4-H Newsletter - April 11, 2022

Last Call
4-H Presentations

County level competition is by appointment only. Appointment dates are April 19, 20, 21 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and April 26 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Call Jessica Drake at 910-321-6867 to schedule an appointment.

District level competition for those who qualify will be June 17, 2022, in Moore County, NC.
State level competition for those who quality will be July 16, 2022, in Raleigh, NC.

Click here to view NC State updated guidelines for 4-H presentations.

NEW
4-H Eco Tower Educator/Volunteer Leader Workshop

Join us for a hands-on exploration of ecology concepts that can be used for engaging environmental youth programs.

What happens if you leave a pile of leaves or logs to rot in your yard? What happens if you rake them up? The Eco Tower is a teaching tool that asks young people to explore the questions of human activities and the environment. Modeled after the game, Jenga, youth pull a game piece from the Eco Tower that poses a question of ecosystem resilience and builds youth critical thinking around topics of soil systems, native plants and agriculture cultivation, insect and other animal organisms, fresh and maritime waters. Easily integrated into existing programs, this fun, interactive workshop is just in time for spring and summer youth programs!

Bring your own lunch, dress for outdoor adventures and activities and be ready for fun!

Date and Time: Educator workshop is Thursday, April 21, 9:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Location: Raleigh, NC, at the JC Raulston Arboretum.
Registration is free.
Click link to sign up via Eventbrite.

NEW
4-H Outstanding Youth Volunteer Nominations

It's time to nominate your outstanding 4-H'ers for the youth 4-H volunteer awards!

NC 4-H youth volunteer awards are presented annually to individual teens that have provided exemplary service to their communities during the previous year. The application should highlight work done between May 2021 and May 2022. The program is designed specifically to recognize those 4-H'ers aged 14-18 who excel in volunteerism and/or service to their communities. The award winners will be announced and recognized during 4-H Congress.

The deadline to submit an award application to Jessica Drake is 5:00 p.m., Wednesday, June 1, 2022.

Click the link for the paper copy of the application form. https://cumberland.ces.ncsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/youth-awards-form_22.doc

NEW
4-H Photography Contest

Formally known as the NC 4-H Photo Contest, this statewide annual contest highlights NC 4-H'ers' photographic achievements. The winning photos will be displayed on the NC 4-H Photo Contest website.

All electronic entries are due August 17, 2022, and must be uploaded by the 4-H agent. Please submit to Jessica one week prior, August 10, to ensure that your entry is submitted before the entry deadline.

For additional contest information and categories click this link:
https://nc4h.ces.ncsu.edu/youth-3/north-carolina-4-h-photo-contest/4-h-photo-contest-rules/

NEW
AIRE Registration Begins

AIRE (Application, Interview, Resume, Electronic Video) is a workforce development and college prep program.
It is a great opportunity for new and experienced members to develop career and college readiness skills.

Youth will register in 4-H Online. Click link for 4-H Online.
Agents will approve youth registrations to participate in both the state level competitive and non-competitive programs. AIRE Program Information and resources including the 2022 AIRE Prep-Packet are linked for your reference.

Registration begins May 1 - June 10, 2022, in 4-H Online
Ages: 11-18

NEW
4-H Citizenship NC Focus

4-H Citizenship North Carolina Focus is a three day conference where delegates participate in facilitated discussions and activities related to the importance of advocacy, local government, state government, and action planning. Through various conference sessions delegates learn from leaders across the state and from other conference attendees. 4-H Citizenship North Carolina Focus is sponsored by NC Electric Cooperatives.

Cumberland County will provide scholarships for two participants. Space is limited, first come first served.

Date: June 14-16, 2022
Ages: 13-18
Location: Cary, NC at the Embassy Suites by Hilton
Registration deadline for both Google form and 4-H Online is Friday, May 13, 2022, by 5:00 p.m.

Youth must register through Google form link before registering in 4-H Online!
Click Google form link.
Click 4-H Online link.

4-H Virtual Volunteer Training Series - April

North Carolina 4-H will be hosting a bi-monthly virtual volunteer training series for all 4-H volunteers. All registrations will be done through 4-H Online and sessions will be held via Zoom. In order to participate in these sessions, participants are expected to have a computer camera (with the camera turned on) and a microphone.

After each session, those that attend the entire session and participate, will receive a link to a session quiz. If the quiz is taken within a week and the participant scores a 90% or higher they will receive an electronic certificate of training completion for their volunteer record. If a volunteer successfully completes all six trainings (including the quizzes), they will receive a mailed certificate, a 4-H volunteer nametag and other items that can be used in their work as a 4-H volunteer. The six sessions are some of the 4-H foundation topics that all volunteers need to know.

Cost: Free and open to all NC 4-H volunteers
Registration will close seven days prior to the session date and a specific Zoom link will be sent for each session to all registered participants.

The training topic will be "Ages and Stages"
Date: April 25, 2022
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Registration deadline is Monday, April 18, 2022. Registration will be through 4-H Online.

