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Michigan 4-H Today

December 2013-January 2014     

Welcome to Michigan State University Extension 4-H Youth Development!

Photo of Julie Chapin

There is a popular holiday song with opening lyrics of:


It's the most wonderful time of the year
 
With the kids jingle belling 
And everyone telling you "Be of good cheer" 
It's the most wonderful time of the year!

 

It truly is a joyous time of celebration and the staff of MSU Extension 4-H Youth Development would like to extend holiday greetings to each of you. We hope that for you the coming weeks leading into the New Year are peaceful, healthy and happy, and that you have a chance to relax and spend time with those you love.

 

As always, there is much to inspire us as we read about the impact 4-H members and leaders have made in the lives of Michigan's citizens and in the growth and development 4-H has caused its members' and leaders' lives. We are also proud to announce three new curricula and two additional publications in an existing curriculum series, written by educators in our Children and Youth Institute. Read more about these resources below.

 

Wishing you every joy of this holiday season!

 

Julie Chapin 

 

State Leader, Michigan 4-H Youth Development

Director, MSU Extension Children and Youth Institute

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Impact

Congratulations to the Kent Special Riding Program (KSRP), a 37-year-old Kent County 4-H group, which was honored as Nonprofit of the Year at the 2013 WGVU Engage I Have Made a Difference Awards. The award, part of a Public Broadcasting Service program, recognizes an organization that demonstrates overall excellence and conducts a superior level of service to the community by helping their constituency. KSRP instructors Amy Plets and Jackie Foster (pictured right) accepted the award. You can read more in the November 14 issue of MSU Extension Director Tom Coon's MSUE Spotlight.

Revolution of Responsibility 

The 4-H Revolution of Responsibility is a nationwide effort by young people to identify community issues, take action to overcome obstacles and solve problems, thus, creating a culture-changing Mattea Antrup revolution and building strong, positive communities. Here are some of the latest awesome stories from Michigan 4-H's Revolution of Responsibility.

 

On October 7, Mattea Antrup, (shown left) a 10-year-old member of Ottawa County 4-H's All Star 4-H Club achieved her goal of making a $6,600-plus contribution to the Helen DeVos Children's Hospital . Detroit youth at 2013 CWF Read here the inspiring story of Mattea's act of generosity.

 

With more than 18,000 Detroit residents who are homeless (25 percent of whom are children), 21 high-school-aged Detroit 4-H'ers took on metro Detroit's homelessness in June at Citizenship Washington Focus. The youth made hygiene kits that would be available to members of the community who face hardships such as homelessness. Their story is here.

4-H Highlights - Past, Present, Future  

Events

Some Wrap-Ups

4-H Family Fun Discovery Weekend was held October 5 and 6 at Kettunen Center with 19 participants attending. Sessions focused on science, citizenship and healthy living. Young people Participants at Family Fun Weekend became scientists who guessed the outcome of experiments, observed changes in states of matter and drew conclusions. They also carried out a community-service project, learned about the democratic process and voted. Adults gained information about being a 4-H volunteer and discovered how to keep projects fun and interactive for 5- to 8-year-olds. Families stayed active by doing a scavenger hunt together. One 7-year-old participant expressed her pleasure by saying "I learned that I want to come back to this place [Kettunen Center] to learn more about the fun stuff I can do in 4-H."

 

Read this very interesting, but unusual, article about lessons learned at the October 12 to 13 4-H Visual Arts and Crafts Workshop found in the November 14 issue of MSU Extension Director Tom Coon's MSUE Spotlight.

 

Participants in the TechXcite session The Michigan 4-H Volunteer Forum was held November 9. The event attracted 125 individuals from 32 counties. According to participants' evaluations, some of the best aspects of the forum were (1) they keynote presentation, (2) new skills and different programming to take back to their 4-H groups and (3) meeting other volunteers from around the state who share the same interest in youth and 4-H.Shown in the picture to the right are participants in a TechXcite session.


Coming Soon

The 4-H Rabbit & Cavy Show is coming, January 25, at the MSU Pavilion. Get more details on the web.

