Youth Development: Positive versus Happenstance
As my colleague Dorothy Freeman defines it, there is a difference-a big difference between positive youth development and just happenstance youth development. Not everyone who works with youth knows the difference. Not everything we do with youth is positive youth development. We as Extension staff must focus on positive youth development, the key components of which are:- A pro-active process involving youth, and adults who work with these youth, which prepares young people to meet life challenges of adolescence and adulthood;
- A purposeful process that seeks to meet youth needs through a coordinate, progressive variety of learning opportunities and experiences that help build youth competencies (skills);
- These learning opportunities and experiences must be real life issues that youth are facing (learning and experiencing in action);
- These skills enable youth to become competent socially, physically, emotionally, morally, and cognitively.
Bob Meadows
4-H Resumes Due April 1
Senior 4-H members wishing to attend National 4-H Congress must submit a resume of their 4H experiences by April 1. Resumes should be mailed to the State 4-H Office. More information can be found on the 4H Intranet site. http://www.ext.vt.edu/vce/specialty/4h/natcong.htmlBillie Cline
State 4-H Congress
June 28 - July 1, Cost $120.00"First Timer Scholarships" again available from the Virginia 4-H Foundation. See the form. Total Congress information packet coming to units soon and a 4-H Congress website will also be available.
Dorothy Freeman
Interactive Presentation Competition
The Science and Technology 4-H Curriculum Component Committee is proud to introduce this new area of competition for the 1999 State Congress. Power Point 97 will be the software tool used for the 1999 competition. The 4-Hers will be required to create a Power Point Presentation 5 to 7 minutes in length. Judging will be based on the 4-Her's use of the Power Point tool and not on the subject content of their presentation. However, the 4-Her must choose 4-H appropriate subject matter. Contestants may not bring their own computers. Computers and other needed equipment will be provided. Should technical difficulty occur, students will be judged on their ability to keep their cool and improvise. In this competition 80% of the 4-Hers score is based on their presentation and 20% of the score is based on a computer-generated evaluation (test) of their knowledge of Power Point 97. Please refer to the attached interactive presentation judging sheet for a detailed explanation of the judging criteria.Carol C. Byrd
4-H All Star Summer Conference
4-H All Star Summer Conference is to be held immediately following State 4-H Congress, July 1-2, 1999 on Virginia Tech campus. The 4-H All Star Tapping Ceremony is scheduled as part of the Congress and will be held on Wednesday (June 30) at 2:00 pm. Watch for more details in the next few months.Audrey Lee
4-H Mini Grants Available
Applications Due April 1The Virginia 4-H Foundation is pleased to invite applications for mini-grants to be awarded during State 4-H Congress, at the Virginia 4-H Foundation Awards Luncheon, Wednesday, June 30. Mini-grants, up to a maximum of $250 each, provide seed money for new innovative programs designed to expand the outreach of 4-H across the Commonwealth, as well as support ongoing 4-H initiatives. Application should be made utilizing the attached form, and must be received by the April 1 deadline in order to be considered. The Virginia 4-H Foundation is pleased to be a partner in making the best better for Virginia's youth; thank you for making our work possible.
D. Brian Calhoun
4-H CHARACTER COUNTS! Train-the-Trainer Event (Statewide)
The dates have been set, the trainers have been booked, and the place has been secured for teams tol be trained in the curriculum and use of CHARACTER COUNTS! The teams will then be available to assist Extension offices with training groups andorganizations with this program.Bob Meadows
Support 4-H Centennial Stamp Write Before The End Of March!!
In recognition of the 100th Anniversary of the 4-H program in 2002, the 4-H Agents Association has applied to have a 100th Anniversary 4-H Commemorative Stamp issued, like that released in 1952 to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of 4-H. This stamp will be the "centerpiece" for our 4-H Centennial celebration. Your help is needed.John Dooley
Alumni Search
National 4-H Council in partnership with J.C. Penney company will be sponsoring an alumni search during the month of March 1999. The details of the plan are:
- During the month of March J.C. Penney will include the following tag line on all their March billing statements. Were you ever a 4-H'er? More than 45 million Americans were! Contact us at www.fourhcouncil.edu or call toll free 1-800-651-9800. We want to hear from you.
