Focus on Youth
News for OCES staff working with youth.
February, 2009
4-H is a community of young people across America learning leadership, citizenship and life skills.
.Table of Contents
Hello 4-H Family,
As we begin a new year we are excited to have a new member of the
state 4-H staff who will be joining us on February 2. Steve Beck
has accepted our position to work with Small Animal Projects and will
also be trying to use this project area as a way to reach new and expanded
audiences. Steve is not new to 4-H, having served as an Ag and 4-H
Educator in Harper County and as a 4-H Educator in Kingfisher County.
This is a new position, so Steve will be looking for ideas and suggestions
as he sets some program goals. When you see good ideas send him an e-mail
or give him call. Steve can be reached by calling our main office number,
(405) 744-4HYD.
We hope to also be hiring our new State Coordinator for the Operation Military
Kids program in the next few weeks, so be watching for that announcement as well.
As we have been able to add more specialists and assistant specialists we have
not been able to also add more support staff. For this reason we are relying
more and more on technology. When you call, if no one is available to answer
your call it will go to voice mail. While we would like to be able to answer
every call and would like to be able to answer your question on the first try
that is not always possible, so please be patient with us.
Thanks for the great work you are doing across the state!
Charles Cox
Assistant Director, 4-H Youth Development
Fun Night at the Blazers
The 4-H and FFA Fun Night at the Blazers Hockey game will take place Saturday, Feb. 7 at 7:10 p.m. at the Ford Center in Oklahoma City. Tickets are only $10. Order your tickets by January 29.
For every $10 ticket that a 4-H’er sells, the Blazers will donate $5 to the 4-H Foundation to benefit the statewide 4-H Program.
All 4-H members attending the game have an opportunity to win one of four grand prizes:
- An Express Ranch heifer valued at $2,500.
- A $500 gift certificate for a show barrow.
- A $500 gift certificate for a show lamb.
- A $500 gift certificate for a show goat.
The 4-H club or county that sells the most tickets will be awarded an autographed hockey stick and free tickets to another Blazers game.
All 4-H members in attendance will have the opportunity to enjoy an on-ice “meet and greet” with players and coaches after the game.
Please help get the word out to 4-H youth and their families, 4-H volunteers, and 4-H educators.
Stacie Rathbun with the Blazers will be glad to accept group orders from counties as well as from 4-H clubs. To order your block of tickets, contact Stacie at 405-235-7825. If an individual 4-H’er and his/her family would like to attend the game, but nobody else from their club or county is planning to attend, the individual can contact the State 4-H Office at 405-744-4493 and ask for Robin or Karen.
Stacie informed us that they are planning some fun county competitions during the game (spirit contests, which county is the loudest, etc.). Therefore, if possible, they would like the 4-H youth and adults within each county to order blocks of tickets together.
Hope to see you at the game!
Citizenship Washington Focus (CWF)
This year marks the 50th Anniversary of CWF. Youth, ages15-19,
will learn about the history and culture of our nation, while having
fun and meeting new people from across the country. Information
regarding the Oklahoma upcoming trip can be found on the 4-H website
at
http://oklahoma4h.okstate.edu/events/cwf.htm
This year the Oklahoma delegation will be traveling and attending June 25 – July 5, 2009. If you have questions or need additional information, please contact the State 4-H Office.
Celebrate Bake & Take Month
The Robert M. Kerr Food & Agricultural Products Center, located on the Oklahoma State University – Stillwater campus, and the Oklahoma Wheat Commission is teaming up with 4-H to promote Bake & Take Month during March and Bake & Take Day on March 28.
The FAPC and Oklahoma Wheat Commission are encouraging 4-H members to bake a product made from wheat and take it to a neighbor, friend, relative or organization during the month of March.
“The Bake & Take promotion is a wonderful way to get our young people to experience the joys of baking and understanding the importance of the cereal grain and wheat grown in our state,” said Renee Nelson, FAPC milling and baking specialist.