 

Down the Road a Ways

4-H Winterfest 2014, to be held at Kettunen Center February 1 to 2, is a hands-on, educational program designed for 8- to 12-year-olds. More information is available here.

The Lady Spartans discussing strategy 

 

Mark your calendar for the annual 4-H Day at the Breslin With the Lady Spartans on February 2. More details are available here.

 


Participants discuss a bill with a legislative aide.
Way Down the Road, But Keep Your Eyes Peeled for Upcoming Deadlines

2014 4-H Capitol Experience is scheduled for March 16 to 19, with online registration now open. Costs are $310 for 4-H members and $320 for non4-H'ers. More information is available on the 4-H web site.

Contest

The Act Out Loud Distracted Driving Contest is a teen-led competition focused on educating peers and communities about the three primary causes of teen crash fatalities: (1) speeding,  

(2) lack of seatbelt usage and (3) distractions caused by teen passengers. The project's single goal is to plan and host safe teen-driving rallies across the country in April or May 2014 to support Global Youth Traffic Safety Month. The grand prize is $10,000 and there are three runner-up prizes of $2,000 each. Act Out Loud is brought to you by National Organizations for Youth Safety and funded by the Allstate Foundation. (Grand Rapids is on the priority list for the Allstate Foundation.) Two upcoming contest deadlines are:

  • December 16, 2013: Last day to submit an original design for the AOL poster-design contest
  • January 13, 2014: Last day to submit an original design for the AOL Safe-Tee Shirt Design contest

All of the details are available on the web.

Upcoming Events 

 

January

 

January 14

Using Technology to Enhance Your 4-H Experience

Your computer 

 

January 16 

Be SAFE: Addressing Bullying in Out-of-School Settings

Hannah Community Center, East Lansing 

 

January 18-19

4-H Horse Judges & Show Managers Conference

Kettunen Center, Tustin

 

January 25

4-H Rabbit & Cavy Show

MSU Pavilion, East Lansing

 

January 25-26

4-H Teen Leadership & Community Change Conference

Kettunen Center, Tustin

 

 

January 31-February 1

4-H Judging Workshop and Mini Contest

MSU Pavilion, East Lansing

 

 

 

February

 

February 1-2

4-H Winterfest

Kettunen Center, Tustin

 

February 2

4-H Day at the Breslin

Breslin Center, MSU

 

February 3

Exploring the Science of 4-H Projects

Your computer

 

February 21-22

4-H Veterinary Science Teen & Adult Leaders Workshop

Kettunen Center, Tustin

 

February 22-23

4-H Beef, Sheep & Swine Teen & Adult Leaders Workshop

Kettunen Center, Tustin

Help Wanted  

Ducks on the Red Cedar River Want to develop Michigan's natural resources and work to improve the laws of Michigan? Join the Michigan 4-H Youth Conservation Council. The group meets at Kettunen Center for three weekends and makes presentations to the Michigan Senate Committee on Natural Resources, Environment, and Great Lakes. Full details (including a time line and an application form, due December 20) are available on the Michigan 4-H web site at the link provided above.

 

The 4-H Emerald Clover Society recognizes distinguished Michigan 4-H alumni (those who had ECS logo significant 4-H involvement as a young person and who have made important contributions to their local, state and national communities). Selection is based on an individual's professional and business achievements, leadership in community service and philanthropy, contributions to or impact on American society, and noteworthy leadership and achievement as a 4-H member. A nominee must have been a Michigan 4-H member for three or more years and be living. Membership is by nomination and review committee selection only. Nominations are due January 31, 2014. The nomination form can be found on the web.

More Michigan 4-H News   

October 24

This write-up in the Record & Clarion explains how 4-H programs, their members and leaders practice philanthropy as they fulfill that part of the 4-H pledge that urges members to use their "hands to larger service." It also describes how the seventh of the Michigan 4-H Guiding Principles provides an outline for volunteerism.

 

October 28

According to this article in Morning Ag Clips, congratulations are due to Carmen Hicks and Jessica Nash, both members of Clinton County 4-H clubs. Carmen and Jessica earned the highest number of points in the junior division of the 2013 Michigan Youth Dairy Days, for which they won significant prizes.

