Dear Co-workers:
What a beautiful time of the year! Hope each of you are enjoying the change in climate and scenery as I am. It's great to be living in the Commonwealth of Virginia! I recently attended the Spring Conference of the Virginia Association of Adult 4-H Volunteer Leaders in Richmond, Virginia (March 31-April 1), and came away with a renewed enthusiasm and commitment to what this group is all about. The workshops and learning sessions were fabulous, the fellowship and sharing were invigorating, and the commitment to excellence sparked a renewal to those who attended. We are moving forward to actively recruiting 200 or more for the upcoming conferences.
The dates and location for the Fall Conference are set for November 3-4, 2001, at the Airport Holiday Inn in Sandston (just outside of Richmond). Be sure to mark those dates on your calendar now and begin informing volunteers of another super opportunity to receive quality staff development. Also, any agent wishing to attend is welcome to join us.
Now that warmer weather is upon us, it's time to look ahead to the many quality learning experiences that await 4-H members and adult volunteers. This includes club activities, State 4-H Congress, summer 4-H camp, contests, service learning, and a multitude of other varied programs. Best wishes to your work with 4-H during the spring season. Take time to enjoy being in the great out-of-doors with family and friends.
(Bob Meadows)
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Emerging Issues Committee Announces New Procedure for Addressing Important Issues and Concerns
Do you have a problem related to your 4-H responsibilities that you think the entire state needs to address? If so, you should consider writing to the Emerging Issues Committee about your concern. To more fully understand the issues and concerns that are brought before the Emerging Issues Committee of the 4-H Leadership Council, the Emerging Issues Committee has developed a form that 4-H staff and volunteers can use to describe their issue or concern.
At each 4-H Leadership Council meeting, the Emerging Issues Committee will discuss those issues that have been received via the new form. The form can be downloaded at http://www.ext.vt.edu/vce/specialty/4h/council/council.html
Staff and volunteers are encouraged to use this process to address issues or concerns that they find important. Although the Emerging Issues Committee does not make policy decisions, it can make recommendations for policy to the Policy Committee for their consideration or approval.
(Barry A. Garst)
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New 4-H Center Program Director
The Smith Mountain Lake 4-H Educational Conference Center recently announced that Rebecca (Becky) Gilles is the new Program Director. Becky joined the 4-H Center in 1999 as Youth Program Coordinator and significantly increased school group participation in the 4-H center's environmental outreach programs as well as visitation to the 4-H Center. She also developed the Smith Mt. Lake 4-H Educational Center's Youth Program Advisory Board and has successfully built that program over the last two years.
Becky has played a major role in Cloverbud camps and summer 4-H camp programs under the direction of her predecessor, Barry Garst. As such, she brings continuity to the program department as well as genuine enthusiasm for the center's mission and her role in helping meet immediate and long-range objectives for programming.
Prior to coming to Virginia, Becky served on the staff of Rock Eagle 4-H Center in Georgia. She is the 7th Program Director in the history of Smith Mt. Lake 4-H Educational Center, which had its beginnings in 1966. Please welcome Becky Gilles in her new position as Program Director. She can be reached at 540-721-2759 or by e-mail: bgilles@vt.edu.
(Barry Garst)
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State 4-H Camp Staff Training to Be Conducted in May
On May 22, 2001, summer camp staff members from Virginia's six 4-H Educational Centers will travel to the Holiday Lake 4-H Educational Center for an annual 4-day training event. The State-wide 4-H Camp Staff Training, which rotates to a different 4-H Center each year, provides 4-H camp staff with training in several major areas, including: first aid and CPR, diversity, risk management, song-singing, afternoon and evening programs, lesson plan development, and much more.
This event will be the first time that each group of 4-H Center staff members will interact. Some will be former staff members, yet many will be new! Perhaps the greatest value of the state-wide training is the opportunity for staff from different 4-H Centers to interact. Staff members will share camp songs, rituals, and "the way that we do things at our 4-H Center." Many staff members will leave the training very different than when they arrived.
The 4-H Center Program Directors, with support from several Extension Specialists, conduct this training. Although this training is intensive, each 4-H Center provides an additional 5 days of training prior to the beginning of camp.
(Barry Garst)
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4-H Career Day at Kings Dominion
Brochures will be mailed to each unit office from Kings Dominion with schedules and for purchasing tickets. If you have questions, please email tdowney@vsu.edu or Phone: 804-524-5964
(Tracy Downey)
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4-H Dog Clinic
Click here for a flyer!
