New Junior Master Gardener 4-H Club in Southport November 30, 2009

 

JMG Mantis Mascot

There will be a new Junior Master Gardener (JMG) Club meeting at Southport Elementary starting in January, on the 2nd & 4th Tuesdays each month at 3:30pm.  Contact club leader Jennifer Ray at 910-278-7856 for additional information. There is no fee to join, handbooks will be provided at no cost to the member.

 

If your child has a green thumb or enjoys playing in the dirt, Brunswick County’s Junior Master Gardener Program might be just what they need.  Each of the new club leaders are Brunswick County Master Gardener Volunteers and have received six hours of 4-H volunteer training in addition to their Master Gardener certification.  The Junior Master Gardener (JMG) program is an international youth gardening program of the Cooperative Extension network, modeled after the highly popular Master Gardener program. The JMG program engages children in “hands-on” group and individual learning experiences that provide a love of gardening, develop an appreciation for the environment, and cultivate the mind.

 

The program is available for youth currently enrolled in grades 3-5.  For information about the Junior Master Gardener Program, please visit their website at jmgkids.us

 

New Online 4-H Curriculum! November 24, 2009

4-H Filmmaking Studio:

http://projects.4-hcurriculum.org/curriculum/filmmaking/

On the homepage you’ll find workshop modules to assist you with making your own film.  Practice with your camera, tell your story, and upload your film to share with others.

 

4-H₂Online:

http://4-h.org/b/Pages/Layouts/4h2online.html

4-H₂Online – a community for youth to learn about water quality, water conservation and watershed issues. Throughout this site you’ll find 4-H’s “Exploring Your Environment” Grab-n-Go’s and information on how youth nationwide are addressing water issues in their communities.

 

The Power of the Wind:

Check out 4-H’s newest renewable energy and engineering Curriculum, The Power of the Wind. The Power of the Wind Curriculum is part of the National 4-H Curriculum Collection, signifying its excellence in providing hands-on learning experiences for youth. It is designed for middle school aged youth to learn about the wind and its uses.

 

Project Butterfly WINGS:

The newest SET curriculum, “Butterfly WINGS”, was developed by the University of Florida. Through this project guide, youth in grades 4-8 learn about environmental science, citizen science, butterfly biology, identification, habitats, and monitoring.

State Council Conference: We Are 4-H: Past, Present, & Future November 23, 2009

Representing Brunswick County at the State Council Conference

 

 

Six Brunswick County 4-Hers attended the annual 4-H State Council Conference for youth ages 13-19 in Raleigh, NC.  This year’s theme was “We Are 4-H: Past, Present, and Future” and the conference focused on how 4-H has changed from its beginnings, where it is today and where it will head in the future.  The workshops focused on careers and entrepreneurship as well as leadership, citizenship and team building workshops.  Our county delegates completed several requirements of the 4-H Ambassador program.  The mission of the North Carolina 4-H Ambassador program is to empower teen 4-H leaders with the knowledge, skills, and aspirations necessary to be effective advocates for NC 4-H Youth Development.  Participants were Perry Grosch, 17 of Oak Island; Janzen Jones, 13 of Southport; Samantha Lawrence, 14 of Southport, Kendrick Morgan, 17 of Supply; Bryan Simmons, 16 of Supply; and Justin Simmons, 17 of Supply.

Family Fun Volunteers Contest November 18, 2009

Does your family volunteer together? FamilyFun wants to hear about what it is you do — and why! Tell FamilyFun about your family’s commitment to service and your family (or nominee) could win up to $5,000 to donate to the charity of your choice! With judging help from HandsOn Network, FamilyFun magazine and Disney are giving away four grand prizes of $5,000 and five first-place prizes of $500 to each winner’s favorite charity. All families participating in the contest will receive a FamilyFun Volunteers’ certificate. The contest ends November 30, 2009.

http://familyfun.go.com/magazine/2010-familyfun-volunteers-contest-797298/

 