- When an alumni logs into the website and registers as an alumni, National Council will send them information welcoming them to the 4-H family.
- If they call the toll free # they will be asked a series of questions and National 4-H Council will then receive that information on a weekly basis.
Again, Council will contact them welcoming them to the 4-H family.
The goal of this effort is to identify and strengthen the 4-H family through this campaign. If you know of businesses in Virginia or elsewhere that would participate in the alumni search partnership please have them contact me so that appropriate information and time line for this partnership can be sent to them.
The 800 number will only be available for a limited time depending on the success of the campaign... but the National website and Virginia's website are always available.
Please feel free to publish this in your newsletters and encourage others to participate. National 4-H Council will be sharing results with us... we will share them with you via 4-H Information. If you have questions or want to find out more please contact me at dcalhoun@vt.edu or by phone at (540) 231-6372.
Thanks to J.C. Penney for helping us to build the 4-H family. Their continued support will help to strengthen the 4-H organization and provide us with additional resources to help young people realize their full potential.
D. Brian Calhoun
Literacy Education Grant Application Due March 15
Partner: Bridgestone/Firestone Trust Fund This grant program provides community action grants of $500-$3,000 to stimulate literacy education nationwide. Grants are awarded to communities in support of ongoing literacy education programs or to stimulate new and creative youth-led programs. Objectives include: expanding the number of books read per week, increasing participants' level of reading, utilizing the library as a resource, and learning about different careers through reading. Older teens are encouraged to mentor with younger youth in this program. For application and more information http://www.fourhcouncil.edu/ycc/wlitapp.htm.John Dooley
Virginia Association of Adult 4-H Volunteer Leaders, Inc.
SPRING CONFERENCEMarch 19-20, 1999
Holiday Inn Airport - Sandston, Virginia
The theme for the Conference will be, "Virginia 4-H... Springs Into The 21st Century." Attached is the Conference Program and Registration. Room reservations should be made prior to February 28, 1999 by calling the Holiday Inn at 804-222-6450. The block of rooms is under "Virginia Cooperative Extension-4-H." Room rates are $69/night plus tax single or double.
Please share this information with your volunteers or with others as soon as possible. Thanks for your cooperation and I look forward to seeing you in March at this outstanding staff development Conference. (
Richard F. Booker
Call for Proposals--Southern Region 4-H leader Forum--Rock Eagle, Ga.
The dates for the 1999 Southern Regional 4-H leader Forum at rock Eagle 4-H Center, Georgia are set for Thursday - Sunday, September 30 - October 3. This annual event serves as host for volunteers and Extension staff from the 13 southern states plus those from Puerto Rico, Granada, and the Virginia islands. The theme for 1999 is "4-H Painting a Brighter Future."Call for proposals for the 1999 forum workshops are being requested from individuals or teams who wish to present a topic for this year's event. The length of sessions include 1 hour; 1-1/2 hour, and 3 hour time slots and will be presented on Friday (October 1) and Saturday, (October 2). The deadline for getting proposals back to me is set for March 30. The options include workshops or funshops (evenings). See the attached form and return the proposal to my attention as soon as possible. This is a great opportunity for 4-H curriculum component committees, individuals, or teams of folks to present a workshop that features Virginia 4-H programming.
Bob Meadows
To Table of Contents...
