Cloverleaf
2023
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2022
| January | February | March | April | May | June | July | Aug | Sept | Oct | Nov-Dec |
UPCOMING EVENTS, INFORMATION AND DEADLINES
Howard County Residential and Day Camp
We are very happy to announce we will be holding Howard County 4-H Residential Camp June 18-24, 2023 at Western Maryland 4-H Education Camping Center and a Day Camp July 10-14, 2023 at Howard County Fairgrounds.
Residential Camp is a one-week program, located in beautiful Garrett County Maryland, at the 1,100 acre Western Maryland 4-H Education Center. Our program and facilities is ACA accredited camp. We will hold camp in 2023 from Sunday, June 18 - Saturday, June 24. All youth, ages eight (as of January 1, 2023) through 14, are welcome to apply. Camper fee is $600.00 for the week.
Please note due to several price increases with the camping center and natural inflation the price of camp had to be adjusted, however the fees do include transportation to and from camp and room and board for 6 nights. Camper activities include arts and crafts, canoeing, swimming, hiking, archery, sports, ropes course, riflery, campfires, and talent show, all in a natural outdoor setting. Parents and campers are required to attend the upcoming orientation being held in Thursday May 25, 2023 at the Howard County Fairgrounds. Registration forms are accepted on a first come, first serve basis. Please keep in mind 4-H members will received preferred status prior until Monday, April 17. After that date, it will be open to all youth (ages 8-14) and placement will continue until spaces are filled. TRY NOT TO WAIT UNTIL THE DEADLINE; SPACE GOES FAST!
We will hold Day camp in 2023 at the Howard County Fairgrounds from Monday, July 10 - Friday, July 14. All youth, ages seven (as of January 1, 2023) through 14, are welcome to apply. Camper fee is $300.00 for the week. Parents and campers are required to attend the upcoming orientation being held virtually on Thursday June 8, 2023 at 7p.m.
Need-based scholarships are available for those who qualify. For more information, please contact Chris Rein at 410-313-1915 or by email at Crein@umd.edu.
Central Cluster Public Speaking - Hosted in Howard County
One of the most valuable skills youth learn during their time in 4-H is public speaking. Each year, 4-H’ers participate in a Public Speaking Contest where they are able to practice and improve their public speaking skills.
The categories for the Public Speaking Contest are: Extemporaneous, Interpretation, Prepared and Radio Spot. Clovers and New this year are two categories: Visual Presentation and Demonstration. Clovers can participate as well by reciting the 4-H Pledge or the American Pledge.
- Extemporaneous: Participants will draw 3 topics at the contest and select a favorite from the 3. Then given an allotted amount of time, a participant will write the speech and practice prior to presenting to judges. Extemporaneous presenters will draw for their speaking topics upon arrival at their scheduled time. Juniors and Intermediates have 30 minutes of preparation time and seniors will have 15 minutes preparation time.
- Interpretations: Youth memorize an oral presentation of a selected narrative from a published work. Permitted works include dramatic or humorous plays, books or poetry. A television script or show or any unpublished source is not acceptable.
- Prepared: Write a speech prior to the contest and bring the day of the contest. The topic is the participants choice and is presented to judges during the allotted time slot. Juniors may use a complete script. Note cards containing key word outlines are permitted for intermediates and seniors.
- Radio Spot: Create a 30 second radio commercial prior to the contest. Present to the judges as if it is being broadcast over the radio. Musical or sound effect introductions and/or backgrounds may be used.
- Clovers: Clovers are welcome to participate in the Prepared Speech area only, reciting the American or 4-H pledge.
- Visual Presentation: a presentation using props (such as charts, PowerPoint slides, posters, animals,etc.) that help illustrate and accentuate the presentation. The props allow the audience to see and understand facts and concepts shared in the speech. Contestants should construct a speech like they were doing a prepared speech, and include pauses/breaks to point to a prop, hold up a poster, show slides, etc. These pauses should be factored into the overall time of the presentation. Contestants must provide all necessary props/equipment.
