The 4-H Camp Safety Task Force, made up of external and internal representatives, met recently at Smith Mt. Lake 4-H Educational Center to review and discuss our 4-H camp policies and made good recommendations to what currently exists. This Task Force also reviewed the facts of the investigation conducted by the Sheriff of Franklin County. We will distribute the updated recommendations once they have been finalized. As State 4-H Leader, I am blessed to be working in a state that takes 4-H camping policies very seriously, and would not want to be in my position in some states that are not as advanced in this area as is Virginia. I am also blessed to have great administrative and university support concerning this issue.
The Fall Season will soon be upon us and the new 4-H year will begin October 1. There is much to celebrate as we begin a new 4-H year, and the big thrust for the beginning of another season will be the festivities during National 4-H Week, October 5-11. The newness of another year provides each of us with an opportunity to reflect on the previous year and to encourage existing and new members and volunteers to become more involved with the large array of educational learning experiences provided through Virginia 4-H.
I am looking forward to the new 4-H year and the opportunities to work with each of you. Let's keep in mind our 4-H mission and the motto of 4-H--to make the best better. Take advantage of the beautiful fall days that lie ahead. Best wishes to you in the new year.
Sincerely,
Robert Ray Meadows
Associate Director, 4-H
It features activities and exhibits that benefit those in the agricultural and forest industries as well as homeowners and landowners. Displays, demonstrations, seminars, and tours will provide technical information for agricultural and natural resource workers as well as information for landowners, homeowners, and families.
The Showcase is sponsored by Virginia Tech's Colleges of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Liberal Arts and Human Sciences, Natural Resources, and the Virginia Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine; the Virginia Agricultural Experiment Station; Virginia Cooperative Extension; and the University Outreach and International Affairs Program Development. Check the web site for more information. http://www.farmandfamily.vt.edu
(Chrlie Stott)
Virginia will also provide news articles for local publicity.
(Billie Cline)
I am looking forward to working with many of you and your clubs again this year! If you have any questions, please feel free to either email or phone me.
(Cathy Corker)
Each unit extension office should have recently received a packet of information with nomination forms. Nominations must be mailed by October 31, 2003 to be considered. Units with 1000 members in grade 5-8 may submit a nomination for a member in this age level. Likewise a unit with 1000 members in grades 9-12 may submit a nomination for an individual in this age category. If your 4-H program does not have that number of youth to qualify but you have an outstanding individual, work with your school system to make sure they know about this award and the individual you have in mind. If you did not receive a packet, go to their website for more information. http://www.prudential.com/productsAndServices/0,1474,intPageID%253D3299%2526blnPrinterFriendly%253D0,00.html
(Bob Meadows)
To subscribe to the monthly reminder service, go to http://info.ag.vt.edu/vce/4hnewsletter/index.cfm fill in your name and email address. You may simply unsubscribe when you wish to be removed from this service. Questions or comments should be mailed to bcline@vt.edu
(Billie Cline))
Registration materials available in September. On the 4-H volunteer website . http://www.ext.vt.edu/resources/4h/volunteers.html#meet
(Bob Meadows)
(Bob Meadows)
(Elwanda Luttrell)
The curriculum committees meet during this time to formulate their individual plans as well as share plans and information with other committees for the upcoming 4-H year. If you are a member of a curriculum committee please mark this date on your calendar and watch your email for final plans. If you are interested in being on a curriculum committee or have ideas you wish to share about curriculum, contact the curriculum chair (or me jamisonk@vt.edu).
(Kathleen Jamison)
Pet Pals
Marvelous Meats
Citizenship Enrichment
Natural Resources
And more
Cost will be minimal. Interested persons should send email to bcline@vt.edu or call 540-231-6086 for more information after Sept 6.
(Kathleen Jamison)
INFORMATION AT THIS WEBSITE SUPERCEDES AND REPLACES INFORMATION THAT MAY BE AVAILABLE ELSEWHERE, INCLUDING STATE FAIR COMPETITION GUIDE OR STATE FAIR WEBSITE!
A rule change from last year appears in Rule number 1. This rule change states that members who participated in the National 4H Skill-a-thon contest are ineligible for the State Fair contest.
(Mark Wahlberg)
*Everyone* from above means there were no 9 year olds entered this year. Notify me IMMEDIATELY if you think a 9 yr old may have entered by error as the rules clearly state they are not eligible.
I appreciate your efforts in getting us the entries filled out properly and to us in a timely matter. We had no entries mailed late; therefore, it is fun to say all are in!!! Good luck to the kids in their final preparation weeks!
