2009 4-H Volunteer Training Schedule

Mecklenburg County 4-H has partnered with five surrounding counties in order to offer a wide variety of training opportunities for all 4-H volunteers. This year we will offer trainings each month excluding June, July, August, and December. Each training will start at 6:30 pm with a light dinner provided. All trainings are free to attend but volunteers MUST RSVP. If you have any questions or concerns about upcoming trainings please contact your County Extension Office. The first Cluster training of 2009 will focus on Marketing your club and Centennial Celebration on January 13 at 6:30 pm. Since this year is 4-H’s 100th Anniversary we would like to give you some ideas on how we all can celebrate the occasion to its fullest.

4-H Teen Lock-In

Mecklenburg County teens and surrounding county teen 4-Hers will come together for a lock-in on January 23 at First Ward Recreation Center. Teens will meet at First Ward and proceed to the Bobcats arena were they will watch the Charlotte Bobcats take on the Phoenix Suns. The game will be followed by fun, dancing, and games at First Ward Recreation Center. The event will last from 6 pm on January 23 until 7 am on January 24. The cost is only $15. If you are between the ages 13-18 and would like to attend or know more about this event please contact your county 4-H office. You must register to attend. Mecklenburg County office number: 704-336-2082. This is going to be a fun filled evening that you wont want to miss.

Double-Dutch Clinics

Two double-dutch clinics were held on Tuesday, November 11 at Amay James and First Ward Recreation Centers.  At the clinics, youth from the recreation centers received double-dutch instruction and practiced jumping and turning skills.  Several 4-H double-dutch teams are being formed and will compete in a double-dutch competition in 2009.

New 4-H Clubs

Mecklenburg County 4-H is eager to introduce the new additions to our 4-H Club family. The first club is the Breakaway Riders. The Breakaway Riders are going to be a force to recon with at any 4-H horse competition. The club’s leaders Erin and Miranda have complied an outstanding bunch of horse enthusiast.

The second new addition is Socrates Academy. This club meets within the Socrates After school program. The club leaders Renee, LaTisha, and Nicole have a wonderful group of 4-Hers that will be using their hands to create dazzling arts and crafts.

The third addition is the GIS/GPS Teen Group. At their 1st meeting members were informed, what Geospatial technology is, how it relates to them, and what career fields can be entered with gained knowledge and skills of GIS/GPS. The group is still open for enrollment, if you are a teen age 13 to 18 and would like to attend a meeting contact the 4-H offices at 704-336-4016. Next meeting is Dec. 8th. Remember THIS IS A FREE PROGRAM.

Mecklenburg Sends 40 to Summer Camp

Mecklenburg County 4-H sent a delegation of 40 eight to thirteen year old youth to a week long experience of 4-H summer camp at Millstone 4-H Center the week of August 3-8. While at camp, the youth participated in horse back riding, archery, riflery, high ropes, swimming, canoeing, crafts, and much more.

Mecklenburg County 4-H Delegation to NC 4-H Congress

Mecklenburg County 4-H took a delegation of eight teens to the annual NC 4-H Congress held on the campus of North Carolina State University the week of July 21 through 25. While at Congress, the teens participated in a variety of activities including district and state officer elections, state-level competitions, leadership workshops, and service learning projects.

4-H Military Kid Camp

Did you know that 4-H is sponsoring a 4-H, Operation Military Kids Camp from June 8 - 13 at Millstone 4-H Camp in Ellerbe?

North Carolina’s Operation: Military Kids (OMK) program, an initiative carried out by 4-H, is now accepting applications for Camp OMK. This camp is open exclusively for children 8 to 13 years of age of any uniformed service member, active duty or reserve component. Operation: Military Kids (OMK) understands our military youth are experiencing difficult times and situations with the deployment of a parent or parents. Camp OMK is free to all participants thanks to a generous donor.

Camp OMK, will focus on building coping skills and creating positive outlets for the intense emotions these children now live with daily. Critical to this experience is the camaraderie built among the campers as they meet other youth from across the state who are going through similar situations, but equally important is the opportunity to enjoy a carefree camping experiences with their peers. While at camp, these children will have fun, laugh, learn and just enjoy being kids.

North Carolina's 4-H Centers are fully accredited through the American Camp Association (ACA) and employ extensively trained summer staff members to insure a quality camping experience.