Bake and Take Day began in 1972 by the Kansas Wheathearts, an auxiliary organization of the Kansas Association of Wheat Growers, as a community service event to celebrate the wheat harvest in Sumner County, Kan. Even though the Kansas Wheathearts disbanded in 2001, Kansas Wheat continues these efforts today by partnering with the Wheat Foods Council and ACH Food Companies to extend the tradition to a broader audience and expand the program to Bake and Take Month.
For more information or ideas to celebrate Bake & Take, contact Nelson by calling 405-744-6071 or e-mailing renee.albers_nelson@okstate.edu. The FAPC and Oklahoma Wheat Commission want to help promote your event, so please contact Nelson if you plan to participate in Bake & Take.
Discovery Unlimited
2009 Discovery Unlimited – May 29-03, 2009 - Saints Groves Camp, Stillwater. Discover Unlimited is intended to help retain the membership of our "tweeners" in the Oklahoma 4-H program. It is critical that our organization focus on these young people if we intend to maintain enrollment and increase participation of the 13-19 year olds.
Workshops and speakers will focus on what 4-H offers teens in the way of leadership, travel and friendship. Please help our planning team promote this program with youth 11-12 years of age.
Registration will be approximately $35 and will include housing, food, educational supplies and a T-shirt. All youth must register through their county Extension office, no exceptions. County registration is due to the state office on or before April 6th.
All forms and a tentative conference schedule will be posted by February
29 at http://oklahoma4h.okstate.edu/events/discovery.htm
Robbie Maples, Discovery Unlimited Co-chair
Volunteer of the Year and Lifetime Volunteer Awards
Each county may submit one nominee for each of the two awards: Volunteer of the Year (less than 10 years of experience) and Lifetime Volunteer Awards (an accumulation of 10 or more years of experience). County nominee(s) will be recognized at the state awards luncheon on July 11, 2009, as part of the State Parent-Volunteer Development conference.
The State Volunteer Board would like to have every county present and honoring a volunteer.
The application form and guidelines for 2009 District and State volunteer awards are available at http://oklahoma4h.okstate.edu/awards/recogn.htm.
Nomination includes application, nominee’s vita, three letters of recommendations and an electronic photograph. Nominations submitted to the District 4-H Office must be received electronically no later than 5 pm April 15, 2009.
The selection committee asked that the following be shared with County Educators: Please do not complete the vita for the volunteer. It is obvious when it is and is not the work of the individual. The information on the vita needs to be thoughts, philosophy and words of the volunteer. For those counties nominating a modest or humble volunteer who will not “toot their own horn,” it is suggested that you work one-on-one with the individual to record answers for each question on the vita.
State Parent-Volunteer Conference - Call for Workshop Proposals
The State 4-H Volunteer Board extends an invitation to county educators, para-professionals and volunteers to present a workshop July 11, 2009 in Stillwater. The proposal form may be accessed on line at http://oklahoma4h.okstate.edu/volun/eduopp.htm. The volunteer board encourages staff and volunteers to submit workshop proposals no later than February 15, 2009.
There will be four tracks of workshops each with a different focus:
Track 1 - “Honoring” our past…workshop topics which
are a rich part of our history and still viable to today’s youth
and our communities.
Track 2 - “Celebrating” our present… current trends
and interests of youth and youth development programming or volunteer
development.
Track 3 – “Envisioning” our future…introduction
of new and unusual programs, projects, coming trends which will put our
youth programming out on the cutting edge.
Track 4 – “100 years of Service”…Invitation
only! - the top recipients of the 100 years of Service project
will be invited to present the innovative service learning program their
club conducted.
State Volunteer Board
One Hundred Years of Service - Making a difference…ONE project at a time
The state leadership team is prepared to conduct a centennial program that will recognize clubs who have contributed to the betterment of their communities and citizens while providing meaningful opportunities for members to develop life skills through community service projects.
Objective:
- Encourage clubs to use the “Service-Learning” model when choosing, planning, conducting and evaluating a youth led community service project.
- Provide a means to collect, record, and recognize the community service projects of Oklahoma 4-H Clubs.
- Develop a database of community service as a resource to assist other clubs in planning and conducting service projects that make a significant difference to our communities and the lives of our citizens.
- Recognize clubs (members and volunteers) who excel in ingenuity – creativity, resourcefulness, and life skill development.
