Anne Arundel County 4-H Happenings

Wishing you a Happy 2023!

As we begin our new year, we would like to take a moment to talk about this year’s 4-H programming. As 4-H Educators in the University of Maryland Extension, we are asked to develop programs intended to address particular needs/issues in our community through teaching, publishing/curriculum creation and grant submission. Educators in each county identify key program areas they feel best fit the needs of the community and their particular skill sets/interests.

In Anne Arundel County, we encourage youth to engage in a variety of project areas, but in the new year we will strive to provide specific opportunities to encourage youth involvement in STEM, Civic Engagement, and Club/Youth/Volunteer Enrichment. Our plans for the new year include:

· Sponsoring hands on workshops in STEM related fields of robotics, aerospace, coding and science (animal and plant agriculture, environment, etc…).

· Encouraging youth civic engagement through our new 4-H ACTS (Annapolis.Civics.Thriving.Service) activity and other service related events.

· Creating the next generation of leaders through Youth Officer workshops, Volunteer/Leader training, Public Speaking Contest, National Trip Opportunities, Career Readiness discussions and other life skills activities.

Our program is supported through a network of volunteers each with their own unique skills. If you or your youth have an interest in supporting or providing leadership for a program, club or activity - please reach out. We are here to support, encourage and provide positive youth development opportunities. Together we will build a stronger community for our youth!

Looking forward to a 2023 full of exploration and new experiences!

Regards,

Gretchen and Joy

*** As always, most of our events can be found on our ‘ 2023 4-H Calendar’!

Civic engagement programs empower young people to be well-informed citizens who are engaged in their communities and the world. 4-H ACTS will provide an opportunity for youth to travel to the state capitol, learn about civics, engage with legislators and tell their 4-H stories. Through this unique event, youth will gain skills in civic engagement to promote involvement in their communities & governments, explore the State Capitol's history and learn about Maryland government structure, representatives and operations. Activities include a morning assembly with a local legislator, guided tour of the State House, Scavenger Hunt activity, and a 4-H Showcase. Youth/volunteers are welcome to observe the legislature in action via a General Assembly Session that evening on their own. This is a new activity - information can be found on the UME - AAC 4-H 'Events and Opportunities' webpage.

Event Details:

• SAVE THE DATE: Presidents Day (Public School day off), Monday, February 20, 2023

• Location: 100 State Cir, Annapolis, MD 21401

For those enrolled: Orientation and Informational Meeting offered both Feb 2 and Feb 6, 7-8pm (content will be identical for both of these, so please choose to attend only one).

Information about all state hosted Civic Engagement programs can be found on the state webpage: https://extension.umd.edu/programs/4-h-youth-development/program-areas/civic-engagement-social-justice

Mandatory Livestock meeting for youth completing Market Projects, February 15, 2023.

Southern H.S. (4400 Solomons Island Rd, Harwood, MD 20776) at 6:30 p.m. This includes the following species - poultry, rabbit, steer, swine, goat, and sheep. Please watch for emails from Club Leaders and/or the Livestock Auction Committee (LAC).

Market Steer Weigh-In will be on Saturday 1/14/23 at the Anne Arundel County Fairgrounds. Bring two completely and accurately filled out Maryland 4-H Livestock Registration Forms for each animal. (Note: Anyone who carried and animal project MUST turn in a record book from the previous year in order to carry an animal project in the current year). For more information, please see our Animal Science webpage or reach out to your Club Leader or our Extension Educator, Gretchen Sumbrum (gsumbrum@umd.edu).

*Reminder: there is mandatory Livestock Meeting on 2/18/23 @ 6:30pm - stay tuned for more details.

Club Leaders will soon be collecting Record Books for Juniors and Intermediates and some non-trip Seniors to be submitted to the Extension Office by 2/1/23. All Books should include a title page, table of contents, essay/4-H story, photos/drawings, Summary and Project Record components. More information and the grading sheet can be found on the county UME-AAC Extension website. Youth may use the sturdy 4-H cover (purchased online) or a 3-ring binder.