(Julia McCann)
Registration forms and more information can be found at http://www.ext.vt.edu/resources/4h/companimal/statedogshow.html Or email 4hdogshow@cavtel.net or phone 804-328-3774. A great spectator event also.
(Gwen Anderson)
Many Extension personnel were a tremendous help to me and to this program this spring and summer, and some were surprised at the number of host families that came forward in their area. Getting the word out to the public is of key importance to this program. The following counties and cities participated in the summer exchange program: Accomack, Amherst, Bath, Bland, Carroll, Chesapeake, Chesterfield, Fairfax, James City, Madison, Mecklenburg, Nelson, Patrick, Prince William, Shenandoah, Surry, VA Beach, and Bluefield WVA.
Thanks to all that supported the 4-H Japanese exchange program this year!
(Judy Ann Fray, 4-H Japanese Summer Exchange Program Coordinator)
"Handling food safely, especially when taking food away from home, is critical," said Dr. Murano. "Scientific data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that children under the age of 10 have higher incidences of Salmonella illnesses, a common food borne illness, than any other age group. "
Harmful bacteria multiply rapidly in the "danger zone"- or the temperatures between 40 and 140 °F. Perishable foods, such as luncheon meats, chicken, eggs, turkey and tuna, should not be left out at room temperature more than two hours (one hour if the outside temperature is above 90 °F).
"When doing back-to-school shopping, no list would be complete without some supplies to help assure a safe lunch," said Dr. Murano. "It's important to have gel packs, insulated containers and other items for safely transporting and keeping food safe on the way to school and while stored in lockers and classrooms."
A publication, "Keeping 'Bag' Lunches Safe," can be printed from the FSIS Web site at: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/oa/pubs/facts_lunches.htm.
For additional food safety information about packing safe lunches, meat, poultry or egg products, call the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline's toll-free number, 1-888-MPHotline. The toll-free number for the hearing impaired (TTY) is 1 (800) 256-7072.
The Hotline is staffed by food safety experts, weekdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Eastern time. In addition, food safety information is available on the FSIS Web site at http://www.fsis.usda.gov.
CHECKLIST
Supplies for Safe School Lunches
(Kathleen Stadler)
(Jeff Kirwan)
(Jinx Baney)
Many county 4-H programs currently offer fishing as part of their camp curriculum and some provide weekend fishing clinics. These threshold experiences are great fun. And they help spark childrens' interests in fishing. But when it comes to actually getting kids to take up fishing as part of their regular leisure routine, these types of programs are typically ineffective. Kids need longer exposure programs to accomplish that. The cool thing is however that 4-H has the mechanisms and know-how in place to provide the fishing clubs and camps that could help foster a new generation of young anglers.
Frank Sweet, for instance, has been offering an annual Fishing Camp at Holiday Lake 4-H Center for years with standing room only. But he is in the minority. Very few fishing clubs or camps exist in 4-H, or other organizations for that matter.
So, if you are looking for something new to do in your county or district, try organizing a fishing club or camp. DGIF's Fishing Education Program has many of the things you will need to plan and conduct your program. They provide instructor training workshops, private planning assistance, curricula, student materials, tackle loaner program, a list serve, a youth fishing club network, and publicity.
If you would like more information on the Fishing Education Program you can contact Anne Skalski at 804-367-6778 or askalski@dgif.state.va.us, or go to www.dgif.state.va.us.
(Anne Skalski-Windle )
COMING SOON! What do you Know About Water Quality? is a Jeopardy-style Power Point game that covers the characteristics and properties of six important water quality indicators: pH, hardness, alkalinity, dissolved oxygen, nitrate and phosphate. The activity is designed for students 9th grade and higher and adult. Two game boards with 25-answer statements in five categories will be available. The system will be set up as an automatic loop taking the player from the category board to the answer statement to the question statement and back to the category board. Players compete to win pollution credits to help clean up a selected watershed. It will be available later this fall. If you would like to receive a copy for field-testing purposes, contact the specialist.
National Water Monitoring Day is scheduled for Saturday, October 18 with many events leading up to the second national event. If your group would like to get involved and learn more about protecting our water resources, go to: http://www.worldwatermonitoringday.org/.
The Mid-Atlantic Marine Education Association's Fall Conference will take place October 10 - 13 in Chincoteague Virginia. Excellent presentations and tours are planned. For more information, go to: http://www.vims.edu/adv/mamea/.