Each district will select the top 25 Service-Learning projects which excel in ingenuity. Of the 100 projects submitted at the state level, the top 10 will be selected and announced at the 2009 Roundup.
Attached is a copy of the program and the Service Learning Action Planning (S.L.A.P.) Guide that the leadership team would like to present to a county Parent-Volunteer Organization, Teen Leader groups/County Officer Teams.
Robbie Maples, NW District State Representative
The Kids' Science Challenge
The Kids' Science Challenge is a nationwide competition for 3rd to 6th
graders. Kids are encouraged to learn about four fun scientific fields
and then submit a question, problem, or experiment to be solved, working
together with a scientist or engineer.
The scientific fields are: flavor science, water quality, skateboard
engineering, and the search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI).
Winners will receive a trip to visit the scientists to work collaboratively
on their question, problem or experiment, and will be featured on Pulse
of the Planet radio programs and podcasts.
The Kids' Science Challenge is providing a variety of educational resources
to encourage kids to learn about the scientific fields, to help them
in preparing an entry for the competition. The web site (Kids Science
Challenge), includes scientific backgrounds, downloadable science projects,
lesson plans for classroom or after-school use, fun videos and educational
games. At imbee.com kids can sign up to join a group to discuss their
ideas online, and at Whyville.net they can participate in live chats
with the scientists and engineers. Links are provided on the Kids' Science
Challenge web site.
Continue reading "The Kids' Science Challenge"
4-H and Nickelodeon Partner to Launch New Online Game
National 4-H Council has partnered with Nickelodeon's "Big Green Help" to create a brand-new, interactive online game-- "Flip N' Flow"--featuring the network's animated boy-genius Jimmy Neutron. The game is in support of 4 H's Science, Engineering and Technology communication campaign to spark youth interest in science and prepare one million new young people for America's technology workforce.
Nickelodeon's "The Big Green Help" is a kid-led movement that provides information and tools to help explain climate change to young people, and connects them to energy-saving and earth-friendly activities in their everyday lives.
The "Flip N' Flow" game is available online at 4-H.org. Youth can play the game and access materials to share with friends. Check out this fun activity which gives youth and mentors the opportunity to learn about water conservation and challenges them think about steps they can take to participate in going green!
State Record Book update
State record book dates have been set. State record books are due in the state office no later than noon on April 2, 2009. Record books will be judged April 9, 2009 and interviews are May 4 and 5, 2009. All events take place in Stillwater. For questions please call or e-mail Jessica Stewart at jessica.stewart@okstate.edu or 405-744-7960.
County histories needed for Centennial History Book
The centennial history book is still in the development stage and we need county histories from EVERY county in Oklahoma. Plans include devoting at least one page to each county containing a short (750 words or less) historical summary and pictures related to people and events in that county. Please recruit at least one youth member or volunteer leader from your county who would like to work on this history research project. E-mail Johnna Stevenson, history book editor, at johnna.stevenson@okstate.edu for assistance and materials to help with this goal.
Oklahoma 4-H Centennial Green Tie Gala
Make plans now to attend the Oklahoma 4-H green tie gala at the historic Skirvin-Hilton Hotel on November 6, 2009. Please call or e-mail Jessica Stewart at jessica.stewart@okstate.edu or 405-744-7960 for details and continue looking for updates and information regarding this celebration of Oklahoma 4-H!
Centennial Planning Guide Available
The 2009 Centennial planning guide is now available. Contains ideas on how to add the centennial into projects, history book guidelines, promotional contest guidelines, PSAs and other planning information. Guide is a working document and will be updated as necessary.
Innovation Center – Resources for Youth-Adult Partnerships and Youth in Governance
The Innovation Center has announcde the launch of a
new website (www.theinnovationcenter.org <http://ent.groundspring.org/EmailNow/pub.php?module=URLTracker&cmd=track&j=256329090&u=2718744> )!
