4-H NEWS

1-Satellite Details for Essential Elements of 4-H Youth Development Presentation Announced

Cathann Kress, Ph.D., Director of Youth Development, National 4-H Headquarters, CSREES, USDA, will present The Essential Elements of Youth Development live via satellite from West Virginia University at 4 p.m. Thursday, September 30, 2004. The Essential Elements presentation communicates a visionary strategy for the future of youth development education,

The Essential Elements include engaging youth in the academic environment of America's 105 state land-grant universities. Teaching knowledge and life skills that enhance the quality of life and create opportunities to promote positive youth development--often in challenging community environments.

The presentation will be made during the Fall 2004 meeting of National 4-H Council's Board of Trustees in Morgantown, WV. At this meeting West Virginia University President David C. Hardesty will be named as the first university president to serve as chair of the National 4-H Council Board.

The satellite details are as follows:
Satellite: AMC 9
Coordinates: 85 West
Downlink Band: 12040Mhz
Polarity: Vertical
Transponder: 17 (ku band)
Audio: Mono 6.2 & 6.8

For technical questions, contact Ray Miller at West Virginia University at 304-293-1306, ext. 6# or ray.miller@mail.wvu.edu.

4-H America's largest youth development organization is a community of young people who are learning leadership, citizenship and life skills. 4-H serves more than seven million youth.

For more information about Dr. Kress presentation, contact Ann Bailey Berry, WVU Extension Communications, at Ann.Berry@mail.wvu.edu.
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2-Blog How-To: Tips from an Expert Blogger

Blogs, or online journals, are excellent and affordable communications tools for 4-H. Uses include showcasing 4-H club achievements, creating a unique place to promote 4-H events and offer an affordable alternative to traditional websites for county 4-H offices.

Blogs are easy, inexpensive and popular, especially among young people.

Often I am asked how to set up a blog. First, let me say that I am not a technical expert on the subject. I can only share information acquired within the 4-H system. Please note: that I do not endorse any of the companies presented here. I am just passing along what I've learned.

To set up a blog, you will need the following --
1. Web address or URL. You register URLs on an annual basis; there are several places to register. I use register.com simply because it's easy. (although there are cheaper places.) When registering a web address, I suggest choosing a "dot-org" extension. For example, "your4hname.org."

2. Hosting service. You will need a hosting service where your blog will reside. There are a bazillion hosting services out there. I have had good luck with M6.NET. In fact, the 4-H site -- 4HUSA.ORG -- is hosted there as well as my blog. For a blog, you will only need their Micro hosting service at $4/month. I signup for a year and avoid the setup fee. Makes for very affordable web hosting.

3. Activating the web address or URL. Once you have signed up with a hosting service, you will need to activate your URL with that specific service. It's essentially telling the entire Internet where your site lives. The hosting company will provide directions for doing that. It's very easy and activation normally takes about 72 hours.

4. Blog software. Unlike a website, blog software resides at your hosting site, not on your computer. The software for my blog and Clover Corner News comes from MoveableType. The software is free if you want to install it yourself. I HIGHLY recommend that you pay the people at MoveableType their reasonable fee of $70 to setup your blog.

That's it! You can get a blog up and online within a week. And, remember, it's a terrific communications tool for promoting what you are doing in 4-H.

--Special Thanks to David Henderson, Senior Vice President of Strategic Communications, National 4-H Council.
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3- Lights on Afterschool! is Flipping Switches Everywhere!

Lights on Afterschool! is ahead of the game with participation from 4-H Afterschool programs in communities across the country for the October 14th event. This is the only event across the nation to celebrate Afterschool programs. The goal is to inform the public about after school programs that keep kids safe, help working families and improve academic achievement. With 192 4-H-involved sites have guaranteed their participation, the program is shooting for 350. There are already over 2900 registered sites. Only four weeks remain until the registration deadline. Sign up for your site today,the program cannot slow down! Visit the following website to sign up,: http://www.afterschoolalliance.org/loa_2004/get_involved.cfm


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4-4-H Well Represented at ESRI Conference in San Diego
Submitted by Brad Anderson, Tennessee 4-H Member

(San Diego, CA) - The National 4-H program was well represented at the annual ESRI (Environmental Systems Research Institute) International Convention held in San Diego, California last August. The National 4-H GIS-GPS (Geographic Information Systems Geographic Positioning Systems) Leadership Team consisted of over forty-five leaders and 4-H members, from across the nation, selected from a pool of applicants last spring.

