Horsemanship Standards Examiner Training - Saturday, February 26, 2011 - Tailwinds Farm (North East, MD)

This training is for UME volunteers wishing to become Horsemanship Standards Examiners. An overview of the program, how to conduct a testing, and knowledge and riding Levels 1-4 will be covered. This training is mandatory to become a new examiner. There will be no cost and lunch will be provided. We will start at 9am and should be done by 4pm.

If you are interested in registering, please contact Lauren Mundy at lmundy@umd.edu or 301-314-7821. You must register by February 23rd.

Horsemanship Standards Ratings and Standards Seminar for Examiners - Sunday, February 27, 2011 (location TBD). At this seminar, we will view and discuss riders and horses (English and Western) on the flat and jumping for Levels 4-6. Examiners will have a chance to evaluate riders and determine where a rider currently is with their riding position, etc... and how they would evaluate them for a specific level utilizing the standards for that specific level. We encourage any examiners to attend, especially those wishing to become approved for these levels in the future. There will be no cost and it will be held in the morning. Please save the date as more details will come in the couple weeks.

If you are interested in registering, please contact Lauren Mundy at lmundy@umd.edu or 301-314-7821.

Maryland Day will again be the location for the 2011 State Communications Contest. We look forward to an opportunity to showcase our 4-Hers and their speaking accomplishments to the entire University Community! The State Rules haven’t changed since last year’s revisions – HOWEVER – after MANY questions about Interpretation Speeches - the committee suggests that we identify INTERPRETATION Speeches as one category – and not specify – Humorous/ Dramatic/ or Poetry – the on-line score sheet will reflect that change and the rules for Interpretations will be uniform not specific to any specific category of Interpretation Speech. Realizing that County Programs have started – these changes will not negatively affect any 4-Her. The changes are to help clarify this category. Youth can still have a humorous, a dramatic or a poetry interpretive speech. They can wear a costume if they choose, and as always the Interpretation is to be taken from a published work.

Encourage your county champions to enter the state contest. The on-line transmittal form is due April 1^st – if you county/city event is after that date please let the State Office know that you will be entering youth after your contest.

Helpers/Judges We would welcome youth helpers that day – perhaps the reserve champions would like to come and help and if for some reason the champion does not attend – we’d be glad to let the reserve champ give their speeches. We are in need of dozens of judges – so please send corridon@umd.edu names and contact information of potential judges.

The FoodSmart Impact Team is offering a Train the Trainer Training on February 24, 2011Time: 9:00 a.m. till 3:30 p.m Food Preservation Training - Food Preservation Training for UME Faculty. Hands on instruction with the latest research and recommendations. There will be a repeat of this training on Monday, March 21^st at the Queen Anne’s County 4-H Park – watch for the registration announcement.

If you are using any of the lessons from this curriculum we have an evaluation component and we’d like to gather impact data statewide. Please contact corridon@umd.edu

Here is a fitness suggestion to share with the schools you work with – AND why not set up a simplified version in the hallways of your UME Offices!!! Next time you visit the Maryland 4-H Center you can Keep Moving around our building!

As the weather turns colder in many parts of the country, it's easy to forego outdoor activities in favor of staying warm. But encouraging physical activity year-round is a valuable life lesson for children.

The Alliance for a Healthier Generation has a resource that can help keep everyone moving, no matter how low the mercury goes.

Available at www.healthiergeneration.org/uploadedFiles/For_Schools/09-877.pdf is a 50-page PDF that instructs how to create an indoor fitness trail. The directions are simple, using hallways as the trail. (A large space could also be adapted for the trail.) The PDF provides simple sketches and directions for the activities, plus stretching exercises.

It's suggested that a relaxation exercise be conducted at the trail's conclusion.

The Alliance for a Healthier Generation seeks to reduce childhood obesity. Learn about their after-school efforts at www.healthiergeneration.org/schools.aspx?id=3386.

For proven and practical resources, please visit School-Age NOTES at www.schoolagenotes.com.

What: AGsploration Winter Institute

When/Where: February 19-21, 2011, Thendara 4-H Center, Hurlock, MD

Cost: FREE!! (Travel to/from the center on your own)

What You Will Receive: Leadership and teaching skills through workshops and fieldtrips, AGsploration gear, networking opportunities with other 4-Hers, service hours, and door prizes!!!! For flyer with more information Click Here.

What is Your Commitment? Fill out an application by December 31, 2010, attend the training in February, and make a 30 hour commitment teaching the curriculum. For application Click Here.

The AGsploration development team invites 4-H youth ages 14-18 or 4-H alumni ages 19-21 to become trained as a teen teacher for the new University of Maryland Extension's AGsploration: The Science of Maryland Agriculture curriculum at our Winter Institute on Saturday, February 19, 2011 to Monday, February 21, 2011 at the Thendara 4-H Center in Hurlock, MD. The cost of the training is free, however, you must provide travel to/from the center on your own.

At the training, team members will receive a copy of the AGsploration curriculum and a kit to aid in teaching in. As a team member, your commitment is to fill out an application and evaluation consent form, attend the AGsploration team training in February, and make a 30-hour commitment teaching and evaluating the AGsploration curriculum.

Completed applications and the evaluation consent form (project approved by the University of Maryland Institutional Review Board, approval # 10-0638) are due by December 31, 2010 to April Hall Barczewski at UME-Cecil County, 200 Chesapeake Blvd, Suite 1500, Elkton, MD 21921. The AGsploration program is limited to 30 participants. Applicants will be accepted by a review process and we encourage at least one youth from every 4-H unit to apply. Applicants will be notified by mid-January if they have been accepted to attend the training. Additional information and required paperwork will be mailed once your application has been accepted.

Google is looking for the brightest, best young scientists from around the world to submit interesting, creative projects that are relevant to the world today. The competition is open to students ages 13 to 18 from around the world working on their own or in a team of two or three. For more details, visit http://www.google.com/events/sciencefair/index.html.

When and Where: On Saturday, February 5, 2011 in Building 13 on the fairgrounds of The Great Frederick Fair. The Workshop will take place from 10:00 AM to about 3:30 PM. Bring your own lunch, or purchase from the Frederick County Farmers Market, next door.

Who Should Attend: This Workshop is open to all Maryland 4H Youth, aged Intermediate or above as of January 1, 2011. Interested Leaders are also encouraged to attend. Youth and Leaders working with all livestock breeds are welcome.

Cost: No charge!

The Workshop is sponsored by the Frederick County 4H Alpaca Project and will provide hands-on alpaca judging techniques for both animal conformation and fleece characteristics.

About half of the Workshop will emphasize the Presentation of Oral Reasons in Judging, and is therefor applicable to all livestock breeds.

For questions, please contact Scott Gove, 4H Alpaca Superintendent at cgove@prodigy.net or by cell phone at 301-606-9224.