• December 29 – ISU Debate team visits UNITY to train Teens on Forensic skills (debate)
• January 2 – Peoria Rivermen Tickets for 4-H Night
• January 4 – Farm Safety 4 Just Kids Train the Trainer registration
• January 4 – Illinois 4-H Award Applications (state nominees) & 4-H Key Award Applications Due
• January 8 – 4-H Learn & Fun Day registration (online/paper)
• January 15 – 4-H International Foreign Youth Exchange deadlines (some vary)
• January 22 – The 4-H Great Debate registration (paper)
• January 22 – CSI – Who did it? 12-14 Youth Conference registration
• January 22 – Students Involved in Technology Conference (SIT) @ Heartland registration (online)
• January 25 – Illinois Jr. Leadership Conference registration (online)
• February 12 – 4-H Technology Academy registration (paper)
• February 22 – Dairy Quiz Bowl registration (through Extension office)

ISU Debate Team on Tuesday, December 29, from 1:00 - 4:00 PM

A coaching session in Forensic skills is open to all High School youth interested in debate skills. The Illinois State Debate program is among the oldest and most successful student organizations on campus. The debate team has qualified for the prestigious National Debate Tournament 20 times in its history. Dr. Donald Peters, ISU Director of Debate said, "Our debate squad is excited to help prepare the McLean County youth for The 4-H Great Debate."

Registration online: https://webs.extension.uiuc.edu/registration/?RegistrationID=2419

• Location: UNITY Community Center, 632 Orlando Avenue, Normal, IL.
• Target Age: High School teens
• Cost: free!
• Staff Contact: Sandy McGhee

January 23, 4-H Learn & Fun Day, Heartland College

Explore new project areas in four one-hour sessions. Over 45 hands-on workshops to choose from. Cloverbud session in the morning.

Registration online: https://webs.extension.uiuc.edu/registration/?RegistrationID=3925

Paper Registration: http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/mclean/downloads/20749.pdf

• Target Age: 5-14 year olds (5-7 Year olds 1/2 day) (4-H & Non-4-H)
• Cost: $10.00 youth / $5.00 adult lunch (only)
• Deadline for Registration: January 8, 2010 (payment due for online registration also)
• Staff Contact: Kathy Weinzierl - kweinzie@illinois.edu

January 16, Peoria Rivermen Hockey Game

The Peoria Rivermen hockey team will once again be sponsoring 4-H Night on Saturday, January 16^th, 2010.

Special guest, David Henrie "Justin Russo" from Disney's Wizards of Waverly Place will be in attendance signing autographs from 6:30-9:00pm. Tickets are $10 for Upper Bowl; $15 for Lower Bowl. Ticket order deadline is January 2nd. http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/eastpeoriacenter/downloads/20327.pdf

February 12-13, Who Did it? CSI Conference, Nauvoo, IL

Learn skills of investigating, exploring skills, examining personal traits, etc. This will be an interactive, fun-filled, overnight stay with hotel accommodations, food, and entertainment included.

Paper Registration: http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/mclean/downloads/20363.pdf

• Target Age: 12-14 year old 4-Hers
• Cost: $55.00 if registered by January 15th, 2010, (postmarks accepted), $60.00 after January 15 until the January 22, 2010 deadline
• Deadline for Registration: January 22

February 12-13, The 4-H Great Debate, Springfield, IL

The 4-H Great Debate is a conference for teens from across Illinois who converge in Springfield to debate bills and learn about the legislative process. The 4-H Great Debate is for all high school age youth who are interested in learning about how Illinois state government works.

Paper Registration: http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/mclean/downloads/20202.pdf

• Target Age: High School Teens (4-H & Non 4-H)
• Cost: $60.00
• Deadline for Registration: January 22

February 26-27, Illinois 4-H Junior Leadership Conference, Carlinville IL

Junior High 7th and 8th grade 4-H members! This event is full of Fun; Meeting new friends; Workshops; Fun; Exploring; and, did we mention, FUN?!?!?

Online Registration (only): https://webs.extension.uiuc.edu/registration/?RegistrationID=3773

• Target Age: 7th & 8th Grade 4-Hers & Invited Guests
• Cost: $98.00
• Registration Deadline: January 25 (all additional paperwork must be postmarked by January 26)

March 6, 4-H Technology Academy, Heartland College

Youth ages 8+ Including 4-H members and non-4-H members who want to learn about aerospace, electricity, robotics, computers, solar power, wind, and much more!!!