The conference has been in San Diego annually for the last 18 years. It is hosted by ESRI, a leading GIS software companies. Over 13,000 education, business, and government professionals from around the world attended. The 4-H group not only attended workshops and training sessions, but also hosted presentations about 4-H GIS projects. On Sunday night the 4-H Team hosted an informal reception for GIS professionals to become familiar with 4-H, its programs and identify opportunities to form partnerships and collaborations. The reception also provided an opportunity for delegates from each state to share ideas.

The National 4-H GIS-GPS Team is working on a number of local and national GIS projects across the nation. Our key national project is 4-H Youth Favorite Places, an activity for youth to identify and post information on favorite local places using GIS, GPS, digital photography and their own experiences. This will result in an online database of great spots to visit throughout the country. Everyone was impressed by our work , many wanted to know how they could be involved. In case you, too want to be involved, here's how you do it. Please go to our website at www.youthfavoriteplaces.org, or pick up a brochure at the NAE4HA Conference later this fall.

ESRI's generous sponsorship , allowing us to waive the registration fee, made the conference possible for the 4-H team. Funding for lodging, travel, and meals was collected locally by most of the delegates. The Blue Shirts, as we became known because of our blue 4-H Tech Team shirts, were well received. Many great contacts and partnerships resulted and great results are expected.

While in San Diego outings to the zoo, beach, Balboa Park and the Gas Lamp Quarter added fun and gave us an opportunity to develop lifelong friendships. 4-H has already been invited back to next year's conference! If you are interested in representing 4-H next year, or if you would like to find out more about the exciting things that 4-H is doing with GIS technology, please go to our website http://www.4-h.org/tech/gisgps


Jack Dangermond, President of ESRI, meets with 4-H GIS-GPS team.


Jim Geringer, fmr. Governor of Wyoming; Judy Martz, Governor of Montana; Tom Tate, National Program Leader for Community Technology for 4-H; and Brad Anderson, Tennessee 4-H youth, discuss the latest on GIS technology.
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5-Idaho 4-H Offers Support for Military Youth

(Mountain Home Air Force Base, ID) Idaho Operation Military Kids, a partnership between 4-H, the University of Idaho, National Guard and the Idaho Army Reserve, was featured in the Military Times this week. The program, one of many throughout the nation, was created to provide military youth with a community while their parents are deployed. To view more information on their program go to: http://www.agls.uidaho.edu/4-H/MilitaryKids/militarykidsindex.htm

The article, written by the Idaho Associated Press, focuses on the stresses that children face while their parents are deployed. Programs, such as OMK, help children of National Guard and Reserve soldiers deal with their parents service overseas. You can view the article by clicking here.
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6- City Girl and Country Girl Share Fun and Culture with 4-H Japanese Exchange Program
Submitted by Betsy Fradd, Washington State 4-H

(Graham, WA) It might have been charades, or possibly the Uno Attack game. For two teenagers who barely speak each other's language, games are a way to have fun. Gabrielle Barber knew she wanted to host an exchange student and be able to share her way of life. It's fun to get to know another culture, said the 14-year old Graham resident. Ayuko Niwa, 13, smiles and listens intently. She traveled from her city Nakagawa-ku, Japan to her host family's rural 10-acre farm, which is home to nine miniature horses and nine full-size horses. Ayuko's wishes were to ride a horse, swim in a lake and make American friends during her month-long stay.

Gabrielle's mother, Teri, says Ayuko is caring and soft-spoken. We use the translation book every day. Please teach me is one phrase we all use a lot, explained Barber. She, and fifty-five other families, are taking part in this summer's Washington State University 4-H International Exchange program. Japanese students attend school 11 months of the year and their time here is an opportunity to learn about American life and immerse themselves in English. The parents in Japan who send their kids here want them to have a larger view of the world, said WSU 4-H International program coordinator Carol Beckman. They believe in order to succeed in a career their children need to learn our language and become familiar with American culture.

Both teens were matched according to their interests and knew they had a lot in common before meeting. Basketball, swimming, reading, music and shopping for clothes were high on the each girl's list. Participating in family life is the program expectation. Each day the girls get up, feed the horses, then plan their time together. Sometimes they may just run errands or relax around the farm. Other times, a local trip highlights the day. Visiting the Space Needle, collecting sand dollars at Tolmie State Park and going to Point Defiance Zoo were special times the teens shared together.

As a 4-H family the Barbers wanted to make sure Ayuko was included in other 4-H activities. Gabrielle and Ayuko made apricot jam and entered it into the Pierce County Fair. Smiles were all around when they found they earned a blue ribbon for their efforts.

