November
Family Newsletter - November 29, 2021
C’mon to the Courts & 911 Call Center to discover the unknown!
Ever wonder what happens in a courtroom? Have you ever considered how a courtroom is designed for security? Do you know how many jobs/careers are required for the Courts? If not, come join us to learn how the court system works and the careers associated with the courts.
We will also have the opportunity to learn about the role of a Dispatcher in the 911 Call Center. Does that sound intriguing? Come see how the Washington County 911 Call Center works for you!
We will be meeting inside the main doors of the Stillwater Government Center at 6:00 pm.
- masks are required for the Court Tour
- it will last 1 – 1 ½ hours
November Ambassador Meeting
Our November meeting will be in conjunction with the Courts tour on Monday, November 29th. We will be gathering for a short meeting from 5:30-6 PM at the Government Center, to finalize details for our Project Pursuit on December 4th. All youth are welcome and encouraged to stay for the Courts/911 Call Center tour at 6 PM!
If you have not registered to be an Ambassador for the 2021-2022 year, please do so ASAP. All youth in grades 7 and up are welcome to join!
Contact Megan at slate187@umn.edu with any questions.
Winter Project Pursuit - Saturday, December 4
Join in the fun on Saturday, December 4th from 9 AM-Noon for a Project Pursuit at Hooley Hall on the Washington County Fairgrounds! Project Pursuit is intended for youth to try different project areas and get new ideas for possible exhibits for the fair. The Winter Project Pursuit will have experienced and exciting presenters. Some of the fun will include A candle-making workshop, a short service project, and much more!
This event will be open for youth grades 3+. Cost is now $20.00 and should be paid at the door. Exact amount only.
Questions? Contact Megan at slate187@umn.edu
Building Leadership and Understanding (BLU)
The 4-H Building Leadership and Understanding (BLU) program is an exciting and fun leadership adventure that brings together youth from across the state of Minnesota. Hosted by the Minnesota 4-H State Ambassadors, each retreat uses a youth-teaching-youth model to teach a leadership topic, participate in team-building activities, and meet other youth from their region.
BLU will be held at five different locations with one day and overnight experiences offered:
Feb. 5 - 6: Northeast - Long Lake Conservation Center, Palisade.
Feb. 5 - 6: Southeast - Camp Victory, Zumbro Falls.
Feb. 12 - 13: Northwest - Castaway Club, Detroit Lakes.
Feb. 19: Southwest - Southwest Minnesota State University, Marshall.
Feb. 26: Central- University of Minnesota-St Paul Student Center
To learn more about BLU and register visit z.umn.edu/4-HBLU.
4-H Teens Engaged in Emerging Leadership (TEEL) leadership workshop
The 4-H Teens Engaged in Emerging Leadership (TEEL) program is an exciting and fun leadership adventure that brings together youth from across the state of Minnesota. TEEL is a workshop that builds on the leadership skills older youth have developed at BLU and through their lived experience both within and outside of 4-H. Teens will engage in large and small group discussions and learning designed and facilitated by a team of older youth and young adult leaders.
This year TEEL will be held in five different locations:
Feb. 5 - 6: Northeast - Long Lake Conservation Center, Palisade.
Feb. 5 - 6: Southeast - Camp Victory, Zumbro Falls.
Feb. 12 - 13: Northwest - Castaway Club, Detroit Lakes.
Feb. 19: Southwest - Southwest Minnesota State University, Marshall.
Feb. 26: Central- University of Minnesota-St Paul Student Center
To learn more about TEEL and register visit z.umn.edu/4-HTEEL.
Sign up to be a 2021-2022 Washington County Ambassador!
Are you in 7th grade or above? Do you want to build your leadership skills and meet new friends? The Washington County 4-H Ambassadors meet once a month to plan workshops and camps for younger members, service projects, and fun social events! This is a great opportunity to expand your leadership to the next level while meeting friends from around the county. All skill levels and experience are welcome!
Fill out this quick google form to show your interest in the Washington County 4-H Ambassador program:
Teen Teachers needed for Youth Teaching Youth!
Are you in grades 9-12 and interested in teaching your younger peers? Youth Teaching Youth is for you! Teen Teachers teach in elementary school classrooms and library settings. Training and guided curriculum options are provided. We are looking for teens in the South Washington County, Stillwater, and Forest Lake Area Schools. Don't miss this opportunity to build your resume and improve your public speaking skills in a supportive environment. Contact Megan Slater if you are interested in learning more at slate187@umn.edu.
