4-H News:

Olson Family Tradition Continues at Fairfax County Virginia 4-H Fair

Jay and Justin Olson could be unofficial ambassadors for the Fairfax County 4-H Fair. Not only do they come from a long line of 4-Hers, tracing across states and generations, but they are fierce competitors, having taken home the high point trophy for the past five years. National 4-H Council marketing team member Gwyn Donohue met the Olsons when she attended the Fair August 6th.

“Jay and Justin are outstanding members of their 4-H club,” says Fairfax County 4-H Extension Agent Clyde Jackson, “and they work hard all year to prepare a wide variety of projects for the fair.”

Jay, who became involved in 4-H when he was eight years old, shows entries in the vegetables, woodworking, cooking, photography and food preservation categories. But vegetables are his favorite, not because he’s received grand champion vegetable every year for the last 5 years, but because he gets to eat what he grows. Jay has also participated in 4-H camp as a camper and a counselor, and this year taught a class in fishing.

Jay’s dominance of the vegetable category, proven by the numerous grand and reserve champion ribbons he’s collected over the years, could be at risk this year. His challenger? His brother Justin. Justin already has four years under his belt as a Clover Bud, and this year will enter the competition as a full 4-H member.

Jay and Justin’s interest in 4-H stems from their parents Steve and Susan Olson. Steve, whose father was a 4-H member in Minnesota, was a 10-year member in New York where he showed beef cattle, hogs, and vegetables. Susan was a 9-year club member in Iowa. Their parents served as club leaders for over 15 years.

Fairfax County is a suburb of Washington, DC. Their 4-H programs reach more than 7,000 youth with both in-school and community-based 4-H clubs. They have the largest teen enrollment in the state. Jackson reports that two new clubs were started this year, initiated by teens, because “Their friends told them how much fun they were having and how much they learned in the 4-H clubs in their schools.”

This year’s Fairfax County 4-H Fair drew more than 15,000 visitors.

Justin and Jay Olson (front row and third from left in second row) pose with fellow Fairfax County 4-Hers and Clyde Jackson, Fairfax County Extension Agent for 4-H (back row).
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Never Too Old for Camp

(Weston, WV) - Where can West Virginia 4-H youth gain leadership skills, expand on their abilities and talents, and have fun all at the same time? That would be Alpha II State 4-H Camp, located at WVU Jackson’s Mill in Weston, West Virginia; a place that campers can’t seem to get enough of. This is especially true for Amee Patel, a member of National 4-H Council’s marketing team who has been a camper there since 1995. This year, Amee spent her tenth summer at the camp, her first as a staff member instead of a camper.

The Alpha II State 4-H Camp is one of three WV state 4-H camps held each year at WVU Jackson’s Mill. More than 400 people attended Alpha II—directed by 4-H volunteer Barbie Little—this summer. Amee exclaimed, “It was fantastic to have such a huge turnout and that amount of energy and enthusiasm packed into one week…There was rarely an unscheduled moment for both campers and staff!”

Each day was composed of different activities used to educate and stimulate the minds of the campers. Campers were able to select one class each day during their week at camp. The classes varied from chorus, folk dancing, public speaking and included a leadership class called Alpha Apprentice. Every afternoon there were Leisure Education Opportunities (LEO’s), which consisted of different options that allowed the campers to learn a new skill, craft or sport. The campers’ daily routine also included meetings with their Grow Groups, which were comprised of children all the same age. These groups allowed the campers to participate in activities that helped them gain confidence as they shared their own interests and goals with their peers.

A large part of the 4-H camps in West Virginia is the incorporation of Native American traditions. The campers are divided into different tribes and meet each day to create songs, skits and other types of entertainment for Council Circle, which is a nightly campfire that everyone attends. Amee described this part of camp as the most memorable for her because it allows the kids to show their talents and wit to everyone at camp.

Amee, who grew up in Beckley, West Virginia, first became involved with 4 H in fourth grade. But it was her fifth grade teacher and first club leader, Jewell Graybeal, who was the major influence in her 4-H experience. Amee is truly grateful that she became involved in 4-H.

“The friends that I’ve made through 4-H and those that mentored me as I was growing up have kept me involved in 4-H and have influenced me in so many aspects of my life,” Amee shared. “Their friendship and support has been invaluable.”

Amee has found the 4-H camp experience to be so unique for youth because it provides them with the chance to build leadership skills and expand their minds. “It’s something that you rarely find…4-H reminds youth how important it is to be themselves, which is one of the most important things that I have learned from my 4-H involvement.” The great experiences that campers bring away from this camp are what bring 4-H youth back each year; their eagerness to grow and learn new skills is what truly makes the Alpha II State 4-H camp a wonderful place.