10am, Saturday 3/11/23 at Baldwin Early Learning Center (Baldwin United Methodist Church)

*** Potential new categories - More information will be released as we receive it from state (will also be uploaded to our webpage) ***

Through the 4-H Public Speaking Contest, youth have an opportunity to write a speech or a public service announcement (PSA) and deliver it to an audience. This event helps youth develop skills for communicating to real audiences, organize and prepare a speech, practice speech delivery skills, learn presentation skills, and develop self-confidence. Ribbons awarded by 4-H age category (Jr, Int, Sen) for 1st-3rd place.

County winners will have the opportunity to advance to the State Public Speaking Contest held at Maryland Day on 4/29/23 at the University of MD, College Park. Please check out our webpage for more information, rules, etc... Registration will begin January.

*** JUDGES NEEDED. No experience/special credentials needed. Join us for a fun experience. Please email Gretchen for more info: gsumbrum@umd.edu.

Save the date! Our annual Anne Arundel County 4-H Summer Camp will be held July 23-28th. The cost for this full week of outdoor fun is $425. We will announce via our newsletter when registration is officially open. Forms will be linked and can always be found on the camping webpage.

2023 Re-enrollment through 4-H Online

All 4-H Member, Clover, and UME Volunteer re-enrollments must be completed between early January - March 1 via 4-H Online. Youth members and volunteers can now enroll for the 2023 Maryland 4-H year.

Re-enrollment: 2023 membership families should have received notification directly through 4-H Online via broadcast email. To enroll, simply log into your family 4-H Online profile and click 'Enroll Now' next to your name. Remember to use your family account from last year (same email & password) and re-enroll each person listed on your account. *Please do not create a new account* 4-H Youth Members and clovers can submit $10 participation fee through 4-H Online. Volunteers are always free!! :)

If you are returning to Maryland 4-H in 2023, Welcome Back! We want to hear about our 4-H youth members' experiences. If you are a 4-H member age 8-18, please take a few minutes to complete a brief survey about your 2022 4-H experience. (Parents/guardians are encouraged to help younger 4-Hers with the survey.) Use the link below to complete your survey. Thanks for helping us make our best better! https://ume.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bECscwUohNxN2LA

Volunteers: Volunteer Type: if you belong to a club, choose Unit Volunteer. (Unit = Club). Doing this allows you to choose a club also. If you choose Project Volunteer, you will not be in a club and will not appear on the leader's roster.

Roles selected in 4-H Online must match the signed description in your hard copy volunteer file. You must complete both the enrollment and screening sections.

For returning volunteers with 5 or more years: The state 4-H program requires all UME Volunteers who have been an UME Volunteer for 5 or more years to complete the Maryland 4-H Volunteer Refresher Training. You can complete the Refresher Course anytime from the comfort of your own home by visiting our county 'Volunteers' webpage.

Additional resources can be found on our Maryland 4-H Webpage 'For Families'.

New Volunteers: please reach out to Christie ckneipp@umd.edu for guidance on getting started.

Engineering Camp

The next MD 4-H Engineering Camp will be April 21-23, 2023 at the Harford County 4-H Camp (The Rocks). We are looking for interested Tier 3 background-checked volunteers to help chaperone! Please reach out to Mark DeMorra, mdemorra@umd.edu, for questions and interest.

Volunteers needed for State Fair Engineering Contests

We are looking for interested educators, volunteers, and potential new leadership for our 4-H Engineering Contests at the Maryland State Fair. The current Engineering contests include:

• 4-H Bicycle Safety

• 4-H Small Engine

• 4-H Electricity/Energy

• 4-H Lawn Tractor (Learn to Earn)

• 4-H/FFA Tractor Operator’s Safety (Large Tractor)

Please reach out and/or have interested volunteers contact Mark DeMorra at mdemorra@umd.edu. We want to “resurrect” the state Welding and Computer contests in the Engineering Division too! If you are interested in assisting with these efforts, also contact Mark.

Information about all state hosted STEM programs can be found on the state webpage: https://extension.umd.edu/programs/4-h-youth-development/program-areas/stem.

MD 4-H Camp In-service

Saturday, January 21, 2023, 9am-4pm; Howard County Fairgrounds, Cost TBD (last year $35).

