University of Illinois Extension serving Fulton, Mason, Peoria and Tazewell Counties

4-H Great Debate

Registration is now open for the Great Debate.

https://webs.extension.uiuc.edu/registration/?RegistrationID=6384

4-H Great Debate is an opportunity for high school aged 4-H members to participate in a mock debate in the Illinois House of Representatives Chambers. Participants will select up to three bills (predetermined by the committee) that they will debate either for or against during the debate. This is an excellent opportunity for youth interested in learning more about the Illinois legislative process and hands-on experience researching a particular topic of interest. During the event participants will hear from a legislative consultant and a current member of the Illinois House of Representatives.

The registration fee for delegates is $85, Parent/Drivers is $70, Chaperones/Planning Committee is $60.00. Registration is limited to the first 90 high school participants who register.

Clover Clinic

All 4-Hers and friends who completed Clover Clinic registrations will receive a confirmation letter in the mail, prior to the event.

Saturday, February 18th

ICC, East Peoria

Registration 8:45 a.m. to 9:15 a.m.

Bring your own lunch.

Pick up 2:20 p.m.

Check Out the 4-H GIS-GPS

Attention, 4-H GIS-GPS enthusiasts: There is a Facebook page just for you! I invite you to "like" the page and contribute your 4-H GIS-GPS stories to it, at

https://www.facebook.com/4hgisgps.

Please note that this is an organizational Facebook page, rather than a closed group, so all posts are public. If you want to post to the page, you'll need to use your Facebook login.

State Fair Online–plan early

The State 4-H office has announced it plans for the second annual State Fair Online event. It is an additional state judging opportunity

Members in all project areas are invited to make a video or map to share with a larger public to teach something they've learned in their 4-H project area. Entries are submitted online during the summer. Details on last year's event and entry examples can be viewed at https://webs.extension.uiuc.edu/4hstatefaironline/.

The Tazewell Extension office has Flip video cameras available to 4-H members to use for this special opportunity.

Robotics Challenge

The 4th Annual State 4-H Robotics Competition will be held April 14, 2012 at the University of Illinois campus in Champaign-Urbana. Free to all 4-H members, ages 9-14 for teams of at least three members. Details on the 2012 robotics team challenge will be released Feb. 1, 2012. Scholarships for winning teams! For information on last year's event, visit http://web.extension.illinois.edu/state4h/events/4hroboticschallenge.cfm.

New Robotics Facebook group

Do you have 4-H'ers or clubs interested in robotics? Consider joining this new "IL 4-H Robotics" Facebook group and help spread the word.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/il4hrobotics/

The new Facebook group aims to connect the growing community of youth, volunteers and partners from across the state of Illinois who are doing exciting things with robotics: 1) 4-H Special Interest (SPIN) Robotics Clubs, 2) 4-H clubs participating in FIRST events (FLL, FTC, FRC), 3) Annual State 4-H Robotics Competition at UIUC, and more! This is a group in which to ask questions and share successes. Also look for posts on grant opportunities and program resources to support your robotics club.

Note that this is a Facebook Group, rather than a Facebook Page. Unlike an organizational Page, with postings that are viewable by anyone with web access, a Facebook group's postings are viewable by only by Facebook members who have been invited into this specific group. So after you click on the link above ... be sure to click on the button that says "request invitation."

Illini Summer Academies

Get ready for a shake -up at the 2012 Illini Summer Academies!! We're expanding the program by one day, starting on Sunday afternoon, June 24 and ending on Wednesday afternoon, June 27. ISA is open to any Illinois high school student, ages 14-18 by September 1, 2012 and offers youth a chance to explore college life, check out the University of Illinois, and get hands-on experience in classes and labs of a specific college department.

So get the dates of June 24-27 on your calendar now. Academies are still being finalized, but registration opens March 1. Our website will be updated at that time with all the 2012 information:

http://web.extension.illinois.edu/state4h/events/summeracademies.cfm.

International opportunities through 4-H

International 4-H Exchange Programs provide 4-H youth an opportunity to connect with the global world around them by:

· hosting international visitors or

· providing travel opportunities to another country.

Some of our exchange opportunities find participants living with 4-H families or with families in organizations that have similar values and goals as 4-H – providing opportunities for families to do things together with other families. Traveling or hosting through 4-H International Exchange Programs require some work and preparation, but the benefits realized by the individual and host families are priceless.

Travel

Travel opportunities await 4-Hers 12 – 18 years of age (varies by program) to destinations in Australia, Costa Rica, and Japan.

Hosting

Hosting opportunities are short term (approximately one month normally June - August) for inbound youth 12-18 years of age.

Recruitment is currently underway for host families for the 4-H Japanese Summer Exchange that occurs annually from July 20 through August 19 (approximate timeline depending on year).

Radon Poster Contest

Students ages 9 to 14 are eligible to enter the annual National Radon Poster Contest. Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that can reach dangerous levels in buildings. The contest aims to raise awareness so that families can protect themselves. The American Lung Association in IL, the Ecology Action Center, the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Radon Program, Respiratory Health Association of Metropolitan Chicago, Southern Illinois Radon Awareness Task Force and University of Illinois Extension are partnering with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to sponsor the Illinois portion of the contest. The winning poster will be distributed during National Radon Action Month in January 2013. The 1^st place winner in the nation will receive $1000. There are additional cash prizes for national and Illinois winners.

Posters are due to Cindy Ladage at the Illinois Emergency Management Agency on or before March 1, 2012. For more information, visit http://takeactiononradon.illinois.edu/resources/contest, e-mail cindy.ladage@illinois.gov or call 800-325-1245. The University of Illinois Extension radon web site includes rules, submission forms and fact sheets on radon to educate students.

Speaking for Illinois 4-H Training

http://web.extension.illinois.edu/state4h/members/leadership_sfi4h.cfm
The Illinois 4-H Youth Leadership Team has scheduled the next Speaking for Illinois 4-H (SFI4-H) Training for Saturday, March 3 in Breese at the Clinton County Extension Office (Unit #23). Registration is already open for this training.
SFI4-H Training is open to Illinois 4-H members ages 14-18 with the approval of their local Extension office. Extension staff are expected to work with and use the skills learned by these members to recruit new volunteers, present to civic groups, seek donors for programs, and/or provide information to local and state elected officials. Youth receive advance training in public presentations, Positive Youth Development, BIGM, using state and county statistics, how to tell their 4-H story, and speak with donors and elected officials.

Youth who have completed the SFI4-H Training will be invited to participate in the Legislative Connection dates at the State Capitol April 18-19 and May 15-16.. SFI4-H and Illinois 4-H Youth Leadership Team members who can attend any of the Legislative Connection dates will be assigned to visit specific state legislators to discuss University of Illinois Extension and 4-H programming accomplishments.

2012 4-H Day with the Cardinals

Saturday, May 12th, 6:15 p.m. game

Vs. the Braves

4-H Families are invited to arrive at Busch Stadium by 4 p.m. to the pre-game celebration!

Save the date and book your hotel rooms now.

Ticket purchase information will be published here later this winter.

Statewide Links