Hanover County will be hosting a dog clinic in May. This is a good opportunity for any volunteer or agent who is interested in the dog program to see one aspect of it. Although a small program at present, it is gaining support and evolving into a diverse project with a huge potential audience of youth.
(Rita J. Schalk)
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4-H / DGIF Fishing Training June 2, 2001
The 4-H Fishing Education Curriculum Component Subcommittee and the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries are co-sponsoring a staff development event- "Teach'n Fish'n" Training - on June 2, 2001. This 1-day event, conducted at the Smith Mountain Lake 4-H Educational Conference Center, will provide Extension Agents and volunteer leaders with the training and resources to develop unit 4-H fishing programs.
The registration form can be downloaded at http://www.ext.vt.edu/resources/4h/environment/fishing/. You must register by Thursday, May 24.
(Barry A. Garst)
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Workshops Needed For The Great Summer Showcase At 2001 Virginia 4-H Congress
The State 4-H Office is accepting workshop proposals for the GREAT SUMMER SHOWCASE event which is scheduled for Wednesday, June 20 during the 2001 State 4-H Congress. This event will provide delegates with a wide variety of hands-on educational workshops. They can be on-campus or off-campus (We can help arrange transportation.) If you are interested in teaching a 3-hour workshop, please complete the attached form and return by May 4. For more information, contact me at bgarst@vt.edu or (540) 231-6373.
(Barry Garst)
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State 4-H Livestock Judging Contest
The State 4-H Livestock Judging Contest will be held at Virginia Tech beginning at 8:15 am on Saturday, June 23. Entry forms are attached. Also attached is a schedule for the day, a list of motels offering special motel rates, and copies of last year's performance data and questions classes. This information is also posted on the 4H Livestock Website. Entries must be received by Friday, June 15. Late entries will not be accepted. See attachment for more details.
(Mark Wahlberg)
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Junior Stockmen's Camp
June 28-July 1 at Grave's Mountain Lodge, Syria, Virginia. A brochure was emailed to all Extension Offices in April. Please distribute this information to your local livestock clubs. If you have any questions or would like to receive a hard copy of the brochure. cbarnett@vt.edu
(Chad Barnett)
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4-H Youth Master Gardener Program Training
The Plant and Soil Science Curriculum Committee has set the dates for the district trainings on the 4-H Youth Master Gardener program. The dates and locations are:
- May 2 - Northwest District - South Board Room at the Augusta Co. Government Center, Verona
- May 15 - Southeast District - Tidewater Research Center, Suffolk.
- May 16 - Central District - Campbell County Extension Office
- May 31 - Northeast District - Jamestown 4H Center
- June 4 - Southwest District - Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center, Abingdon.
- June 6 - Northern District - Madison Co. Extension Office.
These meetings will be held from 10 am (registration starting at 9:30am) till 3 pm. There will be no cost to attend.
Please advertise the program to Master Gardeners and other interested individuals.
Pre-registration is required. Register with the appropriate District Events Coordinator. This will ensure that we have enough meeting space and handout materials.
We are excited about this 4-H program! It is a program for youth and adults that uses fun activities to teach horticulture and environmental science concepts.
Some of the things participants will learn include:
- The program goals/objectives
- The program's research base
- The 4-H and VCE Master Gardener partnership
- Program Policies
- Structure and organization
- How to get a group started
- Lesson Plans
- Try out some of the experiential activities
- Reporting
- Recognition
- Evaluation
(Joe Hunnings)
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National KidsDay
Share a moment. Create a memory. Make a kid's day. NKD is a day to celebrate and honor America' children. Boys & Girls Clubs of America, 4H, KidsPeace and YMCA united to establish this new national tradition, encouraging adults and children to share in relationship-building activities that create positive and memorable experiences. These four organizations form the NKD Alliance.
NKD will take place annual on the first Sunday in August, beginning August 5, 2001.
For more information go to www.kidsday.net.
(Christie Phillips -- National 4-H Council)
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Virginia Association of 4-H Adult Volunteers Fall Conference
The fall conference of the Virginia Association of 4-H Adult Volunteers is scheduled for November 3-4, 2001. The Southeast District will host this event, which will be conducted at the Holiday Inn-Airport in Richmond, Virginia. The theme for this event is "4-H Adult Volunteers: Getting Back to the Basics." Please put this event on your calendars and spread the word to all of your volunteers. A call for proposals for workshops is attached. For more information, contact bmeadows@vt.edu or bgarst@vt.edu .
