4-H Top 4 for the week of March 8, 2021

 We are so excited for our first big county events both this week.  

-Volunteers who registered for the 4 County 4-H Volunteer Revolution Training, that will be tonight and you should receive an email through Eventbrite with the zoom link on it.  We will see you at 6:30 pm.  For more information please contact Shea Ann DeJarnette at sadejarn@ncsu.edu.

-4-H Embryology starts on Tuesday in more than 30 second and third grade classrooms in Robeson County.  If you would like to follow along check out our daily facebook posts and we will have some other ways for you to check on the eggs as they get ready to hatch.

-Thursday, March 12 is the deadline to sign up for the Art Hub 4-H Club in 4-H Online.  We have also put a link on the programs section of our app to register for the first meeting.  This is a SPIN Club that will meet virtually for six meetings.  Youth will get an art kits to use as part of the meetings that will need to be picked up prior to the first meeting.  Youth will learn the basic principals of art and create their own projects as well as work with a local artist, and get to post their art on an art app that we will use as part of the club.  This is going to be a fun interactive club that will just meet six times (once a week) in the afternoon's starting at 5:30pm.

-March 13 at 1 pm is 4-H County Activity Day.  Public Speaking and Presentations will be virtual with participants sending their videos in by 1 pm that day.  Outdoor cooking will take place outside, socially distanced, following all COVID protocols.  Registered participants should have received an email this afternoon.  If you have any questions please contact Wendy Maynor at wrmaynor@ncsu.edu

That is all for today.  Please check out our 4-H app with all the latest information and registration links for programs.  Also please make sure you have registered in 4-H Online (https://v2.4honline.com/) and have an active profile.

Have a great week!

Wendy, Christy, and Shea Ann

United Way Blood Drive March 9

Come and donate blood Tuesday, March 9th, 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm at Lumber River United Way!!! We will be providing a $20 VISA gift card to ALL successful donors!!!   Each donor can save up to 3 lives!!!   308 E 5th St Lumberton, NC 28359   Go to www.thebloodconnection.org   OR   Click on the link below to make an appointment now!   https://donate.thebloodconnection.org/donor/schedules  Complete your "eXpress" pass THE DAY OF your donation after 1 am, and bring your QR code to us to speed up the process!! https://thebloodconnection.org/instructions-2/   See you there!!! [Lumber River United Way] | [910-739-4249] | [tjohnson@unitedwayrobeson.org] | [www.lumberriveruw.org] DONATE Connect with us  ‌  ‌  ‌

Community Engagement Opportunity

 Below is a collaboration with MarineQuest Trash Collectors program and New Hanover County 4-H! they are opening this opportunity up for 4-H members across the state. Here is a great way to show your creativity in turning debris into ART!

Turtle Trash Collectors and Plastic Ocean Project are teaming up to host a marine debris upycling art contest for all ages – and we want YOU to participate!

 

Upcycling is taking something that you no longer have use for and turning it into something useful rather than throwing it away. One way to upcycle is to create art, and that is your challenge for this contest! To participate, you can create any type of art you want to (sculpture, painting, collage, etc.), but it must include a turtle and trash collected from your community. All ages and geographic locations are welcome. Submissions will be grouped by age (Elementary and younger, Middle, and High School and older).

 

Marine debris, or trash in the ocean, has major impacts on all kinds of marine life. It entangles animals and can be ingested, causing blocks in the digestive system. Marine debris starts out as trash on land, and by picking up litter in our area we can keep the sea free of debris! To learn more about how marine debris impacts sea turtles, please join the Turtle Trash Collectors for a virtual program. Upcoming public program dates are available on our website.

 

Please see the attached flyer for more information on the art contest, or follow these steps to participate:

 

Step 1: Sign up to let us know you want to participate by clicking here. You can also sign up to earn your Turtle Trash Collectors badges during your cleanup here if you want to.

 

Step 2: Collect trash in your neighborhood, park, or local beach. Collect data using the Marine Debris Tracker App or the Ocean Conservancy Datasheet, and request your Turtle Trash Collectors digital badges.

 

Step 3: Sort and clean your trash with soap and water. Spraying it down with vinegar will also help to sanitize your trash before you make your art.

