TEEN WINTER UPDATES! (1.27.2023)

Hello Pike County 4-H Teens!

I have several reminders for you of important upcoming dates. Please read through this entire email.

  • Counselor Apps are due February 1. Apply at http://go.OSU.edu/ALPCounselorApp Must be at least 14 years old by January 1, 2023. Being a camp counselor is one of the best skill-development experiences you can have as a teen! Several of our counselors from last year have aged out of 4-H, so we would love to have some NEW counselors. While having past 4-H camping experience is fantastic, it is not a requirement. Contact me if you have any questions.
  • Teen Winter Retreat at Canter’s Cave 4-H Camp is coming up next weekend, Saturday February 4 (registration 3-4 p.m.) through Sunday, February 5 (checkout at 10 a.m.). A flier is attached to this email. Cost is $40. Must complete registration at http://go.osu.edu/TeenWinterRetreat
  • Making eXtreme Counselors Statewide Counselor Training Workshop is Friday, February 25 and Saturday, February 26 at the Nationwide and Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center in Columbus. Cost is $65 (includes t-shirt and swag) and will be refunded to you by the Pike County 4-H Committee once you have attended the training and successfully counseled at camp in 2023. Registration is due by 12 noon Tuesday, January 31. Attending this would count toward required camp counselor training hours. Contact me if you plan to attend so I can get you registered.
  • If you are of know a college student who would be interested in working as a Summer Staff Intern this summer at Canter’s Cave 4-H Camp, see a position description and apply at https://4HCantersCave.OSU.edu/employment. Applications are DUE Feb 15, 2023.  Housing and meals are included. College credit opportunities are available. We are looking for a Program Coordinator and several Staff positions. Training starts May 22 and the position runs through at least August 1, with potential to extend depending on schedules. Questions? Contact Michelle Stumbo, Camp Board Personnel Chair, at stumbo.5@osu.edu or 740-691-6010.
  • Scholarships applications are Due February 1.  Pike County 4-H Advisory Committee, Ohio Valley Bank, Vancil Brown Memorial Scholarship, Pike County 4-H Apple Pie Scholarship, Backhills Bunch 4-H Club Scholarship, Pike County Agricultural Society, and R.O. McFerren Memorial Scholarship all-in-one application. Pike County 4-H Alumni Club Scholarship. Ron Pennington Memorial Scholarship. Ohio 4-H Achievement Award Applications are due February 1.
  • Pike County 4-H Teen Ambassadors: You are invited to our next Pike County 4-H Teen Ambassadors meeting Monday, February 6 at 6:30 p.m. at the Extension Office. Join us for fun with fellow 4-H teens! Our program topic is Ways Teens can Lead in their 4-H Clubs. We will also do a service activity and be making plans for some fun spring and summer activities. Plus, we will also have snacks and a door prize! Don’t miss out! Let me know if you have any questions about Teen Ambassadors. We would love to have you participate!
  • The Ohio 4-H Teen and Volunteer Conference is Saturday, March 11. Learn more about this fantastic opportunity at this link: https://ohio4h.org/events/ohio-4-h-conference  We will be taking a group from Pike County and organizing carpooling. Contact the Extension office before February 10 if you want to register. It is a great opportunity to get new ideas and get energized for the 4-H year. We have a limited amount of funds available to help offset the $40 registration fee for TEENS who want to go to the state conference. Adult volunteers would need to pay their own way. If you want to go, contact me as soon as possible so we can get your registration entered before all the sessions you want to attend fill up.
  • Ohio Farm Bureau Explore Ag Camps are FREE one-week, multi-day, and day-long immersion programs for high school students. Applications are due April 10, 2023. Find more info at this link.

 

If you have any questions about any of these items, reach out to me at bauman.67@osu.edu, or call me at 740-289-4837.  There are so many wonderful opportunities for 4-H teens; I hope you take advantage of them!

 

Teen Ambassadors (New for 2022-23)

teen

Some might ask, “What is leadership?” Leadership is a set of skills, including the ability to inspire and motivate others, to communicate effectively, to take initiative, to make plans and execute them, and much more. These skills are important, now more than ever. Not long ago all it took to have a comfortable career was to do well in high school, get a college degree, and find a nice stable job. Unfortunately the world is changing rapidly and now teen are finding they have to do more.

So the question then is asked, “How, how can I do more?”  For those who read this article the answer to the question can be found here. 4-H holds the key to teen leadership development. 

  • The first opportunity for Pike County teens is being a part Carteens. Carteens is an organization that is dedicated to educating first time traffic offenders about the dangers of unsafe driving. Carteens provide quarterly court appointed traffic classes and biannual school enhancement programs to driving age youth of Pike County. Carteens will allow youth to take a leadership role in helping mentor their peers about making good decisions.  As a member of Carteens youth will be able to give valuable input into the restructure of the program so that it will better meet the needs in the community.
  • If you know a teen who likes working with younger 4-H members, the outdoors, leading camp songs, and being on the planning end of things then please encourage them to consider the camp counselor experience. Any 4-H’er who has every had the opportunity to spend a week at 4-H camp can agree it is a trip full of great moments. Download your application here.
  • For those teens that enjoy creating an original recipe or searching for that perfect pattern for a new sewing project the Family and Consumer Science (FCS) Teen Board just might be the perfect fit for them.  The FCS Board meets several times a year to plan for FCS judging, awards ceremonies, a FCS fair booth, fair stage decorations, and attend 1 education trip. 
  • So you might be thinking I’m not interested in any of those opportunities but I still need something to put on my college scholarship application.  A big part of 4-H is the Pike County Fair, which is a lot of work but is also very fun and rewarding! Junior Fair Board members have an important role at the fair. The Junior Fair Board is an organization designed to include youth of our county in the fair. Junior Fair Board members help organize events, gather ideas for the annual fair and help maintain the grounds for the fair as well as serving our community throughout the year.

Contact your club leader or 4-H educator for more information.