- Demonstration: is a presentation where the contestant shows step by step how to do or make something. Some examples include: how to groom a rabbit for show, how to make a corsage, how to make balloon animals, etc. The contestant would prepare and bring all the supplies needed for their “how- to” demonstration. Supplemental materials such as posters with instructions, take-home directions, and samples for taste testing, etc. are encouraged.
Ribbons will be given in each of the age categories for each county.
This is an excellent opportunity, whether a 4-Her carries a public speaking project or not, to receive valuable tips and learn tips to enhance public speaking abilities. Champions will have the opportunity to participate in the State 4-H Communications Contest on April 29, 2023.
Check out our Public Speaking: Making a Great Speech handbook for more information regarding the competition and worksheets to help plan your speech.
2023 Central Cluster Public Speaking Contest Information:
Registration Deadline: March 3, 2023. Registrations must be done online at
https://go.umd.edu/2023CentralClusterPublicSpeaking
Contest Date: Saturday, March 18, 2023
Location: Bushy Park Elementary School 14601 Carrs Mill Rd, Glenwood, MD 21738
Time: Details regarding your presentation time will be sent to you once registration closes.
Any questions please email Chris Rein at crein@umd.edu or Sheryl Bennett at Sherylb@umd.edu Howard County is the host this year in the cluster. Attached is the Maryland State Public Speaking contest information and scoresheets. Central cluster will follow the same rules and scoresheets. Champions from the cluster will move forward to the State contest.
COME JOIN US FOR MONDAY FUNDAYS!!!
New this year! The 4th Monday of each month, January - May, Howard County 4-H is holding project workshops from 4:30-5:30 at the Howard County Fairgrounds in the 4-H Activities Building. (January 30, February 27, March 27, April 24th, & May 29th)
Each Monday we will work on a different project that is designed to be eligible to enter in the Howard County 4-H Indoor Building at the Fair for 2023.
Supply Fee for each Monday will be $5.00 per class or if you attend all 5 classes cost will be $20.00. (Great Deal!) Monies are collected at the door.
To Register just email: Chris Rein at crein@umd.edu or Beth Langvardt at elangvar@umd.edu.
Encourage all 4-Hers interested in coming out and learn something new while getting a head start on Fair projects.
February Session - How to Sew a Pillowcase to support our County Community Service Project.
March session will be floral arrangement.
County Community Service Project for all 4-Hers:
4-Hers are welcome and encouraged to participate at their own pace and time by sewing pillowcases at home from now until Tuesday, February 28th. For the directions and fabric sizes please visit: https://caseforsmiles.org/sewingpreparing-pillowcases/
The Howard County office will take all donated pillowcases and prepare them for donation to our local Ryan's Case for Smiles on behalf of Howard County 4-H. Pillowcase instructions
Our office has a few sewing machines if a 4-Her is interested to check out and participate in this community service project. It will be on a first come first serve basis.
Please email Chris Rein with any questions or interest in borrowing a machine at Crein@umd.edu.
BEEF FIELD DAY - April 22nd
Beef Field Day is being held in with Carroll County 4-H again this year and we have a NEW workshop for 2023. On Saturday, April 22nd we will be hosting a clipping, showmanship and hair care workshop. Members can bring their animal(s) to be clipped with assistance from experienced 4-Hers and volunteers following the workshop. This is an optional workshop but we ask those that plan to participate to indicate in the appropriate space on the entry form for Beef Field Day.
Beef Field Day will follow on Sunday, April 23rd at the Howard County Fairgrounds. Mark the date on your calendar, now! This is a great learning opportunity. Attendance at Beef Field Day is MANDATORY for JUNIORS, INTERMEDIATES AND HOWARD COUNTY 4-H FIRST YEAR beef exhibitors. However, we really encourage everyone to participate as this is a learning opportunity for both yourself and your cattle. The entry form for Beef Field Day is below in addition to the Liability Release Form.
2023 Essay Question: Describe the benefit of participating in 4-H to an elected official and why they should support the 4-H Program.
2023 Special Awards: We are looking for your support. We have special awards for the 2023 Howard County Fair in need of sponsorship. Since we had no awards last year we may have a number of awards that become available. Please check availability often.