Mentors on the Move: Explore the Changing Season

4-H Mentors on the Move

Explore the Changing Season: Welcome, November!

"Two sounds of autumn are unmistakable, the hurrying rustle of crisp leaves blown along the street or road by a gusty wind, and the gabble of a flock of migrating geese. Both are warnings of chill days ahead, fireside and topcoat weather."
-Hal Borland
leaves

The trees are dropping their leaves and those that aren't already bare are setting the woods ablaze with their colors. There's a definite chill in the air and the winds are getting stiffer, reminding us to enjoy the last few warm days that spring up unexpectedly this autumn before winter's chill sets in this December and outdoor activities with mentees become a bit more challenging.

There is so much to do in November, from holiday preparations to academics, and it can be overwhelming to think about how close the end of the semester is and how fast the new year is approaching. Hopefully, you and your mentee can take some time this month to slow down and forget about all the potential sources of stress.

With harvest festivals winding down, you might not think there is much to do out and about in Michigan this month, however many communities begin their holiday celebrations with Thanksgiving parades, city holiday tree lightings, and events sponsored by local organizations. Libraries, museums, schools, and other nonprofits understand the restlessness that overtakes people young and old when the weather makes outdoor activities difficult. Check out your local newspapers, as well as your local Chamber of Commerce, for information on events in your area.

If there aren't any events in your area that are accessible to you, this is the perfect time of year to try an art project indoors or to try cooking or baking with your mentee. If baking is something you would like to try, you can start with this simple pumpkin muffin recipe.

Molly's Ridiculously Easy Pumpkin Muffins

Stuff you'll need: pumpkin with bee

12 cup muffin pan
Large bowl
Spoon
Muffin cups or shortening/butter
Toothpick
Oven mitt, towel, or hot pad

Ingredients:

1 (18.25 ounce) package spice cake mix

1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree

Optional: Cinnamon, brown sugar, and walnuts for muffin tops

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease the muffin pan with shortening or butter or line the pan with paper liners.

2. In a large bowl, mix together the cake mix and pumpkin puree until smooth. Spoon equal amounts of batter into the prepared muffin cups. If desired, sprinkle cinnamon, brown sugar, and walnuts over top.

3. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted in the center of one muffin comes out clean.

"Fallen leaves lying on the grass in the November sun bring more happiness than the daffodils."
-Cyril Connolly

Match Highlight: Meet Jamie and Jean.

Submitted by Laura Schleede, Extension Educator, Journey 4-H Youth Mentoring, Ottawa County.

Jamie and Jean together Mentor Jamie and mentee Jean have been matched through Journey 4-H Youth Mentoring since August of 2009. They are an active pair that loves to do all things competitive. Together, Jamie and Jean have competed in basketball, go-kart racing, arcade games, laser tag, weight lifting, and foot races, and the list goes on! The pair also tries to attend activities that Journey 4-H organizes for the Outdoor Challenge, events such as rock climbing and biking. Jamie admits that 17 year old Jean usually beats him when it comes to weight lifting and rock climbing. In addition to all that activity, they like to go out for burgers and sometimes decide to go see a movie.

Though theirs, like every relationship, has had its ups and downs, Jamie has been thrilled to see positive changes in his mentee. When asked what his favorite thing is about being a mentor, Jamie said, "It is seeing Jean grow. He has matured in the year that I've known him. He takes more responsibility for his actions, he makes an effort to get along with his family, and he's doing better in school."

When asked, Jean shared that his relationship with Jaime has helped him "become more responsible." Jean elaborated, "He's helped me learn how to handle bad or good situations." When asked what his favorite thing is about having a mentor, Jean said, "It gives me something to look forward to. I appreciate the advice Jamie gives me."

Jamie points out Jamie and Jean climbing that his mentoring relationship has forced him tolook more closely at himself in the mirror. He and Jean have talked with each other about things that they like or don't like in their lives and about the parts of their lives that they can and can't control. If Jean is unhappy about something, Jamie will ask him what steps can be taken to fix it. It is through these conversations with Jean, Jamie has had the opportunity to ask himself the same questions about his own life.

Jamie said that he hopes that their mentoring relationship has taught Jean that it is "ok to be an individual and that it's ok to not be just like everyone else." Jamie thinks Jean has become more comfortable with his individuality and now understands that "we're all a little weird... it's ok to just be who you are."

Activity Idea: Geocaching and Letterboxing

If you would like to pilot these activities or other 4-H Guided Adventure curricula, please contact Kristy Oosterhouse at oosterh6@msu.edu.

If you and your mentee are searching for activities to do this November, why not try a modern day version of a treasure hunt? There are two different types of treasure hunts that you could go on.

