Happy New Year.

Pathway to Your Future

“Pathways to your Future “ is a new project designed to help youth succeed in the University system.  We will be focusing on career choices, how to choose a college, how to apply, what you need to do to get accepted, financial aid and cost, what is the best path for your college career, what to expect when you get there.  We will have guest panelist and college tours. 8^th, 9^th, 10^th and 11^th graders come join this countywide project.  The first meeting will be January 14^th from 6-8 in the classroom at the 4-H office, 2145 Wardrobe Ave, Merced.  If you have any questions contact me at 385-7418. 

Please click on the website below to register.

http://ucce.ucdavis.edu/survey/survey.cfm?surveynumber=7762

All Star and Emerald Star Projects

It is that time of year to start planning All Star and Emerald Star projects.  If you are in 8^th grade or older you may do an Emerald Star project, if you are in 9^th grade or older you may do an All Star Project.  If you have an idea or know you want to do a project but are not sure what to do please call me at 385-7418

California State 4-H Shooting Sports

Shooting Sports Project Leader Course

Rifle Discipline

PajaroValleyRod & Gun Club

557 ½ Lakeview Road

Watsonville, CA

Saturday, March 9, 2013 – 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Sunday, March 10, 2013 – 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Upon successful completion of this course, the participant will be certified as rifle trainer and can lead a rifle project at the club or county level or serve as county trainer to certify project leaders in the shooting sports discipline of rifle. This course is also open to 4-H teen leaders (high school aged youth). For more information, or to register for the class, contact RandyTurnquist at randy@randyt.com or phone 831-566-2590.  Please discuss the course fee with the instructor which could be up to $25 depending on if you wish to print your own course material or have him do it.  (Please note that the rifle discipline is not an approved project in Santa Cruz County).

For more information about the class facility visit this website: www.pajarovalleyrodandgun.org

4-H Shooting Sports Workshop

A 4-H shooting sports workshop for the rifle discipline will be held at UC Cooperative Extension Office, 1031 S. Mt. Vernon Avenue in Bakersfield. The workshop will be January 12, 2013 8am-6pm and January 13, 2013 8am – 4pm. Participants must attend both days of training to receive certification. Upon successful completion of the course, the participant will be certified as a rifle trainer and can lead a rifle project at the club level or serve as county trainer to certify other leaders. There is no cost for the course. To register for the course or receive more information, contact John Borba at: jaborba@ucdavis.edu  (This course is not open to 4-H leaders from Santa Cruz County).

4-H Shooting Sports Workshop

A 4-H Archery Certification Training for volunteers and junior/teen leaders will be offered Saturday, January 19^th, 9 am – 5 pm, and Sunday, January 20^th, 8 AM- 12 noon, at the Livermore-Pleasanton Rod & Gun Club, 4000 Dagnino Road, Livermore, CA 94551 in Alameda County. You must be an enrolled 4-H leader or member and attend both days to receive certification to teach archery at the project, club and camp levels. The course will include a PowerPoint lecture, review of equipment, practice shooting and teaching and a written test. The cost is $50 per person to include a resource binder, range fees and Saturday lunch. Overnight RV parking, water & power only, is available for an additional fee.

To register, please complete and mail the “CA 4-H Shooting Sports Training Request and Registration Form” available at  http://www.ca4h.org/files/2123.pdf,  and an adult or youth 4-H medical release form and a $50 check payable to “De Arroyo 4-H Club” to  Jennifer Siders,  4967 Erica Way, Livermore, CA 94550.  Registration is due Monday, January 7^th and space is limited. For more information call Jenny at 925-321-6009 or email her at jsiders@gmail.com. 

2013 4-H Presentation Themes

http://www.ca4h.org/Programs/Events/SFD/PD/Recognition_Opportunities/

California 4-H will offer a thematic recognition pin for youth who participate in State Presentation Day and focus their presentations on one of the following areas: Engineering to Solve the World's Problems, Physical Activity, The Path to Thriving and C is for Contribute. Specific to Science, Engineering and Technology (SET): Engineering is the application of science to solve human issues by constructing technologies, structures, machines, devices, and systems. Scientists may ask why and develop an experiment to answer the question while engineers identify a need and then create a solution to meet the need. How can you use the engineering design process and the practices of engineering to solve California, the nation, and the world’s social, economic and environmental problems? How do you use engineering practices in your 4-H projects – animals, foods, health, plants, leadership, and others?

