Hello Everyone!

Have you recently enrolled in 4-H for the first time? Do you have a new Cloverbud? Do you have friends that wonder what 4-H is all about?  We have a couple of opportunities coming up to help:

First is a New 4-H Family Program.  This evening is designed for new families who have enrolled in or are interested in the Dodge County 4-H program. Our New 4-H Family Gathering is designed for all new 4-H club members & their parents, as well as Cloverbuds, Explorers and anyone else who just wants a little more information on how 4-H works. The gathering begins with an overview of the 4-H program.  After the general program, there will be hands-on activities for the members, a question and answer session with the Extension 4-H Staff and 4-H volunteer adults and parents. This opportunity is designed for NEW 4-H families, but ANYONE with questions is welcome to attend!
Register by December 12th in 4H Online. (Link in newsletter below.)

The next opportunity is a fun activity for all kids, whether they are in 4-H or not and it's at the Beaver Dam Community Library.  It is a co-sponsored program with the Library and UW Extension.  It's called “Let’s Make Gingerbread Houses.”  It will be on Tuesday, December 26 at 1:00 pm at the Beaver Dam Community Library 311 N. Spring Street, Beaver Dam.  Youth need to be accompanied by an adult.
Register by December 15th in Google Forms. (Link in newsletter below.)  

ALSO - Just a reminder that next week is our LAST 2023 FOCUS ON 4-H NEWSLETTER. We will not be doing one for the last two weeks with the holidays. 2023 has flown by!

Marie Witzel

4-H/Youth Development Educator

marie.witzel@wisc.edu

920-386-3790

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

The articles should be sent to Marie at marie.witzel@wisc.edu. As an update with staffing, Dawn has taken another position in the County and is no longer with our office. Please continue to send all content to Marie by email. You can also contact the office with any questions. Thanks!

I am looking for some older youth who can help with the Gingerbread outreach program on Dec 26 at the Beaver Dam Library.  Please email me at marie.witzel@wisc.edu if you are interested or have any questions. 

We are still looking for Santa's elves to help wrap presents at the Dodge County Shop with Cops event on Dec 16.  Sign up in 4-H online ASAP.

Thanks for your help in always making our community events a success!

Do you like to help others?
Do you like 4-H? How do these opportunities sound to you:

- Help Expand 4-H Programs
- Create new partnerships
- Grow professionally
- Create great memories  
- Work with amazing youth, volunteers and families
- Inspire youth 
- Make a difference

Sounds amazing right? Check out the links below!

Achievers (Avery Panetti) Achievers beef members entered their fair display into the Best Education display for the Wisconsin Beef Council and won. They received Bog boots, beef jerky, and a cup! After the meeting, club members made cards for Lorna and also helped decorate the town hall’s Christmas tree.

Trenton Highlights (Brianna Ganske)  A motion was made and passed for the club to donate money for the Tree of Lights. December meeting we will be caroling at Home Again Living. The Meeting will be at 3pm with Bowling after.  

Richwood Rangers (Ava Wilson) Christmas party and bowling will be in December. Bring a white elephant gift. This month's recreation- any ideas- make Thanksgiving cards for nursing homes.

River Oaks   A reminder was given for members to bring 12 items each to fill Christmas boxes at the December meeting. A discussion was had on whether the club would do a winter activity and members agreed on roller skating

Astico Perseverance (Blake Kurth) We used puffy paint to make grippy socks for the elderly. Also, club members brought in board games to donate to the NICC Foundation.

December 15, 2023 - New Family Gathering

January 29, 2024 - Communication Festival

February 24, 2024 - Family Learning Day

March 23, 2024 - Family Learning Day

June 12-15, 2024 - Tri-County Camp - Camp Lakotah

Dodge County 4-H sponsors a variety of member educational experience scholarships available to 4-H youth in grade 6 or higher.  To be considered you MUST complete the M.E. (Member Evaluation) Forms. Fill out the category color that matches your HIGHEST CATEGORY trip choice. 

50% financial assistance is provided for these educational experiences by the Dodge County 4-H Leader’s Association and Beaver Dam Agri-Business. These groups would like to encourage youth to take advantage of these educational trip opportunities that are only possible through 4-H.

Questions? Call or email Ellen Bohn, 4-H Program Assistant at 920-386-3790 or ebohn@co.dodge.wi.us

Join us for virtual opportunities to learn about Careers and competitions in Wildlife & Woods! This new virtual series is open to youth in grades 6-12 and adult leaders. Come learn about what's available for our older youth in 4-H! Event registration is open now in 4-HOnline. You can attend as many hour-long sessions as you like!

Applications are NOW OPEN until January 16th, 2024.

When you apply to either of these state teams, you will be on a team with other youth from around the state of Wisconsin who share the same passion, and enjoy being creative! Whether that be by creating art or being involved in putting on drama shows, you can do it with Wisconsin 4-H!

Plan a "4-H Benefit Night" for your club. Contact local restaurants to learn more details.

The Wisconsin 4-H Foundation provides support for arts and communications programs that encourage youth to develop strong leadership, creative, and communication skills. Each year the Foundation highlights 4-H artists through the Celebrate the Arts art contest.

This year’s contest runs from November 1, 2023, through January 15, 2024

Click the link to be directed to the contest submission form. Please read the complete 2023 Art Event Contest Information before entering your work. 

If you are 18 years or older and interested in becoming a 4-H volunteer, we can help. We will provide new volunteers with (VIP) Volunteers in Preparation Training about how to work effectively with youth and what resources are available to volunteers. We will also ask you to participate in a Mandated Reporter Training to learn more about how to protect youth from child abuse and neglect. Finally, to ensure the safety of all youth and volunteers, a Volunteer Behavior Expectations Agreement and background check are required.

Depending on their role, some volunteers may be asked to complete subject matter-specific training as well as training to enrich their knowledge of youth development (for example chaperones or Shooting Sports leaders).

All volunteers, both new and returning, are also required to take training on how to report sexual misconduct. Answers to questions about reporting and training are available on our FAQ page.

DECEMBER

15 - New Family Gathering Day - Dodge Co. Auditorium - 7 PM

16 - Dodge Co. Shop With Cops - The Watermark (Beaver Dam) - 9:15 AM-Noon

26 - Gingerbread House Make & Take - BD Comm. Library - 1pm
       (BRING FRIENDS - OPEN TO ALL)

JANUARY

 4 - ME Interviews for Space Camp, American Spirit & CWF - 6:30 pm

16 - 4-H Leaders Executive Board - 7:00 pm

29 - Communication Festival - 6:30 pm

4-H Learning Resources from Positive Youth Development Media Collections

Visit the Wisconsin 4-H Website

WI 4-H Policy Updates

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.

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