Step 4: Get creative! You can create a sculpture, collage, or anything you can think of with your trash. Make sure you incorporate a turtle and debris into your design somewhere. You can use other items you collected and items around your house, but try to avoid buying new items for this project.

 

Step 5: Submit a picture and description of your artwork by April 15th here. Pictures and descriptions will be posted on Facebook for the public to vote for winners during Earth Week. Prizes will be mailed to the participants whose art has the most “likes” in each age category.

 

Please reach out to us with any questions at SirakSchaefferL@uncw.edu or 910-833-0867.

4-H County Activity Day

 Just a reminder that the deadline to register for County Activity Day is March 5.  You can register on the app under programs or by clicking this link: https://forms.gle/2U5UKFKYcdLRHfWA7 

This year's presentations and public speaking will be held virtually.  Outdoor cooking will be held in person following all COVID Guidelines and participants will have to go through our Face to Face training (held virtually) prior to participating.  You can register for the 4-H Family F2F Training here.

Please note all participants must have an active 4-H Online (https://v2.4honline.com/) profile to take part in this competition.

-All videos will be due to the 4-H Staff by 1pm on Saturday, March 13.  

-Videos will be shared with judges and scores will be announced later that week.  

-Participants with video are required to follow the same guidelines as for face to face presentations. 

-If you would like to utilize a zoom session to record your video (especially recommended for those using PowerPoint with their presentations)  please schedule that with the 4-H staff prior to the deadline.  Be advised they will not be able to do zooms the day of the deadline.

-All outdoor cooking participants will have areas that are six feet apart and will be required to supply their own tools to compete.

-Please note participants will need to pass a temperature check prior to setting up, and will be expected to wear a mask throughout competition.

-Participants should report to the office on March 13 prior to 1 pm to set up and be ready to light their grills at 1 pm.  Judges will be in place and we will be able to announce placings for the section of the day at the end of the event.

If you have any questions please contact Wendy Maynor or Shea Ann DeJarnette at (910) 671-3276 or wrmaynor@ncsu.edu or sadejarn@ncsu.edu

The Environmental Protection Agency extends nominations deadline for the 2021 President’s Environmental Student and Teacher Awards

 

WASHINGTON (February 19, 2021) — Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that it’s extending the nominations deadline for their Environmental Education Presidential awards program. EPAs Office of Environmental Education will now accept applications for the 2021 President’s Environmental Youth Awards (PEYA) and Presidential Innovation Awards for Environmental Educators (PIAEE) through April 30, 2021.

“Investing in our nation’s students and teachers by creating opportunities to engage in real world issues will help build the next generation of environmental leaders,” said Rosemary Enobakhare, Associate Administrator, Office of Public Engagement and Environmental Education. “Providing an extension will allow additional time for all students and teachers to submit applications for this invaluable awards program.”

Since the establishment of the original Environmental Education Act of 1970, The President’s Environmental Youth Award (PEYA) Program has recognized outstanding community-level environmental projects by K-12 youth for over 50 years. Today, as part of the National Environmental Education Act of 1990, PEYA continues to promote awareness of natural resources and encourages positive community involvement.

PIAEE recognizes outstanding K-12 grade educators who integrate environmental, place-based experiential learning into their classrooms.

Additional Information on the Awards

EPA is seeking PEYA and PIAEE award applications for projects on a variety of environmental topics, including (but not limited to), projects on: 

• Climate Change 
• Making a visible difference in Environmental Justice communities 
• Reducing food waste and loss and excess food recovery efforts
• Reducing contributions to ocean and marine litter
• Solutions in recycling
• Using science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) to teach environmental education
• Environmental sustainability
• Sustainable agricultural practices
• Healthy school environments

The President’s Environmental Youth Awards (PEYA) recognizes outstanding environmental stewardship projects from grades K-12 by promoting environmental awareness and encouraging community involvement. EPA will select up to two winners in each of EPA’s 10 Regions – one regional winner for grades K-5, and one regional winner for grades 6-12. The winning projects will be highlighted on EPA’s website. All student projects must be sponsored by at least one adult over the age of 21. And, if the sponsor is not a teacher, the project must have a teacher as a co-sponsor. The application and eligibility information are available on EPA’s PEYA page.

