Mahnomen 4-H
March 2024
Upcoming Dates
March
- 23: Cookie Decorating, 10am - Noon. See below for details.
April
- Camp Counselor training (apply by March 18): Saturday, April 13th from 11:00 am - 2:00 pm
Upcoming 4-H Events for Youth
Afterschool Program
- Bell Museum STEM Nights at Mahnomen and WOWE during March. Mahnomen County 4-H presents Bell Museum STEM Nights Afterschool Series! Join Rebekah in an exciting after school program focused on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) learning. Participants will engage in hands-on learning through experiments focusing on the natural world around us. Lessons will include Minnesota animals, animal tracking, soil stabilization, filtered light and chromatography flowers. We will meet for a total of 5 sessions this spring and have opportunities with the University of Minnesota Bell Museum this summer (details to follow). Flyers were sent out this past week. The program is open to K-3rd graders.
- In April another session of Lego Club will start, with an all new curriculum and new challenges for grades K-3. Details will be sent out in March.
- Cookie Decorating! Saturday, March 23, 10am-Noon. Youth will learn how to make royal icing and decorate cookies with royal frosting. They will be able to take their cookies home and recreate them for the County Fair to show. Open to grades 5 and up, youth in grades 5 & 6 require an adult to attend with them. Limited to 10 participants. More details to come, register at 4HOnline.
- Read the Clover Update linked at the bottom of this newsletter for important statewide updates and statewide events.
Updates on Things that Happened
Snowshoeing with Jackie Haugo
Federation Meeting Notes
The winter Federation Meeting took place on Sunday, February 25th at 2pm. We had 8 youth members and 5 adult members attend. We discussed the county fair, steak supper and project day. Our next meeting date is May 19th at 2pm, please put this on your calendar to attend. Read the minutes for the February meeting.
Steak Supper - We are trying to come up with a date for the steak supper and menu ideas. The Steak Supper money helps fund different programs in the county from afterschool programs, special interest programs to club activities and camps. We ask all members to participate in the steak supper as well as the food stand which also helps fund local programs. Please complete the following Survey by Friday, March 22. https://forms.gle/3Xc2tLA5P7Uscnnx6
Are You Ready for YELLO!
Youth Exploring Leadership and Learning Opportunities (YELLO) is a 4-H leadership conference for youth in grades 7 and up that prepares youth to learn and lead in their communities. YELLO is planned and facilitated by the Minnesota 4-H State Ambassadors.
Our 2024 conference will include engaging and interactive activities. The conference will be held June 12-15, 2024. The cost to attend YELLO is $300 (scholarships available!) There will also be an option for a $50 bus ticket to and from YELLO. Registration will open on April 1 and close on May 12. Register for this event in 4-H Online.
This year YELLO will take place at the University of Minnesota Morris in southwest Minnesota!
Youth will:
Build and learn skills to reach goals and plan for the future.
Explore careers, college and other topics of interest through interactive workshops.
Develop positive connections with other youth and adults through small and large groups, workshops and other interactive sessions.
Take health breaks to recharge and process learning.
Camp Counselors Wanted!
Counselors are the heart of summer camp and we are seeking 4-H members (grades 9+) to serve as camp counselors at overnight 4-H camps this summer in Northwest Minnesota! Apply now to be a camp counselor at z.umn.edu/NWCampCounselorApplication!
Sand Hill Camp June 4-6
Summer is coming, which means it's almost time for camp! 4-H camp at Sand Hill Lake is a three-day, two-night overnight camp experience with lots of fun, games, learning, making and doing.
Located on the shores of Sand Hill Lake near Fosston, this camp is open to youth currently in grades 3-6.
If you've been to camp before, we're excited to have you back! Never been to camp? We've got a great team of staff, campers, and counselors ready to welcome you in.
- Audience: Youth in grades 3 -6 for the current school year.
- Cost: $190 per youth, scholarships available! Mahnomen Federation pays half for 4H members and full amount for counselors.
- Registration fee includes meals, lodging, supplies, and a camp t-shirt.
Registration opens in 4-H Online on April 1 and closes on May 10.
Please note: While the facility being rented for this program is a Bible camp, 4-H camp at Sand Hill Lake is a non-religious program open to all youth.
Note from your Educator
February was a busy month with Snowshoeing and Afterschool programs picking up. March will host more fun after school programming and special interest programs. Fair planning is well underway and judges are being confirmed. I am in the process of scheduling different Learn by Doing activities for all 4 days. If your club would like to host a Learn by Doing session please let me know. It could be anything from a craft all the way to an educational session like crop production, cooking and more. The length time for these activities is just one hour. It is never too early to start fair projects or plan them. All of the project interest days that have and will happen can be made into a fair project from perfecting a favorite recipe, sharing facts about Minnesota wildlife to bringing Lego creations and Art projects. If you have an idea but not sure if it will work as a fair project contact the office. These last 2 months I have shared the impact that 4-H has on youth throughout the county and beyond with County Commissioners and County Extension Committee. I have included a copy of that report here. Mahnomen county has done amazing things because of the youth, families and volunteers. Please let me know if you have any questions.
- Rebekah
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