Amee with this year’s outstanding first year camper, James Kiger.
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ATV Safety Program Leader’s Guide Available

“ATV Adventures! Fit to Ride – A 4-H Community ATV Safety Program Leader’s Guide” is now available to ensure that 4-H ATV enthusiasts across the country continue to ride safely.

The new curriculum was funded by American Honda Motor Company, Inc. and Specialty Vehicle Institute of America. Copies have been distributed to the 22 sites that received the 2005 4-H ATV Safety Grants and more guides are available for purchase through the National 4-H Supply Service at http://www.4hmall.org.

The 116-page, full-color guide was created to help educators teach youth about ATV—which stands for all-terrain vehicle—safety. It highlights critical elements to consider when riding ATVs, including proper riding gear, determining the appropriate ATV size, managing the ATVs in the face of obstacles, maintaining control and riding the ATV with a clear head.

This guide is a valuable resource as more than 5,200 ATV-related deaths have occurred since the early 1980s.

For more information contact the 4-H Community ATV Safety Program by e-mailing atvsafety@fourhcouncil.edu or visit the Web site at http://www.atv-youth.org.
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2006 National 4-H Conference Planning Begins

(Washington, DC) - National 4-H Headquarters at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is pleased to announce the 2006 National 4-H Conference Planning Committee. Committee members will meet in September for a Conference Planning Retreat. The members are:

Barbara Anderson, Va.; JoAnne Baldini, N.Y.; Wyatt Baxter, Ill.; Brent Clark, W.Va.; Katie Daly, Del.; Claire Dixon, Colo.; Jim Frapwell, Calif.; Laticia Hopkins, Texas; Ashlea Hull, Ohio; Ellen Knapke, Ind.; Whitney Kupferer, N.M.; Victoria LeBlanc, La.; Ryan LeCloux, Wis.; Samantha Stevens, N.C.; Travis Bussey Stolk, Ore.; and Joe Wells, W.Va.

The 2006 National 4-H Conference will be March 25-30, 2006, with Capitol Hill Day on Wednesday, March 29. Known as the “Secretary’s Conference,” the National 4-H Conference is the premier youth development event for USDA. National 4-H Headquarters at USDA extends an invitation, on behalf of the Secretary of Agriculture, to Land Grant Colleges and Universities to send a delegation to the National 4-H Conference.

To learn more about becoming a delegate, contact your State 4-H Program Office. For questions about the National 4-H Conference contact Conference Coordinator Maria Parisi at mparisi@csrees.usda.gov or 202-720-8857.

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2006 4-H Source Books are Now Available

The 2006 Source Books are now available. If you have already ordered a 2006 4-H Source Book, it is in the mail! If you have not ordered a Source Book already, go to www.4-hmall.org to order your copy. For more information send an email to sourcebooklist@fourhcouncil.edu.
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Add the National 4-H Week Kit link to Your 4-H Web Site

Thank you Texas, Kansas and many other state 4-H Web sites who have added the National 4-H Week media and marketing communications tool kit to their state 4-H home pages! Make sure to pass the word to all 4-H clubs and county offices so National 4-H Week 2005 will be a hit!

National 4-H Week is Sunday, October 2 through Saturday, October 8, 2005. National 4-H Week welcomes you to connect with the 4-H community where young people across America are learning leadership, citizenship and life skills. This year's theme is Make the 4-H Connection.

How can you promote events going on in your community? What do you need to get it all done in time? Where can you hold an event? The National 4-H Week 2005 Kit contains a wide variety of media relations and marketing communications collateral to help you successfully promote National 4-H Week 2005 events and activities in your community.

To check out the kit click here.

The kit contains the following materials: activity guides, bookmarks, brochure, certificates, fact sheets, folder labels, interview information, letterhead, logos, name badges, news release template, newspaper ads, placemats, posters, proclamations, radio PSAs, table tents and many tips, resources and how-to guides.
Many of the materials are available in a version that you can easily save and open in Microsoft Word, customize with your community and contact information and print on color printers. All files are in .jpeg (graphics), Adobe .pdf and Microsoft Word. There is a link on the site to help you download the Adobe Reader software.

We hope you find these materials helpful and look forward to promoting National 4-H Week across the 4-H community. Once you have used the site, please take a moment to fill out our survey so we can make National 4-H Week 2006 even better!

If you have any questions, please contact Allyson McMahan at amcmahan@fourhcouncil.edu or 301-961-2915.

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Teamwork Promoted at H.S. Estelle 4-H and Youth Camp

(Prairie View, TX) - Wearing a harness and helmet, scaling the side of a 65 feet high wall and sailing down a zip line were just part of a normal day of activities for Destiny Johnson and Tangela White during their week long stay at the H.S. Estelle 4-H and Youth Camp in Huntsville, Texas.

