4-H News:

New Jersey 4-H Afterschool Club Visits Washington, DC

CHEVY CHASE, Md.—A recent visit to our nation’s capital brought lessons on American history and citizenship alive for members of the Landis Middle School 4-H Afterschool Club in Vineland, N.J.

The fifth through eighth-grade students had never been to Washington, D.C. prior to their trip in early December. Many are either immigrants to the United States or have parents who moved to America.

Siblings Mark and Dariya Grosheva moved from Semsk, Kazakhstan, less than a year ago. Being a part of the 4-H club has helped them meet new people – students they would not have met otherwise. “I really liked coming to Washington and seeing the museums,” said soft-spoken Dariya. “4-H has been really fun for us. We like the people we have met.”

During their stay, the 4-H members spent two full days exploring historic sites, collecting memorabilia and taking photos to share with friends and family back home. Although they only had one night in Washington, the youths had a chance to jump right into the main attractions including the war memorials, presidential monuments, Arlington National Cemetery and the Smithsonian museums. They even had a chance to relax back at the national home for 4-Hers – The National 4-H Youth Conference Center, where they stayed during their trip.

Eighth-grader Sergio Feliciano has always seen clips of Washington, D.C., in movies and was excited to see the sites in person. “I love history so this was a really great opportunity,” said Sergio. “The Tomb of the Unknown Solider was really moving.”

4-H members had a chance to sit down with Donald T. Floyd, Jr., president and CEO, National 4-H Council, which operates the National 4-H Youth Conference Center for the 4-H youth development movement, during breakfast in the Clover Café. The youths told Floyd about their 4-H club and their trip to Washington, D.C. “That was the highlight of my day,” said Floyd. “Spending time with 4-Hers always starts my day off right.”

Abimael Santiago mastered the National 4-H Youth Conference Center game room on Thursday night after dinner. “Playing in the game room was a lot of fun. I’ve never been to place like this before!” Abimael said.

The National 4-H Youth Conference Center is open year-round for 4-H groups to stay close to the nation’s capital. With a game room, bunk-style dormitories and a full cafeteria, it is the only conference center in the Washington, DC metro region geared toward young people. To plan your next 4-H trip to Washington, D.C., visit www.4hcenter.org.

CHEVY CHASE, Md.—National 4-H Council President and CEO Donald T. Floyd, Jr. met with members of the Landis Middle School 4 H Afterschool Club during their visit to The National 4-H Youth Conference Center and Washington, DC.
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4-H Hurricane Relief: Share Your Efforts and Make an Impact!

Across the nation, the 4-H movement has come together like never before to provide relief and support to states which were devastated by hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma. Countless dollars, hours, and resources of all shapes and sizes have been contributed by 4-Hers, their parents, volunteers, and staff. Not only have these efforts touched so many lives, but they are the untold story of how 4-H continues to live up to the H’s of Head, Heart, Hand and Health!

Help us tell your story! An online survey is available on 4-HUSA.org to capture and catalog hurricane relief efforts of those in the 4-H program. Please visit www.4husa.org/HurricaneStory to complete the survey and share your story of how you have participated in hurricane relief efforts. Any and all relief efforts can be included—whether you made a personal donation, worked with your 4-H club to collect items for those in need or participated in a special project of support. Please take a few minutes to complete the survey, AND be sure to share this announcement with your colleagues and friends in 4-H!

Thank you in advance for your time and effort!
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4-H In-School Teaches Students Life Skills

WOOD COUNTY, Ohio—Students in the Wood County 4-H In-School Program participated in the “4-H Quilts in the Classroom” curriculum on Thursday, December 8, 2005. While gaining life skills, the Conneaut fourth grade elementary students worked with their teacher Barb Belleville and local 4-H leaders to sew quilt pieces which will be combined into one large quilt.

The curriculum helped the students practice their math skills and design their own quilt pattern before mastering the sewing machine. With help from 4-H In-School volunteers Shirlee Bostdoff and Erin Bechstien, and master sewing volunteer Rita Trumbull, each student sewed together their own quilt block and signed it.