Games and gifts arrived with Ayuko from Japan. She brought fans and a kimono for us, explained Barber. And she taught us a bean bag juggling game, a chop stick game, a string game and games with a top where you have to balance it on your finger.

Food has become a focal point. Ayuko's favorites include pizza, hot dogs, cocoa puffs and s'mores. The teen also took a turn in the kitchen and prepared a traditional Japanese dish called Oyako Donburi, consisting of chicken, beef, fried spinach, rice and eggs.

The long-term benefits of the program are important to Teri Barber. We get to learn about her culture and she has hands-on family life in our home. The girls interact with each other and learn from each other. It's not T.V, said Barber. The different languages are all part of hosting. Even though communication is hard, you have to be patient. Even if you don't speak the same language it's a lot of fun and good experience, said Gabrielle.


From left to right: 4-Her Gabrielle Barber and with Japanese exchange student Ayuko Niwa stand with one of the Barber family's miniature horses.
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7-Storm-Damaged Tree Becomes Award-Winning 4-H Project
Submitted by Kansas State 4-H Extension Staff

(Hutchinson, KS) Good deeds sometimes bring unexpected rewards.

Such is the case for the King and Spradling families in Montgomery County, Kansas. After a windstorm, Montgomery County 4-H member, Justin King and his father, Kevin, helped longtime neighbor and friend, Charlie Spradling, clean up a downed walnut tree. As a thank you, Spradling offered the wood to Justin for his 4-H woodworking projects.

That thoughtful gesture prompted another this time on Justin's part.

When Charlie, a Korean War veteran, died unexpectedly, Justin decided to use the walnut from the tree to make a display box for his friend and neighbor's memorial flag and campaign ribbons.

Justin worked more than 30 hours on the 4-H woodworking project, earning a purple ribbon at the Montgomery County 4-H Fair and a state fair blue at the Kansas State Fair. Justin plans to give the display box to Spradling's widow, Delores.

Charlie was a good friend to me and I miss him, he said.

King is in the sixth grade. He is the son of Kevin and Lois King and a member of the Happy Hustlers 4-H Club.
Click here to view the story.


Justin King's award-winning memorial flag box.
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8-World's Largest Thanksgiving Dinner Benefits Hurricane Victims

At a time when most kids were planning to start a new school year, carefully selecting first-day-of-school attire and packing lunchboxes, residents of the Southern United States and the Caribbean were also packing. However their packing was of a different sort: they packed to escape one of the largest natural disasters in American history. Hurricane Ivan left these residents sifting through the rubble of their previous lives, hoping to salvage what the unstoppable winds had not shattered. As they made plans for rebuilding what had been destroyed. The recovery process will be lengthy, with more than a million people in 14 states without power in Ivan's aftermath.

America's All-Stars, an organization devoted to building outstanding character in K-12 schoolchildren, is planning their annual, student-run, nationwide event-- the World's Largest Thanksgiving Dinner. Proceeds from the dinner will provide financial support to the hurricane victims. Last year, the inaugural event brought together organizations, schools, community and business leaders to help those in need. This year, America's All-Stars plan to take it a step further and donate all the money raised to The Salvation Army and American Red Cross to supplement disaster relief.

The school-based fundraising event takes place on November 18th, and can involve any school in the community. America's All-Stars has created a Dinner Planning Toolkit to help groups plan their particular events. Each has the freedom to plan their event as they choose decorations, site, special entertainment, and food are up to them! The only stipulation is that the event must be held on November 18th. Each dinner represents part of a major nationwide effort.

Your school has the opportunity to help the victims of this year's terrible natural disasters and be an integral part of the largest Thanksgiving dinner in the world. Click here to find out more.
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RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES

9- Make an Afterschool PSA for Lights On Afterschool! And Win a Digital Video Camera

Danny De Vito, Rhea Perlman, TV's Judge Glenda Hatchett, and the music director of American Idol want to know what youth have to say about Afterschool.

Consider developing youth Public Service Announcements (PSAs) as part of your Lights On Afterschool!

The Alliance's Youth PSA Contest has been extended through November 30, 2004. This is a great chance for youth to express their feelings about afterschool. A PSA might answer one of the following questions:
What do youth want the community, the nation's leaders, or their peers to know about afterschool programs or the after-school hours?
What do they think youth should be able to do after school?
What does participating in afterschool programs mean to them?
What would they do if there were no program?
Should all youth be able to go to a good afterschool program?
Why should anyone care?

Youth can create a print ad or poster, write a radio script, produce a TV spot or develop a web banner about afterschool.

