Michigan 4-H Today

April-May 2014     

Impact

From October 17 to 19, 2013, Maeve Alflen, a long-time member of Leelanau County 4-H, attended the Global Youth Institute World Food Prize Symposium, where she presented her paper, Bringing Prosperity Through Nourishment. The paper's main focus was providing assistance and awareness to those who are hungry in Uganda. The entire story is here. 

For the past three years, the Detroit International Academy (DIA) for Young Women has been home to The Integrated Intellectuals 4-H Club (members pictured left). In December, this group of young women used their passion for community service to help students gain access to the Detroit College Promise (DCP) scholarship. Read the story here.

Fourth- and fifth-grade students at Au Gres-Sims Elementary School used underwater remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) to study 320 to 500 feet of rivers, creeks and streams this school year. As a result of this in-school experience, two 4-H volunteers started an afterschool 4-H club where members build their own underwater ROVs. The club plans to compete in the

The entire story is available here. 

March 16 to 19 saw 73 high school-aged students from 25 Michigan counties participate in 4-H Capitol Experience held in Lansing. The

4-H Highlights - Past, Present, Future  

Congratulations!

As mentioned above, the MSU Admissions Office awarded 55 of the 61 MSU Pre-College Scholarships in 2013-14 to 4-H precollege program participants from 33 counties in 12 of the 13 MSUE districts. This $2,000 scholarship is applied to the recipient's first year at MSU as a degree-seeking student. For a listing of the 4-H members who were awarded a scholarship this year, press this link. Note that on the list, there is an asterisk (*) next to the program entitled "Renewable Energy Camp" because at the time these 4-H'ers attended, the program was called "4-H Discovery Camp."

Events

Some Wrap-Ups!

The 2014 State 4-H Rabbit and Cavy Show, held at the MSU Pavilion on January 25, was a great way to kick-off the New Year. With a total of 887 entries, 752 rabbits and 135 cavies, the show was attended by 205 youth from 22 different counties. To view all the show winners, click here.

Winterfest 2014 was held February 1 to 2, at Kettunen Center in Tustin. The event was attended by 174 young people, ages 9 to 12 years old, who participated in a range of project areas including shooting sports, crafts, veterinary science (see the picture left of one young lady dissecting a heart during a session), global and cultural education, and much more! Youth who attended also took part in exciting winter fun activities, including snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and sledding. 

Michigan 4-H Youth Development and the Michigan State University Lady Spartans basketball team joined to create a special game-day experience for the ninth year in a row with the 2014 4-H Day With the Lady Spartans on February 2. More than 6,000 4-H fans packed into the

Here Now 

4-H Military Partnerships/OMK wants to remind you that April is the Month of the Military Child. Remember to mark Purple Up Day, April 15, to show your support for these brave young people. (Purple is the color you get when you mix all the colors of the military branches together.)  Even better,snap a group photo or selfie and send it to Kendra Moyses to post on the OMK Facebook page.Check here for a listing of April events.

Coming Soon 

Tickets are available now (until April 18) for the 2014 4-H Science Day with the Lansing Lugnuts on April 26. The event provides a unique opportunity for both 4-H and non4-H youth and their families to explore the exciting world of science, while enjoying a game of baseball. It features hands-on learning activities at more than 10 science stations, as well as a chance to discover first-hand how science intersects with everyday life. All 4-H members and their families are invited to come in the ballpark early. Those arriving at 12 pm can start seeing science in action (for example, how ballparks keep their fields green and the science behind their favorite treat). At 12:45, attendees can participate in a pitching demonstration and ride the inflatable games for free until the gates open. In addition, 4-H groups will lead the 4-H pledge, and sing both the national anthem and God Bless America. Those interested in those activities, should email Leah Christie on or before April 11. Tickets are available online for $10 each. Children 2 and under are free. Additional details and ticket ordering info can be found on the web  or by calling Adam Paschen, Lansing Lugnuts Group Sales Representative, at 517-827-2486.

Down the Road a Ways, But With Current Deadlines

Have you registered for 4-H Exploration Days, MSU's largest precollege program? If you are at least 11 years old (as of January 1, 2014), you are eligible to join the more than 2,000 youth and chaperones for an exciting time taking place between June 18 and 20 on the MSU campus. This year's theme is "Unleash Your Inner Scientist." It will feature numerous opportunities to explore science and career possibilities in the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields, as well as time for fun (including swimming souvenir shopping, bowling, dancing). But you need to hurry because registration deadlines, which vary by county, are usually the end of April and popular sessions fill up fast! So, check with your county MSU Extension office.