Paper Registration: http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/mclean/downloads/20750.pdf

• Target Age: 8+ youth
• Cost: $8.00 for 4-Hers, and $10.00 for non 4-H youth
• Registration Deadline: February 12
• Staff Contact: Kathy Weinzierl - kweinzie@illinois.edu

4-H Find Out Party/New Member Meeting, March 13, 9:30-11 am

Please pass along this opportunity for 4-H members to learn more about 4-H. This is for 4-H members 8+ and their families. Hands-on activities for the 4-Hers while the parents get to ask questions about 4-H and learn more about the Illinois Clover, picking out projects, forms and deadlines.

Register online: https://webs.extension.uiuc.edu/registration/?RegistrationID=3944

Team Youth April 16, 6:30 – 8 pm at UNITY

4-H members 10-14 are invited to the UNITY Community Center 632 Orlando Ave in Normal. Team Youth members learn leadership, teamwork and project skills in a fun way! Special thanks to Ann Clary, of Home Spun for assisting with this group! Register online: https://webs.extension.uiuc.edu/registration/?RegistrationID=3945

Leadership Opportunities for 4-Hers and adults

We need 4-Her and adult assistance for the following activities. If interested please contact Theresa ASAP.

• January 23 – Learn & Fun Day, Heartland Community College, 9-2:15 pm
• March 6 – 4-H Technology Academy, WDC, HCC, 9-2 pm

Inquire by emailing Kathy Weinzierl: kweinzie@illinois.edu

New or Revised 4-H Curriculum for 2010

Check out the new projects and/or curriculum resources listed below.

• Bicycle 1 & 2: Bicycling for Fun, Wheels in Motion, and Helper's Guide
• Cloverbud: Exploring Farm Animals; Vegetable Gardening A—See Them Sprout and Helper's Guide; and Veterinary Science 1—From Airedales to Zebras and Helper's Guide
• Foods & Nutrition: 4-H Cooking 301
• Horticulture: Vegetable Gardening A-D—See Them Sprout, Let's Get Growing, Take Your Pick, Growing Profits, and Helper's Guide
• Leadership: Leadership Skills You Never Outgrow 1: for Grades 3-6
• Veterinary Science: Veterinary Science 1-3—From Airedales to Zebras, All Systems Go, On the Cutting Edge, and Helper's Guide
• Video: Filmmaking (curriculum available online only) This was left off of the "Green Sheet" aka Project Enrollment form…if 4-Hers are interested they will need to write it on the form.
• Wind Energy: Power of the Wind (group activities) and Facilitator's Guide

Goat Project

Our current Meat Goat curriculum being offered includes information about Pygmy goats. Please encourage your 4-Hers to enroll 4-H members interested/raising Pygmy Goats in the Meat Goat project.

Illinois 4-H State Robotics Challenge

The 2nd annual Illinois 4-H State Robotics Challenge will be held April 24, 2010 on the U of I campus. This event is open to all 4-H members ages 8 – 18 who will be divided into junior and senior divisions. There is no registration fee. Teams need to provide their own travel and robot. More information on the challenge requirements and registration will be available after Jan. 1. If 4-H members are interested in participating please contact the Extension office.

4-H Hippology Dates

Hippology is an activity that can make learning fun for 4-H members, by letting them exhibit their knowledge and understanding of equine science and husbandry in a friendly but competitive setting. The group meets once a month at the UNITY Community Center, 632 Orlando Ave, Normal from 6:30 – 8 pm. Meeting dates are set: Jan 14, Jan 28, Feb 11, Feb 25, Mar 11, Mar 22. For more information contact Jill or Bill Schenk, volunteer coaches at: jillnbill90@msn.com.

