If you are interested in becoming a 4-H Volunteer in Brunswick County, today is the last day to sign up for the August 24th training session. This training will be geared mostly towards starting a 4-H Club. Potential volunteers will be required to submit a 4-H Volunteer Application and receive a reference and background check. Contact Leslie Kammer, 4-H Program Assistant, at leslie_wilson@ncsu.edu or 910-253-2610 for more information or to sign up.
Mary Silliman works at a tree-planting in Apex with fellow Robocats 4-H members.
4-H Million Trees was launched in Pacifica, Calif., to help combat global climate change and reduce CO2 in the atmosphere by mobilizing the 7 million 4-H youths across North America to plant 1 million trees. The project now is one of eight honored by SeaWorld/Busch Gardens for outstanding efforts to protect and preserve the environment.
4-H’er Mary Silliman was one of three youths selected from nationwide to attend the April awards ceremony in Tampa, Fla. Mary is a member of the Robocats 4-H Club in Apex and daughter of Dr. Ben Silliman, 4-H and Youth Development associate professor and specialist in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, N.C. State University.
Read the entire article from the Perspectives Magazine.
photo courtesy Ben Silliman
There was an excitement in the air on Friday November 13th 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.
Planning in conjunction with Brunswick County’s Fall Clean Up Week, twenty-three 4-H youth and parent volunteers joined together on Oak Island Beach on Saturday, September 19th to set their “hands to larger service” by helping to clean the environment and beautify the beach. 4-H agent, Blair Green, remembers one parent telling her that they figured the beach would be fairly clean and at first look it seemed okay, but it’s amazing what kind of trash they found when they actually started looking for it. Trash bags in hand, it was a great example to see young people involved in their community and the youth admitted they felt a sense of pride for their efforts when they completed the cleanup project.
This year’s 4-H Entertains Talent Show was full of youthful talent and enthusiasm. The judges had an extremely hard time picking the best out of a field of sixteen “super stars”. Winners were Joshua and Mary Ellen playing a mandolin and violin duet. Also winning this year were Bryan and Justin as they “jammed” on the keyboard and drums. Alternate this year is Sammi who sang. The two acts will advance to District Activity Day. All the acts were great including singers, Katie and Alexis; clarinet duo, Hayley and Savanna ; a piano medley by Carlyn; dancers, Sammi and Janzen; jump-roping Bobbi Jane and cheerleaders, Amber and Rosie. Also, thanks to our judges; Susan Morgan, Jill Puckett & Nicole Mitchell, from the Extension Office.
Bryan on the Keyboard
Sammi Sings
Katie Sings "I Like It, I Love It"
Carlyn on the Keyboard
Joshua and Mary Ellen Advance to District Activity Day.
Brunswick County 4-H Presents 148 "Green" Foods for the NC 4-H Centennial
In honor of the North Carolina 4-H Centennial, Brunswick County 4-H is sponsoring a “Green” Food Drive. The goal is to donate 100 non-perishable items (all green for 4-H) to commemorate 100 years of 4-H. The Drive began on March 1st and will continue until March 30th during the 4-H Talent Show. The club that donates the most food items will receive a pizza party at their next club meeting, sponsored by the 4-H office. Individuals can also make donations. Food items can be dropped off at the Cooperative Extension Office at the government complex, Building N. Nearly 50 items have been donated already, but we need your help to reach our goal! The green items will be donated to the Brunswick County Family Assistance Program.
2009 year looks to be even more exciting for the program as we celebrate our 4-H Centennial! This is the time of year that the 4-H’ers are completing their project record books, cumulative record books and various other projects for county competition. We all know that judges are a vital part of this process.
Our judges are one of the reasons that our youth can excel from their constructive comments to help improve their skills. That is why we are asking for your help and we are expecting a larger number of records to be turned in than last year.
Because we view this as training for volunteers, we invite you help judge even if you are new to 4-H. Again, this year, we are going to encourage you to invite your Senior Teen 4-H’ers (17 and older please) to participate in the Project Record Judging. We feel that they can be a great resource and this will serve as a great learning experience for them. If judges can only come one day, we suggest Saturday for Projects and Monday for Cumulative. We will do a quick orientation each day to help prepare new volunteers.
Below is a schedule for the weekend. For agents and volunteers who can stay for the weekend, we will provide lodging. Due to budgets this year we cannot provide travel and some meals.
PROJECT RECORD JUDGING: March 27-29, 2009 State 4-H Office – 512 Brickhaven Road, Raleigh, NC 27695
CUMULATIVE RECORD JUDGING: March 30- April 1, 2009 State 4-H Office –512 Brickhaven Road, Raleigh, NC 27695Directions will be sent to those who are judging.
-Sarah Kotzian
Extension 4-H Assistant
Email Leslie_wilson@ncsu.edu if you would like to volunteer by February 27th.
Two local 4-H’ers will be clocking in a number of hours in the weeks ahead at the Sea Biscuit Wildlife Shelter in Oak Island, North Carolina. Perry Grosch, 16, and Stefanie Zapf, 14, both of Oak Island are volunteering at the Sea Biscuit Wildlife Shelter, which cares for injured or orphaned shorebirds. In 2007, the shelter treated 153 birds; 59 of which were from Oak Island. There were 55 different species admitted including 11 pelicans, 19 gulls, 9 loons, 8 gannets, plus raptors and waterbirds of every description. The pelicans are usually in rehabilitation as a result of injuries caused by fishing hooks.
Stefanie holds a pelican at the Sea Buiscuit Wildlife Shelter.
Perry holds the pelican while the wing is immobilized.
When doing your Christmas cards this year, take one card and send it to this address. If everyone sends one card, think of how many cards these wonderful special people who have sacrificed so much would get.
When you are making out your Christmas card list this year, please include one the following North Carolina’s VA Hospitals.
*Asheville VA Medical Center
*% Volunteer Services
1100 Tunnel Road
Asheville, NC 28805
*Durham VA Medical Center*
% Volunteer Services
508 Fulton Street
Durham, NC 27705
*Fayetteville VA Medical Center**
*% Volunteer Services
2300 Ramsey Street
Fayetteville, NC 28301
*Salisbury – W.G. (Bill) Hefner VA Medical Center*
% Volunteer Services
1601 Brenner Avenue
Salisbury, NC 28144