(Garst/Meadows)
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New 4-H Forestry Project
A new junior-level 4-H project, Trees in Your Backyard, #420-070 is now available at the Distribution Center. The project teaches youth how to identify common Virginia Trees, make a leaf and seed collection, nominate a big tree, complete a record sheet and provides ideas for exhibits, presentations and community service. Youth who learn to identify 10 trees are eligible to receive a free copy of the 89-page book, Forest Trees of Virginia. Other awards include a tree scale stick for learning 25 trees, $50 for learning 50 trees and $100 for learning 100 trees. For more information, contact, jkirwan@vt.edu or 540-231-7265.
New Forestry Poster
The Virginia Tech Department of Forestry has a new poster, A Virtual Forest, which colorfully highlights how we are pioneering new ways to make tree identification easier and more accurate. The poster features the characteristics used in tree identification- leaves, flowers, fruit, bark, twigs and form. Readers are directed to the College's Dendrology web site: http://www.fw.vt.edu/dendro/ For copies of the poster, contact Dr. Harold Burkhart burkhart@vt.edu or 540-231-5483.
Forestry Interns at the 4-H Centers
Five undergraduate students from the Virginia Tech College of Natural Resources will be teaching Forestry at the 4-H Centers this summer, thanks to a generous grant from the Virginia Forestry Educational Foundation and the Virginia Tech Department of Forestry. These interns will be teaching tree identification, how to age a tree, compass and pacing, Virginia forest products and more. Because of the interns, this will be an excellent year to consider forestry themes and whole group activities centering on trees or even just afternoon hikes in the woods with a forestry intern. The following 4-H Centers will be receiving interns: Airfield, Holiday Lake, Jamestown, Smith Mountain Lake and Southwest Virginia. For some great forestry program ideas, contact Kendra Kyle, Extension Agent, kekyle@vt.edu or 540-694-3341.
(Jeff Kirwan)
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Costa Rica Exchange
The Virginia - Costa Rica 4-H Exchange, for senior 4-H members with an interest in natural resources, will involve two groups this summer. An outgoing group from Carroll County will travel to Costa Rica July 3-11 and stay with host families who live in the rain forest. The incoming group from Costa Rica will stay with Loudoun County 4-H families, June 29- July 14. For more information, contact Jeff Kirwan, jkirwan@vt.edu or 540-231-7265, or
visit the web site: http://www.ext.vt.edu/resources/4h/costarica/ .
(Jeff Kirwan)
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June is Dairy Month
As you know June is traditionally celebrated as Dairy Month. A web site is now available to help plan Dairy Day Activities in school and community events. http://www.dasc.vt.edu/youth/dairyday.html
The site offers a menu of 10 activities to be used at Dairy Day events. Some are related to dairy production and some are related to nutrition and wellness. Please review and provide feedback to hertzler@vt.edu or dwinston@vt.edu
(Ann Hertzler/David Winston)
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Fiber Knowledge And Practices Of 4-Her's In Virginia
Virginia Cooperative Extension administered a seven-question survey to a random sample of 200 4-Her's in fourth grade to determine their current knowledge and practices regarding fiber and grain consumption. Survey results indicated over half of children had basic knowledge about fiber: (1) 79% correctly identified location of the grains group in the Food Guide Pyramid, (2) 67% knew that grains provide carbohydrates, and (3) 58% were aware of fiber's function. However, 46% of children failed to meet the grain recommendation of 6-11 servings. Children have limited knowledge on selecting fiber-rich foods.
The largest percentage (31.5%) was able to correctly identify four out of six fiber-rich foods presented. Only 14.5% correctly identified all six fiber-rich foods presented. Children reported learning about nutrition primarily from schools/teachers (81.5%). Nutrition educators are challenged to develop nutrition school-based programs that incorporate SOL's to increase knowledge and practices of children.