State 4-H Dairy Quiz Bowl Contest – February 27, 2010

Location: Hawthorn Suites, 101 Trade Centre Dr., Champaign, IL 61820

Time: Registration at 8:30 a.m. ----- Contest begins at 9:00 am The state 4-H dairy quiz bowl contest will be held in conjunction with the Illinois Jr. Holstein Spring Thing workshop on Saturday February 27, 2010 at the Hawthorn Suites, 101 Trade Centre Dr., Champaign, IL. All interested 4-H members are invited and encouraged to participate -- especially noted for 4-H'ers with dairy breeds other than Holstein. The state 4-H contest will have 2 divisions of competition: Jr. Division for 4-H members who are 13 years of age and younger as of January 1, 2010; and Sr. Division for those 4-H members who are 14 years and older before January 1, 2010. There will be a lunch served at cost for participants not staying/paying for the entire weekend workshop. Registration deadline is February 22.

Helping Kids Reach for the Stars Program

The program's goal is to "give kids the unique educational experience of building and launching a solid-fuel powered rocket." The mission of our program is to honor the name and memory of Christa McAuliffe.

http://www.therocketman.net/

Virtual 4-H Filmmaking Studio & Workshop

The Virtual 4-H Filmmaking Studio & Workshop, located at www.4-H.org/curriculum/filmmaking. was developed in collaboration with Montana State University. The Filmmaking Studio and Workshop is the online place to find tools and resources about video production and "how to make your own film". On the home page of the site, you'll find the main Filmmaking Workshop—an 11 module "virtual workshop", geared toward youth interested in making Science, Engineering, and Technology (SET) films. The workshop discusses SET as a primary topic area and delivery mode, but the learning modes and principles apply across mission mandate areas—SET, Healthy Living, and Citizenship.

This is a BETA release and feedback is encouraged, via the "Give Feedback" button on the home page. Additional resources will be added and tweaked over time, so stay tuned. Happy Filmmaking!

IL 4-H Shooting Sports coming soon!

Youth development will be the number one goal of the Shooting Sports Program. The program is an excellent way to provide life skill development and to establish a caring relationship with an adult mentor. The program is an active program, attractive to both youth and adult audiences. 4-H curriculum will be designed to assist young people in personal development, personal environmental ethics, and lifelong vocational and avocational activities. The program will help to promote self confidence, responsibility, teamwork, self esteem, decision-making and the identification of realistic personal goals. If you are interested in being a part of the program in McLean County, please contact the Extension office.

Oral History of Illinois Agriculture Website Launched

Anyone with a computer can now see and hear the history of Illinois agriculture told by the people who lived it. The Illinois State Museum launched the Audio-Video Barn website (http://avbarn.museum.state.il.us), featuring 300 hours of interviews with more than 130 people involved with agriculture in Illinois over the past 129 years. The website is the culmination of a two-year Oral History of Illinois Agriculture project led by the Illinois State Museum and Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum.

January is Radon Action Month

That is another time to promote the contest or remind people about it. Posters are due March 1, 2010 to the Extension office. There will be up to 15 regional poster contest winners who will receive $50 savings bonds, The top 3 poster winners for IL will receive $100 savings bonds. The national winner receives a trip to Washington DC with the child's parent and teacher. You can download a letter and entry form, artwork submission form, rules and criteria for judging the posters, a short blurb about the radon poster contest at this site: http://takeactiononradon.illinois.edu/resources/contest

4-H Million Trees Project – Good Service Learning Opportunity!

Members of the Pacifica (California) 4-H Club launched the 4-H Million Trees (4HMT) project, a large-scale service-learning project with the goal to plant 1,000,000 trees across the United States to beautify America, absorb atmospheric carbon dioxide, and combat global climate change. www.4hmilliontrees.org

4-H CAMPaign

You can help improve the facilities at 4-H Memorial Camp! Construction has started on the kitchen at 4-H Camp. This is a great opportunity for your 4-Hers to support Camp. There are several ways your club can get involved with this CAMPaign!! http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/4hmemorialcamp/campaign.html

Looking for ways to Volunteer with your club?

There are countless ways your club can volunteer in your local community. This website highlights some successful projects. http://www.familycares.org/projects/

Farm Safety 4 Just Kids – Soliciting Youth and Adult Safety Instructors

Each year, approximately 104 children across the United States die in farm related accidents. Most of these incidents are predictable and preventable. Through proper education for farm children and their friends who visit farms, we have the opportunity to help children remain injury free. The Illini Chapter of Farm Safety 4 Just Kids has been organized and we invite you and your older 4-H members and leaders to our sixth "Train the Trainer" session. The safety topics that have been selected are: Sun Safety, Electrical Safety, Healthy Lifestyles and Tractor Safety. It will be held at the Toney Noel Center on the Parkland campus on January 13^th from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. A map is included. In the event that the weather is bad and we need to reschedule, we have set a back up date for February 16^th. Pizza will be provided at the end of the program. Register with Amy Rademaker with the number you will be bringing/sending 217-383-4606 amy.rademaker@carle.com no later than January 4.