The Cooperative Extension Program at Prairie View A&M University sponsors the camp annually for youth who do not have the opportunity to participate in a traditional camp setting. The camp is housed on 53 acres, and is a semi-rustic facility highlighted with nature trails and East Texas pine trees. This year's camp ran from June 27 to August 5.

One of the highlights of the camp is the Ropes Challenge Course, which promotes teamwork and gives campers self-confidence, according to camp director Allen Malone. The course, instituted in the camp two years ago, features high elements such as the rock wall.

Youth who attend the camp also fully participate in other activities, including fishing, horseback riding, arts and crafts, shooting sports, swimming and hiking on nature trails.

"We want to give as many young people as we can the chance to know what it's like to catch a fish, explore a nature trail, ride a horse and just experience the beauty of the outdoors," said Allen. "Fishing is a popular event for the participants because a lot of them have never caught a fish before, and there are a lot of fish in our three acre lake."

Kyanna Washington and Taylor Breedlove, elementary school students in Brenham, and Christian Mawete, a third grader from Houston, were just a few of the campers who caught fish during their stay at camp. "It was fun learning how to cast the line out to catch the fish," said Kyanna.

"Many of the youth who come to the camp have never ventured far from their local surroundings and really adapt quickly to the various activities offered at camp," says Allen. The campers also learn about 4-H and as a result, several of the youth who participate in the H.S. Estelle Camp have become active 4-H members.

Destiny Johnson, a 10th grader at Lamar High School in Houston, Texas, has been attending camp since she was eight years old. "I really like the Ropes Course," says Destiny of the many camp activities available. Destiny, a member of the 4-U, By-U, 4-H Club who has participated in 4-H Roundup competition, also aspires to be a 4-H ambassador.

Tangela, an eleventh grader at CLC charter school in Houston, has been coming to camp for three years. "I was a little scared at first of climbing the rock wall, but once I got started and my fellow campers encouraged me by saying I could do it, the rest of the climb and sailing down the zip line was fun."

"We will continue to provide positive camping experiences for young people at the H.S. Estelle 4-H and Youth Camp and encourage those youth interested in participating to contact their local county Extension agents," says Allen.

For more information about the H.S. Estelle 4-H and Youth Camp contact Allen Malone at 936-857-2227.

Tangela White climbs the rock wall at the H.S. Estelle 4-H and Youth Camp.

Christian Mawete proudly displays a fish he caught at camp.
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Maine’s “Techni-Kids on the Move” Use Computers in 4-H Healthy Lifestyles Project

The “Techni-Kids on the Move” project combined community service, physical and nutritional activities and new technologies to promote Healthy Lifestyles in Cumberland County, Maine. The youth worked with adults on these creative projects, which were funded by a $7,500 grant from Kraft Foods, Inc. in partnership with National 4-H Council.

The “Techni-Kids on the Move” project involved youth in two communities, one rural and one urban, in using geographic information systems and global positioning systems (GIS/GPS) and Web-based technologies to create environments supporting healthy community systems and promoting physical activity.

In Portland, 4-Hers and school groups created a community food map to display where foods are produced, grown and sold in the Riverton school district. This was done following a firm educational foundation in nutrition and physical activity completed as part of an enrichment project for students in grades 4 and 5 in the English as a Second Language class. The youth are also working on a community map highlighting seasonal physical activities for youth and families in Portland. This project has continued over the summer, thanks to committed adults and youth.

At the Bowdoinham Community School, 4-Hers also used GIS/GPS technologies to create a safe walking trail for use by students and the community along Route 75, a major roadway. Part of the trail goes to a raised bed garden plot constructed by the 4-Hers and adult volunteers to be handicapped-accessible so that any student in the school can participate in learning to grow vegetables. The youth are currently developing a Web site that shows how to build an accessible raised garden bed in great detail using digital photography. These young people are members of the Food Freaks 4-H Club who meet weekly to learn about nutrition, food and gardening. The final culmination of this rural project will be tours of the Route 75 Walking Trail and the handicap accessible garden by the club members as part of the annual “Celebrate Bowdoinham” event. A second indoor walking trail was also modified by the youth. Other projects completed by the Food Freaks included preparing an annual free community dinner using the vegetables they had grown and cooking healthy recipes throughout the year for students in the school to try.

“It’s a win-win opportunity” says Kathy Savoie, extension educator. “Involving volunteers and youth in community service projects such as these will help to create self-sustainable infrastructures within communities and increase individuals’ skill to adopt lifelong behaviors to foster healthier communities.”

Co-worker Lisa Phelps adds, ”This is a great opportunity for youth to learn about GIS/GPS technologies and to be involved in their communities. Community mapping will encourage outdoor activity and encourage healthy lifestyles.”

