May: Thriving Youth through Positive Youth Development (PYD)

Youth programs that are intentionally planned and implemented with a rich developmental context enable youth to thrive (Arnold & Gagnon, 2019). From January – April we touched on the developmental context, the “Soil”, of all 4-H programming: Spark, Relationships, Belonging, and Engagement. If we incorporate them, we should see youth thriving; 4-H focuses on seven indicators of thriving youth. From May through November, we’ll discover each indicator. After the introduction, we would love for youth and volunteers to share how they utilized/ participated in an action to help youth prosper.

Indicator 1: Open to Challenge and Discovery

4-H members thrive by being Open to Challenge and Discovery: youth have the desire and ability to explore, try new things, and be challenged.

Strategies:

• Encourage positive risk taking – public speaking/ demonstrations, ropes course/ team challenges
• Opportunities to try new things – share customs, incorporate a new activity, set-aside time for open discussions working on civic dialogue
• Supporting creativity - encourage innovation, curiosity, and self-exploration
• Work on areas of improvement – small group work allows for safe space to share

For additional information and resources click here.

Regards,

Gretchen

P.S. Our monthly newsletter and AAC 4-H calendar can be found on our webpage. Our website should be your 'go to' for most up-to-date information. You can also follow us on Facebook.

Last Call!! At this point ALL returning Adult Volunteers should be enrolled in 4-H Online. We will start printing 4-H Membership cards (aka Fair Cards) as of June 1. Any adult returning volunteer that has not completed the 2022 enrollment by June 1, will NOT receive a card. To verify enrollment, login here and review your profile. In the column next to your name is will read Volunteer - Approved. If it reads Volunteer - Awaiting Review, you are not enrolled - please contact Christie to determine what is missing/ incomplete.

Weigh-in for Market goats, sheep, and hogs is Wed., May 18 at the AAC Fairgrounds, come at your designated time. Times are by reservation using this form, please rsvp by May 11.

Livestock Registration is via online using this form, please complete by May 16. You may wish to keep a hard copy for yourself, forms are on our website.

All animal project registrations, not handed in at a weigh-in are due to the county no later than June 1. This includes: dog, horse and pony, livestock, poultry, rabbit, and cavy, breeding animal lease papers, performance animal lease papers, animal lease release.

For additional details go to our county webpage.

Animal Husbandry & Quality Assurance (AH&QA) will be opening soon and closes July 31, watch for emails from our office and your club leaders. All 4-H members enrolled in alpacas, beef, dairy, goats, horse and pony, llamas, poultry, sheep, swine and rabbits must complete the training to be eligible to exhibit their project animals annually in Maryland County 4-H and State 4-H Shows.

Junior 4-Hers must complete one session. Intermediate/Senior Level 4-Hers must complete two sessions: • Part 1 is general animal information. • Part 2 contains specific information for each animal species - members will need to complete Part 2 of the program for each specie project they are enrolled in and wish to exhibit. Intermediates and Seniors must complete both parts.

UME - AAC Youth Event

Anne Arundel County 4-H Summer Camp will be July 24-29

The registration form is now uploaded to our website. Unfortunately, we can only accept payment via check at this time (complete information is on the form and will be emailed to you after registering). We look forward to a fun-filled week with all of our 4-H friends! Applications will be accepted on a first come, first serve basis until June 30, 2022.

Camp Office Hours

Amanda Wahle will be hosting camp drop in office hours via zoom, Monday, May 9th from 1-2:30pm. If you have questions about programming, ACA books, supervision, training, etc please drop in! For more information contact Awahle@umd.edu. . Join Zoom Meeting https://umd.zoom.us/j/6219511179

Anne Arundel County Fair is September 14 - 18, 2022. Start collecting your indoor entries. School projects, art, hobby projects, planting, practice cooking... can all help you be more prepared for entry day. Plan now to save time later.

Kinder Farm Park Meet the Kids

Friends of Kinder Farm Park Livestock Program and Kinder Farm Park 4-H Livestock Club will be teaming up to present Meet the Kids on Sunday, May 15 12 - 4 p.m.

Great for all levels of riders in both English and Western. Registration will be online and will be posted on their Facebook page, @Linthicum4HHiRiders as the dates get closer.

The first show was a success and all riders rode beautifully!

They have one of the best 'horse show snack shacks' - delicious breakfast sandwiches, saddle bags, and burgers grilled while you wait! Plus sodas, chips and treats! This helps support the shows. For more information, contact 4HHiRiders@gmail.com.

The MD 4-H Issue Forum engages youth ages 14 - 18 from across the state to be deliberate about addressing important issues/community needs. This program is offered every other year on campus at the University of Maryland, College Park.

The goals are to increase awareness and understanding of a community issue and encourage youth to share their new knowledge and be advocates within their own communities. Youth are given tools to develop a greater advocacy for environmental stewardship and civic engagement.

This is a wonderful leadership opportunity; youth will leave with lessons/ activities to bring back and share with their clubs and communities.