Information about Camp OMK and the registration form is available at www.nc4h.org under the heading Military Programs, or you may contact the Randolph County 4-H program for an application form.
North Carolina’s Operation: Military Kids (OMK) program, an initiative carried out by 4-H, is now accepting applications for Camp OMK. This camp is open exclusively for children 8 to 13 years of age of any uniformed service member, active duty or reserve component.


Completed registration forms must be received to the North Carolina 4-H Youth Development Office by 5 PM on May, 30 2008. Notification will be announced on June 5, 2008 for those selected to attend Camp OMK. Priority is given to military children with a parent deployed or deploying anytime between May 2007 and November 2008. Once selected, a packet of information will be mailed to each camper with additional forms to complete, times of arrival and departure, items to pack, directions, and etc.

For more information and to print off the registration forms, visit our website at: http://www.nc4h.org/military/index.html.

4-H Photography Contest

We are accepting entries for the 2008 North Carolina 4-H Photography Contest from not until June 10. The contest is sponsored by the North Carolina Farm Writers and Broadcasters Association and is coordinated by the Department of Communication Services in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at NC State University. Winning entries will be displayed at 4-H Congress in July. Entries for the 2008 contest must be postmarked NO LATER THAN June 10, 2008 and should be original images created from June 2007 to June 2008. Contest categories this year include “4-H in Action” , “Nature’s Beauty”, and “Humor”. Each category is divided into a Junior (ages 9-12) and Senior (Ages 13-19) division.

For more information, including rules, entry forms and winning entries from previous years, please visit the following:

http://www.cals.ncsu.edu/agcomm/4-HPhoto/index.html.

4-H History

"We Are 4-H" Premier Performance

The Centennial 4-H Singers performed the original "We Are 4-H... Tomorrow's Song" at the 2008 NC 4-H Lifetime Achievement Awards Gala in Raleigh, NC on Tuesday, April 22, 2008.

NC 4-H Congress Registration Open

Even though spring just started, it is already time to plan for summer, including NC 4-H Congress. This year, 4-H Congress will be held July 21-25, 2008 on the campus of NC State University.

Click for the Congress 2008 Packet

The major purposes of N.C. 4-H Congress are:
• To perpetuate the reputation of 4-H as a major statewide educational program.
• To improve delegates’ knowledge of current issues through educational experiences.
• To provide an opportunity to develop and exercise leadership skills.
• To provide an opportunity for delegates to participate in the democratic process.
• To provide recreational and social experiences for delegates.
• To select winners in presentations and certain activities through state contests.
• To provide recognition for project, activity, and scholarship winners.

Age: Delegates to the North Carolina 4-H Congress must be at least 13 years of age.

Housing: County delegations will be housed in NC State University dormitories with adult chaperones in every level. The dormitories are air-conditioned, and organized by suites of 4-6 rooms of two occupants each. Males and females are housed in separate suites, although on the same floor.

Transportation: Transportation will be provided to and from the 4-H Office (1418 Armory Drive), and to all activities during NC 4-H Congress.

Meals: Delegates will eat in the University Dining Hall or other planned meal locations. Seven meals are included in this year's registration fee: Monday dinner; Tuesday breakfast and dinner; Wednesday breakfast and lunch; and Thursday breakfast and dinner. Delegates should plan to bring spending money for all other meals to include: lunch en route Monday, fast food lunch on Tuesday and Thursday, dinner out Wednesday night, breakfast Friday morning.

Statewide Community Service: This year we are partnering with Stop Hunger Now (http://www.stophungernow.org/) for our statewide community service effort. Youth attending 4-H Congress are asked to raise money for this program. Based on the amount of money received, meals will be purchased and assembled at a Hands To Service activity on Wednesday. $1.20 provides 1 bag of food, which provides 6 meals. For a gift of $30, 25 meals can be provided. Attached is a form which each donor who makes a donation will need to fill out. Also attached is a "fundraising form" which can be used by 4-H'ers to help keep track of their donations.

To attend as a Mecklenburg County 4-H delegate, the enclosed forms must be received in my office on or before June 25, 2008. The cost for enrolled Mecklenburg 4-H’ers is $150.

Once your have registered, you will receive further information regarding a required 4-H Congress Orientation.