4-H Honey Bee Essay Contest

For 4-H members, due February 15, 2013

2013 Topic: "Reducing the Usage of Bee-Killing Pesticides in My Community." http://www.ca4h.org/files/156350.pdf

The Foundation for the Preservation of Honey Bees, Inc. sponsors this essay contest for 4-H members. 1^st place national winner receives $750, 2^nd place $500 and 3^rd place $250. Each state will select a winner and then a national winner will be selected from the pool of state winners.

2013 4-H Film Making Statewide Project, supported by BestBuy

http://www.ca4h.org/Projects/SET/Tech/CTLT/Film/

For 4-H members (age 13-19), volunteers, and staff to learn how to produce films. The goal of the 4-H Film Making Project is to enhance technological literacy of 4-H members by helping them learn the basics of film production including storyboarding, filming, and editing. Our goal is to have 4-H members produce films that feature how 4-H is impacting their community (for example, 4-H Revolution of Responsibility projects) and recording 4-H alumni and creating films featuring the "Voices of 4-H History" for the CA 4-H Centennial.

The project is coordinated by the 4-H Technology Leadership Team,

• Hosting four-hour video production workshops around California using the National 4-H Film Making Curriculum (workshops limited to 30 people)
• Lending video equipment kits to counties
• Showcasing completed videos at the State 4-H Film Festival and on various websites

Learn more and register for a workshop at http://www.ca4h.org/Projects/SET/Tech/CTLT/Film/

Save the Date: State 4-H Field Day 2013 – May 25 at UC Davis

http://www.ca4h.org/Programs/Events/SFD/

State 4-H Field Day Educational Exhibits

http://ucce.ucdavis.edu/survey/survey.cfm?surveynumber=9588 

Applications due April 1, 2013

Educational exhibits and displays constitute a unique aspect of the State 4-H Field Day. These exhibits are a great opportunity to share knowledge, interact with youth and adults, and engage people in new activities. Possibilities for displays include hands-on activities, community service crafts, informative booths, etc.

SAVE the Date! November 8-10, 2013

100 Years and Thriving – Come celebrate California’s Centennial of 4-H with your 4-H colleagues at the State 4-H Leader’s Forum (SLF) at the Crowne Plaza in Sacramento. More information will be on the CA State 4-H website by the end of January. In the meantime, we are recruiting workshop presenters for this momentous event. Traditions or transitions, changes or choices, what kinds of information, issues, inspirations will you share with the delegates? Please contact Mary Engebreth - maryengebreth@comcast.net with suggestions of topics and/or experts.

.

The University of California, Davis College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences  will hold its 37^th Annual Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Field Day on March 1^st and 2^nd.

The UC Davis CA&ES Field Day is the 2013 California 4-H State Qualifier for Poultry, Dairy and Livestock judging. Visit http://www.ca4h.org/Projects/SET/Animal/SLJC/  for state qualifying guidelines.

To register, go to: <http://calaged.csuchico.edu/registration/>

Select the event (2013 U.C. Davis Agricultural & Environmental Sciences Field Day). Choose the link “Get Access Code”. Complete the information on the form and click the register button. Please include 4-H next to your club name on the registration form. On the following page save the registration code and register later or simply continue with the registration at this point. Note that you may only register once so be prepared to complete the registration or contact us if you have any changes. After your club is registered, we request that you submit a printed copy of your online registration along with your payment. Checks should be made payable to “UC Regents” and mailed to:

Attn: Courtney Rhodes

College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences

One Shields Avenue

Davis, CA 95616

Deadlines:

February 8: Agriscience Fair and Job Interview materials due

February 8: Online Registration closed

February 15: Payments must be postmarked – We are now enforcing a $25 late fee for payments postmarked after the 15^th.

