Dear 4-H Families,

It has been a crazy week with the weather and 4-H kits.  I was excited to see 38 participants last night on the Cloverbud Spring Sparks zoom that we are holding with neighboring counties this month. We had some great enthusiasm from families after last night’s session. In addition, youth are participating in the state virtual learning programs of Tomatoes and Cake decorating.  I would encourage all members to take advantage of any of these opportunities for learning.

Summer camp update: We have 60 campers registered for summer camp on June 12-15 at Camp Lakotah.  If you are still interested, we still have some spots open at the fee of $225/person.  Deadline closes on April 19.  For those of you that have registered, please remember we need your health form with immunization record and payment to complete your registration. Go to https://go.wisc.edu/61ew73 to register.

Finally, we still have an opening for a Summer AmeriCorp member.  Wisconsin 4-H AmeriCorps programs aim 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.

Make a difference in the community, be part of a dedicated service team, build your resume and get things done!  In addition, members receive:

Opportunity for student loan forbearance

Living stipend (paid bi-weekly): $5,000 over term of service (450 hours over the summer)

AmeriCorps Education Award at the completion of successful term of service:  $1,824.07

Feel free to contact me with more questions, or apply at https://my.americorps.gov/mp/listing/viewListing.do?fromSearch=true&id=119826

Have a great week,

Marie
4-H Youth Development Educator
920-386-3790
marie.witzel@wisc.edu

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. You can also contact the office with any questions. Thanks!

Astico Perseverance (Dane Laufenberg) Our club had an Easter Egg hunt for the members. We also assembled birthday cake kits for the Food Pantry so if someone is having a birthday they have the ingredients to celebrate with a cake.

The Wisconsin Key Award is one of the most prestigious honors awarded to 4-H members across Wisconsin. This is your opportunity to highlight what you have accomplished through 4-H. The Wisconsin 4-H Key Award Program recognizes a select group of 4-H participants who’ve demonstrated consistent growth in their 4-H involvement, developed and applied leadership skills, and actively participated in the functions of their 4-H club and community. Candidates must have passed their 14th birthday on January 1 and must have completed at least three years of 4-H and one year of youth leadership. Selection is based on an evaluation of the candidate’s total 4-H record, which consists of membership, projects, activities, leadership, personal development and county 4-H and community involvement. Each Key Award recipient receives a certificate, a Key Award pin and notable recognition.

Applications are due on April 8, 2024

Interviews will be on on April 25, 2024

Sign up to spend time at Upham Woods canoeing, exploring Blackhawk Island, and making new friends. Registration will open on March 4th at 12pm!

Youth Camp

Who: Any youth entering 4th-8th grade for the 2024-2025 school year.

When: July 7-10, 2024

Registration Fee: $305.00

This year’s schedule will have some changes to make camp exciting for returning youth but many camp favorites like swimming and water carnival will remain the same!

Outpost Camp:

Who: Any youth entering 8th-10th grade for the 2024-2025 school year.

When: August 3-6, 2024

Registration Fee: $315.00

Outpost Camp is an exciting camp experience where youth with spend time canoeing and camping. The camp will start at Upham Woods as everyone learns the basics of camping and canoeing before heading out to paddle the Wisconsin River and spend the next few nights camping on Blackhawk Island.

Are you a youth who is interested in having a voice in shaping the child welfare and/or youth justice system?

Do you have personal experience (past or present) with the foster care or youth justice system?

Do you know a young person who has leadership potential?

Are you considering how to incorporate youth voice into your work?

If yes, please read more about the Department of Children and Families opportunities for youth to have a voice and make an impact.

*Please Note the Change of Date*

Tags/DNA envelopes will be distributed on April 20th, from 9am to 12pm at the Administration Building Auditorium. All tags will need to be signed for by the person picking up the tags, and each exhibitor can have up to 5 tags per species. There is no need to call and register beforehand. The DNA envelopes will need to be returned to Extension Dodge County office by 4:30 PM on Friday, May 10th. These dates are subject to change depending on any further delay with tags. 

For this essay, a 4-H student should answer these questions: What makes a varietal honey?   What are some unique varietals? How are some of the valuable varietals confirmed to be authentic (e.g., Manuka honey UMF and MGO)? What are some culturally or economically important varietals and why are they important?

Eligibility: The 2024 National 4-H Beekeeping Essay Competition is open to active 4-H Club members only.

Any 4-H Club member who placed first, second or third in previous years of the national competition is NOT eligible to win in 2024; however, state competition winners remain eligible to enter the national competition. Essays entered must encompass the designated topic only. There will be no exceptions.

The deadline for national submission is May 1, 2024.
National winners will be announced: June 15, 2024

Calling all youth photographers! The “Hit Me with Your Best Shot” Photo Contest is all about showcasing a photo that is special to you! Submissions due May 1.

Registration is open for the 2024 Tri-County 4-H Camp

4-H Summer Camp June 12-15, 2024
Located at Camp Lakotah in Waushara County

Registration after April 1st $225 per camper
No registrations will be accepted past April 19th.

There are 2 camp experiences offered this year:
Base Camp: 4-H members and guests in 3rd-6th grades from Columbia, Dodge & Sauk Counties.
Outpost Camp: 4-H members and guests in 7th & 8th grades from Columbia, Dodge & Sauk Counties.

Thanks,

Marie

The purpose of the Dodge County Dairy Youth Recognition Auction Dairy Grant Program is to support active Dodge County Dairy Youth (4-H, FFA, Junior Breed Associations) with a grant to expand their dairy project. The grant funds are to be utilized to purchase a dairy animal (any breed) to grow the youth’s dairy herd.

$500 grants will be available for the 2024 program. Grant money is made available through proceeds from the Dodge County Dairy Youth Recognition Auction, held each year at the Dodge County Fair.

Grant applications will be available anytime up until June 1, 2024. Grant recipients will be notified upon acceptance. 

If you are 18 years or older and interested in becoming a 4-H volunteer, we can help! We will provide new volunteers with training to ensure the safety of all youth and volunteers. The below linked trainings and a background check are required. Answers to questions about reporting and training are available on our FAQ page.

APRIL

15 - Livestock Meeting Dodge County Administration Building 

20 - Livestock Tags and DNA Pickup Dodge County Administration Building 9am - noon

16 - Leaders Association - 7:00 pm

21-27 - National Volunteer Week

25 - ME Interviews - 6:30 pm 

MAY

10 - DNA Envelopes need to be returned to Extension Dodge county office by 4:30 PM

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