It's time to start a 4-H project record for 2012! 

For forms, visit this website: http://www.nc4h.org/youth/awards.htmlProject records are due January 2, 2013 to the NC Cooperative Extension, Henderson County Center.

Click here for the form for a Cloverbud Project record (Age 5 - 8).

4-H summer camp possibilities for youth ages 8 - 14

A group from Western NC will be traveling to the Betsy Jeff Penn 4-H Center June 24 - 29.  The cost will be $390, plus travelling expenses.  Click here to learn about other camping possibilities.  Contact Denise for more information.

Sign up for Presentation Category!

Youth, ages 9 - 18, choose from these topics.

New this year:  Cloverbuds (youth ages 4 - 8) are invited to give presentations at County and District Activity Days.  They will not compete, but will receive scoresheets and ribbons.  They will need to sign up by June 1.  They can choose any category.

Resilience and Bullying Webinar

Search Institute is hosting a no-cost webinar featuring resilience and family-based prevention science expert, Dr. Doug Coatsworth, to bring attention to the important ways adults can help children rise above bullying.  Through this hour webinar, participants will:  
Discover the real definition of bullying, and learn to recognize the difference between “bullying” and “conflict”.
Uncover why raising resilient kids is essential to rising above bullying.
Learn how to nurture your child’s resilience characteristics, like empowerment, empathy, and self-control.
Get empowered to activate schools and communities to nurture resilience in ALL kids.
The free, live webinar, Raising Resilience: How All Adults Can Help Kids to Rise Above Bullying, will take place on WEDNESDAY, MAY 16th at 1 PM EDT/12 PM CDT. For more information and to register please visit: http://www.parentfurther.com/webinars/may-webinar-bullying

Vegetable Gardening with Kids!

 Tuesday, May 29, at 4:00 at the Cooperative Extension office in Jackson Park.  RSVP to Barbara. For kids ages 5 and up with their parents or guardians.

Grow a Giant Pumpkin this Summer!!

Click link above for information- 4-H Pumpkin Patch Kids - ages 5-8 years old!

4-H Mini-Garden Contest for ages 9 - 18

Youth ages 9 - 18 grow a 10 x 12 foot vegetable garden at their homes.  Plants, seeds, and instructions are provided at the Mini-Garden Orientation on Tuesday, May 15 at 7:00 at the Bullington Center.  Register by May 14

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2012 4-H Horticulture Contest

Saturday, May 19th, 2012,1:00pm, at NCSU in Raleigh

Registration deadline is Tuesday, May 15th at 5:00pm.

Senior winners are eligible to attend the National Junior Horticultural Association's annual convention. This year's convention will be in October in the Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin.

New participants are encouraged to attend and can even sign up as practice participants! New coaches may contact Liz Driscoll for more information.

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Presentation Coaching by appointment:

9:00 - 12:00 and 3:00 - 6:00

May 1, 8, 15, 22, 29

June 5,7,12,14,21,26,28

July 3,5,10,12

RSVP to Denise or call 697-4891.

Food Preservation:  Soft Spreads, Pickling, Freezing and Drying

Part 2 of Renay Knapp's Food Preservation series will be offered on May 14 at 6:30 p.m. and again on May 16 at 2:00 p.m.  Are you interested in making jams, jellies, pickles and relishes?  How about freezing or drying foods?  If so, this class is for you.  Cost for the programs is $10.00 and pre-registration is required. Call the Henderson County Extension Office at 828/697-4891 one week prior to the workshop to register.

County Council Tuesday, May 22

5:00 - Work on 4-H flags:  tracing, cutting, ironing

Please bring finger food to share and RSVP to Barbara.

7:00 meeting

Interview Workshop

Thursday, May 31, at 5:00 pm at JobLink, in the Continuing Education Building at Blue Ridge Community College

Learn how to interview so you can apply for a job, college, and the 4-H Application Resume Interview Essay Contest!

RSVP to Barbara by Wednesday, May 9.

Robot Programming 101

Saturday, June 2, Buncombe County Cooperative Extension, 10:00am - 3:00pm
The workshop is being taught by Neil Rosenberg who is a robotics engineer and enthusiast. Neil will be using the Scribbler 2 robots to teach the basics of graphical user interface programming, sensors, open and closed loop systems and more. This is a great introductory workshop for anyone interested in getting involved in the FIRST Lego Robotics programs in the future. The workshop is open to the first 20 youth who submit their completed.
Ages:  9 - 18
Cost:  $25
Bring your own lunch and drink.

Contact Holly for more information or call (828) 255-5522.

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4-H County Activity Day

Presentation Competition
Saturday, June 9, Grace Lutheran Church

Early Presentations (for those who can't be at County Activity Day) - Thursday, June 7, 3:00 - 7:00 - NC Cooperative Extension, Henderson County Center - RSVP to Denise or call 697-4891.

New this year:  Cloverbuds (youth ages 4 - 8) are invited to give presentations at County and District Activity Days.  They will not compete, but will receive scoresheets and ribbons.  They will need to sign up by June 1.  They can choose any category.