For more information about Techni Kids on the Move, contact Kathy Savoie at ksavoie@umext.maine.edu or Lisa Phelps at lphelps@umext.maine.edu or call 207-780-4205.

Youth and Adults work together to make raised beds for their Techni-Kids on the Move project.
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Oregon 4-H GIS-GPS Club Conducting Street Tree Inventory Project

(Hillsboro, OR) – The Washington County GIS-GPS Tech Wizard 4-H Club is partnering with the City of Hillsboro Planning Department to help train community volunteers and to conduct the city’s new Street Tree Inventory project. Using knowledge they gained from the ESRI Conference in San Diego, the 4-H club members are working with City Planner Doug Miller to train community volunteers to catalogue trees in their community.

With fall almost here, getting more than 12,000 trees along the streets of Hillsboro will need dedication and hard work, but the 4-H club is ready to go. They are already set up to train more than 400 community volunteers to help them get the job done on time.

The process will include cataloging the type, condition, size and location of the trees. But getting the job done is only one part of the project. The volunteers will be learning about urban forestry and GPS (Global Positioning Systems) at the same time.

Once data is collected, the youth will work to calculate and enter the data throughout the winter. The results will help the city qualify for Tree City USA designation, and will help give urban planners a baseline from which to plan maintenance schedules. The group will also be able to assess which trees do better in what kinds of locations.

The youth who are participating in the project will benefit from a variety of skills including community engagement, service learning and leadership. Once the project is complete, the 4-H club will help present the results to the city government.

With sponsors including ESRI, Intel Corporation and Foundation, Hewlett-Packard, Portland General Electric, City of Hillsboro, Hillsboro School district, Oregon State University Extension Service, and the Washington County 4-H Leaders Association, the project is truly a community effort.

For more information on this project contact Lisa Conroy at lisa.conroy@oregonstate.edu.

4-H Tech Wizard youth Lizbeth Gonzalez and Lovely Arceo gather data for the Hillsboro Street Trees Inventory project.
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4-H Historical Exhibit on Display in Ohio

(Wood County, OH) - A 4-H historical exhibit is being displayed at the Wood County Historical Center and Museum in Ohio. Thanks to the dedication of many 4-H youth and leaders, the exhibit is a chance for all in the community to see what great things 4-H has been doing for more than 100 years.

The Museum often hosts exhibits that feature prominent Wood County organizations. “We are thrilled to be hosting this wonderful exhibit," said Museum Curator Randy Brow. "The 4-H Club has been enriching the lives of Wood County citizens for many years, and it is only fitting that they are in the spotlight."

The Museum is open to the public April - October and selected dates in December. For more information please call 419-352-0967 or visit www.woodcountyhistory.org.

Volunteers Tim and Amanda Parish put together the 4-H camp display.
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Resources and Opportunities:

Internet Safety Campaign for Parents and Teens

To help parents and teens realize the potential dangers that exist on the Internet, NCMEC and the Ad Council recently rolled out a national campaign. It’s the second wave in a three year public service advertising effort designed to raise awareness about keeping children and teens safer online.

NCMEC recommends parents educate themselves on the technology, establish rules for computer use, know who communicates with their children and put their family computer in a common room. It’s also important that your children understand not to give out personal information or to meet in person someone they know only from online communication. Although installing the latest security gadgets on your home computer can be helpful, McBride points out that these steps are no substitute for dialogue and supervision.

To learn more about the campaign, find resources to help parents and teens, or report online solicitation, visit www.cybertipline.com or call 1-800-843-5678.
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Latino/Hispanic Farmers & Ranchers Conference

The 1st Annual Conference of the National Association of Latino/Hispanic Farmers & Ranchers, “Sembrando Raices: Building Leadership & Nurturing Our Legacy,” will be held at the Ramada Palms Hotel in Las Cruces, N.M. on August 25 through 28th. The conference is the culmination of many years of hard work by many Latino farmers groups throughout the United States who felt the need to organize and set an agenda for Latino farmers. .

For further information please contact: Rudy Arredondo, president and CEO at 202-628-8833. For exhibits and sponsorships, contact Jennifer Carter, NALHFR conference coordinator, at sanghacafe@starpower.net or 202-725-5912.
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Youth Grants in Entomology Available

The Coleopterists Society, an international organization of professionals and hobbyists interested in the study of beetles, has established a program to recognize young people in grades 7-12 who are also studying beetles. The Society has pledged to provide up to $300 each year for the Youth Incentive Award Program. In addition to monetary grants, award recipients will receive equipment credit from the BioQuip Products catalog and a subscription to the society journal, The Coleopterists Bulletin.

For more information, click here.

Applications for this year must be submitted by November 15, 2005.
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