Bowling with the Ambassadors!
Join us on Saturday, January 22nd from 1-3 PM for bowling and socializing at Stillwater Bowl!
If you're in 7th grade and up and interested in learning more about the Washington County Ambassador program, this event is for you! Come hang out with the current Ambies, meet new friends, bowl, and HAVE FUN! Pizza, pop, and bowling included.
Contact Megan at slate187@umn.edu with any questions.
Looking for a candy maker!
We would like to host a Candy Making Workshop in early February in time for Valentines Day. If you or someone you know can teach some basic candy making skills to 4-H youth, please contact Ann at; churc109@umn.edu Thank you!
Looking for some HELP!
No matter what winter may look like, we want to stay ahead of cabin fever and plan some fun winter workshops. It has been a few years but we would like to bring back “Creative Arts Day''. So we are looking for a volunteer or group of volunteers to help organize this workshop by coming up with a project or projects youth can make in an afternoon or morning. This would also include finding presenters to teach. If interested please contact Ann at; churc109@umn.edu
Project Bowl Coaches & Members Needed!
Project Bowl is a competition that tests the knowledge of a team of 4 for a specific species or wildlife.
Starting in early January, Project Bowl Teams begin to meet and practice for the Regional Contest held in March. Youth build skills working and thinking together while testing their knowledge in one of the following areas: dairy, dog, general livestock, horse, llama/alpaca, poultry, rabbit and wildlife. Coaches are needed to work with the teams and prepare them for the contest. Resources are listed on the state website. For more information, check out; https://extension.umn.edu/4-h-events/regional-state-project-bowls
If you are interested in coaching one of these areas, please contact Ann at; churc109@umn.edu
Looking for volunteers to become Certified Shooting Sports Trainers!
We are always in need of additional Trainers for our Shooting Sports program! Requirements to train are that you are a ‘screened volunteer’ and that you complete the Leader Certification Training. Below are upcoming trainings around Minnesota! If this is something you can help us with, please contact Ann at; churc109@umn.edu
2021-22 SS&W Leader Certification Training
Date: Saturday, December 4, 2021
Location: Argyle Elementary, Argyle, MN
Time: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Disciplines: Archery and Wildlife
Date: Saturday, December 11, 2021 - RECERTIFICATION ONLY
Location: Bunker Hills Regional Park Archery Center, Andover, MN
Time: 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Disciplines: Rifle/Pistol
Date: Saturday, January 15, 2022
Location: TBD, Mora, MN
Time: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Disciplines: Rifle/Pistol and Archery
Dates: Tuesdays, January 25 and February 1, 2022
ONLINE
Time: 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Discipline: Coordinator
Additional dates and information and registration can be found at; https://extension.umn.edu/4-h-events/4-h-shooting-sports-and-wildlife-leader-certification
Get prepared NOW to attend an in-person training by completing Steps 1 and 2!
The following steps must be completed to become fully certified in a NEW SS&W discipline:
Complete the National 4-H Shooting Sports Instructor online training course - This online training will fulfill many traditionally in-person instruction hours in volunteerism and positive youth development. There is no end date to complete, but will need to be completed prior to attending a one-day in-person discipline training and is good for many years. This course takes about 5 hours to complete. Registration form
View recorded Minnesota 4-H SS&W Risk Management webinar - This recorded session will be 50 minutes in length and the link will be emailed to you once you have completed step 1.
Attend a one-day in-person training - dates are listed above. Each day is scheduled from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. You can register for any one of the days to receive a discipline certification. Each day completed = one discipline certified.
Volunteers needing Recertification in a discipline must ensure they have viewed the Minnesota 4-H SS&W Risk Management webinar and attend a one-day training.
Registration forms will be available soon on the SS&W Leader Certification page. Please check back 3-4 weeks prior to each date for the most recent training information.
Wildlife Habitat Education Program (WHEP)
4-H WHEP is a hands-on environmental education program dedicated to teaching wildlife and fisheries habitat management to youth in grades 3-13. WHEP provides participants an opportunity to test their wildlife knowledge in an annual friendly competition with teams of 3-4 similarly aged individuals.
