September 3, 2025

Marie's Message

Dear 4-H Families:

Happy Fall!  Later this week you can begin your re-enrollment in the Dodge County 4-H program. However, I wanted to give you a bit of an update on the Wisconsin 4-H project information. Before you enroll you will want to check out 
Projects: What's New for the 2025-2026 4-H Year as the project list has changed.

Picking projects is the exciting first step 4-H youth take in their annual 4-H membership journey. And it just got easier! We’re excited to share brand-new resources to help. 4-H members find their sparks — the interests that bring them joy, energy and purpose. 

The resources are:  

A Fresh Project Guide that groups projects into seven streamlined categories. The new categories not only give youth ideas for exploring each project area, but also conveniently match up with most county fair exhibit categories. There’s even a key in the back that shows how the new project areas line up with the previous ones. And a new Sparks Roadmap that helps youth find projects that align with their interests!  

Three quick videos that give you a tour of the simple changes to the new 4-H Project Guide. That way you can easily explore your sparks and the many exciting projects that help you develop them!

A Quick Guide for families who — not to brag — already know their way around a 4-H Project Guide. And it’s less to print! 

Have a great week,
Marie

Marie Witzel
Positive Youth Development Educator
UW Extension - Dodge County
920-386-3790
marie.witzel@wisc.edu

If clubs or groups have items to share, send them by noon on Monday to be included in that week’s issue. Anything received after 12 p.m. Monday will be considered for the following week. 

With all of the changes in the Extension Office, Please send any 4-H or youth development related emails to marie.witzel@wisc.edu

🌟 A New 4-H Year is Just Around the Corner! 🌟

We’re getting excited for the 2025-26 4-H year — and we’ve got a few updates to share with our volunteers before re-enrollment opens in September.

🗓 4-H Online Updates:
The 4-H Online system will be going through its annual year-end processing during the weekend of August 29th.  Please do not try to enroll anyone before Sept 5th

✅ New Volunteer Training Process:
This year, when you log in to re-enroll, you'll be able to complete your 2025-26 Volunteer Training right in your 4-H Online profile — no extra links or websites needed!  Prefer a paper version? No problem — just reach out to your local Extension office, and they’ll get one to you.

🔍 Background Checks:
Background checks are required every two years. If you're due, 4-H Online will prompt you to start the process when you re-enroll. After you submit your enrollment, keep an eye on your inbox for an email from HireRight to complete your background check. (Be sure to check your spam folder.) 

📅 Important Deadlines:
 According to our updated Wisconsin 4-H volunteer re-enrollment policy:

Enrollment is due by November 1

Complete your training and background check (if needed) by December 1

These steps are required for you to be an approved volunteer. If they're not completed on time, you will not be allowed to lead programming with 4-H youth until everything is up to date.

We truly appreciate your commitment to creating safe, positive spaces for our youth. Getting your re-enrollment done early helps make sure all our programs are supported by approved, ready-to-go volunteers like you!

Wisconsin 4-H AmeriCorps programs aims to increase capacity of youth serving organizations in counties throughout Wisconsin. The members will work directly with community partnership in youth serving organizations to discover opportunities to grow capacity and reach new young people or develop new youth programming.

AmeriCorps member for Dodge County for the October-August year round half time position.  To recap:

Position Start:  October 10, 2025 (orientation with the cohort)
Position End:  August 22, 2026
Total hours:  900
Average hours per week: 25
Living Allowance:  $10,000
Education Award (awarded after 9/22, and member met 900 hours): $3,697.50

Recruitment is live and listed at the state website, and posted on the national website for recruitment.   While I can answer some questions locally, the perspective member will need to complete the application at the national level, at  https://my.americorps.gov/mp/listing/viewListing.do?fromSearch=true&id=126914.  

If you are interested, apply ASAP by September 5th.

Fall is in the air, and we are so excited to offer a unique field trip experience again! Seeing your smiling faces brings smiles to our faces as we hear the laughter and see the little feet and hands explore the fall outdoors at Ebert’s Greenhouse Village. We are pleased to offer field trips for $9 per student and $6 per chaperone. Classroom teachers are free. The fee includes a hayride, a small pumpkin for students, a craft project, a story, and full access to our play areas. Although many ages enjoy the program and activities, it is especially geared toward pre-kindergarten to 3rd
grade. To book your field trip please call (920)261-5645 .

We will be holding a listening session on Wednesday 9/10/25 at 6:30pm at the Dodge County Administration Building Auditorium. This will be in regards to the Blue Ribbon Small Animal Auction. 

At 7:30pm we will continue with our committee meeting.

All are welcome to come and help us in making decisions to continue working together.

SEPTEMBER

16 - Leaders Association Meeting, 7 PM

PYD Media Collection Project Resources Follow the link to learn more about the collection and request materials.

4-H Volunteer Trainings Follow the link to learn more and complete your required trainings.

4HOnline  Log in to your account at the Wisconsin 4-H Online Sign in page

Visit the Wisconsin 4-H Website

WI 4-H Policy Updates

The University of Wisconsin–Madison Division of Extension provides equal opportunities in employment and programming in compliance with state and federal law.

University of Wisconsin-Madison, Division of Extension
Dodge County 4-H
Extension Dodge County  127 E. Oak Street  Juneau, WI 53039-1329
tel: 920.386.3790    fax: 920.386.3928