Impact 

Here's a quick overview of this year's 4-H Exploration Days: 

• The 2011 4-H Exploration Days was the 42^nd year this MSU precollege program was held for 11- to 19-year-old youth.
• It was attended by 2,587 people from 79 Michigan counties and Poland of which 67 percent of the youth participants were females, 33 percent were male and 16 percent were people of color.
• There were 188 action-filled classroom and field trip sessions offered throughout the MSU campus and at various off-campus locations, including everything from animal and veterinary science to entrepreneurship, technology, performing and visual arts.
• The sessions were taught by 310 content and youth development experts.
• Participants stayed in 3 Michigan State University residence halls.
• Of the 595 completed evaluations received:
• 91% rated this year's program as either excellent or good.
• 97% reported that program attendance increased their interest in attending college
• 95% felt confident after attending Exploration Days that they could complete a college degree
• 87% said the program better prepared them to attend college
• Top skill gains youth participants said they developed through attending 4-H Exploration Days included:
• 94%: Making decisions/choices
• 93%: Time management
• 92%: Completing tasks/ability to follow through; ability to adapt to new living arrangements; communication
• 87%: Problem-solving

Two chaperones (from Alger and Oakland Counties) summarized this information best when they said:

"As a parent, I can rest assured that my children will attend college and set goals for themselves - largely due to their experiences at Exploration Days!" and 

"I would never have gone to college if I hadn't attended this program as a kid - and now I'm back as a chaperone! Great program!"

For more information about 4-H Exploration Days, visit the event's web site.

Nearly a Half Million New Books Distributed for Free
In the July-August issue of Michigan 4-H Today, we announced that, during the week of August 8 thanks to a 4-H partnership with First Book and the Molina Foundation, a massive number of new, age-appropriate books, for youth between 0 and 18 years old, would be distributed to 4-H programs and other youth organizations across the country - for free. We can now report that, before the week was over, 440,000 books were distributed, with at least 100,000 of them staying right here in Michigan. When combined with an earlier Molina Foundation-sponsored distribution of 50,000 books for Michigan kids, that brought the grand total of books handed out to nearly a half million. Read the all about it on the 4-H web site.

Youth Business Venture Showcase Held

The first Youth Business Venture Showcase, developed by the Delta Schoolcraft Youth Entrepreneurship Alliance (DSYEA), was held at the

school-aged youth to explore entrepreneurship as a viable career pathway. It takes youth from the development of an idea for a product or service to creating a business plan, and finishes with them actually starting their business by selling their products or services. At the showcase, the competitors were scored on both their business plans as well as a presentation to judges. To read more about the showcase, read this article or, if you are interested in replicating this event, contact Dave Radloff.   

4-H Highlights - Past, Present and Future

Congratulations!

Read this article and listen to this tape about Whitney Henderson, a 13-year member of  VanBuren County 4-H, and her amazing and inspiring achievement. (Hint: It involves running across the country!) 

First 4-H Evening in the Garden a Huge Success 

On August 16, Michigan 4-H held its first Evening in the Garden at the 4-H Children's Garden, with 270 young people and adults in attendance. Located throughout the garden were more than 20 activity stations such as the:

• ABCs of Early Literacy at which young people could take home a free book
• China Art Project where participants could practice their chopstick skills and collect buttons from around the globe
• Entomology and Small Animals where youth could learn about and see close up insects, chickens, rabbits and more.
• Peat-Pot Pansies at which young people could grow their own plants
• Project FISH where participants could make fish tackle
• Science Blast at which youth could make a bead bracelet representing the water cycle or perform a biofuel demonstration.  

More than three-quarters of those who completed evaluations said they would like to learn more about 4-H. Although geared for 5- to 12-year-olds, one mother who brought her children noted that ". . . thanks to patient and helpful volunteers," even her 3-year-old was able to take part.

Funding for the event was provided by sponsors to the Michigan 4-H Foundation.

Coming Soon: 4-H Healthy Living = Healthy U Teen & Adult Volunteer Leader Workshop

This workshop, for youth (ages 14 and up), adults and volunteers who work with youth, will take place October 14 to 16 at Kettunen Center. The workshop has 2 tracks, A and B. Track A consists of adult volunteer and youth training in the areas of health and well-being. Sessions include MyPlate, the new standard that replaces MyPyramid along with the new food-safety guidelines, fresh food from the garden to the table, food mysteries and what's in your drink. Track B is for youth and volunteers interested in doing a community project that will focus on lessening nutritional deficiencies of, and healthy-food choices for, underserved populations.For counties be considered for a $5000 grant (1 of 8 funded by Walmart) and to put an action plan in motion, grant applicants must attend Track B. Health is one of the "H's" in 4-H; so come learn what it is all about and how to stay active in your club and community and in the world. Scholarships are available to adult volunteers and youth to attend this workshop. For more information, view the Program Announcement for this event.