(Barry Fox)
For more information about these programs, http://www.ext.vt.edu/resources/4h/eenr.html
(Jeff Kirwan)
More interactive modules will be added over the coming months with topics ranging from: tree identification, silviculture, timber harvesting, succession, how a tree grows, forest products, tree planting and care, urban forestry, and 4H forestry judging.
Look for the 4-H Virtual Forest Link in the "4-H News" box on the opening page of the 4-H Web site. Contributors to the 4-H Virtual Forest include Carl Estes, Jeff Kirwan, Dan Goerlich, Kathleen Jamison and Joe Hunnings.
(Joe Hunnings)
Here are some talking points, should you be asked, or should you be willing to volunteer information (and we hope you will):
For more information, please see: http://www.ext.vt.edu/2004whep/
Thank you for your support of 4-H and natural resources education.
(Jeff Kirwan,)
These selected pilot sites have access to the newest JMG and National Wildlife Federation curriculum before its made available to the public. These groups have agreed to provide feedback for lessons selected for use in this phase of piloting. These leaders will be listed as pilot teachers in the acknowledgments of the curriculum and will receive a complimentary copy of the JMG Wildlife Gardener curriculum when it is published. With their efforts, the groups will be helping to shape the final version of the curriculum product and be acknowledged in the published curriculum as a pilot site.
The Virginia pilot sites are located in Farmville; 3 in Marion; Newport News; Onancock; Portsmouth; Richmond; and Sugar Grove. Congratulations to the Agents and Volunteers that were selected!
(Joseph R. Hunnings)
NJHA GOALS are:
Some of the NJHA projects include:
Achievement and Leadership; Photography; Demonstration; Poster; Digital Imagery; Production; Environmental Awareness; Experimental Horticulture; Speech; Horticulture Essay.
Membership in the National Junior Horticultural Association is achieved by enrollment or participation in any NJHA project or activity. There is no enrollment or membership fee. Enrollment forms are available free upon request from the state NJHA leader, Dr. Alan McDaniel, phone 540 231-5781, alanmcd@vt.edu For more information, the web site is www.njha.org
(Joe Hunnings)
FLL, developed by the non-profit FIRST organization, and the LEGO Company, presents an internationally organized robotics competition for teams of six to ten students led by adult coaches. For 2003, the mission concerns exploration of Mars with robotics "missions" and a science research assignment. Each team designs, constructs and programs a LEGO Mindstorms robot to solve the challenge. At regional and state tournaments, teams present and discuss their robots and research, as well as perform the challenge in head-to-head competition. You can get started with a team for about $600.00, and much less for returning teams. Free coaches workshops provided around the state in September will show you how to lead your team. For details, see the Web sites below. See you on Mars this fall!
Information on Web:
Virginia FLL http://www.ext.vt.edu/vafll/
About FIRST & FLL http://www.usfirst.org/
FIRST LEGO League site
http://www.firstlegoleague.org/
MN FLL(see "coaching 101") http://www.hightechkids.org/fll/
Virginia FLL Contact
Bill Duggins phone: 540 231 8124 mailto:duggins@vt.edu
Virginia 4-H Shooting Education www.ext.vt.edu/resources/4h/environment/shootinged
State 4-H Horse Show Rule Book for the State 4-H Horse Show http://www.ext.vt.edu/resources/4h/horse/
4-H Dairy Website 4-H Dairy events for the coming year www.dasc.vt.edu/youth/4hcalendar.html
National Junior Horticulture Association Website http://www.njha.org/
Virginia First LEGO League website http://www.ext.vt.edu/vafll/
Environment
Anheuser-Busch Adventure Parks
2003 SeaWorld/Busch Gardens Environmental Excellence Awards recognize the outstanding
efforts of K-12 students across the country who are working at the grassroots level to protect and preserve the environment.
Deadline(s): December 19, 2003
Eligibility: All schools in the US and Canada.
Contact: SeaWorld/Busch Gardens Environmental Excellence Awards, Education Department, 7007 SeaWorld Drive, Orlando, FL 32821, (877)792-4332; Internet: www.seaworld.org/conservation-matters/eea/index.htm
Character Education
Character Education Partnership (CEP)
Ten schools and school districts that may serve as the models of effective character education will be recognized through awards totaling $2000.00 to each winner. Programs should encompass the eleven principles of effective character education delineated on www.character.org.
Deadline(s): December 8, 2003
Eligibility: K-12 schools and school districts that have been teaching character education for at least two full years (for schools) or three full years (for school districts).
Contact: National Schools of Character, CEP, 10225 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 1011, Washington, DC 20036, (800)988-8081 or (202)296-7779; Internet: www.character.org/eventsawards/nsoc.
