"Today is the day when bold kites fly,

When cumulus clouds roar across the sky.

When robins return, when children cheer,

When light rain beckons spring to appear.

Today is the day when daffodils bloom,

Which children pick to fill the room,

Today is the day when grasses green,

When leaves burst forth for spring to be seen."

-Robert McCracken, Spring

Spring is in the air!  Warmer weather is on its way, which means that the green things are beginning to grow again and birds are singing.  March 20th signals the first day of spring.  If you and your mentee are itching to get outside after spending winter doing indoor activities, check out the President's Challenge below to get moving!  Spring is also the perfect time to start planting flowers, herbs, and vegetables for the summer.  Visit a local community garden and watch as it transforms from its wintertime slumber into beautiful green plants--or start your own plants in containers! You could even bake cupcakes and decorate them to represent your favorite things about spring--green grass, pretty flowers, or singing birds! 

Springtime Cupcakes

Ingredients

1 cup white sugar

1/2 cup butter

2 eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 & 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 & 3/4 teaspoons baking powder

3/4 cup milk

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.  Line a muffin pan with paper liners.  In a medium bowl, cream together the sugar and butter. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then stir in the vanilla.  Combine the flour and baking powder and add to the creamed mixture, mixing well.  Stir in the milk until the batter is smooth.  Pour or spoon batter into the muffin cups.  Bake for 20-25 minutes.

After the cupcakes are cooled, its time to decorate them!  Use your imagination--use green frosting and jelly beans to make a nest, try designing a flower with the frosting, or top the cupcakes with a Peep!

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

Its time to beat those winter blues and welcome spring-time!  What better way to do that than by moving!

 As part of 4-H's involvement with the Let's Move campaign, 4-H National Headquarters has started a group to take the President's Challenge together.  The President's Challenge is for one million Americans to complete the Presidential Active Lifestyle Award (PALA).  4-H is answering this call by setting a goal to have 100,000 4-H members and their families complete their PALA.     The Presidential Active Lifestyle Award recognizes those individuals who log their recommended physical activity for six weeks, five days a week (60 minutes for youth, 30 minutes minimum for adults).

 Signing up for the 4-H group is simple. All you have to do is register. It's quick, and there's no cost to participate!

HOW TO JOIN: 

1) Go to http://www.presidentschallenge.net/login/register_individual.aspx

2) Fill out the registration form.   

3) When you arrive at your personal dashboard page, click on the groups tab and join the 4-H group. 
Your Group ID Number: 96548    

Your Group Name: National 4-H Program  

 4) After registering, start logging your activities. As you log activities you'll be able to track your progress toward winning a President's Challenge Award or Medal.

To learn more about the President's Challenge, visit www.presidentschallenge.org.   

The dates for the 4th annual 4-H Mentoring Weekend are July 22nd through the 24th at the Kettunen Center in Tustin, MI!  To view a flyer that you can print and hang on your fridge, click