Gold, Silver and Bronze awards will be made in two age categories, 9-12 and 13-17.

Winners of the Youth PSA Contest will receive a digital video camera.

Click for: Contest Rules 9-12, Contest Rules 13-17

For more information, visit www.afterschoolscene.com


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10-Harvard University Releases New Publications on Out-of-School Time Evaluation

Harvard Family Research Project (HFRP) has released two new publications on evaluating out-of-school time (OST) programming for kids.

In the "Issues and Opportunities in Out-of-School Time Evaluation" series of briefs, HFRP has published brief number 8, entitled "Promoting Quality Through Professional Development: A Framework for Evaluation." This brief examines OST professional development efforts and offer a framework for their evaluation. Read it or download the Acrobat version at:
http://www.gse.harvard.edu/hfrp/projects/afterschool/resources/issuebrief8.html

In the "Out-of-School Time Evaluation Snapshots" series, HFRP has published snapshot number 5, entitled "Detangling Data Collection: Methods for Gathering Data." This new Snapshot describes the common data collection methods used by current OST programs to evaluate their implementation and outcomes. Read it or download the Acrobat version at:
http://www.gse.harvard.edu/hfrp/projects/afterschool/resources/snapshot5.html

Hard copies of either of these publications can be requested by emailing hfrp_pubs@gse.harvard.edu or calling 617-496-4304.

Both of these publications series will continue through 2006. To be notified when they are available sign up for HFRP's OST updates email at: http://www.gse.harvard.edu/hfrp/subscribe.html
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11-Getting Kids Physically Active

The VERB Anytime Doubletime promotional kit gets kids moving with a program that offers special rewards and recognition for being physically active. It provides the ideas, suggestions and ready-to-use materials for use in community-based organizations across America. It can be tailored to fit different group needs and customized to add new ideas too. Kits can be viewed, downloaded, and ordered by clicking on materials at: www.cdc.gov/verb. VERB Anytime Doubletime kits are free of charge while supplies last. Kids will have a great time becoming more active and increasing physical activity among their peers.


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12-Help Develop Civic Learning in Schools

The primary goal of the Campaign for the Civic Mission of Schools is to improve and increase civic learning in New York City schools, grades K-12. Called the Campaign for the Civic Mission of Schools at the Academy for Educational Development, the Campaign show-cases examples of high-quality K-12 civic learning practices and resources.

To help this effort you can: nominate and submit example(s) from your work and publicize this opportunity to others in your professional network. Examples that align with the approaches recommended by the Carnegie Corporation-CIRCLE Civic Mission of Schools report are especially needed, including:

Instruction in government, history, law and democracy
Class discussion of current local, national, and international issues and events
Community service and service-learning linked to curriculum and class instruction
Extracurricular opportunities to get involved in the school and community
Participation in school governance
Simulations of democratic practices and procedures.

All submissions are welcome, including examples at the local, pilot, and national level. An advisory group will review the submissions and select examples that will be assembled into an inventory, hosted on the Campaign website and promoted through Campaign media. The online inventory is designed primarily to inform policymakers and practitioners what actual civic education can and does look like in real schools, but the public will have access as well.

To submit an example of high-quality civic education, please complete the form at http://www.civicmissionofschools.org/submissions.html

For more information email: submissions@civicmissionofschools.org, or call: 212-367-4615
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13-Agriculture in the Classroom National Resource Directory

The Agriculture in the Classroom (AITC) National Resource Directory, accessible on the internet at www.agclassroom.org/resources, now includes over 800 reviewed and approved educational materials about agriculture! This on-line directory helps educators locate high quality resources about agriculture for pre-K through 12th grade and non-formal audiences, available from suppliers and publishers across the country. The site is hosted by New York Agriculture in the Classroom and the Cornell Educational Resources Program in the College of Agriculture & Life Sciences at Cornell University and supported by CSREES-USDA and the National Ag in the Classroom program.

The resources in the directory cover a variety of agricultural subjects, and include lesson plans, children's literature, CDs, videos, posters, kits, and instructional websites. The educational material is searchable by title, agricultural content, grade level, academic subject, price, supplier, media type and area of the country addressed in the resource. Materials can then be easily ordered on-line. All materials included in the AITC National Resource Directory have been reviewed and recommended by educators on the AITC National Review Team or by AITC State Contacts.

Please share this information with teachers, farmers, and other educators who may be interested. If you have questions, you can contact Beth Wolf, the coordinator for the AITC National Resource Directory, at 607-254-7442 or eaw32@cornell.edu.
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