Submit your applications for 4-H Renewable Energy Camp, formerly 4-H Discovery Camp, by April 25, 2014 to Jacob DeDecker. This five-day (June 23 to 27) exploration camp is held at Michigan State University for youth ages 13 to19. Campers explore ideas, research and opportunities in the field of energy as it relates to natural resources and agriculture, while staying in a campus dorm and experiencing campus life.

The Michigan 4-H Animal and Veterinary Science Camp is a new five-day precollege program for youth ages 13 to 16 years of age (as of January 1, 2014) being held June 23 to 27. Space is limited to 30 youth and applications are due to the State 4-H Office by 5 pm, April 25, 2014. This fun and interactive camp, held on the MSU campus - through a partnership between Michigan 4-H, the MSU Department of Animal Science and the MSU College of Veterinary Medicine - will allow youth to conduct activities, ask questions, problem solve, explore various animal-related career fields, and reflect on their experiences and community programs. Participants will also gain animal-handling experience while also having the opportunity to visit and explore MSU farms and facilities. Throughout the week, youth will work their way through a veterinary science case study as a team and they will create a presentation to be critiqued by veterinarians.

4-H Great Lakes & Natural Resources Camp  will be held July 27 to August 2 at Camp Chickagami in Presque Isle. The camper application deadline is May 1 but early application is encouraged since space is limited Accepted campers will be sent additional forms to complete and return directly to the State CYI 4-H Office along with full payment by May 31. This MSU precollege program teaches young people about Michigan's diverse natural resources, environmental science, the Great Lakes ecosystems and management issues, and related career exploration. It is recognized as one of the top 4-H natural resources and environmental science programs in the nation, having (1) been recognized as a National 4-H Program of Distinction, (2) received the National 4-H and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Natural Resources Conservation Education Award and (3) been one of eight programs featured as part of a national in-depth evaluation of 4-H science program best practices.

Farther Down the Road, But Keep Your Eyes Peeled for More Information

4-H Mentoring Weekend is a three-day workshop for adults and youth who are matched for three months or more in a mentoring program through 4-H and other youth-mentoring organizations. Mentoring program staff are also welcome to attend. The weekend, to be held at Kettunen Center  from July 18 to 20, offers activities to mentoring matches with a focus on science, outdoor education, healthy living and meaningful service in order to strengthen the mentoring relationship. Mentors are also provided with structured training that aims to build the mentoring relationship. 

Contests

All 4-H members interested in entrepreneurship are invited to participate in an event Lansing Economic Area Partnership (LEAP) is hosting April 30 at which students will present business plans and compete for prizes. The event will be held at the Lansing Center. LEAP has been working closely with Generation E and Junior Achievement to develop the program, and Christine Heverly, Eaton County 4-H program coordinator, represented 4-H at the Generation E training. Business plans are due April 18.For more information contact Sara Graham  at LEAP.

Each September, the American Sewing Expo holds a sewing contest, the Innovation Generation, for sewers ages 8 to 18 (in 2014 by September 20) in Novi. Contestants must have made their entry on their own, be knowledgeable about the sewing process, and submit the garment, entry form and fee to the American Sewing Expo offices postmarked by 

September 8, 2014. Full contest rules and an entry form are found at the contest link above.

Upcoming Events 

April

April 25-27

Michigan 4-H Dairy Conference

Bay Shore Camp & Family Ministries Center, Sebewaing

Michigan 4-H Shooting Sports Instructor Certification

Kettunen Center, Tustin

April 26

State 4-H Goat Expo

Anthony Hall, MSU

4-H Science Day With the Lugnuts

Cooley Law School Stadium, Lansing

May

May 3

4-H Poultry Palooza

Gratiot County Fair for Youth, Alma

May 17-18

4-H Companion Animal Teen & Adult Volunteer Training Workshop

Kettunen Center, Tustin

June

June 7

4-H Rabbit & Cavy Expo

Anthony Hall, MSU

June 18-20

4-H Exploration Days

MSU, East Lansing

June 20-22

State 4-H Trail Ride

Whiskey Creek Campground, Custer

June 23-27

4-H Animal & Veterinary Science Camp

MSU, East Lansing

4-H Renewable Energy Camp (formerly 4-H Discovery Camp)

MSU, East Lansing

June 24-29

National 4-H Shooting Sports Invitational

Grand Island, Nebraska

Novi, MI

June 28

State 4-H Goat Show

Help Wanted  

You are invited to the 2014 Giving & Volunteering - A Celebration event to be held April 30 on the Michigan State Capitol front lawn and steps. For more information and to RSVP (by April 21), press the event link above.