Down the Road, But Not Too Soon to Start Thinking About It! 

Teens make thoughtful and important community leaders when given the opportunities and tools to work with decision makers at the local and state level. 4-H Capitol Experience gives high school teens both the tools and opportunity.For example, as a result of participating in the 2011 4-H Capitol Experience, 97% of the teens think that they can have an influence on state government policies and policymakers, and 88% think more positively about government. One participant from Kent County said that one of her favorite parts of the experience was the "opportunity to research a bill and attempt to pass it." Although she was sure her bill would pass, she hadn't counted on "all the discussions, negotiations and compromises that go into passing a bill" and she now understands "why it takes so long to get bills passed."

4-H Capitol Experience is a 4-day statewide conference held in Lansing. The 2012 date is March 18 to 21. Registration opens by December 1, 2011. The cost is $300 for 4-H members and adult chaperones and $310 for non4-H members. For more information and promotional material go to the 4-H Citizenship, Leadership & Service web page.

Upcoming Events 

October

October 2-5

National 4-H Dairy Conference 

University of Wisconsin, Madison

October 2-8

National 4-H Week 

Worldwide 

October 5

4-H National Youth Science Day 

Nationwide 

Cass County 4-H Science Blast 

Cass District Library Cassopolis

October 7 

Michigan 4-H Foundation Annual Membership Meeting

James B. Henry Center for Executive Development 

October 8

Fall Galaxy for 4-H Horse Event Planning Committee 

Kettunen Center, Tustin 

October 14-16

4-H Healthy Living = Healthy U Teen and Adult Volunteer Leader Workshop 

Kettunen Center, Tustin 

October 15-16

4-H Clothing and Textiles Teen and Adult Volunteer Leader Workshop 

Kettunen Center, Tustin 

October 22-23

4-H Proud Equestrian Program Instructor Training Update 

Kellogg Biological Station, Hickory Corners 

November

November 18-20

4-H Rabbit and Cavy Teen and Volunteer Leader Workshop  

Kettunen Center, Tustin 

November 25-29

National 4-H Congress 

Atlanta, GA

December

December 2-4

4-H Adult Horse Volunteer Leader Conference 

Kettunen Center, Tustin 

More Michigan 4-H News

September 10 - The MSU Extension I Know MI Numbers initiative was featured on the  Michigan Farm & Garden television show. Guests interviewed included Tom Coon, director of MSU Extension and Julie Chapin, Michigan 4-H state leader.

September 12 - This article from The Grand Rapids Press posted on mlive.com follows the "Local Flavor Fest - Let 4-H Rock Your Palette" finale to the Barry County 4-H program that grew from the F3 ENERGY! Club, 4-H entrepreneurship program and the fair's cooking competition this summer. If you missed it last month, this story is featured on the 4-H Web site.    

Resources

Michigan 4-H Guiding Principles for Positive Youth Development 

Michigan 4-H has 7 Guiding Principles for Positive Youth Development. These Guiding Principles are the foundation of Michigan 4-H programs and a guide for all volunteers and youth to help support positive educational experiences. Therefore, this month and for each the next 6 months, we will highlight a guiding principle.

Guiding Principle 1. Youth develop positive relationships with adults and peers.

Youth develop sustained relationships with peers and adults that nurture their positive development.

Elements of effective practice:

• Adults and youth are available and accessible to each other for information, guidance and support.
• The development of positive, meaningful relationships that foster a sense of belonging and connectedness over time is encouraged and supported.
• Adults and youth are consistently and actively engaged together in activities and experiences.
• Cooperative experiences that build trust and foster honest and open communication are developed and supported.

Take a moment and think about how you can intentionally build positive relationships with the youth and other adults in the 4-H program. We are sure if you commit to doing just one thing consistently to create these relationships, this will be your best 4-H year ever.  

Curricula: Hot Off the Press!

4-H Rabbit Fitting and Showing Member Guide  

If you're a 4-H member, leader or show judge involved in the rabbit program, or just someone who loves rabbits, MSU Extension has some news that may get you hopping. A new 4-H Rabbit Fitting and Showing Member Guide will be available October 1.

