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Table of Contents
Focus on Youth
News for OCES staff working with youth.
4-H is a community of young people across America learning leadership, citizenship and life skills.
July / August, 2007
Dear
4-H Educators, Members, Volunteers and Parents,
Congratulations
to all the volunteers who were recognized at the recent state volunteer and
parent’s leadership development conference. There were many positive
comments made about the quality workshops that were offered. Many of those
sessions were taught by county educators, volunteers and teams of youth and adults. If
you did not take advantage of this great learning experience I strongly encourage
you to do so next year! This is also a great opportunity for you to bring
your volunteers to a conference where you can fellowship with them and learn
together.
This month we want to spotlight the work done in Muskogee County
through an environmental education effort that involved some
597 citizens. The project was funded
through a grant from National 4-H Council and Coca-Cola. Through a youth/adult
partnership, the Muskogee Blue Thumb project educated over 170
adults and 400 youth about how they can positively impact area
water quality by paying closer attention to runoff from their
property into the storm water system. A new 4-H ecology club
has been organized at the Muskogee 7th & 8th
grade center with 11 active members and a sponsor who have each been trained
to present water quality demonstrations at Muskogee Elementary Schools. The
Ecology Club has also labeled the storm
drains
in two neighborhoods with the "No Dumping" message and
has plans
to continue in other neighborhoods.
To learn more about this project, visit with David Adams in Muskogee
County. To learn more about grants such as this one that
can be used to develop or support innovative programs in
your county, visit the "Grants"
section of the National 4-H Council website.
If you have an innovative program that you would like to share
with others, please send me a short summary of that program,
and we will feature you in the coming months.
Sincerely,
Charles Cox
Interim Assistant Director, 4-H Youth Development
Two Vacancies at State 4-H Office
We are currently seeking to hire two additional members for the state 4-H team. We have been approved to fill the 4-H Foundation executive director position which is being vacated by Jim Rutledge. Jim is planning to remain with us at .75 FTE until we fill the position. This is a non-tenure track assistant specialist position. The position description is provided and can be shared with individuals you know who may have an interest in this position.
The second position is for a tenure track faculty position. The specialist in this position will provide major leadership to urban program development. The successful candidate will also assist us in providing support to graduate students who are seeking to complete advanced degrees in the Department of Agricultural Education, Communications and 4-H Youth Development. This position does require a PhD or EdD. Again, please share this opportunity with individuals who meet the qualifications, who may have an interest and who you feel would make a positive contribution to the Oklahoma 4-H Program.
PQA Plus
The attached information is frequently asked questions about PQA Plus. If you have further questions, please contact the Oklahoma Pork Council, 405-232-3781.
New 4-H Computer Curriculum
The 4-H Computer Power Unlimited (CPU) curriculum design team is looking for some 4-H groups to pilot test the draft curriculum. They are looking for 4-H youth participants, teen leaders and adult volunteers representing different audiences. They would like to have participation from several different states. See the attachment for more information.
Please let me know if you have a club interested in pilot-testing these materials.
Interactive Displays at OKC Fair
At the Oklahoma City Fair, there are opportunities for groups to do interactive displays in the 4-H exhibit area on the weekends. The guidelines and application form is attached. If you need additional information, please let me know (405) 744-8891. The deadline to be considered is August 31, 2007.
Septemberfest at the Governor's Mansion
September 1st, Septemberfest will be held on the Governor's Lawn. Septemberfest is coordinated by the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture and sponsored by Oklahoma Farm Bureau. The purpose is to give youth-serving organizations and agencies the opportunity to interact with urban families. This is a great opportunity to showcase 4-H to over 20,000 youth and adults in a single day.
Activities and projects should be pertinent to an urban audience and peak their interest in becoming a 4-H member. Some suggested project would include dog club activities, entomology demonstrations, water resources demonstrations, sport-fishing activities, etc.
Each participant will be asked to conduct his or her activity repeatedly during a 2-hour period. Remember that families will want to see many exhibits, so they won’t stay in one place too long. Plan and conduct activities/ demonstrations/ presentations that can be completed in a few minutes. Demonstrations can be things observed for a few minutes or watched for longer periods of time if interest is peaked. The time periods include:
9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (actual shift is 10 – 12, but set up starts at 9:00 a.m.)
12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
It is imperative that 4-H members and families follow through with this commitment once they register for a time slot. Interested parties may complete the attached form and return it no later than August 17st. Participant will receive written confirmation and further instruction. For more information contact Karla Knoepfli.
“Simply the Best!” - Southern Region 4-H Volunteer Forum
Looking for a way to rejuvenate your enthusiasm as a volunteer or county educator? Rock Eagle is the place! The best way to describe the experience is 4-H Camp for Adults. The days are packed with excellent workshops and the evenings are filled with entertainment and Fun Shops.