(those who had 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. The nomination deadline has been extended to April 15, 2014. The nomination form can be found on the web.

More Michigan 4-H News   

March 3

Congratulations to James Trattles, a Burr Oak resident, who was a winner in the Monsanto Fund's America's Farmers Grow Communities contest. According to this article in the The Daily Reporter.com, Trattles donated his $2,500 prize to the Branch County 4-H program because not only did his "sons really got a lot out of being on judging teams through 4-H," but because of his firm belief that judging teams are "such a good thing for kids."

March 21

According to this article in The Herald-Palladium, Van Buren County 4-H is beginning a new club, focused on outdoor activities, that will be the first of its kind in Michigan

March 26

This article, in the Ionia Sentinel-Standard, describes the successful efforts of Katie Holcomb, superintendent of the Ionia County 4-H rabbit program, to feature the Miracle of Life exhibit, which showcases the birth of various species of animals, at the 2014 Ionia Free Fair. 

March 27

Read this article in the Daily Mining Gazette, which reported that more than 40 local home-schooled students participated in the 4-H Children's Art Exchange at the Portage Lake District Library in Houghton.

Resources

The 4-H Outdoor Adventure Challenge (OAC) uses the the outdoors to lead young people in activities that are both physically and mentally stressful. Through 4-H Outdoor Adventure Challenge, participants learn canoeing, kayaking, backpacking, hiking, outdoor survival and safety skills. Most importantly, they learn to communicate with other group members to plan, organize and conduct their own activities in the outdoors, and they learn the skills necessary to deal with stressful situations that may occur in any setting in their lives. Check it out now; the deadline for enrollment and Level 1 orientation sign up is April 18, 2014.

Make a global connection through the Michigan 4-H International Exchange Program. Exchange 

opportunities provide families and communities with global and cultural competence. Such opportunities may include traveling overseas or becoming a host family. Or if traveling or hosting is a challenge. Michigan 4-H also has the Michigan 4-H China Art Exchange Program available. In addition, there are many activities in the new Michigan 4-H Backpack to Adventure: Youth Leaders in a Global World (4H1643) curriculum, available in print   or electronic versions.

Do you know groups who are looking to learn more about insects or urban wildlife? Are you interested in providing opportunities for participation in real-world scientific research? Do you need kid-friendly projects? If you answered "yes" to any of these questions and you would like to learn more, the citizen-science projects, Backyard Bark Beetles and the School of Ants , are seeking participants for their research on some of the tiny, amazing animals that live in our backyards.These projects are a fun and exciting way to learn and, at the same time, to contribute to serious scientific research. The web sites above provide all that you need to know to get started right away!

The Animal Science Anywhere lesson series is designed to help leaders engage 4-H youth in learning more about the science and life skills involved in animal- and veterinary-science projects. Youth may work in teams or individually to accomplish the lesson objectives. Lessons are flexible, providing adaptations for various locations, ages and audiences. The lessons are linked to numerous 4-H animal-science pages or can be located at the link above.

Michigan 4-H has produced a new publication, the Michigan 4-H Dog Agility Manual (4H1467). In Michigan 4-H, agility supplies 4-H members and their dogs with something fun to do. It also helps to build confidence and teamwork between the 4-H members and their dogs. This manual assists leaders, as well. The full-color manual instructs 4-H'ers about everything they need to know to take part in a 4-H dog agility program. You can purchase the manual for just $2 - a bargain - through the Michigan State University Extension Bookstore. 

Three, short "how to" videos, which are companion pieces to the Michigan 4-H Rabbit Fitting and Showmanship Members Guide, have now been added to the Michigan 4-H YouTube channel .

Kettunen Center, Michigan's 4-H training center and full-service conference center owned and operated by the Michigan 4-H Foundation, is the recipient of a generous $50,000 grant from the Consumers Energy Foundation for use in its waterfront stewardship and recreation project. The project's upgrades include expanding the sanded beach and designated swimming areas, adding a needed docking area and recreational features such as horseshoe pits and a four-square area, improvement of the outdoor eating and food preparation spaces, purchase of new kayaks and canoes, expansion of the boat storage house, and redesign and upgrade of the fire pit area. These improvements are scheduled for completion this summer. Complete details about the grant are on the web.

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:

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2.       Select Internet Options

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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: 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.