This research will be presented in July 2001 at the Society for Nutrition Education in Oakland, California. For a complete copy of this abstract, contact Jumanah Essa at juessa@vt.edu
(Jumanah S. Essa, BS and Kathleen Stadler, Ph.D)
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Children, Youth And Families At Risk
Youth, and Families At Risk 2000 Annual Report highlights the accomplishments of CYFAR Projects in 46 states, CYFERNet, and Military/ Extension partnerships for children and families. In 2000, CYFAR educational programs reached 73,209 youth and 22,914 parents in 500 different community sites. Fifty seven percent of the sites are in rural areas and small towns, 28% are in towns and cities, and 11% are in central cities. Both youth participants and community program staff are representative of diverse ethnic groups. Youth are 47% White, 20% Black, 16% Asian/Pacific Islander, 7% American Indian/Alaskan Native, 7% Hispanic, and 3% Multi-racial.
Cooperative Extension staff throughout the nation are sustaining these programs and integrating CYFAR programming into Extension base programs. Dorothy Freeman, Extension 4-H Specialist, is responsible for all CYFAR programming in Virginia.
(Bob Meadow)
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IFYE International Four-H Youth Exchange
Bring home the world by hosting an International 4-H Youth Exchangee this summer. There are three inbounds coming to Virginia, including:
- A 28-year-old male from India who wants to learn about youth development. He enjoys music, dancing and sports in his free time.
- A 20-year-old female from Finland who grew up on a farm. She is a student who enjoys all types of music, crafts, correspondence, etc. She is a currently a student.
- A 20-year-old female from Taiwan who listed Virginia as her first choice of places to visit in America. She is also a student interested in learning about the 4-H program.
Interested host families may contact their unit office for an application form or call program coordinator, Dottie Nelson Ellis, at 304-425-5060 at work or 540-688-4028 at home, or at dottieifye@yahoo.com.
(Dottie Ellis)
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Global Education Study Tour
The National 4-H International Program Committee is excited to announce the Faculty/Staff Development, Global Education Study Tour, which will take place on Oct. 3-17, 2001. The tour is an excellent opportunity for Extension employees to experience Japanese culture first-hand, with the added benefit of designing a self-study to gain academic credit. The purpose of the trip is to increase understanding, acquire knowledge and develop skills for living in a globally interdependent and culturally diverse world.
Cost is $2000 (plus transportation cost to and from Seattle, Wash.) Application deadline is July 1, 2001. All expenses are covered to and from Seattle to Japan and while you are in Japan. Scholarships from the State 4H Office are available. For more information email jhunnings@vt.edu
(Joe Hunnings)
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Japanese Exchange Update
Thanks to those of you who have included articles about the 4-H/Japanese Exchange in your 4-H Newsletters and in local newspapers. They have generated potential host families!! The Isle of Wight 4-H newsletter produced a host family. A Wythe County newspaper article produced a family, and a Loudoun Co. 4-H Newsletter resulted in a 4-H Mom's call to me for more information.
I want to update you as to the LABO members that have NOT been placed with host families at this time. Families are considering some of these, but their placement is not firm. We have just a few more weeks to get everyone placed. Available are: #1, 4, 7 (maybe has a home), 11, 12 (maybe placed) 13, 15, 16, 23, 24, 25, 26 (maybe placed) and 28. Most of these are boys. Thanks for all you're doing to help locate appropriate host families.
Please note that my e-mail address was incorrect in a recent issue of the 4-H Information Newsletter.
Correct Address: jfray@ns.gemlink.com
( Judy Ann Fray)
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Washington County 4-H'ers in National Competition
Washington County 4-H LifeSmarts Team won the 2001 Virginia LifeSmarts Competition recently and will be competing in the National LifeSmarts Competition during April. The national competition will be held in San Diego, California.
Crystal Peek, 4-H agent for Washington County, serves as coach of the team and will be accompanying them to the national event. The Washington County 4-H LifeSmarts Team members include Tracey Cook, Traci Church, Emily Blevins, and Sarah Blevins. Congratulations and Best wishes to this outstanding team in the national LifeSmarts competition.
(Bob Meadows)
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4-H Agents Promoted
Congratulations are in store for the following 4-H agents who are being promoted, with approval of the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors, who will be meeting in June. Those to be honored at a reception hosted by Dean Swiger, "Celebration of the Faculty" on May 3, 5:30 pm in the Litton Reaves auditorium include Kendra J. Kyle, Patrick (promoted to Agent); Charles H.Lytton, Giles (promoted to Senior Agent); Michael J. Martin, Wythe (promoted to Agent); Linda M. Robinson, Hampton (promoted to Senior Agent); Cynthia K. Rowles, Caroline (promoted to agent); and Ruth Wallace, Buckingham (promoted to Agent).
