Focus on Youth
News for OCES staff working with youth.
February, 2010
4-H is a community of young people across America learning leadership, citizenship and life skills.
Table of Contents
Hello 4-H Family,
"… and my World." Those are some powerful words that conclude the 4-H pledge. We say them or hear them without giving them much thought, but when there is a time that others need our help we need to keep them in mind.
According
to the Tufts University "Study on Positive Youth Development", one of
the things that sets 4-H apart from other “Out of School Time” activities
is that 4-H members tend to be more civically minded and engaged.
Four-H members have an opportunity today to help those in need in Haiti.
They can be of service to our service men and women and their families
as described in this newsletter, and they can help with on going service
projects like Habitat for Humanity and the Ronald McDonald House charities. All
of these things allow youth to learn the importance of helping others.
In the months ahead you will be hearing more about a new service project
that one of our state 4-H officers has undertaken. It is called “Coins
for Kenya.” Taler Sawatsky is working to raise awareness of a
long-time practice in Kenya that has been used as a girl's rite of passage
into womanhood. Taler’s
goal is to help raise funds to build a youth center in Kenya that can
be used to help expand educational outreach.
These are just a few things that we can all be a part of as we seek to
serve others. As parents, volunteers and educators, I encourage you to consider
ways your family and club might be a good citizen to the rest of the world.
Charles Cox
Assistant Director, 4-H Youth Development
Deployment opens new service opportunities through OMK
I want to thank everyone for your continued support of military families in Oklahoma. I just wanted to let you know that the Oklahoma 45th Infantry Brigade is facing yet another massive deployment. This one will involve the entire brigade consisting of approximately 3,500 troops in 2011. Therefore, many families throughout the state will be affected by this. It will offer 4-Her’s an opportunity to serve military families in our own backyards. We have numerous projects that offer 4-Her’s a chance to get involved and make a difference - from “Hero Packs” and “Speak Out for Military Kids” to Yellow Ribbon events and clubs adopting a unit. It will take everyone working together to support these families, plus it’s a great civic-service learning opportunity. The challenge is identifying the military families in your community. By utilizing existing networks and personal contacts, together we can reach these families.
We also have opportunities to encourage military kids to join 4-H by requesting certain activity and camp fees to be paid for by OMK grant money. There are a few stipulations - its subject to available funding, must be a 4-H activity and/or event and benefits can only be utilized twice. If you have any questions please give me a call or email.
EPA Announces 4th Annual Rachel Carson Contest
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) invites the public to submit creative projects to the 4th annual Rachel Carson intergenerational "Sense of Wonder" contest. The categories are poetry, photography, essays and dance. The contest seeks to instill a sense of wonder for the environment among all generations and spur environmental stewardship.
Carson is considered to be the founder of the contemporary environmental movement through her landmark book, Silent Spring. Its publication is credited with reversing the nation's pesticide policy.
Entries must be from a team of two or more persons from both younger and older generations. EPA is working with the Liz Lerman Dance Exchange, the Rachel Carson Council, Inc., and Generations United to sponsor this contest.
The deadline for team entries is June 16, 2010. The winners will be announced in October 2010. The public will have the opportunity to vote among the finalists for the winners in each category.
More information: http://www.epa.gov/aging/resources/thesenseofwonder/index.htm
Presidential Awards for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering MentoringDUE DATE: 3/23/2010 It is expected that each award will be used to continue the recognized activities. The nominees must have served in the described mentoring role for at least five years prior to nomination. In addition to the grant award, each awardee will be invited to Washington, D.C., for an awards ceremony, recognition events, and meetings with leaders in Federal sector education and research, and focused workshops addressing effective mentoring of students from underrepresented groups. The awardees will be honored at a White House ceremony. LINK TO FULL ANNOUNCEMENT: http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2010/nsf10520/nsf10520.htm |
4-H Ambassador Application Now Available
The 2010 4-H Ambassador applications are available on the Ambassador link on the 4-H website or at the following address http://oklahoma4h.okstate.edu/ambassador/become.html Applications are due to Cathy Allen April 1. Ambassador interviews will be held on the OSU campus Saturday, May 29th.