4-H’ers have Warm Hands & Warm Hearts November 16, 2009

There was an excitement in the air on Friday November 13^th as 13 local youth participated in the Warm Hands, Warm Heart community service project sponsored by Brunswick County 4-H at the NC Cooperative Extension Center.  The eager 4-H’ers (ages ranging from 5 to 14) listened intently to instructions from 4-H Volunteer Jane Kulesza on how to construct fleece mittens, in a variety of fabric patterns and colors.  The mittens, in both youth and adult sizes, will be donated to First In Families of Southeastern North Carolina.  The goal of First In Families is to support people with developmental disabilities and their families to create the lives they want now and in the future.  4-H is proud to support our local chapter.

Holiday Cards and Goody Packages for Our Troops November 6, 2009

The U.S. Postal Service has announced its recommended mailing dates for delivery by Christmas to our U.S. military troops serving overseas at APO/FPO addresses.  Holiday mail for our U.S. troops stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan should be sent by Dec. 4 for arrival by Christmas.

North Carolina National Guard

The NC National Guard Family Readiness Program has shared the following for holiday mailings to our troops.  Along with the holiday mailing information, they have provided 5 military personnel contacts in which the holiday cards and goody boxes can be sent.  All goody packages will be shared with everyone in the units.

CH LTC Phil Glick

HHC, HQS, 30th HBCT

FOB Falcon

APO AE 09361

CH CPT Melissa Hale

HHC, 230^TH BSB, 30^TH HBCT

FOB FALCON

APO AE 09361

CH Thomas Watson

COP Meade, HHB 1-113 FA

APO AE 09361

CH CPT Mike Allen

HHT 1/150th ARS

APO AE 09322

CH Lt. Matt Ward

HHC 12 CAB, 30th HBCT

FOB Mahmudiyah

APO AE 09322

 

North Carolina Army Reserves

Mr. Danny Hill, Family Program Director with the Army Reserves has agreed to mail holiday cards and goody boxes  from his office.  He asks that all cards and packages be sent to him no later than 1 December 2009.  This way his office can sort and package all items being sent.

Mr. Danny R. Hill

Family Program Director

Army Reserve

108th Training Command (IET)

1330 Westover Street

Charlotte, NC 28205

 

For goody box ideas, check out
http://www.nc4h.org/military/index.html
Then scroll down to Wish List Items for Soldier Care Packages.

Inside the Four H’s November 5, 2009

What is 4-H?

Whether you are a first year 4-H club volunteer or returning for your 50+ year to lead your 4-H club team, you will be asked questions that require you to look inside the 4-H organization. Beyond the 4-H Pledge you recite at every club meeting you will need to share how 4-H is a community of young people across America learning leadership, citizenship and life skills through fun group experiences. Look into the H’s to discover why and how to make a 4-H volunteer difference.

You may be asked by a new member’s parent to share how your club puts into action the 4-H motto “To Make the Best Better” or to explain to a local stakeholder how 4-H is “Making a Difference” in your and your members’ lives.  Here is some information to help you teach and engage your members, their families and the community in learning about the 4-H organization.

What’s inside the four “H’s”?

Head, Heart, Hands and Health serve as a friendly reminder of the 4-H Mission to create positive environments for diverse youth and adults to reach their fullest potential as capable, competent, caring and contributing citizens.

Your 4-H club serves as the primary outlet for developing the life skills and 4-H values centered within each “H”. Your knowledge of the entire 4-H organization’s structure will enable youth to access programs beyond the club and tap into a century of positive youth development experiences from NC Cooperative Extension’s 4-H Program.

What should I know about the 4-H organization?

1. Look inside the 4-H Organization’s Structure to discover your 4-H club’s connection to National 4-H Council, U.S. Department of Agriculture, North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service, and your county commissioners.

2. Understand the Mission, Vision and Values of the National and Ohio 4-H Programs in order to achieve educational and organizational goals to positive youth development.