Overseas Coupon Program – Clip Coupons for Military families overseas

Our program serves military families by assisting you to forward "manufacturer's coupons" to overseas military bases. These bundles of coupons are placed on tables, at the PX and Commissary, or handed out for use by military members and families on base. This helps the family save valuable dollars and stretch their budget. Website: http://ocpnet.org/

4-H Key Award – Revised for 2010

The 4-H Key Award has been revised. It will be a separate application process and is January 4, 2010. 4-Hers that have received the county key award metal may apply for this award. The application is available online at: http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/mclean/4hrecognition/974.html.

International 4-H Travel Opportunities

2010 summer outbound opportunities: 4-Hers age 16 and older can travel to Australia, Costa Rica and/or Japan. Please help us advertise these opportunities to the youth in your units and areas. All applicable forms and more information are available 4-H website http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/state4h/members/international.cfm.

Interested youth should download the package labeled "Forms Summer Outbound Delegates". This year, the forms can be completed electronically and printed out and signed after everything is inserted.

4-H House Cooperative Sorority

Are you a female member of 4-H, interested in attending the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign next year? If so, 4-H House Cooperative Sorority could be the perfect home-away-from-home for you while attending college! 4-H House provides an economical, fun, relaxed living environment with other girls who, like you, have been active in 4-H related activities. If 4-H House sounds like it would be a great fit for you, do not hesitate to contact our Interviewing Chair, Katherine Chenoweth, at (217) 344-4784 or by email at kchenow2@illinois.edu. Also, check us out at www.4hhouse.com! We look forward to hearing from you!

McLean County 4-H Horse Program Committee Solicits Members

If you are a 4-H Parent, Leader, Volunteer or Adult interested in horses…then this information is for YOU! There seems to be a great opportunity to "grow" the 4-H horse program in McLean County. To begin that process, we would like to invite interested persons to be a part of the McLean County 4-H Horse Program Committee. This committee would plan year 'round events such as educational activities, horse clinics, horse bowl, hippology, horse judging, workshops, tack sales, etc., etc., etc. Our hope is that any adults with ideas and the willingness to implement them would come to a meeting scheduled for January 11, 2010, 6:30-8:30 pm at the Extension Office on 402 N Hershey Rd, Bloomington.

Questions can be directed to Sandy McGhee, Extension Staff, at 663-8306. Registration will be available online at: http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/mclean/news/news16340.html and by calling the Extension office.

4-H Leader Update – Janaury 26, 6:30-8:30 pm at Heartland

Gear up for 2010 with "Delegation, it's not a dirty word!" presented by Sue Doyle and Linda White. A time to connect with old friends and make new ones. Get re-energized about being a leader. Jr. Leaders welcome to attend!

Delegation - It's not a Dirty Word:

4-H Leaders have a lot to do and a lot of people depending on them. Have you ever wondered just how you're going to get it all done? The secret is knowing what "tools" you have available in your 4-H Leader Toolbox and how to use them. During this workshop, you will learn how to engage and share responsibilities with parents and other 4-H Leaders while developing youth to become the leaders of tomorrow.

Location: Heartland Community College (main entrance), Auditorium - Park in Lot B

Registration is online at: https://webs.extension.uiuc.edu/registration/?RegistrationID=3949

4-H Volunteer Orientation & Screening

• Who? Parents, leaders, superintendents = 4-H VOLUNTEERS
• When? February 17, and May 11 6:30-8:30 pm
• Where? Extension Office, 402 N Hershey Rd.
• Why? To ensure that all 4-H youth in McLean County are with caring screened adults who are concerned about their safety. The U of I Extension State 4-H Office requires youth to be with screened volunteers at ALL times at 4-H events. Please help us protect our 4-H youth. You cannot be recognized as a 4-H leader if you have not gone through screening. This process involves CANTS screening (child abuse and neglect), criminal background check, and personal reference checks. Please RSVP online or call the Extension office.