Miscellaneous
Kroger Company
Amazingly, this foundation is still providing almost $2 million a week through its various charitable endeavors. Funding by this grocer goes to hunger prevention, youth related projects, and local education. Direct grants are available through the Kroger Foundation.
Deadline(s): None
Eligibility: Nonprofits located in the 32 states where it has operations.
Contact: Kroger Foundation, (513) 762-4449, extension 3; Fred Meyer Foundation, (503) 797-5605; or Ralphs/Food 4 Less Foundation, (310)884-6205; Internet: http://www.kroger.com/corpnewsinfo_charitablegiving_p5.htm
Science
Aerospace Education Foundation
The goal of this foundation is to promote aerospace education activities in K-12 classrooms. Funds are awarded to encourage the development of innovative aerospace activities within the prescribed curriculum as well as establishing an active relationship between the school and the local Air Force Association organization.
Deadline(s): November 15, 2003
Eligibility: Schools.
Contact: Aerospace Education Foundation, 1501 Lee Highway, Arlington, VA 22209-1198, (800)291-8480; Fax: (703)247-5853; E-mail: AEFstaff@aef.org; Internet: www.aef.org.
Toyota TAPESTRY
Applications are now being accepted for one-year-long projects that center on either environmental science education, physical science applications, or science and literacy. Projects should demonstrate creativity, involve risk taking, possess a visionary quality, and model a novel way of presenting science. Interested organizations may apply by downloading an application at www.nsta.org/programs/tapestry/howtoapply.asp, by calling Fax on Demand at (888)400-6782 (request document number 591), or by completing the short form at the above address to request application materials and information.
Deadline(s): January 2004, the exact date will be announced later.
Eligibility: K-12 teachers of science residing in the US or in US territories or possessions.
Contact: NSTA/Toyota TAPESTRY, 1840 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22201-3000; Internet: www.nsta.org/programs/tapestry/index.htm.
Afterschool Programs
J.C. Penney
Of its many funding priorities, this corporate giver provides funding for programs that focus on improving K-12 education through curriculum-based afterschool care. Priority is given to JCPenney Afterschool programs.
Deadline(s): None
Eligibility: Schools and clubs.
Contact: Jeannette Siegel, Community Relations and Contributions Manager, J.C. Penney Company, Inc., PO Box 10001, Dallas, TX 75301-8101; Internet: www.jcpenneyinc.com/company/commrel/guidelin.htm.
Youth
American Honda Foundation
Financial support is provided for programs within youth education. In the past, projects that focus on job training, math, science, and environmental education have been funded.
Deadline(s): November 1, 2003
Eligibility: Nonprofits, including K-12 schools and school districts, education institutions, and nonprofit scientific and education organizations and national programs involved with curriculum development that encourage innovative education methods and techniques.
Contact: Kathy Carey, American Honda Foundation, 1919 Torrance Boulevard, Building 100, Torrance, CA 90501, (301)781-4090; Internet: www.flstw.fsu.edu/honda.html. To obtain additional guidelines, send an SASE to American Honda Foundation, PO Box 2205, Torrance, CA 90509.
Victor C. Clark Foundation
The Youth Incentive Program will provide grants of $1,000 to support amateur radio among high school age or younger students. The grants are designed to support afterschoool programs. Monies may be used to secure equipment for antennas for club stations, purchasing training materials, supporting local service projects that bring favorable public exposure, and similar activities.
Deadline(s): None
Eligibility: High school radio clubs, youth groups, general interest radio clubs, and nonprofits that sponsor groups of students or make an effort to get them involved in radio club activities.
Contact: E-mail: foundation@arrl.org;
Internet: www.arrl.org
Rosie's For All Kids Foundation
Funding provided by this ex-talk show host's foundation supports child care and afterschool programs. Awards range from $5,000 to $15,000. Organizations with clearly defined goals, effective cost control, and skilled management should consider applying for funding. A letter of intent should be mailed in the body on an e-mail. Please refrain from the use of attachments and picture files. Be sure to include your mailing address in the email.
Deadline(s): Letters are accepted throughout the year. Funds will be awarded in February/March and September/October.
Eligibility: Organizations with IRS 501©3 classification as described in 509(a).
Contact: Rosie's For All Kids Foundation, Grant Review Committee, PO Box 225, Allendale, NJ 07401; E-mail: grants@forallkids.org; Internet: www.4allkids.com/index.cfm
Director's Letter
Calendar of Events
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