September we will be migrating to an upgraded version of our membership system, 4-H Online.  In order to ensure all re-enrollments take place in the upgraded system, Delaware 4-H enrollment and re-enrollment for the 2020-2021 year will be pushed back and start on October 1, 2020.  More information and re-enrollment guidelines will be shared with members by early September.

Be sure to look at Delaware 4-H Facebook for news and updates. Thank you for continuing to be patient and on the look out for changes and upcoming dates. We know you are constantly inundated with emails lately, but please make sure to open emails from us as we will continue to email you with updates as they happen. If you are not receiving emails, please let Serena know and she can check your permissions in 4honline.

If you have suggestions, concerns and new ideas please reach out to me via email or call. I am here to listen and hear about what you want to talk about!

Yours in 4-H,

Kaitlin Klair