The 4-H Rabbit Fitting and Showing Guide was created to enhance participants' knowledge and skills in the rabbit showmanship area, the publication guides 4-H members through fitting (choosing and preparing a rabbit for show) and showing rabbits. Full-color photographs take youth through the proper steps of handling, posing and examining their rabbits for show purposes. The guide also focuses on the members themselves: their appearance and attitude, sportsmanship and leadership because it's not just about the rabbits. As Katie VanderKolk, 4-H animal science educator explains: "In animal science programs, the animal - in this case the rabbit - is the tool to accomplish the tasks of preparing youth for life through building the ability to problem solve, think critically and make decisions."

To order your copy of the 4-H Rabbit Fitting and Showing Member Guide (4H1268), visit the MSU Extension Bookstore. The guide is priced at $5. To find out more about Michigan 4-H's rabbit program, contact   Katie VanderKolk  by email or phone at 517-432-5270.

Spartan Dollar$ and ¢ents

Spartan Dollar$ and ¢ents is a budgeting simulation that teaches participants to prepare a usable budget and it reinforces the value of creating one to track monthly income and expenses. This activity works well with middle- and high-school youth. However, it can also be used with upper-elementary youth with assistance from multiple volunteers. The game takes 45 to 60 minutes depending on the group's size and the participants' ages. To use this activity, you will only need to supply pencils, local classified advertisements and calculators. Everything else (including complete instructions) is contained in the PDF.   

NSLI-Y is part of a broader government-wide presidential initiative that prepares American citizens to be leaders in a global world. Now more than ever, it is important that Americans have the necessary linguistic skills and cultural knowledge to promote international dialogue and support American engagement abroad. NSLI-Y seeks to provide opportunities to American youth that will spark a lifetime interest in language learning.

Michigan 4-H Soybean Essay Contest is Now Open!

Starting October 1, Michigan 4-H clubs and groups will have an opportunity to compete in a soybean photo-essay contest to help show how Michigan's soybean farmers provide food, feed, fiber and fuel. Sponsored by the Michigan Soybean Promotion Committee, the contest features first, second and third-place prizes. Start planning now! The deadline is May 31, 2012. For complete contest rules, prizes, eligibility and more details, visit the contest's web site.

 

The 2011 Michigan After-School Collaborative Conference

The 2011 Michigan After-School Collaborative Conference  will be held October 14, with the preconference on October 13 in Sterling Heights. Of special interest: One of the preconference and conference presenters is Sue Manglallan, a 4-H Youth and Family Development Advisor with the University of California Cooperative Extension Service.  Manglallan has more than 25 years of experience working with after-school programs. She has operated licensed after-school sites; she has coauthored 7 after-school curricula; and she has a commitment to making staff development a hands-on, fun experience. 

Her comprehensive, 5-hour preconference presentation, entitled "Tools of the Trade: Giving Kids a Lifetime Guarantee," uses a "train-the-trainer" approach. Using a hands-on, interactive, skill-building approach, it provides tools drawn from best practices to help participants enhance communication, management and educational delivery of after-school programs. In this session, participants will explore The Power of Youth Workers, Brushing Up on Yourself: What Does Your Personality Offer After-School Programs? and Blueprints for Positive Youth Development.

Halloween Safety Tips from Safe Routes to School 

1. Safety comes in numbers - children should Trick or Treat with friends.
2. Walk in well-lit areas.
3. Trick or Treat in neighborhoods with which you are familiar.
4. A route used to commute to and from school may be good route for Trick or Treating. It can give a child and parent an opportunity to meet people who live in the houses passed on the way to and from school.

Help Wanted  

The Michigan 4-H Youth Conservation Council (M4-HYCC) Needs Members and Advisors

The M4-HYCC needs teens - aged 13 to 19 - and adults from the Central, West and South regions of the Lower Peninsula to serve as members (teens) and advisors (4-H and/or Natural Resources MSUE staff and adult volunteers). It has returning advisors from Genesee, Ingham and Mackinac Counties. The application time line is:

• September 30: Youth submit their application to 4-H staff at their local  MSU Extension Office. 
• October 7: County MSU Extension staff forward applications to Andrea Grix, M4-HYCC Coordinator, Kettunen Center.

M4-HYCC is a terrific personal-development, service-learning and leadership opportunity. The council researches and helps resolve environmental issues by working with state and local government. M4-HYCC advisors and teens attend a fall, winter and spring planning workshop/meeting, meet occasionally by conference call and help prepare the youth for their presentation to Michigan legislative committees in April. More information - including a promo flyer, invitation letter, advisor job description and application - can be found at the Web site given above. For more information, questions or concerns, contact  Andrea Grix (phone 231-829-3421).

Please "Like" Michigan 4-H on Facebook and/or "Follow" Us on Twitter

On Facebook, you can create awareness about your organization by sharing events, photos and any other highlights. You are also able to connect with others who share a similar mission, attract new people to your site and see what similar organizations are doing. Facebook is quick, free and can reach as many people as you desire.