Please join me in celebrating and congratulating our colleagues for their hard work, promotion, and achievement of distinction. These are well-deserved honors.
(Bob Meadows)
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Value of Volunteer Time
How much money is an hour of volunteer service worth for a nonprofit? The average hourly value for volunteer time in the U.S. is $14.83.
(CloverCorner News)
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Booklet available on Virginia Snakes
A brand-new, full-color booklet on Virginia snakes is now available from the Virginia Dept of Game and Inland Fisheries. It includes identification photos and descriptions, range maps, habits and habitats, and other information. This is an excellent resource for 4-H wildlife education programming.
Pinder, M. J., and J. C. Mitchell. 2001. A Guide to the Snakes of Virginia. (Wildlife Diversity Special Publication No. 2) Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, Richmond, VA. 32pp.
Single copies are free and any requests for it should be directed to: wattsl@dgif.state.va.us
(Mike Clifford)
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Virginia 4-H Camping
Why do we conduct 4-H camping?
The first residential 4-H camp was conducted in 1917 in Loudoun County. With a long and rich history of 4-H camping programs conducted each year at the 4-H Educational Centers, as well as in local units, both residential and day 4-H camps have been used as a tool to and teach educational programming by hands-on learning to reach thousands of youth annually.
The 2001 summer 4-H camping season will soon be upon us. Remember as you begin to recruit boys and girls for your week of 4-H camp at your respective 4-H educational center, that this event provides excellent opportunities for youth to experience life skill development, as well as the chance to create memories of a lifetime.
Since each youth who attends 4-H camp receives more than the minimum of six hours of educational programming, each youth who registers for 4-H camp should be enrolled in 4-H, as well as for each adult who volunteers for the week of 4-H camp experience. Additionally, these should be counted with your 4-H enrollment on the 4-H PLUS!
The objectives of Virginia's 4-H camping program are:
- to have educational, recreational, and social experiences in outdoor living, opportunities not usually provided at home,
- to provide opportunities to meet and learn to get along with other people by living and participating together in a camping experience,
- to provide opportunities for youth to learn to take responsibility for their own decisions and actions,
- to provide new experiences for youth by exploring new interests, or by exposing them to new approaches to old interests, and life skills that cannot be provided as effectively outside of camp,
- to teach youth about citizenship and the importance of being a responsible citizen,
- to discover and provide opportunities for developing leadership skills,
- to discover special talents among campers and teen leaders and provide opportunities for developing these talents,
- to learn to meet individual and group responsibilities,
- to enrich the on-going 4-H club program and to involve youth in unit 4-H clubs,
- to have fun, and,
- to be inspired to practice better 4-H club membership.
4-H Camp Provides a Safe Experience
"At a time when the world is getting more serious with each passing day, there is even greater need for countervailing forces, for the forces of laughter, lightheartedness, and play" (Dan Dustin, 1994)
What do kids want from camp? What do parents want from camp? It probably comes as no surprise that kids and parents want different things from camp. Studies show that parents, regardless of whether or not their kids have been to camp before, expect camp to provide a safe environment, caring counselors, personal attention to their children, and fun activities that will make the camp experience positive for their child (Moorman, 1999).
During the 2000 4-H Camping season, a study was conducted at the Smith Mountain Lake 4-H Educational Conference Center, which asked approximately 2,900 campers and 500 teens, adults, and Extension Agents to rate the safety of 4-H Camp (Garst, 2000). When asked "Did you feel safe at camp?," 96% of campers (ages 9-13) indicated that camp was safe. When teens, adults, and Extension Agents were asked to rate the "degree to which campers felt safe," 81% identified that 4-H camp was above average in safety. For parents who are concerned about safety at camp, these results are encouraging.
For the fifth year in row, each of Virginia's six 4-H Educational Centers are accredited through the American Camping Association. Although the accreditation process establishes strict safety standards that each 4-H Center must follow, we know that the camp experience is fast-paced and dynamic. The potential for risk is always present.
With more and more children being exposed to violence at home, school, and especially through the media, Extension Agents and camp directors are reminded that the camping experience must be, above all, a safe experience. By working together to provide quality training to our volunteers and staff, and by addressing potential risks as soon as they are identified, we can all help to ensure that 4-H camp allows children a few moments to laugh, play, and forget about the seriousness of the world.
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Director's Letter
Calendar of Events