The Minnesota 4-H State WHEP Competition will be held April 30, 2022. The winning senior WHEP team (14-19 years of age) will attend the annual National WHEP Contest, typically held the last full week of July.
You will learn:
Wildlife terms and concepts
Wildlife habitats
How to judge the quality of wildlife habitats
Wildlife habitat management practices
Wildlife damage management
A few families have indicated interest in being a part of a team. If we have interested youth, we will need a coach. During practices and the contest, 4-H requires 2 screened adults be present. If you are interested in coaching a WHEP team or have youth interested in being a part of a team, please contact; Ann at: churc@umn.edu Learn more about being a WHEP coach.
Would you consider being a 4-H Club Leader?
We always welcome new clubs in the county! If you would like to learn more about being a club leader or sharing your experience as a leader, feel free to join Central Region staff for the upcoming zoom calls to learn more!
Monday Nov. 29 6:30-7:30pm
Thursday Dec. 9 6:30-7:30pm
Both sessions will offer an optional extra 30 minutes from 7:30-8 pm for those who want to share and talk more.
How can club leaders register?
Information and registration is posted on the State website at https://extension.umn.edu/event/new-club-leader-training-nuts-and-bolts-club-leadership
Same zoom link for both sessions:
https://umn.zoom.us/j/6994082563 Meeting ID: 699 408 2563
The focus and information covered will be different for the 2 nights.
Volunteers may attend one or both, and if unable to attend they can request the recording be sent to them afterward.
New ‘Join 4-H” Signs at the Fairgrounds!
Many thanks to Bernie Vasser for making new ‘Join 4-H’ signs for the Stillwater Blvd entrance to the fairgrounds! The current signs were made in 2009 and served their purpose for many years. Thank you Bernie for using your skills to make these signs!
Sunnyside made some awesome Thanksgiving centerpieces!
Happy Hornets making cards for local seniors!
New Family Survey
We invite new families who have been enrolled in 4-H for less than 2 years to take a short survey.
We want to take this opportunity to gather some information on how to better serve you and make your 4-H experience a positive one like it has been for so many 4-H families before you. With all the project areas and directions that 4-Hers can explore and develop from we need your help in finding what areas we as staff need to focus on to meet the current needs of our families. Our goal is to take the results of this survey and implement future programming
This will only take a few minutes to complete and we thank you for your input.
Washington County Extension website - the place to find information!
- Current and past Family Newsletters
- County Animal ID letters
- News articles about our larger ongoing project areas
- Events calendar
- County club map with contacts
- County Fair information as it becomes available
- Much more
County membership fee update!
As you may have noticed, shortly after you enrolled online you were approved. Invoices will be sent to those who haven't paid once we are set up to take online payments which should happen early next year. We continue to accept checks/cash at any time. Please pay your membership fee, county fees are used not only for programming but also towards salaries for county personnel.
Washington County has a yearly enrollment fee of $25.00 per member (youth only) or $100 max per family for 4 or more children. We ask that you please send payment to our office address listed below.
Checks should be made out to Washington County 4-H and sent to the following address:
Washington County 4-H
14949 62nd Street North
Stillwater, MN 55082
**For those using online banking, please be sure to include Washington County 4-H as checks made out to just Washington County go directly to the property tax office**
We don't want anyone to miss out so please just let us know if you need a scholarship for enrollment. You will find the scholarship link below. Also, if you would like to donate to the scholarship fund, this can be done at any time. Scholarship requests have increased dramatically in the past few years.
Washington County 4-H
Ann Church
Extension Educator, 4-H Youth Development
(651) 430-6809
churc109@umn.edu
Megan Slater
Extension Educator, 4-H Youth Development
(651) 430-6805
slate187@umn.edu
Caitlin Rademacher
Interim Extension Educator, 4-H Youth Development
(651) 430-6807
Kathy Erf
Principal Office & Administrative Specialist
(651) 430-6800
eber0002@umn.edu
Email: mnext-washington@umn.edu
Website: https://extension.umn.edu/local/washington
Location: 14949 62nd Street North, Stillwater, MN, USA
Phone: 651-430-6800
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WashingtonCounty4HMinnesota/?eid=ARD3CbY40ZXk23UD59FlaMaXZPKXCGDBzsQS7-RO0gKl7wFyNEUm8dWZoBgNFIOlA6YV2fuq5GLnRX-s