The Presidential Innovation Award for Environmental Educators (PIAEE) recognizes outstanding K-12 teachers who employ innovative approaches to environmental education. Up to two teachers from each of EPA's 10 regions, from different states, will be selected to receive this award. Teachers will receive a Presidential plaque and an award of up to $2,500 cash to be used to further professional development in environmental education. Winning teachers’ local education agencies will also receive awards of up to $2,500 cash to fund environmental educational activities and programs. Next years’ winners will be highlighted on EPA’s website.

The application and eligibility information are available on EPA’s PIAEE page.

Applications for both awards programs are due no later than April 30, 2021.

For more information on the youth awards (PEYA), please contact: PEYA@epa.gov.

For more information on the teacher awards (PIAEE), please contact: PIAEE@epa.gov.

EPA’s Office of Environmental Education (OEE) works to expand the public’s environmental knowledge and enables people to effectively solve environmental problems. OEE develops training programs, provides education materials, supports environmental education publications, holds seminars and events, and administers environmental education grants and awards, please contact: education@epa.gov.

4-H Top 4 for the week of March 1, 2021

 

Prayers go out to all of our returning face to face students and teachers this week.  May it be a wonderful and safe new adventure.

  Also we would like to let share news about two of our 4-H Families.  Joyce Jones, a long time 4-H volunteer with Young Leaders 4-H Club, her husband, Dr. Robert Jones, passed away over the weekend.  Dr. Jones worked with the Public Schools of Robeson County and spent several years as the Principal at W. H. Knuckles.  Our thoughts and prayers go out to them.

  Also one of our longtime volunteers, Beverly Chambers who was the club leader for Spiritual Generations, is in the hospital battling COVID.  Please keep Beverly and her family in your thoughts and prayers.

On to our 4-H Business for this week....

-March 3 at 6 pm and on Sunday, March 7 at 4 pm we will be holding information workshops on getting back face to face in 4-H and what it will require for families.  In the fall our club leaders went through the guidelines and families that want to meet face to face will have to go through this training prior to taking part in face to face activities.  Please note, 4-H members and volunteers must be active in 4-H Online (https://v2.4honline.com/) to take part as well.  There will be more opportunities to take part in this training in the future, however these will be the only two available prior to 4-H County Activity Day, so you plan to be part of our outdoor cooking you will need to take part in one of these two trainings.  You can register by using this link or on our app.

-March 5, is the deadline to register for 4-H County Activity Day.  This year's presentations and public speaking will be held virtually.  Outdoor cooking will be held in person following all COVID Guidelines and participants will have to go through our Face to Face training (held virtually) prior to participating.  Please note all participants must have an active 4-H Online (https://v2.4honline.com/) profile to take part in this competition.  To learn more about the guidelines please see the post about CAD, which will take place at 1pm on Saturday, March 13 at our office.  You can register on the app (under programs) or from this link.  If you have any questions please contact Wendy Maynor or Shea Ann DeJarnette at (910) 671-3276 or wrmaynor@ncsu.edu or sadejarn@ncsu.edu

-March 5 at noon, is also the deadline for any teens interested in running for SE District Office to submit their packets.  The deadline was previously March 1 and was changed to the 5.  For more information about that please see our blog post at https://robeson4-h.blogspot.com/2021/01/calling-all-4-h-members-interested-in.html.

-March 5 is also the deadline for Volunteers to register for our first 4-H 4 County Training.  This is the first in a series of four trainings for 4-H Adult Volunteers in Cumberland, Hoke, New Hanover, and Robeson Counties.  We are excited to offer a training that will focus on coordinating the standard course of study and age appropriate 4-H activities.  We will also give a 4-H update and introduce you to the 4-H Sourdough Challenge and get you started on that if you would like to implement that with youth in your county.  To register please go to our app and register under programs. 

If you have any questions please let us know.  Hope your first week of March is warm and wonderful. 

Stay Safe!

Wendy, Christy, and Shea Ann

District Officers-New Deadline

4-H Members interested in running for district office now have until March 5, at noon to get your nomination packets into the 4-H office.  

For more information such as requirements to run please see our blog link at:  https://robeson4-h.blogspot.com/2021/01/calling-all-4-h-members-interested-in.html

For access to the packet please see:  https://nc4h.ces.ncsu.edu/youth-3/4-h-teen-programs/state-council/