The central feature of the new site is the interactive Kellogg Leadership for
Community Change (KLCC) Knowledge Well – a virtual nexus of tools, activities,
people and ideas all intended to help you engage both youth and adults to affect
real, long lasting change in your community. Here, you can browse (and download – for
free!) through our ever popular tool kits <http://ent.groundspring.org/EmailNow/pub.php?module=URLTracker&cmd=track&j=256329090&u=2718745> ,
as well as tips and activities <http://ent.groundspring.org/EmailNow/pub.php?module=URLTracker&cmd=track&j=256329090&u=2718746> generated
during the course of the KLCC initiative.
In addition to tool kit resources, the Knowledge Well also contains the Online
Communities <http://ent.groundspring.org/EmailNow/pub.php?module=URLTracker&cmd=track&j=256329090&u=2718747> section – a
network of human resources sure to strengthen your work. Here you can read our
President's blog, Innovate <http://ent.groundspring.org/EmailNow/pub.php?module=URLTracker&cmd=track&j=256329090&u=2718748> ,
for the latest expert opinions on youth and community development news; communicate
with other users in discussion forums <http://ent.groundspring.org/EmailNow/pub.php?module=URLTracker&cmd=track&j=256329090&u=2718749> about
youth engagement topics; and share ideas, insights and best practices using our document
libraries.
Service Opportunity in Nicaragua
I would like to thank everyone who provided feedback and participated in our International 4-H Survey!
We have an opportunity to partner with Feed the Children (FTC) and create educational opportunities for some of our members and the youth in Nicaragua. As you may know, Feed the Children is an Oklahoma based organization whose purpose is providing food to the starving around the world.
FTC has a project in Nicaragua that is set on top of a Mountain near a volcano. They have about one acre they would like us to help them develop into a garden. This is significant because currently the people that visit the feeding station do not garden or produce any of their own food. This garden could be a demonstration for the surrounding community to teach them how to supplement their food supply. Using the old adage “we will not be giving them fish, we will teach them to fish” or garden in this case.
In response to the survey results and the needs of FTC, this is what I can offer as a beginning step to developing an International 4-H program.
I can organize a Study Abroad course for 4-H members currently attending or planning to attend college next fall;
- this trip will be worth 3 credit hours at OSU,
- for this trip I would like to limit it to 18 year old youth,
- we can take six youth to Nicaragua this summer,
- approximate dates are the first 2 weeks in July,
- this opportunity will cost $1600, which would include airfare, ground transportation, lodging, and food. Tuition is additional. (I know this sounds expensive, study abroad courses at OSY average about $2400. We have kept costs as low as possible.)
Tentative Schedule:
- I expect we would spend a day or two on campus studying gardening techniques and the Nicaraguan culture.
- One Day travel to Nicaragua,
- one day learning about Nicaraguan Agriculture and food supply (in country),
- three days working on the garden at the FTC project (we will work side by side with the locals),
- two days studying the Nicaraguan culture by going to the Spanish Colonial Capital, Indigenous market, and a volcano.
- Then travel home.
- Since this will be a course for credit the youth will be expected to keep a journal and write a reflection paper / project of some type to be determined as time gets closer.
Other Information:
- If safety is your concern, FTC takes groups all over the world and has an excellent safety record, no major incidents.
- Nicaragua is a Spanish speaking country; we will have interpreters through FTC.
- Youth will need a passport to travel to Nicaragua.
- Since this is a study abroad course, youth will be expected to have been admitted to OSU and enrolled in the course or planning to transfer the course hours to another college.
Payment Schedule: Total Cost $1600
- $100.00 Forms and Deposit due March 1st
- $500.00 April 15th
- $500.00 May 15th
- $500.00 June 15th
Course Credits:
OSU course credits usually cost $180 per credit hour, and there are no
fees since it is an outreach course. In an outreach course, we can
accommodate a student not enrolling in OSU if they pay a $65 fee and
file the appropriate paperwork. Then they can transfer it to
whatever college they plan to attend. The course is an upper-level
3000 level course which carries an ‘I’ (International)
designation which is required for graduation at OSU.
Please let me know of your interest, concerns, comments, questions. As we move forward with this project I will be able to give you more information. I do realize this initial trip is limiting, but please keep in mind, this is our starting point.
I think this is an excellent opportunity to expose youth to another culture, to give them an opportunity to serve others, and a chance to change the lives of those less fortunate than ourselves.