2022's theme: Climate Change Details regarding the event and how to register are found here.

Invite an international youth into your home for 3 weeks and share an American experience. Expand your family’s cultural understanding, learn about new foods and customs, and possibly a new language all while sharing your own. Your children will build lifelong friendships and will gain new perspectives on their own country too! Host parents reported that, "this experience was life-changing and shifted family priorities in a positive direction."

This summer youth ages 13 - 17 and an adult chaperone from Japan will be coming to the Maryland from July 22 - Aug 15. For more information contact Carrie at cwivell@umd.edu or 240-357-4669.

Horse Judging and Hippology Contests Registration through 4-H Online is Closing soon!

Horse Judging Contest Details:

Date: Saturday, June 11, 2022

Location: Howard County Fairgrounds

Entry Fee: $6.00

Registration Closes: May 23, 2022

Hippology Contest Details:

Date: Saturday, June 11, 2022

Location: Howard County Fairgrounds

Entry Fee: $6.00

Registration Closes: May 23, 2022

How to Register:

Registration for these events is through 4-H Online. To access the registration log in to your 4-H Online family profile and click on the Events tab. You can find an Event Registration “how to” guide on the Maryland 4-H website.

All event registrations must be submitted by 11:59 pm on May 23, 2022. Registrations will be verified and approved by local 4-H Educators and the State 4-H Event Manager. Contact your local 4-H office or visit the Maryland 4-H Horse Program website for more information: https://extension.umd.edu/.../animal.../4-h-horse-program

Maryland State Fair

Maryland State Fair is changing their schedule in 2022; it will be held over three weekends and some weekdays between August 25 and September 11, 2022. See the website form more details.

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! ***

*** Send us your 4-Her's accomplishments and special honors, we'll publish it here! ***

48 members and 6 Clovers participated in outdoors archery and riflery at the Meyers Station Nature Center on Thursday 4/21! They are so excited for a new year with new members and a whole summer of fun!

*** Share your club experiences with us and we'll include your event in our next newsletter! ***

Members of the Dairy Leasing Club prepared thank you notes to the dairy farmers they lease their cows from and also to 4-H volunteers they work with. What a great way to help youth develop a sense of empathy and appreciation for those that make their activities possible.

Helping Hands: Calling All Volunteers

We are compiling a list of volunteers, which we are affectionately calling 'Helping Hands', that may be interested in assisting with judging (record books, contests, variety show entries, fair entries), coaching a team, sponsoring an activity club, assisting with Fair set-up, or establishing partnerships. These are simply options, not required tasks, that we need assistance with - most only require a few hours here and there should we put a call out. Many of these volunteer opportunities can come from the community, UME certification is not required. If interested in being on this list, please email Gretchen at gsumbrum@umd.edu.

Volunteer Refresher Course

The state 4-H program is requiring all UME Volunteers who have been a UME Volunteer for 5 or more years to complete the Maryland 4-H Volunteer Refresher Training, if you have not already done so. It never hurts to get updated on information for volunteering with the Maryland 4-H Program. You can complete the Refresher Course anytime from the comfort of your own home by visiting this link.

Let's get together! There will be a Volunteer/ Leader Gathering June 22. We will engage in discussions/ activities covering various areas such as club meeting activities/ team builders, Youth Thriving Indicators, Fairs, club/group financials, statewide volunteer trainings/opportunities, and more. Bring your questions, thoughts, and ideas. Please RSVP below.

If you have not had a chance yet, please run a roster and review it to ensure your membership is correct. An email was sent April 12 with details; let us know if you would like the email resent.

We have updated our webpage to include information for potential new 4-H interested in 'Participating in 4-H' via club membership or camping. Please refer anyone interested in 'Joining in a 4-H Club' use this link to find information about

4-H, our clubs and their locations, as well as 4-H curriculum for those interested in starting a new club or conducting experiential learning on their own! We are hoping this will answer many of the frequently asked questions we receive about 4-H.

2022 Tractor Supply Paper Clover Campaign

Spring dates: April 27th - May 8th

Visit the Anne Arundel Tractor Supply Company (7994 Crain Hwy S, Glen Burnie) and purchase a paper clover to help 4-H members participate in 4-H leadership and camp programs!

2022 marks the 12th year of the 4-H Paper Clover Campaign, a partnership with Tractor Supply Company (TSC) and National 4-H Council. Shoppers at any of the TSC’s in MD can support the program by purchasing ‘a paper clover’ at the checkout while in a store (or online from the TSC website). 10% goes to the National 4-H Council, 20% to the 4-H Foundation, and 70% of funds received will go directly to 4-H County programs and will be used to support scholarships for 4-H Camp and leadership experiences in MD!

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Email us a snap 📷 of you/your child purchasing a paper clover 🍀 (or just your clover itself) to be included in our monthly newsletter. Or simply post to our pinned post ‘Paper Clover’ on Facebook beginning 4/27: Anne Arundel County 4-H!