4-H Day at the Capitol
4-H Day at the Capitol will be held Wednesday, April 7th. This year 4-H Capitol Day will focus around the three mission mandates: Citizenship, Healthy Living and Science and Technology. We will also be emphasizing the Operation Military Kids program. All 4-H members serving on the State Leadership Council, as 4-H State 4-H Ambassador or as a District Officer (current and incoming) have been invited to participate in the event.
If you have any questions you may call and speak with Charles Cox or Cathy Allen at 405-744-4493.
Celebrate Bake & Take Month in March
Oklahoma State University’s Robert M. Kerr Food & Agricultural Products Center and the Oklahoma Wheat Commission is teaming up with 4-H to promote Bake & Take Month during March.
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 understand the importance of the
cereal grain and wheat grown in our state,” said Renee Nelson, FAPC milling
and baking specialist.
Bake and Take originated in 1972 with 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, Kansas.
Even though the Kansas Wheathearts disbanded in 2001, Kansas Wheat continues
these efforts today.
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.
Citizenship Washington Focus (CWF)
This year marks the 51st anniversary of CWF. Youth, ages
15-19, 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’s Oklahoma group will be traveling and attending June 17-27,
2010. If you have questions or need additional information, please
contact the State 4-H Office.
State Record Book Information
State Record
Books are due by noon at the State Office on April
1, 2010.
State Record Book Judging Day is April 5, 2010 in Stillwater,
Okla.
Interviews will be held on May 3, 2010 in Stillwater.
Note: An effort is being made to schedule Level IV scholarships during
a time when college finals are not in session.
If you know of someone who would be good at judging State Record Books or interviewing
finalists, please submit your nominations (with name, phone number and e-mail
address) to Jessica no later than Feb. 19.
Changes in State Record Book Scoring
The State Scholarships and Awards Committee met on Jan. 19 and voted yes to changing scoring procedures for State Record Book Project Awards and National Congress. Level III and IV Scholarships as well as State Hall of Fame will continue having the same scoring as in previous years. The new scoring procedure will use rankings instead of numerical scoring to rank books. This system will be put into place for 2010 Record Book judging and interviews with the hopeful outcome that it will eliminate the extreme high and low scores we see on some project books. This change primarily affects those who are judging record books and interviewing record book finalists. A complete overview of the new system will be provided on the State 4-H Web site by the end of February.
Don’t forget... Kids Helping Kids Deadline
The Kids Helping Kids deadline is Feb. 26. Please have all of your forms and monies into the State Office by this date to be eligible for prizes!
Oklahoma 4-H: Generations of Clover update
The 4-H history book has been sent to the publisher and we’re now in the beginning stages of proofing pages and ensuring the book looks good. The book should be available for shipping and pick-up at the state office in May. I’ve seen a few pages of the book and it looks amazing – so if you haven’t ordered your copy yet, download the order form from the State 4-H Web site and reserve one!
SUNUP 4-H Documentary
If you missed the two-part SUNUP 4-H documentary when it aired in November, mark your calendar for Feb. 27 at 6 p.m. - the hour-long documentary will be shown in its entirety on OETA once again. For information about SUNUP, visit http://sunup.okstate.edu.
OKC Zoo Snooze
On March 26th
we will be offering a OKC Zoo Snooze opportunity for your 4-H families. They
are invited to come spend the night at the OKC Zoo and learn from Zoo personnel
about many of the similarities and differences that their pets have in common
with wild animals. Then venture outdoors for a night hike through the zoo.
The hike will be followed up by 4-H activities. In the morning we will
slip out for an early tour while the animals are up and having breakfast. The
rest of the day is yours to spend at the zoo. Make plans today, it’s sure
to be a “Wild” time!
Log on to http://oklahoma4h.okstate.edu/events/animal.htm#zoo for
registration materials. Registration ends March 10th, however if
we reach capacity participants will be chosen on a first come, first serve
basis.