Bi-Annual News brief
This news brief is an attempt to keep you better informed and provide rele-vant and current information that you can use in your programming. I hope you will find this helpful and I welcome your feedback as we progress.
Thanks for all you do,
Sam Fisher
Click link for newletter
Maker Movement and Virginia 4-H: As I researched the “Maker Movement” across America and explored the results of a first 4-H grant cycle in four states, I looked for relevant connections to 4-H and have concluded that this form of unchartered creative thinking and doing is definitely a step into the future of Virginia 4-H, if the field finds it as exciting as I did! It is based on the core of what we already do so well in 4-H — hands-on minds on learning — yet stretches us to find common ground with a culture of creative tinkerers in authentic environments who find solutions to relevant needs and problems. What a blast for kids who want clothing that lights up with different dance movements or kids who want to play music through celery sticks and other vegetables or those who want to build their own solar model car beyond the kit. Think of the camps and clubs and projects, oh my!
I’ll offer a few points of reference and my support/encouragement to explore and include the Maker way of thinking and doing as a part of your 4-H programming. Maker activities are effective ways to thread STEM across all programming areas. They can also serve as exciting “hooks” into deeper content learning in any program area. Make is a relevant, engaging way to capture the interest of kids and enlist the support of community “do-it-yourselfer” volunteers. It also provides a new lens through which to look for volunteers. Please Kathleen Jamison if you want to learn more about Make. I will send a follow-up email to the system with attachments and weblinks.
Virginia 4-H Makers will be one topic of discussion at a STEM committee meeting being scheduled during the 2013 Symposium on Friday. Also, a Master Track session to explore this topic with Dr. Phyllis Newbill, professor from the Institute of Creativity, Arts, and Technology at Virginia Tech, is offered at the symposium. Connect with those who attend for more information. Another source of information is Rita Schalk (Hanover County) who was involved in a Maker Grant that offered collaboration among K-12, 4-H, and an already established mentoring grant in her locality. Additional funding is being sought for interested agents in a variety of 4-H settings.
If Maker piques your interest, start searching Maker Movement, Make Magazine, DYI Movement, 4-H Makers, and get excited! Sift through ideas and activities to choose the ones that fit into your intntionally planned program and integrate them as needed to sprinkle some excitement. Look for my email that provides some 4-H connections and a short lit review from a colleague in CA. I love this stuff!
Virginia 4-H in partnership with the DEQ have been awarded a grant from NOAA to train professionals to be Certified Watershed Educators. This grant will cover the fees and travel expenses for training for up to 10 Agents/4-H Center Program Directors and will also provide funding to conduct a meaningful watershed experience in your locality when the training is completed. Many of you are already doing good work in watershed education and this would be a perfect fit for you. I am sending this to both ANR and 4-H Agents as it may be appropriate for either. Selected participants will commit to completing 5 workshops which will be conducted over the next year and will take place in the James River Watershed area. The first workshop will be on October 25th at Camp Albemarle in Albemarle County. A brochure is attached which explains the institute in more detail with workshop dates and locations for your information. If you are applying to be selected for funding, please do NOT register directly by using the registration link on the brochure. In order to know who will receive support I will need to submit a separate list to DEQ of the ones participating. To apply for funding please complete the survey link below by Friday, October 4th. You will be notified by Wednesday, October 9th of your acceptance status.
https://vce.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_0Pz3WLoSC6OQ7UV
The Jamestown 4-H Educational Center hosted Sailing Camp on May 17-19, 2013. Click the link below to view the video – looks like a good time was had by all!
Sailing Camp at the Jamestown 4-H Educational Center Spring 2013
Thanks to the great work of Dawn Barnes and Kim Turman–Floyd County UAA–The Reality Store and Kids Marketplace materials have all been updated and uploaded to the Complete Programs section of the FCS agent resource sharing site. This should hopefully make it easy for those of us doing RS and KM programs to access the materials if you don’t have them already.
As a reminder, you can reach the resource sharing site by going to the intranet, clicking on FCS, and scrolling down to Resources From Previous Professional Development Events where you’ll find a link to FCS Agent Resource Sharing Site. Once there you’ll need to enter our PID and password in order to access the site. You can also follow this link to reach the site: https://secure.hosting.vt.edu/www.intra.ext.vt.edu/fcs/resource/
Applications are being accepted for the Modeling of Infectious Disease High School 2013 Summer Internship at Virginia Tech!
Virginia Bioinformatics Institute (VBI) offers summer internships to high school students interested in computer science, mathematics, infectious diseases, the environment, and bioinformatics. This week-long program includes research activities and tours, and a discussion/lecture series.
High school students interested in math and science, who are able to provide their own reliable transportation to VBI each morning, are eligible for participation in the program. The main objective of this high school internship is to show students the fun and excitement of scientific research. Students will have the opportunity to explore the world of genomics and the environment with world-renowned research scientists in professional labs.
Dedicated work is key for success in any career, especially one in bioinformatics research. The internship experience will strengthen the principle of dedicated work through intensive laboratory research and journal keeping exercises given throughout the week. A highly motivated attitude is encouraged throughout the program!
Program Dates- July 8-12, 2013
Application Deadline- May 3, 2013
For more information see- http://highschool.vbi.vt.edu/application.php
We would like to share a letter that we received from the States 4-H International
Dear Cathy,
On behalf of States’ 4-H International Exchange Programs (States’ 4-H), we would like to extend our heartfelt appreciation for your state’s participation in our 2012 global citizenship youth exchange programs. As our world becomes more interconnected, international youth education programs like those we facilitate are indispensable and serve a crucial role in fostering cultural competency and promoting world understanding. Given the current economic climate, your willingness to support global citizenship programs by opening your state to international youth is commendable and greatly appreciated. We sincerely hope the experience has been as gratifying and enriching for the 4-H community and families in your state as it has been for our international participants.
The success of States’ 4-H’s global citizenship programs would not be possible without the efforts and dedication form 4-H staff and volunteers in you state. We presented the Extraordinary Quality Program Award to Virginia 4-H at our annual Fall Coordinators’ Conference on November 9, 2012 in Wichita, KS.
Thank you your continued support and partnership. We are grateful for your state’s participation in our global citizenship programs and look forward to another successful year in 2013.
Sincerely,
Deryl Walren, States’ 4-H International Board Chair
Yoko Kawaguchi, States’ 4-H International President