Join us as we kick off the 2023 season! Training open to current Educators, Camp Directors and Volunteers, or any adult interested in learning more about camp. This training will cover latest updates in the field, administrative requirements, hot topics, American Camp Association highlights and much more. It is also a ton of fun to visit with our camp family from around the state. Look for additional information and registration through the 4-H Online System when it opens in early January. Contact Amanda Wahle, ES specialist: awahle@umd.edu for more info.

2023 National 4-H Shooting Sports Quiz Bowl

Shooting Sports Quiz Bowl s scheduled to be held January 16-20, 2023. $10/participant. 2023 Quiz Bowl Registration is now open: https://4-hshootingsports.org/quiz-bowl-study-materials/.

In 2022, 144 youth from 33 states participated in the National 4-H Shooting Sports Quiz Bowl. This event continues to be a fun and exciting way for 4‐H Youth to demonstrate their shooting sports knowledge with peers from across the nation. Participants comprehension of general shooting sports knowledge across all disciplines is truly remarkable. For more information, visit the webpage: https://4-hshootingsports.org/events.

Study materials are posted on the National 4-H Shooting Sports website at: https://4-hshootingsports.org/quiz-bowl-study-materials/

Information about all state hosted Environmental Science programs can be found on the state webpage: https://extension.umd.edu/programs/4-h-youth-development/program-areas/environmental-sciences

2023 Dog Advisory Webinar - Sunday, January 8, 2023, 6:00pm

For 4-Her's and volunteers interested in doing a Dog Project, starting a Dog Club or extending your club focus to include Dog Projects.

Please join the 2023 Winter Dog Advisory Webinar Meeting. During the webinar session we will discuss plans for 2023 4-H Dog Project events including the State Fair Dog Show, Dog Bowl, and Dog Skillathon. Individuals wishing to join the Zoom session should send an email to Ashley Travis at ashley90@umd.edu or Chris Anderson at canders2@umd.edu to request connecting information.

2023 Dairy Advisory Webinar - Friday, January 13, 2023, 7:00pm

Youth and 4-H Volunteers carrying or interested in carrying dairy projects are invited to join the 2023 Maryland 4-H Dairy Advisory Meeting which will be held on Friday, January 13, 7:00 p.m. via Zoom. During the webinar session we will discuss State 4-H Animal Science updates pertaining to the dairy project area and plans for 2023 4-H Dairy Project events including Dairy Bowl, Dairy Judging, Dairy Skillathon, Dairy Fun Day, the State Fair Dairy Show and other opportunities. Individuals wishing to join the advisory/planning session should register to participate at: https://umd.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJUpd-2hqDkiGtDIaPRScPvnDQMH9yyVcKui.

Career AGsperience Program

Youth between 13-18 years old are invited to attend the Career AGsperience Program for Free! Come explore career planning, resume development, internship acquisition, interviewing skills, business etiquette, agriculture related careers and beyond. Information gained will be great for any career/college choice, not just Agriculture related.

Click this link to register.

- Virtually , January 24 - February 28, 2023,6:30-7:45pm (Wednesday nights). Register by Jan 10th -- OR --

- In-Person February 25, 2023, 9:30am - 3:30 pm at the Howard County Fairgrounds. Register by Feb. 10th. (virtual and in-person presentation are identical)

Information about all state hosted programs can be found on the state Animal Science webpage: https://extension.umd.edu/programs/4-h-youth-development/program-areas/animal-sciences

Outbound Opportunities - Exchange/study abroad

Maryland 4-Her's have the opportunity to explore the world and become culturally aware in 3 different outbound locations: Japan (4 & 8-week programs), Costa Rica (4-week) and South Korea (4-week). Each outbound opportunity provides a unique cultural immersion experience. Delegates will experience aspects of daily life that allow them to more deeply understand both their host culture and their own! Applications are due no later than Dec 15th.

Program fees include lodging, meals, transportation, camps and cultural excursions throughout the program. Please refer to our State 4-H website, International Programs. Scholarships are available through "States' 4-H" upon application approval. For more information on both Inbound and Outbound Opportunities, please contact Carrie Wivell at cwivell@umd.edu.

Inbound Opportunity - Hosting international youth

Do you know any families wanting to experience the world all in the comfort of their own home? We are seeking families to open their homes and hearts to a Japanese delegate between 12-17 years old and show them the American Culture. We need 13 families to host a Japanese Delegate this summer from mid-July through mid-August. The program is open to any family with a child 9-18 years old. No special trips or accommodations are required; simply let a delegate change you and your children's cultural awareness for the better.