Register online: https://webs.extension.uiuc.edu/registration/?RegistrationID=3947

Valued Volunteers Teleconference Series

The State 4-H Volunteerism Team is offering seven different volunteer training sessions this winter via the Extension toll-free teleconferencing system. These trainings are based on the VALUED Volunteer Orientation and Training Series. All volunteers regardless of enrollment in the VV Program are welcome to register and attend. Join with other volunteers from across the state for an evening of learning, idea sharing, and fun!

• Positive Youth Development/BIGM – January 11 and February 2
• Communications within a 4-H Club – January 13 and February 8
• Behavior Management – January 20 and February 11
• Public Presentations - January 28 and February 1
• Parental Involvement - January 26 and February 4
• Risk Management January 21and February 10
• Community Service March 3 and 4.

Every session will begin at 7:00 p.m. and will last one hour. Participants may listen toll-free from their own home phones or by arrangement from the local Extension office. Each session will be offered twice.

Print materials for the sessions will be mailed directly to volunteers once they have registered for a specific topic and date. Registration will close approximately ten days prior to the teleconference. There will be no fee to register. Contact Sandy McGhee at smcghee@illinois.edu if you would like to register.

Leaders On the Go

Most 4-H volunteers are very busy people and don't have a lot of time to attend 4-H training! Leaders On the Go or L.O.G. for short is a website that accommodates their hectic schedules. Just click here for answers to some of your questions: http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/regions/4H/Leaders. Each time you receive the link from the Extension Office, a new topic is waiting there for you and takes only minutes to read. The first two topics found there now are member recruitment and recruiting helpers. All L.O.G. topics are to then be stored in an archive on the website so you can refer to them when needed most. Also on the site are a few other links with important information and resources available to you at the 4-H regional, state, and national level. Remember, just ONE CLICK of the mouse gets you to Leaders On the Go!

Spring Program Planning – Have one meeting at HCC!

• IMPORTANT – opportunity! Heartland Community College – Use of Facilities by 4-H Clubs

Through a great relationship with HCC I am excited to announce that 4-H clubs have been given the opportunity to schedule a meeting at their facility for special programs/speakers. Have you ever wanted to have a speaker come, but they wanted to show a Power Point or needed an overhead projector? Want to use a computer lab to have your 4-Hers learn about Geospatial/Robotics project activities? Would you like to have an Extension Staff member teach your 4-Hers a workshop? This is a one or two time per year opportunity for your club to use an HCC classroom or computer lab for a 4-H meeting. IF your club would like to schedule a meeting at Heartland Contact Lisa Sleevar at 309-268-8016. You will need to contact her 4-6 weeks in advance.

When Electing Officers in your club….

If your club Reporter or Secretary is interested in being an "author" on the 4-H Club Chatter Blog, please pass along their email. They can then post their own articles on to the 4-H Club Chatter blog. It's really easy and fun! All posts will be monitored. Articles posted may be put in an Extension newsletter if there is space. If you have club reporters or other members that are into blogging send their names to the Extension office! The website is up: http://mclean4-hclubchatter.blogspot.com/

National 4-H Council Grants portal

National 4-H Council is pleased to announce our new grants portal! This portal will be a one-stop resource, housing a wide variety of funding opportunities and related forms (applications, reports, etc.). The site can be found at http://grants.4-H.org. You will need to register to begin using the system and to review the benefits this new software provides (there is a brief instructional guide on how to register and apply for grants).

You must have your Club FEIN number in order to create an account. Grants that are being offered are also on this page: http://4-h.org/programs_mission_mandates.html.

Edutopia – free website links

Edutopia is an educational website geared mainly toward classrooms but they have many wonderful (and free!) resources that relate well to our work with youth in 4-H. I just downloaded Edutopia's Ten Top Tips for Teaching with New Media, and thought you might find this resource useful, too. They have lots of links to free online communication tools with tips on how to use these with students. Again, the examples are classroom-based but I thought it might give you some ideas for use in your programs. You can download the free report at http://www.edutopia.org/ten-top-tips.

Looking for ways to Volunteer with your club?

http://www.familycares.org/projects/