A scholarship opportunity made possible by the Turfgrass Producers of MD. This scholarship memorializes Jim Claxton, a former Newsom Seed sales representative, and the contributions he made to the natural turfgrass industry.

The main eligibility requirement is the student should reside in the Mid-Atlantic area, or attend college in the Mid-Atlantic area. Preference may be given to students who intend to pursue a turfgrass career. The scholarship application with cover letter is attached. Applications are due by May 31, 2022 by 4 pm. It is a short and painless application, so please encourage students you know to apply! See attached application for further eligibility details.

State 4-H Senior Level or 4-H Alumni Scholarship Opportunity

(2022 4-H H.S. grads or 4-H Alum. furthering education in fall 22-spg 23)

The MD 4-H Foundation offers 4-H members the opportunity to apply for academic scholarships. Each year scholarships are awarded to current Maryland 4-H members or alumni who will be enrolled at an accredited college, university or post-secondary technical training program for the fall and spring semesters of the upcoming academic year. The Maryland 4-H Foundation awards an average of $50,000 in scholarships annually. Applications will be due June 15, 2022: https://www.mymaryland4hfoundation.com/how-we-give/scholarships

The Anne Arundel County 4-H Foundation Inc. provides direct support to the county 4-H program by providing scholarships to county 4-H members and volunteers, and county-wide social events like the 4-H Cookout🍔, and 4-H Ice Cream Social 🍦at the County Fair (anyone else getting hungry?). The County 4-H Foundation also sponsors:

• 4-H Variety Show

• Terry Cooper Unsung Hero Award

• John C. Kozenski, Jr. Kindness Award

• James R. Kahler Turkey Shoot Top 4-H Archer Award

• County Fair 4-H T-shirt Design Contest

• County Fair 4-H T-shirts to 4-H participants

• Alumni gifts for members aging out of 4-H

The 4-H Foundation meets the third Wednesday of each month at 7:30 p.m. For additional information and meeting locations, please contact the Anne Arundel County 4-H Foundation at our general mailbox at aacounty4hfoundation@gmail.com.

In this part of the newsletter, we'll take a moment to discuss the basics of 4-H, how the University of Maryland Extension (UME) is structured, how 4-H fits into the UME, resources available to you at your UME county office, etc...

What other resources does my local extension office provide besides 4-H & Youth Development? As mentioned in previous newsletters, every state in the U.S. has a local service called the Cooperative Extension Service. This operation was first formalized by the U.S. government in 1914, instituting an extension service at land-grant universities across the nation. Extension services aim to provide research-backed information to problems you may be facing in the these core areas:

1. Agriculture/horticulture and Food Systems

2. Environmental and Natural Resources

3. Family and Consumer Sciences

4. 4-H Youth Development

Extension is connected directly to universities and extension agents/educators are typically faculty and staff members of your state’s land-grant university system. Every state is a little different in its operations: Some have county offices (like Maryland), some operate on a multi-county basis, and some are more regionally centered. Although each structure is different, the agent/educator’s role is the same. University researchers study topics that are important to industries and also the general public. Agents/educators then take the research data and convert it into usable products and information for the public. They do this by offering free or low-cost workshops, providing services such as field visits and office consultations, and these days, by putting a lot of resources online. Extension also plays a role in the adoption of new techniques and technology in the outlined program areas, ensuring the development of social, economic, and environmental goals. You may be surprised by all the possibilities our local extension office can offer (See article from our Allegany County Extension office in photo)

Our 2022 Calendar is out!

Please follow this link to our website and click on the calendar icon.

All newsletters are now uploaded to our AAC website. Updates will be made as they become available to us.

• Coming Soon - Animal Husbandry and Quality Assurance (must be completed to participate in county/state fairs/shows)

• 5/8 - Paper Clover Program at Tractor Supply ends

• 5/9 - 1-2:30 Camp Office hours Zoom with Amanda Wahle, awahle@umd.edu
• 5/11 - Registration deadline for AACF market animal Weigh-In
• 5/15 - 12-4pm, KFP ‘Meet the Kids’ at Kinder Farm Park
• 5/18 - Livestock Weigh-In at AACF for market animals (except steer)
• 6/1 - Deadline for AACF non-market, leasing, breeding and performance animal registration
• 6/1 - Re-enrollment deadline (via 4-H Online) for all returning Adult Volunteers
• 6/5 - Hi-Riders Horse Show @ Andover Equestrian Center

• 6/24-29 - AAC 4-H Residential Camp 2022 ***Save the date***
  

• 8/25 - 9/11 - Maryland State Fair ***Save the date***

• 9/14-18 - Anne Arundel County Fair 2022 ***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 Covid Policy: MD 4-H activities must comply with local directives for indoor or outdoor gatherings. If AACPS transitions to virtual learning, we are required to transition ALL indoor 4-H activities to virtual format (including 4-H Meetings). Outdoor activities are still permitted in alignment with local government requirements for masking, physical distance and capacity sizes.

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

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