Table of Contents

• National 4-H Wildlife and Fisheries Volunteer Leader Recognition Award

• Mission of the Month: Space Party 1-2-3

• Southern Region Volunteer Leader Forum
  
  

• Learn how to build the 4-H Essential Elements into all your
  4-H programs!

• Citizenship Washington Focus (CWF)
  
  
• Omniplex Science Camp In
  
• 4-H Publications

 

Clover Corner News

Dear 4-H Educators, Members, Volunteers and Parents,
 
Happy Holidays! It hardly seems possible that another year has come and gone! I guess at least one of the two ole sayings must be true - “Time flies when you are having fun!” or “The older you get, the faster time seems to go!” I guess for me both fit! At any rate, another year has come and gone. As we look back we see many good things going on in the Oklahoma 4-H program – thanks to folks like you!

Each issue we are featuring some innovative programs that are taking place in the state. This month the program comes from the southwest part of the state and features a partnership with Washita and Custer Counties as well as a partnership with FFA and 4-H. Who says we cannot get along or that kids cannot be in both? This shows that good things happen when we are partners.

A survey given to Oklahoma county commissioners, estimated the cost of cleaning up 2,446 illegal dumpsites on county roads at $3,922,000. Counties also had to use machines and manual labor to clean up the sites. Besides the cost issue, roadside dumps also cause damage to the environment and provide habitat for unwanted pests.

Washita County 4-H teamed up with Custer County 4-H, Sentinel FFA, the Great Plains Resource Conservation &Development (RC&D), Custer County commissioners and Washita County commissioners in an effort to asses the extent of roadside dumping in the two counties and to map the location of these dumps. The public was asked through news articles, radio promos and flyers to report dumps on their roads. Youth then used GPS technology to record locations. They also took digital pictures and made written descriptions of what was in each dump.

The project involved 25 youth, investing 143 hours, and was part of a grant received by the Great Plains RC&D. The youth learn about the dangers of dumpsites. They created three brochures, two PowerPoint presentations, elementary recycling education program and a speaker’s notebook. The youth mapped 12 dumpsites, making written descriptions, taking digital pictures and recording the GPS locations. This information was compiled and given to the county commissioners to assist them with their cleanup efforts.

Six programs were presented in elementary schools, reaching 110 youth. Speakers' notebooks were also compiled, with presentation information, and distributed to the eight counties in the Great Plains RC&D district.

To learn more about this program contact: Mary Peck, Extension Educator 4-H Youth Development, 580-832-3356. You can see more about this event by visiting the Great Plains RC&D website.

This is just one example of the great programs taking place in the state. We would like to share your successes with your peers, so consider sending me those highlights. These are not only shared here but from time to time are shared with key decision makers.

On behalf of the entire state 4-H staff, we wish you and your families the Merriest of Christmases and the Happiest of Holidays.

National 4-H Wildlife and Fisheries Volunteer Leader Recognition Award

Now in its 27th year, the National 4-H Wildlife and Fisheries Volunteer Leader Recognition Program, co-sponsored by the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the National 4-H Headquarters, annually honors and recognizes 4-H volunteer leaders who assist 4-H members in learning about wildlife and fisheries conservation and management. The recognition award promotes positive youth development through the 4-H mission mandates that support the educational foundation of 4-H in science, engineering and technology, healthy living and citizenship. Of the nearly 7 million youth enrolled in 4-H programs, over 1.1 million are participating in natural resources and environmental education programs.

The outstanding volunteer leaders receive national recognition, including an all-expense-paid trip to attend the North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference March 20-24, 2007, in Portland, Oregon. The volunteer leaders will be recognized during the conference with plaques and awards from both FWS and CSREES.

Nomination forms must be completed by the volunteer leader and signed by the appropriate county Extension educator and the state 4-H program leader. A complete nomination packet is comprised of the nomination form, a photograph and "The Leader's Story," a biographical sketch (no longer than one-page) outlining why he/she got involved as a 4-H volunteer and what it means to him/her. All of these items must be submitted with the nomination. Only one nomination per state or territory is permitted. Please use the accompanying form to obtain nominations. Forward the complete nomination packet no later than 8 am on January 3, 2007 to Kevin Allen at 008C Ag Hall .

Kevin Allen

Mission of the Month: Space Party 1-2-3

This month, the NASA shuttle Discovery sets out for the International Space Station. As the astronauts take flight, why not make your own star trek? With CYFERnet's "Mission of the Month" Space Parties, it's easy to explore the universe without leaving home. Each activity teaches youth about the nightly happenings in the winter sky:

1) While peering through a telescope in the dead of winter has its place, there's a simpler (and warmer) way to view the cosmos. STELLARIUM sets your ground coordinates and presents a photo-realistic sky, complete with planets, constellations and nebulas.

2) If you've always wanted to go to infinity and beyond, here's your chance. CELESTIA lets you experience outer space in 3-D as you travel beyond our solar system, in any direction, and at any speed or moment in time.

3) Satellites move quickly, but the HEAVENS-ABOVE Web site can help you locate them. Just enter your ground location to receive orbital data on the International Space Station, the Hubble Space Telescope and many others.

Take a break from the holiday chaos and escape to another galaxy with a virtual trip into outer space--no spaceship or tuition fees required. Connect, accept your mission, and lift off today!

Visit http://www.cyfernet.org/4htech/missions.html for complete details.

Jeff Sallee