 

October 29

This nicely illustrated story in Southwest Michigan's Second Wave describes the work of the Michigan Barn Preservation Network and the part that various organizations, such as Isabella County 4-H, have played in it.

 

According to this write-up in AmmoLand Shooting Sports News, Dickinson County 4-H's Big Shooters was the recipient of a grant from the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.

 

November 6

Read this article in tuscolatoday.com about a Send Santa to the Troops program in which Tuscola County 4-H is participating. The article provides lots of ideas and details about the project.

 

This article from Farmers' Advance reports on a team - Clay Decker Austin Pueschel and Mark Trowbridge - from St. Joseph County 4-H that successfully competed at the American Royal Meat Association's National 4-H Meat Judging & Identification Contest held at Kansas State University on October 22.

 

November 8

This account from mlive All Michigan describes the eye-opening Agriculture Career/College Night held November 7 in which Jackson County 4-H participated.

 

November 18

According to this write-up in the Lansing State Journal, Ingham County 4-H's Golden Stride Riders 4-H Club is the beneficiary of a $400 grant by the Consumers Energy Foundation for the outstanding volunteerism demonstrated by Debra McIntyre-Dodd, an employee of Consumers Energy.

 

December 6

Read this write-up from petoskeynews.com about Emmet County 4-H's Pounding Hooves 4-H Horse Club's donation of handcrafted toy stick horses to the Women's Resource Center of Northern Michigan for use in its Safe Home by survivors of domestic abuse.

ResourcesResources

With advances in technology, people are connected across the globe like never before. A new Backpack 138-page, 4-H curriculum, 4-H Backpack to Adventure: Youth Leaders in a Global World, helps adult and teen volunteers, parents, professionals and others assist the young people they work with to develop the knowledge and skills they need to become youth leaders in a global environment. The publication's learning activities are appropriate for use in many nonformal educational settings, including 4-H clubs and groups, after-school and out-of-school programs, home- school classes, school-enrichment programs and camps - as well as in classrooms. The curriculum is available in print and electronic versions (shipped on a USB drive) at the MSU Extension Bookstore. Click here for more information about the publication. STEPS curriculum

 

A new healthy-living curriculum, STEPS to a Healthy Teen,developed by Michigan 4-H Youth Development, is now available through National 4-H at the 4-H Mall. The curriculum consists of 10 activities that target 14- to 19-year-old youth who want to learn about being healthy. Facilitators can easily lead fun, interactive learning experiences that include a variety of learning methods and tools such as games, case scenarios, computer software programs, cooking demonstrations and fitness challenges. Nutrition, hydration, fitness and body image are among the lessons and activities included, most of which range from 45 to 60 minutes.

 

The National 4-H curriculum, Build Your Future: Choices...Connections...Careers consists of nine activities that target 14- to 19-year-old high-school students. The publication is applicable and adaptable to many 4-H delivery systems and project areas. Participants experience a variety of learning methods such as developing a business plan, competing in a quiz bowl, creating a portfolio, analyzing case studies, and discussing questions that reflect on their experiences. Nine engaging activities - most of which have a 30- to 90-minute time range - provide a fun structure to help teens learn about their choices, make important connections and plan successful and meaningful careers. Click here to learn more about the curriculum, look inside or purchase it. Animal Evaluation snapshot

 

Two new project areas (animal evaluation and beef) are available in the online Michigan 4-H Project Snapshot Sheets, animal evaluation and beef. This brings to 12 the number of snapshot sheets available.

 

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, "Everybody can be great because everybody can serve." To honor his words, the Michigan National Days of Service Partners ask you to mark January 20, 2014 on your calendar for the Martin Luther King, Jr. (MLK) Day of Service, MLK Day of Service Toolkits are available to help you plan your 2014 projects.

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.       Honors, 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 bimonthly 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

Room 240

Justin S. Morrill Hall of Agriculture 

446 West Circle Drive

East Lansing, MI 48824

Phone: 517-432-7635

Email: [email protected]

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.