February 23, 2024

Happy February!

Thank you for your patience with receiving our 4-H bi-weekly newsletter updates. After hearing from you, we have made the decision to send out the 4-H newsletter monthly. We will provide a regular schedule for the monthly newsletter soon. If you have club news or information you would like to share in the newsletter please send it our way.

James and McKenzie

Club and project leaders please update the program calendar with your events at the link below.

Are you following us on Facebook? Like and follow Extension Waukesha County 4-H's official Facebook page. This is the page to follow for all things Waukesha County 4-H and Youth Development. We'll continue to post our updates, news and content here for youth and families. Please share to spread the word!
You can also find us on Instagram @waukeshacountyyouth
development

Please check your status in 4-H Online to verify if your enrollment has been approved.

To become a Waukesha County 4-H member (youth member or volunteer) you must enroll in 4-H Online, pay the county enrollment fee and the club dues in order to be an approved 4-H member. 

If you have not paid your county enrollment fee, please do so by clicking the link below or mailing your check made payable to Extension Waukesha County and mail to 515 West Moreland Blvd AC-G22, Waukesha WI 53188. 

We have 66 approved volunteers and 56 that need to complete their enrollment process (trainings). "If you have not completed the required training to be a 4-H volunteer by March 1, 2024, you will be removed from 4-H Online and not allowed to participate in 4-H programming."-James

4-H member and volunteer rosters will be sent to club and project leaders. Individuals who are not approved 4-H volunteers should not be leading or participating in 4-H programs, committees or projects as a Waukesha County 4-H volunteer. 

Club and project leaders are expected to adhere to the Wisconsin 4-H guidelines and ensure that youth & adults have met the requirements and most importantly protect our youth.

If you have any questions or need any assistance regarding enrollment please contact McKenzie Knudson at mknudson@waukeshacounty.gov.

Just a reminder that according to Wisconsin 4-H policy – All 4-H programs and activities must be supervised by a staff member or an approved 4-H volunteer, 18 years of age or older, who has completed all the following steps:

Step 1: Enroll in 4-H Online 

Step 2: Agree to the Division of Extension Volunteer Behavior Expectations.

Step 3: Complete Criminal Background Check (*Information will be sent via email to all new potential volunteers once a person has enrolled)

Step 4: Complete Volunteer Training Modules:

Until you have completed the steps, you are not considered an approved 4-H volunteer, and you are not covered by the liability coverage provided to volunteers of the University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension.

Volunteers may remember participating in VIP (Volunteers in Preparation), we are now shifting to a new volunteer orientation called “Grow Green.” This is a new, interactive orientation that is available online or available in a paper format to be read offline.

It is designed to be taken whenever convenient for the new volunteer. If you start the training and need to step away, you can come back to the website using the same device you started with and it will pick up where you left off. 

New volunteers will learn about some of the 4-H guiding principles (Essential Elements, Life Skills Development, Ages & Stages of Youth) and gain practical tips to use as a volunteer in the two short, interactive training modules.

One module is an introduction to volunteering in Extension and Wisconsin 4-H, and a second module that is geared towards a specific volunteer role. Combined, this orientation should take around 45 minutes to complete.

Grow Green is offered online at the link below. Click on the green “Start the Training” button to begin.

We are hopeful that this will make orientation more convenient and beneficial. This orientation is required for all new volunteers, it is available online for all volunteers to take as a refresher. Thank you to our volunteers for mentoring and supporting the youth in 4-H. If you have any questions or need any assistance, please contact James Boling at james.boling@wisc.edu or 262-548-7784.  

Save the date for our Extension Waukesha County 4-H Project Night at the Waukesha County Expo Center on March 6th.

Join us for a night of fun! Youth will have the opportunity to create a vision board and sand art necklaces.

Come make popcorn and potato bags with Clover Corner. If available, please bring along a sewing machine.

Youth will also be able to participate in a fun Lego challenge.

If you are partaking in the Record Book Orientation please bring your Record Book if you have one. A laptop will be helpful but not necessary.

If you want to RSVP for a Project Night activity click on the link below.

If you are an adult volunteer interested in leading a project or are looking to share your passion and lead a workshop. Sign up to volunteer at our 4-H Project Nights at the Waukesha County Expo March 6th and 27th.

4-H is a youth development program that provides young people with opportunities to learn by doing, grow as leaders, and make a positive impact in their communities. Volunteers help make 4-H possible.

Consider sharing your knowledge, passion, and talents by helping youth members learn skills they will use throughout life. As a volunteer, you will have the opportunity to work with a youth on a specific project area, such as animal science, robotics, or photography.

New volunteers will have the opportunity to order up to $100 on the The official 4-H store.

If you are interested in becoming a 4-H project volunteer, please let James know at james.boling@wisc.edu. 

Project Nights at the Expo - March 6 and 27 - Project volunteers are needed. If you would like more details contact James at james.boling@wisc.edu.

Performing Arts Day - April 13 - Registration is now open until March 17. Register for Performing Arts Day at this link https://forms.gle/sizPuBG6cvU34wzz. This year Performing Arts Day have new talent show format. For more information contact Barb Jones bjones@wi.rr.com

Fair Entry Registration - March 15 - June 15-90 full Days to enter and no late entries accepted.

4-H Camp - June 17-20 - Camp will be at Camp Whitcomb/Mason in Hartland, Wisconsin. Registration will be open soon. The theme is "Tropical Adventure."

Waukesha County Fair - July 17-21

Any questions about the Waukesha County Fair please contact Chrissy Gluege at chrissy@waukeshacountyfair.com or call at 262-544-5922

This position is geared toward college students, 4-H alumni, and young professionals with a preferred age of 19-25. This role will work closely with adult advisors to support our youth participants while also partnering with youth leaders to deliver educational content. A stipend will be available for this role. The flyer has the website link and QR code to find the Young Adult Leader position description and Wisconsin 4-H: Statewide Educational Experiences, Adult Advisor Application. The application deadline is March 6th.

Mark your calendars for the upcoming 4-H Livestock Quiz Bowl and Skill-A-Thon Contest! If you have participated in the past or this is the first time you are hearing about the contest, we would love to have you join for a day of learning, fun, and competition. These are two different contests all about livestock where you can use your knowledge about the animal species (beef, sheep, swine, meat goat) and the industry.

Any current 4-H members grades 3-13 can participate. Please note, there are age divisions for each contest and parameters for grade 13 members. Please see the contest information in the link below for more information on the age divisions. Even if your county has not participated in the past, round-up some 4-H friends and take advantage of this fun opportunity to show your knowledge of the animal species and industry.

Looking for more information, where to register, or resources to study from? Check out the links below:

Extension Waukesha County is committed to supporting quality educational experiences for our youth as well as supporting our volunteers and families. Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions or if you need any assistance.

James Boling

4-H Program Educator

james.boling@wisc.edu

McKenzie Knudson

4-H Administrative Support  mknudson@waukeshacounty.gov

An EEO/AA employer, University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension provides equal opportunities in employment and programming, including Title VI, Title IX, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act requirements.