For questions email fieldday@ucdavis.edu or visit http://caes.ucdavis.edu/fieldday 

California Focus June 14-18, 2013

California Focus is a unique citizenship educational experience that combines hands-on participation in workshops, debates and simulations with speakers, tours, fun activities and new friends from across California. http://ucanr.org/sites/UC4-H/Projects/Citizenship/Focus/CF/. Online Registration will be available February 1, 2013

Citizenship Washington Focus Registration is currently being taken

June 23-July 2, 2013

Washington Focus, an educational conference offered at the National 4-H Center near Washington, D.C, gives youth the opportunity to explore, develop and refine the civic engagement skills they need in order to become outstanding leaders. Additional travel days include visits to Gettysburg, Philadelphia and New York City. http://www.ca4h.org/Projects/Citizenship/Focus/WF/

4-H State Leadership Conference 2013 – July 25-28, 2013 at UC Davis

Celebrating 100 years of California 4-H. This year’s theme: There’s no place like 4-H

The 4-H State Leadership Conference brings together high school youth from across California in a four-day leadership training, networking, and learning experience. http://www.ca4h.org/Programs/Conferences/SLC/

JOIN The Revolution of Responsibility! $1,000 is available to 4-H Clubs and Groups

Due January 15, March 15, May 15 and July 15

http://ucanr.org/join/

To JOIN the revolution, 4-H members, with the help of an adult 4-H volunteer mentor, should follow these steps to plan a project.

1. Identify an issue or problem in your community.
2. Find community organizations to collaborate with.
3. Plan the project: form goals, outline tasks, list needed resources, and prepare a budget
4. Prepare ways to document and record your project to share with others.
5. JOIN the revolution at http://ucanr.org/join/

A toolkit of tips, templates, links, and suggested guidelines has been developed to support your projects. From the initial work to identify a compelling community issue to the final celebration of its completion, use this toolkit to help you carry out the important steps necessary to ensure success. http://www.ca4h.org/Support/RofR/Toolkit/    

The State 4-H Fashion Revue committee announces categories and service projects for 2013 SFR! Entry categories will be Traditional, Consumer Science Purchased, Wearable Art-Embellished, 2 Yard Wonder, and Duct Tape Challenge.

• Traditional: new this year, the entry must be sewn by the member as part of his/her 4-H Clothing and Textile project.
• Consumer Science Purchased has a $19.99 limit, shoes and sales tax not included. Receipts for all items showing except shoes are required, with purchases made during the 2012-2013 4-H year. The $100 CS Purchased category will not be offered.
• The Wearable Art – Embellished entry must start with a purchased garment. Duct tape entries are not eligible for WA-Embellished.
• 2 Yard Wonder is a Challenge category: using 2 yards of 100% cotton fabric, sew a garment and an accessory. Additional garments to complete the outfit may be sewn or purchased.  There is no specific pattern requirement. The entry must be sewn by the member as part of his/her 4-H Clothing & Textiles project.
• Duct Tape Challenge: Create a wearable garment out of duct tape such as a jacket, shirt, pants, skirt or dress. The member may choose to begin with a purchased garment or not. Additional garments, accessories, fabric and materials may be added.
• For all entries, the outfit must be produced and modeled by the individual member. The outfit must meet SFR modesty guidelines.
• A member may only qualify to enter one outfit at SFR. To reduce confusion, counties are encouraged to adopt this policy: At county fashion revues where a member may enter more than one outfit, the garments, accessories, and shoes for each outfit must be distinctly different. An item in one outfit may not also be used as part of another outfit.
• Counties may offer additional categories that do not advance to SFR.

State Fashion Revue is coordinating two service projects. he first is a sewn teddy bear or doll. The second is a drawstring bag. Patterns and instructions will be posted on the SFR website. SFR will continue to accept quilts for troops to pass on. If you, your project, or your county would like more information about SFR, these categories and service projects, or would like to join the committee, please visit http://www.ca4h.org/Programs/Events/SFR/

I am attaching a flyer about the drawstring bag challenge.

Announcing the New Highest California 4-H Youth Award!

The Incentives and Recognition Advisory Committee is pleased to announce the launch of the California 4-H Diamond Clover Award. The Diamond Clover is awarded to the highest achieving 4-H youth members through an application and essay process. All youth who achieve the qualifications are eligible for this award. Applications may be submitted at any time during the year and while a young person is between 17 and 19 years of age. Each quarter, applications are reviewed by the Incentives and Recognition Advisory Committee and awards are given. Awardees are announced annually at the State Leadership Conference. Applications are available now for submission beginning July 1, 2012 at http://www.ca4h.org/Administration/Advisory_Committees/IR/

Rationale:  Most youth serving organizations have a highest honor—Boy Scouts have Eagle Scouts, Girl Scouts have the Gold Award, Camp Fire USA has the WoHeLo Award. While the 4-H State Ambassador Program is a very high honor, it is a working honor and is prohibitive to many who may be deserving of a highest youth award.