Last Call
Spring NC 4-H Volunteer Leaders' Training Day - April

Registration for the Spring NC 4-H Volunteer Leaders' Training Day is now live and available through 4-H Online. This training is a face-to-face meeting on Saturday, May 21, 2022, at the Jane S. McKimmon Center in Raleigh, North Carolina. The registration cost includes a light breakfast, lunch and conference supplies.

Cost: $30 Cash or make check payable to Cumberland County 4-H.
Registration deadline: Monday, April 18, 2022.

Please register through 4-H Online and make arrangements to pay the registration fee at the Cumberland County Extension office before the deadline. No late registrations will be accepted.

Workshop proposals are currently being accepted. To see the working agenda and/or to submit a workshop proposal visit: https://nc4h.ces.ncsu.edu/nc4h-volunteers/nc-4-h-volunteer-training-opportunities/

Clover Class Series
STEM Challenge Night

Come join us for an evening of STEM fun! Participants will engage in the engineering design process to compete in challenges. Everyone will be a winner while learning and working as a team! Fun will be the key in this hour of STEM activities.

Date: Thursday, April 21, 2022
Time: 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Cost: FREE
Limited to 15 attendees (this includes parents also)
Age: 5-18

Youth must enrolled in 4-H Online for 2022. Open to all 4-H'ers. All who attend must register through Eventbrite. Younger 4-Hers will need assistance. Parents assisting their younger attendees must also register.

Due to restrictions on room occupancy, only those registered will be allowed to attend.

4-H Online 2.0-How to Enroll

Please see the attached letter that details information that will make your enrollment and re-enrollment much easier. If you were enrolled in the system last year, you will not have to set up a brand new account. Your login information is the same. Please reach out if you need assistance or need your password reset.

Adults, please note that in the information transfer many of our volunteers and adult birthdates were changed. Unfortunately, you will need to go in and add your actual date of birth.

Also note that you will need to determine a club affiliation in order for your
application to go through. If you are not in a particular club, please select
Member at Large (Cumberland County).

Please refer to the letter attached and contact the 4-H office if you have any questions.
4-H Online Enrollment/Re-Enrollment Family Letter 2022
4-H Online Family Enrollment Packet Information

4-H Online Re-Enrollment Packet for Youth and Volunteers
NC 4-H Online Enrollment Website 2.0

Did you Know?

Seventeen year olds can vote in the May North Carolina primary elections if they will be 18 by November 3, 2022.

First time voters can help decide who will be on the ballot for the political party with which they are registered (or their choice of party) in the US Senate, North Carolina Senate, North Carolina House, and other partisan races.

Spread the word! Seventeen-year-olds must register to vote by April 22 if they want to vote on Election Day, May 17, 2022. They can also register and vote at One Stop Early Voting April 28-May 14.

Sixteen year-olds can pre-register to vote in North Carolina any time after their sixteenth birthday.

For additional information click this link: https://www.ncsbe.gov/registering/who-can-register/preregistering-vote-when-you-are-16-or-17-years-old

South Central District 4-H Volunteer Leader's Scholarships Available

The South Central District 4-H Volunteer Leader's Association grants a $300 scholarship to a graduating senior who is an active member of 4-H.

As no scholarship was awarded in 2021 due to COVID issues, this year only, the scholarship is open to high school graduates from 2021 and 2022. A 2022 high school graduate would be heading to his or her FIRST year of college. A 2021 graduate could be heading to a FIRST or SECOND year of college. Student must be accepted to an accredited university/college or community college.

Applications must be received NO LATER THAN 5:00 p.m., Tuesday, May 31, 2022.

Follow instructions for submission on the scholarship application.
Click link for application.https://cumberland.ces.ncsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/2022-SCD-Scholarship-App-1.pdf?fwd=no

Horticultural Science Summer Institute

Do you have young plant geeks in your life? Was their Monstera a best friend during the pandemic? Tell them they are not alone and to consider attending the Horticultural Science Summer Institute, July 10-15, 2022!

This in-person, residential, pre-college program is an action packed week of plant propagation, tree climbing, chromosome squashing, and friend making.

Applications are open on NCSU's Reporter system (families will need to create a "Brickyard" account) and we welcome all high school youth to apply. Once accepted, camp registration is $650, but scholarships are available for 4-H youth ($500 registration fee, 4-H membership will be confirmed) and there are a limited number of full scholarships for underserved youth with financial need and an interest in horticulture.

Contact Jessica Drake, 4-H Extension agent, at 910-321-6867 or email jessica_drake@ncsu.edu if your youth is interested in this camp.

NC State University and N.C. A&T State University work in tandem, along with federal, state and local governments, to form a strategic partnership called N.C. Cooperative Extension.

Extension's 4-H program is the largest youth development organization in North Carolina. We help over 247,000 young people grow into active, contributing citizens each year.

Accommodation requests related to a disability should be made by 10 days before the event to Jessica Drake, 4-H Extension agent, jessica_drake@ncsu.edu or 910-321-6867.

NC State University provides equal opportunity and affirmative action efforts, and prohibits discrimination, harassment and retaliation based upon a person's race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age (40 or older), disability, gender identity, genetic information, sexual orientation or veteran status. NC State University, N.C. A&T State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture and local governments cooperating.