"Quilting allows students to incorporate many subject areas. We use this project to emphasize history, mathematics and science, and, of course, allow them to practice the basic skills of sewing and creativity," says 4-H Extension Program Assistant Jenny Morlock.

In February, Jenny will return to the school with the blocks the students made. Then, they will work together to combine the blocks to create one large quilt. Once the quilt is completed, the class will donate the quilt to a community service organization they select.

The fourth graders enjoyed their experience. "I learned how to use a sewing machine which will be really helpful in the future," said Kassie Memmer.

“4-H Quilts in the Classroom” is a new project being explored by the Wood County 4-H In-School Program in Ohio. Mrs. Belleville's classroom quilt will be on display in the 4-H building at the county fair in August before being donated to the class’s chosen organization.

WOOD COUNTY, Ohio-4-H Mentor Erin Bechstein assists Donte' Hernandez in sewing his quilt block.
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Add your 4-H Program to the Helping America’s Youth Database

Helping America’s Youth is a White House initiative led by First Lady Laura Bush that seeks to help children and youth avoid trouble and lead successful, productive lives. At the White House Conference on Helping America’s Youth held in Washington, DC on October 27, 2005, Mrs. Bush formally announced the release of a new Community Guide to Helping America’s Youth which can be found on www.helpingamericasyouth.gov.

The guide features a database of effective programs that can be searched by risk factor or protective factor. There is an open call (no deadline) to submit programs for review and inclusion in this database. We would like to encourage all 4-H programs to consider submitting an application to be considered for this database.

For more information about how to submit a program, please click here. Programs in the database will be in the pool of programs under consideration for personal visits from Mrs. Bush and other forms of national recognition.
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Garfield 4-H Comic Strip Print Helps Wisconsin 4-H Raise Money for NAE4-HA

One of the 54, hand-signed and numbered Garfield 4-H comic strip prints is being offered for sale by the Wisconsin 4-H Foundation. Proceeds from the item, currently for sale on Ebay, will be used toward the 2006 NAE4-HA Conference. If you, or anyone you know, would like to purchase the framed print, click here. Contact the Wisconsin 4-H Foundation with any questions at 608-262-1285.
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NFL Wristbands and CD Benefit JCPenney Afterschool Fund

Are you ready for some FOOTBALL? What better way to show your spirit than to sport your favorite NFL team's official wrist bands during the season? JCPenney is the exclusive retailer of the official NFL wrist bands that are sure to be the hit of the summer. Each set sells for $2.39 and includes two wrist bands in the team's home and away colors. All net profits from the sale of the wrist bands and NFL royalties go to the JCPenney Afterschool Fund, which provides support to after-school programs such as 4-H Afterschool.

JCPenney is also selling Kenny Chesney’s new CD, “The Road and the Radio,” at stores nationwide. All net profits from the sale of the CD at JCPenney stores will be donated to the JCPenney Afterschool Fund to support after-school programs throughout the nation.
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Resources and Opportunities:

For Youth, By Youth Web Site Reaches Out to Displaced Youth

GenerationPULSE, an effort headed by Boston College faculty and students, is mobilizing young people nationwide to reach out to youth displaced by Katrina via a new Web community. It is an immediate way for youth to create community for other dispersed youth. To participate, displaced young people or those who want to reach out to them can submit writings (e.g, essays, journal entries, poems), visual arts (photos of paintings, drawings, even doodles) or photography. Submissions can focus on some aspect of Hurricane Katrina or on other topics related to youth culture. For more information and to learn how you can participate, visit: www.bc.edu/genpulse.
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Farm Safety 4 Just Kids Leadership Conference

The Farm Safety 4 Just Kids Leadership Conference will be held in Johnston, Iowa, from March 10-11, 2006. The theme, "Back 2 Basics," will help attendees learn ways to effectively teach farm safety. Tracks will be designed to help both youth and adults learn hands on approaches to make farm safety fun and educational. Farm Safety 4 Just Kids is bringing it back to the basics of farm safety to make sure a solid foundation for education is based on research and proven teaching concepts. For more information, call (800) 423-5437 or visit www.fs4jk.org.
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