If you have any questions, please call me at 704-336-4015. I look forward to chaperoning an exiting and energetic Mecklenburg delegation again this summer.

4-H Centennial inspires new ice cream flavor

North Carolina 4-H turns 100 in 2009. In honor of the 4-H program celebrating its centennial, Blue Bell Creameries is announcing a new ice cream flavor.

“Centennial Cupcake” Ice Cream is a delicious blend of cake batter ice cream with pieces of yellow cake, a chocolate icing swirl and four-leaf clover sprinkles.

"4-H benefits so many young people with its youth development programs," said Paul Kruse, Blue Bell CEO and president. "This is just a small token of our appreciation. 4-H has been around for over 100 years. Blue Bell just finished celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2007, so we understand how special it is to reach the century mark." “We decided to extend this new flavor throughout our 17-state distribution area,” Mills said. “We just got our first shipment and the ice cream should be available in many grocery stores very soon.”

Consumers will not have any problem trying to locate the new frozen treat in the freezer section at the grocery store. The lid features a brown rim and the container pictures four children wearing traditional green 4-H t-shirts. The organization’s widely recognized four-leaf clover symbol also is on the packaging, along with the words “Celebrating Over 100 Years with 4-H.”

Having the opportunity to try the sweet new treat is not the only high point of the new product. Mills said a portion of the proceeds will go to promote the 4-H program. “This is a very unique thing that our company is doing,” he said. “We haven’t done this with any of our other products.”

“While we obviously can’t endorse this or any other product, we hope people will use this as a way to support the 4-H program, and while enjoying the product reminisce on their good memories as a 4-H member,” said Mecklenburg County 4-H Agent Robert Furr.

4-H is a community of nearly 7 million young people ages 5-19 across America who are learning leadership, citizenship and life skills. 4-H programs are available to young people in all 50 states, U.S. territories and U.S. military installations worldwide. For more information on 4-H in Mecklenburg County, call 704-336-2082 or visit www.mecklenburgcounty4h.org

4-H District Teen Retreat

The Northwest and Southwest districts held their FINAL Teen Retreat March 15 and 16. The retreat was held at Betsy-Jeff Penn 4-H Center. With over 150 teens attending, the retreat featured a variety of workshops focsing on expressive arts themes, an energetic closing session, and... of course... the dance.

4-H Spotlighted at Southern Spring Home & Garden Show

Mecklenburg County 4-H was spotlighted during this years Southern Spring Home &Garden Show. A new feature to this years show was a backyard barn in the main exhibit hall. Mecklenburg County 4-H volunteer Pat Wright is provided a horse for the barn each day during the show. 4-H staff, teens and volunteers were on site to promote the Mecklenburg 4-H program as spectators visited the barn.

4-H and Mecklenburg Park and Recreation Centers go TECHNOLOGY!

Mecklenburg County 4-H has agreed to pilot a new hands-on engineering curriculum being developed through Duke University. The pilot is taking place at Naomi Drenan Recreation Center and Oaklawn Recreation Center through their after school programs.

The purpose of this newly developed curriculum is to expose young people to exciting, hands-on learning experiences in the field of science, technology, engineering and math, with hopes that this will spark an interest in pursuing a career in these fields.

Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation professionals along with the 4-H Agent have received the intial training on the first two modules for this new curriculum.

In the first module, students will build a bionic arm while learning the basics of assistive technology, gasses and liquids, electronic circuits and transfer motion. For more information on this exciting pilot, or to visit the local programs utilizing the curriculum, contact the 4-H Office at 704-336-2082.

Southwest District 4-H Horse Show to be Held in Mecklenburg County

The Southwest District 4-H Horse Show will be held at Latta Plantation Equestrian Center May 17 and 18, 2008. 4-H’ers from across the district will participate in the show to qualify to compete in the state 4-H horse show this summer. Horse show packets have already been mailed. If you would like to receive one, please contact the 4-H Office today or click HERE to download the packet online. The deadline to register and make stall reservations is April 12, 2008.

We are also looking for volunteers to help with various tasks throughout the weekend. If you are interested, call Robbie at the 4-H office today.