Adult Sewing Classes

Have you ever wanted to be able to sew your own clothes or to make accessories for your home?  If so, this class is for you.   Beginning Saturday, June 9, 9:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m., Renay Knapp, Family and Consumer Science Extension Agent, will teach a series of 4 classes covering basic sewing skills.  Registration fee is $25 and pre-registration is required.  Due to the number of available sewing machines, space is limited so get your registration in soon.   For more information or to register, contact North Carolina Cooperative Extension, Henderson County Center at 828/697-4891, or email Renay.

Note:  If you have a portable sewing machine you’d like to use in the class, please set up a time with Renay to check your machine to make sure it is in good working order, and so she can be familiar with it.

NC 4-H Citizenship Focus

for teens, June 11 - 13 in Raleigh
Learn about state and local government.  Work to improve your community.  Applications due April 20.  Contact Denise for more information or call 697-4891.

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West District 4-H Horse Clinic

June 11 - 13, WNC Ag Center, Youth, ages 5 - 18, participate in classes with their horses.  

Professional instructors, running games, team penning, a picnic, social time, recreation- all for just $70.00. Now that's a deal! The best news is that the clinic is open to all youth- not just 4-H boys and girls. So, even if you have never been involved in 4-H, feel free to register for the clinic. A maximum of 80 youth can enroll.  Youth 4H participants from the counties in the West Extension District will have priority for spaces until June 1.   After that date, any remaining spaces may be filled by applicants from outside of the district on a first come-first served basis.  Each participant must have an accompanying parent or adult volunteer, (age 25 or older), with them throughout the entire clinic.

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West District 4-H Activity Day

Tuesday, June 19, Cullowhee Valley School

District presentation competition for Blue Ribbon winners from County Activity Day, and Red Ribbon winners who have worked to improve their presentations and received approval from 4-H staff, along with Cloverbuds who took part in the county competition.

Directions to Cullowhee Valley School

Schedule for the day:  Arrive by 10:00 am - Go to your presentation room and sign up.
Presentations begin at 10:30
Awards Assembly 1:45 pm

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NC 4-H Congress

Raleigh, July 16 - 19.  Fee for registration and dorms:  $272.
Presentation Competition will be Tuesday, July 17

Watch the Congress video.  Contact Denise for more information.

West District 4-H Teen Leadership Camp

Monday - Wednesday, July 30 - Aug. 1 at the Swannanoa 4-H Center.
Fun workshops, swimming, high and low ropes course, camp activities, whitewhater rafting, and 4-H Night at the Asheville Tourists' Game!

Cost:  $150   Limited to the first 40 people who register.
For questions or more information contact Chad Ray at 828-652-8104.

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4-H Night at the Asheville Tourists' Baseball Game

Monday, July 30, 7:05 pm

Families will travel on their own to this event.  Join other 4-H families from across Western NC!

Cost: $5 per person due when you register at the Cooperative Extension Office in Jackson Park. (Children under 5 - free.)  Please pay by check written to the "Asheville Tourists."  Register by Monday, July 23.

Gates will open at 6:00 pm. Monday nights are Kids Eat Free nights presented by Acropolis Pizza. Each child will receive a coupon as they enter for a complimentary slice of pizza and drink.

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4-H Parent and Leaders Meeting

Tuesday, August 21, 7:00 pm.  RSVP to Barbara or call 697-4891.
A light meal will be served.

Don't forget these 4-H fundraisers :

purchase grocery cards, recycle ink cartridges and cell phones

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Purchase 4-H items online

www.4-HMALL.org When you purchase items online, NC 4-H will receive 10% of the purchase price if you: click on the 'Sign in' Button on the left hand side of the website. 'Create a New Web Account- if you do not have an online account with the 4-H Mall. Then purchase items online.
(Note: County Council has chosen some new 4-H items, which will be on sale at Achievement Night, Feb. 7.   4-H Fun Bucks can be used to purchase these items.)

Recycle

4H LIT club is recycling as our fundraiser. We are collecting faucets. If you, neighbor, friend, or coworker are switching out a faucet, we will take the old one off your hands and keep it out of the landfill! I will also take copper pipes, alum. gutters/windows.

Just call/ email me and I'll arrange pick up.

Thanks,
Joanne Gregory 696-8082

Do you love fabric?

Occasionally we get donations of fabric and craft materials.
Contact Sue or call 697-4891
to be added to the "Fabric Alert" list

4-H Digital Mayhem Challenge

The 4-H programs in Illinois and northeast Missouri are inviting all youth, ages 8-18 years old to produce their own digital photography, digital audio, digital video or mixed media production that demonstrates your abilities with digital media of all kinds. Top entries may be used in various promotional products throughout the region and prizes will be awarded. Select your own theme and message. Show the world your imagination and creativity!
More than a contest, the challenge is to build your technology skills and learn about the video, audio and graphic production process.