The conference will be held in Eatonton Georgia, October 4-7, 2007. Full conference registration will not exceed $210. A $50 deposit is due August 1, 2007, the remaining balance is due August 24th. Visit the host state conference site at www.4hsrlf.org for current information regarding the conference. Oklahoma’s registration information is posted at http://oklahoma4h.okstate.edu/volun/eduopp.htm. Participants are responsible for their own transportation. Oklahoma typically travels as a group via air transportation.
The mission of the Southern Region 4-H Volunteer Leader Forum is to increase the capacity of volunteer and salaried staff to contribute to the achievement of the mission of 4-H youth development and the Cooperative Extension system as a whole. The primary purpose of the forum is to educate and prepare participants to share what they learned back home. Participants benefit from the experiential learning activities which require them to discuss, use and apply what they learn. The ultimate application is for individuals and teams to teach others.
SRVLF is an excellent opportunity to meet adult volunteers from 13 southern states, Puerto Rico, Grenada, and the Virgin Islands.
Wanted: Teen Second Life Explorers
Are you a teen, ages 13-17, who's
curious about virtual life? Then help us explore and develop "Teen
Second Life: Bailey Island" this summer. Teen Second
Life is an international gathering place for young people to make friends and
to play, learn and create.
The goal of Teen Second Life is to build an online, non-formal 4-H learning
experience designed by teens with help from their adult leaders. For complete
details and contact info, download the flyer at http://cyfernet.org/sl/wanted.pdf.
Surf and Sail with Cyfernet's July 2007 Mission of the Month
Just
in time for the sizzling summer heat, CYFERnet dives into another cool
mission. Learn about waves, wind power and boat-building through exciting experiments,
investigations, creative activities and some healthy competition.
Catch a Wave: In this lesson, youth take part in a series of experiments to
see how waves are formed and why some waves are bigger than others.
Sailboat Investigation: Using a variety of everyday household materials,
youth attempt to design and build a "sailboat" that will travel
in a straight line for at least 75 centimeters on a smooth surface.
Cardboard Boat Race: Exercise your imagination and ingenuity by designing
and building a kayak, paddle wheeler, pirate ship or other human-powered "boat" with
just two basic items: cardboard and duct tape.
Visit http://www.cyfernet.org/4htech/missions.html for complete details.
Bring an NFL Player to School
Be a big deal in your school! Join the select group of kids who have had an NFL player visit their local school to hang out with them and talk about the importance of education and after school programs! Enter July 27-September 29 and you could send an NFL player back to school. Go to your local JCPenney store and pick up an entry form, or go to jcp.com or NFLRUSH.com to enter today.
Annual Literature Order Form
Attached is a link to the new 4-H Literature Order Form. As you know many of the items are now only available online, and many of the current printed items will also be transitioned soon to an online-only format.
Rosalyn Weston recently retired, and we are not sure if we will refill her position in the same way or redirect those salary dollars to a new position that will assist Cathy Allen in new curriculum development efforts. In the short run Carl Hamby is helping process orders, so if you call and leave a phone request at 405-744-8887 know that your order will still be handled.
Cathy will soon be forming several curriculum committees to begin working on various project areas. Before that is done she will do some surveys of staff, volunteers and youth regarding the priorities of the immediate future.
You can print off the current Literature Order Form then send in a hard copy at any time using this link.4-H Core Competency 6-Month Staff Evaluations due August 1
Due August 1, 2007 – evaluations can be accessed on the Unit 3 CD or at http://oklahoma4h.okstate.edu/edu/comp.htm. All forms are listed under Evaluation. Please be sure to re-read the instruction before completing and submitting Forms 3A and 3B.
Extension Educator Evaluations
Form 3A Six Month Evaluation of Material Use UNIT 3
Form 3B Six Month Evaluation of Observable Change UNIT 3
REMINDER - The number being reported on the "Recognizable Changes" is a percentage. The total for each line being reported must equal 100%. The number being recorded is not the actual number of volunteers but a percentage. See examples posted on-line.
Volunteer Evaluation – Reminder, if you used form 3C you must use form 3D because they are pre and post. If you are only collecting an “End of Year” evaluation (Form 3E) make sure you delete all lines/subject matter not taught or addressed during this program year. Volunteers should only be evaluated on Unit 3 topics “taught” or “focused on” by the educator(s) this year.
Form 3C Pre-Volunteer Beginning of Year Evaluation Unit 3
Form 3D Post-Volunteer End of Year Evaluation Unit 3
Form 3E Volunteer End of Year Evaluation Unit 3
Reminders –
- Do Not report on the sections in Core 3 which were not emphasized/taught in your county during the 2006-07 program-year.
- As a state we are not collecting data on materials being used from Units 1 and 2. Please continue using each but be sure emphasis is on Unit 3 for the remainder of this program year.
Both Educator and Volunteer evaluations are due to your District Program Specialist by August 1, 2007.
4-H Day at a Cowboy Football Game
4-H Day at a Cowboy Football Game will be held this year on September 8, 2007. Tickets for the game are limited so do not delay in placing your order. All orders must be received in the State 4-H Office before August 20 in order to receive the discounted ticket price. Regular price tickets ($60 each) MAY also be available after the 20th through the ticket office or at the game.