Geocaching

The first, and perhaps more popular treasure hunt, is called geocaching. Geocaching involves using a GPS unit to hide and seek containers, called caches, all over the world. To begin geocaching, visit www.geocaching.com to look up the locations of caches near you. Once you have found a cache you would like to search for, just enter the coordinates into your GPS unit and off you go! There are many different types of caches, including some that are in sequence so you have to find multiple caches to complete the challenge! The traditional cache usually includes a logbook for you to sign so you and other geocachers can see who else has found the cache. Sometimes there are even small treasures in the box for trade, but remember, if you trade items, you should trade something that is equal or greater value. For more information on geocaching, visit www.geocaching.com.

The second type of treasure hunt is called letterboxing, which has been in existence for over 150 years! Letterboxing is similar to geocaching in that you also hide and seek containers. You do not need to have a GPS unit to partake in letterboxing, though. All you need are the directions and clues to follow to each letterbox; in effect, all you need is your very own treasure map! Instead of signing a logbook, like in geocaching, you can create a personalized stamp with your mentee with which to stamp the logbook contained in each letterbox. For more information on letterboxing, visit www.letterboxing.org.

Save the Date! "Mentoring Night at the Palace", January 22nd.

Save the Date! "Mentoring Night at the Palace", January 22nd.
Mark your calendars for Saturday, January 22nd as the Detroit Pistons celebrate mentoring during their 7:30 pm game against the Phoenix Suns!

Tickets for the game are currently available and for every ticket sold through this website, Mentor Michigan will receive $5 that will go towards mini-grant funding opportunities later in the year. Note that when purchasing tickets, you will need to use the keyword "mentor".

Want to learn more about this exciting opportunity for you and your mentee? Check out Mentor Michigan's page on the event!

Thinking Ahead: College Corner.

Submitted by Kristy Oosterhouse, AmeriCorps Member, STOMP 4-H Youth Mentoring, Eaton County MSU Extension.

Did you know that, according to the U.S. Department of Education, 8 out of 10 youth of all socio-economic groups expect to attain a bachelor's degree or higher? Despite their aspirations, studies show that many low-income youth, as well as youth who are first in their families to pursue higher education, often lack the guidance they need to prepare for post-secondary education.

KnowHow2GO is a great resource for mentors to share with their mentees that provides information on preparing for college aimed at middle school through high school students. The website discusses why it is important to think about college at each step and outlines different topics to consider. For example, youth in their freshman year of high school have the perfect opportunity to start exploring all of the different options for post-secondary education. There are some great resources for mentors to use on the site as well, including a workbook that can be used by mentors and mentees together to help with preparing for college and suggestions for talking about college with your mentee.

Visit http://www.knowhow2go.org/ for more information!!!

Seasonal Craft: Hand Turkeys!

Thanksgiving approaches and so do the many Martha Stewart style design ideas for decorating your home- wreaths, autumn vases of dried flowers, twigs, and berries, orange and red tablecloths printed with cheerful turkeys, and many tips and tricks for making someplace just right to celebrate the holiday. But what if you don't want to celebrate the holiday with all that fuss? What if you and your mentee just want to sit down to a simple craft that you can hang on your fridge (or frame, if you're ambitious) and be done with it? What if you want to celebrate Thanksgiving with a turkey sandwich and something simple?

Well, then there's always hand turkeys!

Believe it or not, nobody is ever too old for coloring. Set a few pieces of paper and a box of crayons in front of most adults and the curiosity of what they could create will eventually overtake their "all grown up" sensibilities. There is something comforting about coloring.

There are a few different kinds of hand turkeys you can make. We're going to show you two of them here.

To make a hand turkey, you will need:

A hand or two (depending on which kind of hand turkey you are making)
A piece of paper at least the size of your hand
A pencil and eraser
A black marker
Crayons, colored pencils, markers, or anything else you can think of with which to color
Any other thing you want to add to your hand turkey

The first kind of hand turkey is the single-hand method. This is the kind of hand turkey most people have seen before. It is exceptionally simple to make.

Put your hand in the middle of the paper and trace it in pencil. Go over your pencil lines in marker. Erase your extra pencil lines
Give your turkey a wing, a beak, a wattle (the red bit that hangs down by the beak), an eye, legs, and feet.
Color your turkey and decorate as you like.

You can also make a hand turkey with two hands. It's not hard, but it takes a little more time and some folks haven't seen this one before. To make a two-hand hand turkey, follow these steps:

Place your hand on one side of a paper with your thumb pointing up in the middle and trace your hand in pencil.
Place your other hand on the other side of the paper with your thumb overlapping the thumb you already traced and trace that hand in pencil.
Get out the marker and trace the fingers, round off the bottom of the turkey, and create an oval where your thumbs were. Erase your extra pencil lines and give your turkey a beak and a wattle, eyes, legs, and feet.
Color your turkey and decorate as you like