3. Value the importance of the Eight Key Elements to Positive Youth Development in all 4-H club experiences.

4. Find out North Carolina 4-H History to share with others, whether for a club meeting, a news paper release, a local exhibit or just for personal knowledge.

5. Learn the 4-H Pledge, how to teach the pledge using appropriate hand motions and how to put the pledge to work for your club and members’ personal and team achievements.

6. Recognize the 4-H Motto, Colors, Creed and Emblem and learn how the emblem is protected and its use restricted under Federal law.

http://www.advisorshandbook.ohio4h.org

6 Ways to Volunteer November 4, 2009

Community Club Advisor
Advise a diverse group of 4-H members, (usually in one geographic area) enrolled in a variety of projects.

Project Club Advisor
Share your skills, talents and special interests in a single project area. For example: clothing, dogs, rabbits, horses, bicycling, computers, woodworking, photography, etc.

Cloverbud Advisor
Lead children, in grades k-2, through hands-on learning activities, as they develop social skills, learn and grow.

School Enrichment Volunteer
Teach a short-term 4-H curriculum to a class (or classes) of school children.

Short Term Volunteer
Teach a special interest program, and/or assist a 4-H group with a special project.

Teen Volunteers
Serve as a teen leader, camp counselor, and/or as a junior fair board member.

http://www.ohio4h.org

 

Warm Hands, Warm Heart Community Service Project November 2, 2009

On Friday, November 13, at 9:30 am we will be offering a fleece mitten sewing workshop.  Participants will make two pairs of mittens, one to keep (or give as a gift).  The second pair will be donated to First in Families of Southeastern North Carolina, an organization that supports individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. Whether you have sewing experience or not, please join us for this fun community service project.   All materials will be provided; however, if a participant wants mittens of a particular color, he or she should bring a small quantity of fleece (1/4 yard will do).   Registration cost is $3.00.  Please call the 4-H office & register by November 10^th or send an email to blair_wooten@ncsu.edu    Note:  The First Families of Southeastern North Carolina organization also gladly accepts any gently used “teenage” toys:  videos, old game systems or games, old computers. 

Brunswick County 4-Hers fair well at NC State Fair Turkey Show

Grant Wallace

Turkeys are often the first thing that pops in your mind when you start talking about the Thanksgiving holiday season, and turkeys were definitely on the mind of many youth on Friday, October 23^rd.  However, they weren’t thinking about eating them, they were in the process of showing them.  Over 190 youth gathered at the North Carolina State Fair to show off their top turkey hens they raised while participating in the North Carolina Youth Market Turkey Show Program.  Brunswick County 4-H youth once again rose to the occasion and made a strong showing at the competition.  In the Gobbler division (ages under 9), Kammie Strickland placed 3^rd and Amelia Apple placed 11^th.  In the junior division (ages 9-13), Harrison Nobles placed 3rd, Kaylan Strickland placed 3rd, Elaina Nobles placed 5th, Grant Wallace placed 8th, Angelique Apple placed 12th, and Alexis Apple placed 14^th.  In the senior division (ages 14-18), Elizabeth Mintz placed 3^rd along with Sydney Nobles, whose hen topped the scales at 23.4 pound and won 2^nd place.

This event actually begins in late May when individuals receive their day-old turkey poults that the 4-H agent picks up from North Carolina State University’s poultry facility.  Over the course of 5 months, each youth is responsible for raising 1 to 4 poults.  When October rolls around, they enter their best turkey in the contest in Raleigh.  On the first Friday of the North Carolina State Fair each participant is placed in a class with 15 or less competitors.  Each youth hand shows their own bird and answers questions from the judges.  The overall weight of the turkey, the muscling in the breast and legs, and how well each participant has taken care of their bird are all evaluated. The ribbons & placement money are awarded to each class participant and first place winners in each class compete in an overall class to compete for grand champion.  Visit the state 4-H poultry program website for more information about the Youth Market Turkey show.

Sydney Nobles

Kaylan Stricklan