General Hugh Shelton Leadership Challenge Institute

The Shelton Leadership Challenge Institute is offered to rising ninth through twelfth grade youth with a grade point average of 3.0 or better. The program is an intense 5 ½ day experience for youth who are current leaders and aspire to be greater leaders in the future. Youth will explore areas of values-based leadership, integrity, team building, public speaking, and social responsibility. Approximate cost for the week experience is $425.00. The institute will be held at UNC-Charlotte June 22-27, 2008. Partial and full scholarships are available.

To receive an application, call the 4-H Office today. The deadline to submit your application is May 15, 2008.

Career Exploration Poster Contest

The North Carolina 4-H Career Exploration poster contest is around the corner. The purpose of this contest is for youth to investigate and learn more about a career that interests them. Below are the guidelines:
1. Poster must be on standard poster board and must be of uniform size 22” X 28” – other sizes are ineligible.
2. Use theme to select a career you are interested in and share it with us! For example: “Dive into a Career as a Doctor”
3. Newspaper and film cartoon characters may not be used.
4. Posters must contain only original artwork done by the artist.
5. Do not attach items thicker than the poster board to the poster.
6. Keep it simple and to the point.
7. Complete a contest entry form and tape/paste it on the back of your poster (form is on our website).
8. Age divisions are: 9-10; 11-13; 14-18.
9. Posters are due to the 4-H Office May 9, 2008.

All posters will be displayed in Mecklenburg County recreation centers. The top poster in each age division from each county will move onto district competition. District competition will be held during 4-H District Activity Day with the top poster in each age division at the district level competing for state awards. The state competition will be held during in July during 4-H Congress. All State level entries will be displayed during 4-H Congress.

Every entry will receive a participation certificate. County Winners in each age divisions receive a certificate and $20 4-H scholarship. District Winners in each age division will receive a District Award Ribbon & Certificate. State Winners in each age division will receive a State Award Ribbon and State Winner Certificate.

Host a Japanese Exchange Student

This summer, North Carolina 4-H is hosting 30 month long students and chaperones from Japan. The exchangees will stay with their host families from July 20 through August 16, 2008. Our deadline for placing these students is May 15th – and there are many that still need homes. You do not have to be in 4-H to host. If you know of other families that may be interested, please let Robbie know. You can also email Robbie at robbie_furr@ncsu.edu.

Here are a few items you need to keep in mind as you consider to host a Japanese student:
1) The host family must have a child of the same gender and within two years of the same age (either older or younger).
2) The exchange student must have their own bed.
3) The exchange is primarily to introduce the student to American family culture. Special trips and outing other than what the family would normally participate in are not expected. For example, if the family goes to church or the grocery store or to grandmas; the child goes. If the family has a vacation planned; the child should be included. In short, the child is treated as a family member during their stay, nothing extra is expected.
4) The host family is responsible for all meals and pick up and return.
5) The Exchange students do have their own health insurance.
6) Applications and three references are required. The application can be obtained from teh Mecklenburg 4-H Office by calling 704-336-2082.

Once the family turns in the application, an extension agent should sign the application. An in-home interview is then required and will be conducted by an 4-H staff member. We will then make a match based age, gender and similar interests such as music, sports, reading, hobbies, allergies, and special requests. Finally, the family will receive a letter along with information about the child and a schedule of orientations.

This is an EXCELLENT opportunity for your family. If you have any questions, please let me know. I have hosted before and can give you plenty of insight. Generally, we place 3-4 students in Mecklenburg County each summer.

4-H Summer Camp Registration

Mecklenburg County 4-H is taking a delegation of youth ages 8-13 to Millstone 4-H Center the week of August 3-8, 2008 for a week-long experience of 4-H residential Summer Camp. Millstone 4-H Center is located in Ellerbe, NC. During the week, campers will enjoy horseback riding, swimming, archery, riflery, canoeing, crafts, camp songs, nature, and lots more fun. All of our NC 4-H Centers have obtained the American Camping Association Accreditation.

Cost for camp is $325 which includes transportation, lodging, meals, store money and all camp supplies. Spaces are limited, so call the 4-H Office today to reserve your spot. The deadline to register is May 1, 2008.

4-H Plant Sale

Support Mecklenburg County 4-H by purchasing berry plants, fruit trees and flowering trees through our 4-H Spring Plant Sale. Plants can be ordered through February 28, 2008. Find out more information about the plant sale and order online by clicking HERE. You can also call the 4-H Office at 704-336-2082 for more information.

To download and print the 4-H Plant Sale brochure, click HERE