"Liking" an organization on Facebook simply means you are a supporter of that group. You will receive updates in your news feed about what is happening within the organization. You will also be able to see other organizations that support the group you "like," which may expand your horizon to new groups.

You can find the Michigan 4-H Facebook page by going to http://www.facebook.com and searching "Michigan 4-H." Select the page with the physical address of 160 Agriculture Hall. On the top of the page next to the title, click on the "like" button. By "liking" Michigan 4-H, you will receive updates about events and scholarships, be notified when there are new pictures and be able to see what others have to say about Michigan 4-H.

Twitter is similar to Facebook. However, Facebook emphasizes social networking, whereas Twitter is more of a news network and is referred to as a "microblog." Twitter allows members to share 140-character text posts, referred to as "tweets." An example of a tweet may be, "Michigan 4-H is now accepting registration for Exploration Days." Accompanied to this tweet may be a shortened link that will connect the viewer to the enrollment page for Exploration Days.

Twitter has "followers," instead of Facebook's "friends." A follower is an account that has selected to receive your microblog feeds. You may follow as many or as few Twitter accounts as you like. You also can control who can or cannot see your tweets. Follow Michigan 4-H by going to  http://twitter.com/michigan4h.

Twitter and Facebook may share similar information. However, some people may view Twitter as friendlier to the eye, because it is only text. Like Facebook, Twitter is quick, free and can reach as many people as you desire with the information you choose to share.

Now that you are familiar with the two largest social networks on the Internet, don't forget to "like" Michigan 4-H on Facebook and receive tweets from Michigan 4-H on Twitter. For more information about Michigan 4-H, visit us on the web.

Michigan 4-H Foundation Annual Membership Meeting 

All Michigan 4-H Foundation members (individuals or organizations that donated $10 or more to the Michigan 4-H Foundation in the past year) are invited to attend the Annual Membership Meeting and vote on all items at the meeting. The meeting will be held October 7 from 10 am to noon at the James B. Henry Center for Executive Development.Each county MSUE office may also have one representative vote on all issues at the meeting.Contact the Michigan 4-H Foundation at 517-353-6692, if you have any questions.

Submission Guidelines  

This is a newsletter for and about Michigan 4-H Youth Development. It is a means by which we can communicate with one another and promote our great program impacts, showcase resources, spotlight staff, volunteers, members, alumni and curriculum. Therefore, we want articles that are not only pertinent to Michigan 4-H, but which have the most complete information possible and that will capture the reader's interest.

To that end, we are asking you to submit articles that are concise and contain answers to the questions who, what, where, when, how and why. We will be happy to include Internet links that will take the reader to the pertinent information. Therefore, please make sure links are live and take the reader right to the spot with the information not to a general Web page where the reader will have to hunt to find the information. To help highlight articles, we would like to include pictures. So, send us a few pictures with your article. Be sure they are the highest-possible resolution and do not embed them in the text.  

Ideas for article content might include those that feature:

1.       Programs (One that is upcoming or has been successfully completed)

2.       Grants (Possibilities, already funded and running or successfully completed)

3.       Scholarships (Possibilities or winner announcements)

4.       Resources (New or updated curricula)

5.       Honor, Awards

So we can meet publishing deadlines, please email your articles in Word or WordPerfect (no PDFs) to  Priscilla Martin by the 15th of each month.

Note: To print a copy of this newsletter complete with formatting, prior to printing from Internet Explorer, go to:

1.       Tools

2.       Select Internet Options

3.       Press Advanced

4.       Scroll down to Printing and check "Print background colors and images"

Contact Information

Michigan 4-H Today is a monthly newsletter for all those interested in 4-H Youth Development programs including its members, parents, volunteers, staff, alumni and retirees. It is published by the Michigan State University Extension 4-H Youth Development office and it is distributed online.

Please contact Michigan 4-H Today:

Priscilla Martin, Editor

160 Agriculture Hall

East Lansing, MI 48824-1039

Phone: 517-432-7635

Email: pjmartin@msu.edu

Fax: 517-353-4846

MSU is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity employer. Michigan State University Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, religion, age, height, weight, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, family status or veteran status. Issued in furtherance of MSU Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Thomas G. Coon, Director, MSU Extension, East Lansing, MI 48824. This information is for educational purposes only. Reference to commercial products or trade names does not imply endorsement by MSU Extension or bias against those not mentioned. The name "4-H" and the emblem consisting of a four-leaf clover with stem and the "H" on each leaflet are protected under Title 18 U.S.C. 707.