The national 4-H program has implemented a Science, Engineering and Technology Program (SET) to encourage youth to excel in science, engineering and technology.  We hope this program can help reverse the trend of children left behind in these areas, a problem that may lead to a shortage of scientists and engineers in the future if left unaddressed. The national message can be found here. Information on how California is working on the program can be found here.

Locally, our office is working with area youth to teach these vital skills and generate interest. This effort is lead by Susan Gloeckler, our 4-H program representative. She and local 4-H clubs are working to help meet the national goal, which is to provide hands-on SET experience by 2013 to 1 million children. In addition to the approximate 2,000 Ventura County youth that participate in county 4-H clubs, Susan reaches thousands more by providing workshops at local schools and organizations. Additional information about our local program can be found in this recent Ventura County Star article.

If you or someone you know would like to find out about becoming involved in this important effort, please contact our office.

Susan Gloeckler teaching our youth

Susan Gloeckler, our Ventura County 4-H Program Representative, has been working to set up 4-H clubs at area military bases. This work is part of a larger federal initiative to create 4-H clubs at military bases across the world so that when families are transferred to a new base, children can continue to enjoy the program and have consistency of involvement in the same organization from one place to the next.

Recently 4-H youth at the Port Hueneme Naval Base and at Point Mugu have been participating a variety of activities including: visiting local farms, growing vegetables, learning where food comes from, and the importance of good nutrition. These fun learning experiences were provided by UCCE staff, 4-H volunteers, Master Gardener volunteers, and youth program leaders at the bases.

On Monday August 3^rd, The Ventura County Star wrote a great article about the military 4-H program. The entire article can be read here.

The following Featured Club Happenings was submitted by Piru 4-H Club President, Kris Dewey.

It has been a busy year for Piru 4H! Our members have been provided many educational opportunities because we have a fabulous group of project leaders.

• Our geology project has visited the Santa Paula Oil Museum.
  

• The Cultural Appreciation project attended a Renaissance Fair.
  

• Our swine group is as big as ever and toured a local butcher shop.

• We have two members in the beef group taking animals to the fair in August.
  

• The teatime participants have been learning proper etiquette and took turns hosting tea parties.
  

• Several scrapbooking members took field trips to scrapbooking shops and had a great time learning how to showcase their favorite photos.
  

• We had a cake decorating group that made wonderful snacks for our general meetings.
  

• Our fishing group went on camping field trips and had a great time learning how to bait and cast hooks.
  

• The community service project members participated in TOTSOCE (Trick or Treat So Others Can Eat), made Christmas Baskets and Valentines for U.S. military veterans, and most recently helped sort clothes and other donations and serve lunch at a homeless shelter in Ventura.
  

• We offered the members and their parents the opportunity to attend a CPR class.
  

We are planning a year-in-review to celebrate the successes of this year after the Ventura County Fair and wish all of you a great 2010 season!

Featured Club Happenings are a regular feature in Clover Lines, our 4-H newsletter. Back issues of Clover Lines can be found on our website.

Every wonder what 4-Her’s do? They are busy for sure! Read the following Featured Club Happening, submitted by Ventura County Loma Vista 4-H member, Kimberly Coverly.

Ask anyone who you encounter for the definition of 4-H and you are bound to get a description of “some club that raises livestock and goes to the fair.” Although this may describe part of what some 4-H Clubs do, this is pretty far from what Loma Vista 4-H Club is like. With projects ranging from archery to easy meals and rabbits to beading, Loma Vista is so much more!

In our club we focus on being well-rounded individuals. We give our members lots of variety to choose from and there is a project for everyone. We try to make our club welcoming.

While everyone fits into a project we focus on unity as well. At every monthly meeting we have a program that is sure to capture every member’s attention. We also recognize monthly birthdays by leading members up to the front of the group and sing happy birthday to them. This really makes the younger members feel very welcomed and special by the other older kids that they look up to. In these ways our club is very different from some other 4-H clubs in VenturaCounty and the state of California.

Now, when someone gives you the definition of 4-H as “some club that raises livestock and goes to the fair”, you can correct them and say, “Not Loma Vista!”

The 4-H Featured Club Happenings began in February of this year. More Featured Club Happenings can be found in our Clover Lines newsletters.