Information about all state hosted International programs can be found on the state webpage: https://extension.umd.edu/programs/4-h-youth-development/program-areas/international-programs. Or contact Carrie Wivell at cwivell@umd.edu.

Ignite by 4-H - The Ultimate Teen Summit

March 9-12, 2023

Washington, DC

Spark your imagination and passion! Ignite by 4-H is an inclusive teen event held in Washington, D.C. for four days of inspiring and engaging panels, respected speakers, workshop sessions, entertainment and creating amazing connections. Explore the best 4-H has to offer in STEM, Agriscience, Healthy Living and Emotional Well-Being. Discover exciting career paths and create an actionable plan to help create real change in your community.

• $950 per person for double occupancy (youth or adult)
• $1,200 per person for single occupancy (adult)

*** Information about other National programs can be found on www.4-H.org.

NOTE: All events, County/State/National, are subject to change due to ongoing health crisis.

*** Be sure to share your club's next event with us so we can help you spread the word! ***

The CMP (Civilian Marksmanship Program) offers youth scholarships. This year, CMP will continue to award $1,000, $3,000 and $5,000 scholarships for over 90 rising high school seniors. Applicants will compete based on their rifle, pistol and/or shotgun competition history, academic excellence, community service, leadership and potential.

The CMP no longer requires a minimum GPA, though academic performance is still a key component of the selection criteria. In addition, the new automated application replaces paper forms and mailing documents with an online application and the ability to upload documents. CMP will award a total of $200,000 for the 2023-2024 school year.

The deadline to apply for a CMP Scholarship will be March 31, 2023. A link to the online application portal and other scholarship information can be found by visiting https://thecmp.org/youth/cmp-scholarship-program/.

What's your talent? The AAC 4-H Foundation is once again sponsoring the annual Variety Show at 4pm on February 26, 2023 (with a snow date of March 5th) at the Baldwin Memorial United Methodist Church! Be part of a group or do your own own individual act. There's signing, dancing, skits, playing instruments, and much more. Join us as part of the show or an audience member. It's a family event so young and old alike will enjoy the presentations. Blue, red and white ribbons awarded for each act. Champion & Reserve Champ Group Acts as well as the Champion & Reserve Individual/Duet Acts receive cash awards to their 4-H Club.

For information, registration, rules and judging forms, visit our AAC Foundation webpage. Contact Joan Mauritzen at jm0037@prattlibrary.org for general questions or Mary Thomas at hackyt@aol.com for club acts
*** Adults interested in judging acts, please reach out to Gretchen, gsumbrum@umd.edu.

The Hi-Riders 2023 Horse Show series is now released. This is an excellent schooling horse show series for all levels of riders and an important fundraiser for the club. Points from the shows are accumulated throughout the year and prizes presented to top scoring riders at their annual banquet.

*** Share your club experiences, 4-H'er accomplishments, & any events with us so we can include them in the newsletter! ***

We wanted to include a quick reminder that annual unit plans are due no later than February 12, 2023. Please consider completing this in January as we must have all the information uploaded to 4-H Online by 2/12/23. The hope is that youth and adult leader work together to establish the plan allowing officers to step up and take responsibility. It may take more time to work through the process, yet once established you will find the time spent it well worth the effort in teaching the youth valuable leadership skills. Please see our county webpage: Unit Leader Annual Requirements:

Established clubs are required by Maryland State 4-H to send the county office annual forms; one set in October and a different set in February. Please see below for dates and forms. These are the forms due by February 12

• Club Program Plan and Officer Roster
• ByLaws: only send if a change was made

Our Anne Arundel County UME Office is hiring a part-time SNAP-Ed Program Assistant (not 4-H specific). This position will be located at our UME office in Gambrills, MD. To learn more about this position and to apply, visit: https://go.umd.edu/arundel-position.

In this part of the newsletter, we'll take a moment to explore careers 4-H supports through experiential learning by engaging youth in hands-on experiences and reflection.