4-H Fishing Fin-atics
The 4-H Fishing Fin-atics State Team is offering it's annual State Training Weekend at HOLIDAY LAKE 4-H CENTER APRIL 17-18, 1999. Registration is limited to 25 participants and will be handled on a "first come, first serve" basis. The registration fee is $40 and covers lodging, 4 meals and all the training materials. This is a "train the trainer" workshop and we're looking for people who will return to their district and be active members of their District Training Team. District teams, with help from State team members, will be responsible for training 4-H Volunteers to work with 4-H'ers in the Fishing Fin-atics Program. Agents and 4-H Volunteers are encouraged to attend the training. For more information or to have registration forms sent to you or others in your unit just e-mail me or call at 757/365-6257.Teresa Weaver, Isle of Wight
Poultry Youth Federation Convention/State Contest
The date of The Virginia Poultry Federation Youth Convention and State 4-H judging Contest has been changed. Due to a conflict at the Rockingham County Fairgrounds this activity will now take place May 7, 1999. Please make note of this change.Pre-registration is required. Contact: Phillip J. Clauer 540-231-9185 or pclauer@vt.edu. for more information.
Phil Clauer
1999 Hippology Rules and Regulations
Attached are the rules/regs for this year's contest. More information can be found on the 4H website http://www.ext.vt.edu/vce/specialty/4h/programs.htmlLarry Lawrence
To Table of Contents...Hoard's Dairyman Cow Judging Contest
To receive reprints of the 1999 Hoard's Dairyman Cow Judging Contest, send an e-mail to dwinston@vt. Include your name, unit, and number of copies requested in your e-mail.David Winston
Dairy Quiz Bowl Study Materials
The Dairy Quiz Bowl Materials were updated on February 1 for use in this year's contests. The materials may be accessed at the following web site http://www.dasc.vt.edu/youth/bowlmat.html.David Winston
June Dairy Month 4-H Poster Contest
The theme for the 1999 June Dairy Month 4-H Poster Contest is a combination of previous themes and will be "got milk? It does a body good!" Take note of the punctuation and capitalization used within the quotes. Further information on the contest will be distributed in March.David R. Winston
4-H Family Camp
Family Camp is an annual event held each year at Holiday Lake 4-H Center. It is camp geared toward the entire family. The dates of this year's camp are June 7-11, 1999. If you would like a brochure template to use in promoting this event, please contact me at the Buckingham Co Extension Office.Ruth E. Wallace
Forestry Camp at Holiday Lake
June 21-26, 1999For youth age 14-16
Scholarships provided
Please consider nominating one or more youth from your county this year. This is an excellent program, and whomever you nominate will likely thank you for the confidence you placed in them and in the program.
If you know someone who is interested in the out-of-doors, I suggest making personal contact, urging him or her to consider applying. My experience has been that this approach is actually more efficient than a general announcement because youth respond so well when we show a personal interest in them.
No one who attends this camp pays over $35, thanks to the support of many people, including Virginia's Soil and Water Conservation Districts, forest industry, and individuals who believe in the camp. The Virginia Department of Forestry takes the lead role in organizing the camp program.
Local Extension Offices have a copy of registration form and more information in their the March Information Letter..
Jeff Kirwan
Hardwood Seedlings
Hardwood seedlings are available for 4-H planting projects, but they require more effort and planning than the pine seedling project. Here are three ways to get hardwood seedlings:- Virginia Department of Forestry (VADOF) grows seedlings that can be purchased at a very low cost. Contact your county forester and ask for their seedling catalog.
- National Tree Trust- has two programs that provide free hardwood seedlings for planting on public land. The application is very simple, but you must apply a year in advance of the actual planting date. Minimum request is for 100 seedlings.
- Global ReLeaf Forests- is a program of the American Forestry Association. They provide free seedlings through an application process that occurs twice a year. They favor projects that restore ecosystems, such as planting trees along stream banks as part of a plan to restore the streamside area.
Jeff Kirwan
History of Virginia 4-H Camping
The first center to be developed as an educational center was the Southwest Virginia 4-H Educational Center near Abingdon, Virginia. During his tenure as Virginia's State 4-H Leader (1950-1962), Bill Skelton reorganized the 4-H program throughout the state in the late 1950's. This included plans for construction of a 4-H center in each district. The Southwest District 4-H leaders wanted a center near Abingdon, and began to work toward achieving this goal.Prior to the establishment of this educational center, counties in the southwest Virginia utilized several camp sites by 4-H club groups in the early years including the CCC Camp at Hungry Mother State Park near Marion; Camp Clyde Austin near Greeneville, Tennessee; Camp Summers 4-H Camp near Hinton, West Virginia; Camp Caesar 4-H Camp near Webster Springs, West Virginia; and, Jackson's Mill State 4-H Camp near Weston, West Virginia. Additionally, Crocket Springs in Montgomery County, and Camp Pocahontas in Washington County, Virginia were used by individual county 4-H groups from time to time.
