- Author: Cris L. Johnson
The 4-H teams were assigned to build and program a robot that was capable of cleaning a hypothetical environmental spill of birdseed, rice and macaroni that stood in for spill elements considered too dangerous or difficult for humans to handle. Teams were supplied masking tape, straws, string, paper cups, index cards, a toothbrush head, foam and a digital battery. Utilizing these materials they worked to fabricate tiny robot sweepers that would be able clean the mess before being swept out to an improvised ocean.
The challenge tested their imaginations, patience, skills and ingenuity as they took their contraptions through timed trial runs, making adjustments and modifications along the way. A three-second breathing period was required whenever a robot needed manhandling during a run which allowed participants a short space to react with a more considered response.
Two members from the Citrus Valley club, Allison Sim and Patrick Bello, finished first with an 87% spill removal. The 10 and 11-year old experimented by overcoming obstacles that allowed their robot, Brushie, to achieve the winning score.
Millions of youth throughout the nation participated in the 4-H National Science Experiment and the EcoBot Challenge complements the robotics and engineering programs that are a significant part of the 4-H science curriculum. Learn more about the EcoBot Challenge here.
- Author: Chris M. Webb
Persistence and collaboration often make success possible. Ventura County 4-H All-Stars Savanna Stanley and Dayle Morris have used both to keep their All-Star project at Ormond Beach moving forward.
Despite many obstacles, they have kept working together with the community to make their goals a reality. Quang Tong, former California State 4-H Program Representative, was quoted in a December 28, 2011 Ventura County Star article as saying…
“Both young ladies have demonstrated what is best about the 4-H program: commitment to the local community, hard work and a hands-on approach to solving problems. Instead of complaining about an issue, they went out, brought people together and made an impact to deal with the issue. Their initial work has grown to involve some serious stakeholders in the community, including local as well as state and national agencies.”
The 4-H program has many positive opportunities for youth and adults too. To find out more, please contact our office!
- Author: Chris M. Webb
Later this month, local area youth will be joining other 4-Hers from the southern section of our state for a Teen Involvement Conference. At the conference youth will gain leadership and teamwork skills while participating in community service activities. This year those attending the conference will be putting together care packages for our troops overseas.
Ventura County 4H participants are currently requesting donations and could use your help. Items requested are as follows:
- Hotel/travel size gel deodorant, shampoo, lotion, toothpaste, mouthwash
- Toothbrushes, dental floss, brush-ups
- Disposable razors
- Eye drops, nose drops
- Unscented baby wipes, wet wipes, small bottles of hand sanitizer
- Small Kleenex packages, q-tips (large or small packages)
- Anti-fungal cream, band aides, foot powder, sunscreen
- Ziploc bags of all sizes
- DVD’s, Cd’s, batteries – AA & AAA
- Phone cards, puzzle books, paperback novels
If you are able to donate, please bring the items to our office by January 18. Our office is located at 669 County Square Drive, Suite 100 in Ventura.
- Posted By: Chris M. Webb
- Written by: Katie Trockey
Written and submitted by Conejo Valley Club President, Katie Trockey.
This year, in the Conejo Valley 4-H Club, our theme is 4-H In Motion! And we are sure moving quickly throughout the year from Ice Skating in January to building and racing Gutter Derby Cars in March and April.
But that's not all we are doing! Over the holiday season, we made seventeen Stockings overflowing with goodies for the soldiers, donated two huge bags of dog and cat supplies and toys to the Agoura Animal Shelter, cut and tied fourteen No-Sew Fleece Blankets for Project Linus and hand-created beautiful cards for Veterans and soldiers overseas.
With the 4-H year ending in just four months, we hope to have all our members complete a Record Book for at least club level. So to help with our goal, before each meeting we write down everything we did over the past month in our Record Book Row. This way we can help each other to add to our Record Books over the months instead of at the end of the year.
But for now, we are focusing on Presentation Day. At our February meeting, we had eight different Demonstrations in a Bag for the members to present as impromptu speeches. We had presentations from many projects including how to bathe a dog, how to make a bracelet, how to make cookies, and how to change a baby's diaper.
This article is part of our Featured Club Happenings series in our Ventura County 4-H Clover Lines newsletter. These newsletters and others produced by our office can be found on our website.
- Author: Chris M. Webb
Ventura County 4-H All-Stars, Savanna Stanley and Dayle Morris are working towards a large goal. They are designing and building a nature-walking path through the Ormond Beach Outdoor Classroom in Oxnard.
The path is being named in honor of Jean Harris and Roma Armbrust two, now deceased, Oxnard teachers who fought for over 30 years to protect the wetlands from being developed and to clean up the toxic waste left at the nearby Halaco metal processing site.
Like most people serious about completing a large project, the Ventura County 4-H All Stars have broken the project down into smaller goals. They have recently completed the following:
- Met with other 4-H members throughout the county to discuss the All-Star Project
- Went to the City of Oxnard and spoke to the Mayor and the City Council at a City Council Meeting. (The City of Oxnard owns the land were the Ormond Beach Outdoor Classroom is located.)
- Wrote, and was awarded, a $1,000 Healthy Living Grant which will help with project expenses
- Met with Dale Dean of the Ventura County Master Gardeners, Nancy Pedersen, Director of the Outdoor Classroom, and members of Oxnard City Corps to begin laying out the trail
The Roma-Jean nature walking tour at Ormond Beach will include 10 information posts each of which will have instructions of exercises children and adults can do. The exercises will focus on flexibility, strength building and proper posture. The 4-H All Stars are working towards having the exercises correlate to the movements of birds as much as possible to make the movements fun for all.
They will also be identifying ten native plants and birds that visitors can look for as they walk through the wetlands, including the resident hummingbird that has followed visitors to Ormond Beach for the last five years.
The ambitious pair is looking for help and donations to complete this project. Specifically they are looking for: building supplies, a wood chipper, mulch, and someone who can help make waterproof boxes or signs. Please contact our office if you are able to help.