With our upcoming 4-H ACTS Event coming up in February we wanted to highlight some Civic Engagement/Political Science Careers this particular event may *spark* an interest in:

1. Advocate - a person who publicly supports or recommends a particular cause or policy.

2. Lobbyist - a person who takes part in an organized attempt to influence legislators.

3. Political Action Committees (PACs)(in the US) an organization that raises money privately to influence elections or legislation, especially at the federal level.

4. Attorney -A lawyer is someone who has graduated from law school and passed the bar exam, but they are not necessarily licensed to practice law. An attorney, on the other hand, is a lawyer who is licensed to practice law. In order to become an attorney, a lawyer must pass the bar exam in their jurisdiction.

5. Judge - a public official appointed to decide cases in a court of law.

6. Paralegal - a person trained in subsidiary legal matters but not fully qualified as a lawyer.

7. Speech Writer - develops and writes speeches, briefings, and other communications for executives. Translates the ideas, objectives, corporate position, and management philosophy into messaging that relates to the topic, speaker, and intended audience.

8. Journalist - Journalists research, write, edit, proofread and file news stories, features and articles. Their pieces are used on television and radio or within magazines, journals and newspapers, in print and online.

9. Public Policy Specialist - The policy specialist monitors, reviews, analyzes, interprets, proposes, and drafts public policies conducive to a steady state economy.

10. FBI/ CIA - FBI agents may conduct surveillance, gather and analyze data, monitor online activities, collect evidence, and carry out arrests. The FBI also operates branchesaround the world, keeping tabs on foreign governments. CIA officers, collect information through human and other sources, evaluate intelligence in regard to national security, and coordinate with other agencies or departments to collect national intelligence outside the US.

Looking to engage your child directly in career planning, resume and/or career development? Check out our upcoming *Career AGsperience Program* held in Jan & Feb both online and at the Howard Cty Fairgrounds. More information can be found under the 'Upcoming Regional, State and National Events' header in this newsletter.

See our "AAC 4-H 2023 Calendar' for more details. Updates will be made as they become available. All newsletters are uploaded to our AAC website.

Happy New Year - 2023!

• 1/6 - 4-H Online access to reopen for registrations/submissions

• 1/8 - Dog Advisory Webinar, 6pm. (See Above)

• 1/13 - Dairy Advisory Webinar, 7pm. (See Above)

• 1/14 - Market Steer Weigh-In by appointment @ AAC Fairgrounds, fill out reg. form

• 1/15 - Final approved & signed ‘Senior Portfolios for National Trips’ submit through 4-H Online.

• 1/16-1/20 - Nat’l 4-H Shooting Sports Quiz Bowl, $10/pp, see Nat’l Shooting Sports webpage

• 1/21 - MD 4-H Camp In-service, 9a - 4p, Howard County Fairgounds, details 4-H Online Events

February

• 2/1 - Record books due to Extension office, see webpage 4-H Forms

• 2/12 - Unit Leader Annual Requirements (Annual Forms) are due

• 2/20 - 4-H ACTS *NEW*, all day event, see ‘Events & Opportunities’

• 2/26 - AAC 4-H Foundation sponsored Variety Show (snow date 3/5,), 4pm

Future Events

• 3/9-12 - Ignite by 4-H

• 3/25 - AAC 4-H Public Speaking Contest

• 11/1 - 4/15 - Sheep Breeders Association Scholarship Application

• 7/23 - 7/28 - AAC 4-H Residential Summer Camp - Save the date!

4-H Inclement Weather Policy: If there is no school, or there is early dismissal in Anne Arundel County due to inclement weather, ALL 4-H events will be cancelled.

4-H Health Policy: MD 4-H activities must comply with local directives for indoor or outdoor gatherings, following AACPS advisories.

Have questions, ideas or news to share? Please Email Joy Sim, jsim1@umd.edu, to be included in our UME - AAC 4-H monthly newsletter.

Programing Questions? email Gretchen Sumbrum, UME - AAC Educator, gsumbrum@umd.edu.

Check out our Facebook page: Anne Arundel County 4-H

Email: GSumbrum@umd.edu
Website: https://extension.umd.edu/locations/anne-arundel-county/4-h-youth-development
Location: 97 Dairy Lane, Gambrills, MD, USA
Phone: 4102223900
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AACO4H