Douglas (1979) stated, "The customary or usual type of organization was to divide the campers into four groups to facilitate depth in leadership development, program content, management and espirit de corps... activities and events... planned and carried out by each group. Subject matter classes were taught both to... groups and also in smaller special interest groups" (Douglas, 1979, p.9). Mr. P.B. Douglas, district agent for the Southwest District, and Mr. W.H. Groseclose, Washington County Extension Agent, proposed the idea to the Chairman of the Washington County Board of Supervisors in 1957,"... that the Washington County Poor Farm, located on the Hillman Highway just outside of Abingdon was unoccupied and not being used in a productive and useful way at the present time... suggested that it might be possible... to develop this property into a 4-H camping facility for use by all the counties in the Southwest Extension district." After much delay, negotiations, and time spent looking at other properties, the decision was made to pursue the Poor Farm property. The Board of Supervisors (with one member abstaining) voted to approve the transfer of this property if approval could be obtained from the Virginia General Assembly. Thus, the vote was unanimously in favor of the Poor Farm being converted for the establishment of a 4-H camp.
The Southwest Virginia 4-H Educational Center was officially organized on March 28, 1958 at an organizational meeting in Abingdon, thus becoming the first 4-H camp facility to be named as an educational center prior to its construction. The Poor Farm property had many natural features along with several old buildings including a six-room wood frame house, a livestock and hay storage barn, two wooden and six brick cabins.
The center began operations in 1960 with seven weeks of 4-H camps for 900 4-H campers of the Southwest District. The first camp was held for 4-H'ers from Bland, Carroll, Giles, Grayson, Pulaski, Smyth, Washington, and Wythe counties (Head, Heart, Hands, and Health in Virginia, 1960, October, p.4). Since that time, the center has operated annually with 4-H campers from the southwest region of the state utilizing the camp facilities. It is home to the 4-H campers representing the 13 counties of the southwest district including Bland, Buchanan, Carroll, Dickenson, Grayson, Lee, Russell, Scott, Smyth, Tazewell, Washington, Wythe, and Wise. The property contains 75.75 acres of land and houses approximately 225 campers per week. College of the Fields: Some Highlights of the Virginia Cooperative Extension Service 1914-1980. (1987). Blacksburg, VA: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, p.58.
- Douglas, P.B. (1979). A History of the Development of the Southwest Virginia 4-H Center: 20-Year History. Abingdon, VA: Virginia Cooperative Extension Service, pp. 5-9; 11-12.
- Virginia Polytechnic Institute. (1923). Agricultural 4-H Club Letter. Vol. VI, No. 4, August, p.1.
- Virginia Polytechnic Institute (1960). Head, Heart, Hands, and Health of Virginia. Vol. 43, No. 10, October, p.4
Bob Meadows
Virginia 4-H All-Star Mid-Winters Conference
Held at the Holiday Inn Midtown, Richmond, on February 5-7, 1999. Highlights include:C. Dean Allen Award - Lester Ritenour, 4-H Agent , Frederick Co
Bradshaw Award - Scott Whitacre, Frederick Co,
Keffer Scholarships - Kathlene Threewitts and Kimberly Dowell
New Initiates tapped include:
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Lauren Garrett - Culpeper
Jessica Potts - Loudoun
Justin Potts - Loudoun
Connie Melton - Rockingham
Debora S. Munsey - Bland
Jennifer Belcher - Bland
James Ervin Vaughn - Virginia Beach
Erin Johanna Racicot - Virginia Beach
Kimberly Anne Fry - Fairfax
Ju'Coby Demetria Hendrick - Lunenburg
Leah Mack - Hanover
Jim Gardner
