MONROE COUNTY 4-H CLOVERLINK

Dear Monroe County 4-H,

We are coming to the close of a year. A year that

has treated no one kindly. We look at a holiday

season where we are asked to really think about

who we see and where we visit, these are the very

center of the season’s joy. Missing our families,

friends, and community makes the gifts under the

tree seem trivial. So, I am looking at this

Christmas as a rescue mission, we need to save

cheerfulness. How much cheer have you felt the

last 8 months? I know mine has been low, and

when I do feel the tingles of joy in my heart, I feel

bad for feeling good. Here is your permission to

feel cheerful at this time of hope, love, and joy.

Feel the peace on Earth, and Good will to

mankind. If you have the means pick a tag or an

extra tag from the Angel Tree or put paper money

in the red kettle. If you find yourself needing help

this season please accept someone’s offer of

kindness in the spirit it is offered, helping each

other find holiday cheer.

How does this work for 4-H? There are still causes

that can use help. We can ring bells at the red

kettles, we can bake for those whom our club

knows needs a pick-me-up. We can collect and

send a package to Rolling Hills or the VA. The

club or members could send a video of holiday

songs or readings out on your social media. These

are things we can together, apart. We also need

each other, 4-H is a club, a group of people that

want to spend time together. Feel free to make

your next digital meetings fun. Our need for

connection far outweighs our need for Robert’s

Rules right now. Get on ZOOM, Teams, Facebook

Meet, Google Hangout, or group call and be

together. See page 8 for fun meeting games and

ideas for including each other for those whose

technology is challenged.

In all of this I am not saying to force a smile, I am

simply encouraging us all to look for and allow us

to feel joy, cheer, happiness, and love. Appreciate

the lights. Let the music touch your soul, and let

your children dazzle your imagination.

In Holiday Cheer,

Newsletters and information available online at: https://monroe.extension.wisc.edu/4-h-youth-development/

Friendly Reminders



Monthly 4-H Newsletter information is due on the 20th_.



Please keep your mailing and email addresses current in 4-H Online.



If you plan to un-enroll from 4-H, please contact the office so we can remove you from the system.



Find a mistake? It is our policy to include something

for everyone. Since some people like to find errors, we occasionally include a few in this publication to meet this need. :)

Monroe County Extension Office, 206 South K St, Sparta, WI 54656 Phone: (608) 269-8722; Fax: (608) 366-1809

E-mail: [email protected] Website: https://monroe.extension.wisc.edu

M

ONROE

C

OUNTY

4-H C

LOVERLINK

T

HE

N

EWSLETTER FOR

4-H F

AMILIES

& F

RIENDS

Pg 1 Joshua’s Jottings Pg 2 Calendar of Events

Pg 3 Christmas at Rolling Hills / Get More Out of 4-H / Annual Leader Training Via Zoon

Pg 4 Project Fun Day / 2021 Monroe Calendar for Sale Pg 5 Clothing/Sewing Project / Key Leadership & “I Dare

You” Awards

Pg 6 KITS / Foundation Art Contest Pg 7 Area 13 4-H Activity Kits

Pg 8 How to Make Digital Meetings More Than Virtual School

Pg 9 & 10 Exploring 4-H For New Families

Contents

Joshua’s Jottings

University of Wisconsin-Madison, Division of Extension, U.S. Department of Agriculture and Wisconsin counties cooperating. Extension provides equal opportunities in employment and programming including Title IX and ADA.

DECEMBER 2020

If you have ideas of things I should include in the December edition let me know, I would be happy to

work to include those ideas.

Joshua L. Goede

Positive Youth Development Educator

Division of Extension—Monroe County

DECEMBER

Tues., Dec. 1, 2020

Leader Training Zoom, 7-8 pm

WHERE: register at https://bit.ly/3dpsjTU

Thurs., Dec. 10, 2020

Leader Training Zoom, 7-8 pm

WHERE: register at https://bit.ly/3jYFpd6

Thurs., Dec. 24, 2020

Christmas Eve, Office Closed

Fri., Dec. 25, 2020

Christmas Day, Office Closed

JANUARY

Fri., Jan. 1, 2021

Foundation Art Contest deadline

WHERE: online at

https://forms.gle/

FCQSKVBowpru5J7H7

Sat., Jan. 2, 2021

Project Day, 1– 3 p.m.

WHERE: The Sparrow’s Nest

Calendar of Events

If your club or group has

events you would like

on this calendar, please

email information to

[email protected]

4-H Club News

Jolly Joiners

The Jolly Joiner 4-H club held their

monthly meeting on November 1st 2020

at 3p.m. in the Cashton Community

Hall according to the new Covid

guidelines. The members signed up to

deliver fruit to the Cashton Cupboard

for Fruit for Families and an email was

sent out for anyone who wasn’t able to

attend. The club discussed holiday

activity ideas for the residents at the

nursing homes. The officer team will

research about it a little more and then

the members will make a decision at the

December meeting. The club will also

bring ideas about what winter outing

they want to do and then they will vote

at the meeting. The club agreed to

continue doing the Giving Tree and will

be assigned two names. The next

meeting date is to be determined.

Respectfully submitted by Kiara Beck

Reading Opportunity!

Brighten a Senior’s Day.

Our reading project

continues, where we

will be reading to the

nursing home

residents of Rolling

Hills. This would be a

great opportunity to

brighten someone’s

day.

Those who volunteer will be reading live via

technology to the residents over their closed

circuit televisions. We will be reading local

stories about farming, local history or by

local authors that will speak to the resident's

life in Monroe County.

Contact Joshua at [email protected]

or call the office at 269-8722.

Annual Leader Training Via Zoom

Volunteer Team - Melinda Pollen, Dawn VanderVoort & Kandi O’Neil

The basic requirement to maintain your charter is that one leader of

the club attend one of the sessions below. Please email Joshua which

leader attended which training.

 Session 2: Learning in Club Meetings (education in 4-H clubs & groups)

December 1, 2020, 7-8 p.m. Register here!

https://bit.ly/3dpsjTU

 Session 3: Laughing in Club Meetings (recreation in 4-H clubs & groups)

December 10, 2020, 7-8 p.m. Register here!

https://bit.ly/3jYFpd6

Christmas for the Elderly at Rolling Hills

Christmas for the Elderly at Rolling Hills Sponsored by the Knights of Columbus

Items that are suggested include perfume, lotion, hobby supplies, hand held games, Large to

XXL clothing/sweats, stationary, stamps, sugar-free and regular soft candy or snacks, diet

soda and regular soda, CD’s (variety of 50’s, 60’s, 70’s), DVD’s (Family, Westerns, Comedies),

Chap Stick, socks, nail polish, polish remover, cotton balls, zippered coin purses, large print

books and word searches, large print books all genres; Pre Shave, deodorant, cologne, body

wash, electric shavers, zip up hooded sweatshirts, DVD player for individual rooms, gum,

body wash-men and women, calendars.

We can take cash donations written out to Rolling Hills Bazaar account and c/o Linda Fabry. I

am more than willing to run to the store for more specific items or those mentioned above as

well.

Please have these items placed in Monroe County drop off locations, including Rolling Hills,

by December 18

th.

Thanks for your support!

Get More Out of 4-H!!

Are you looking to get more out of 4-H? Monroe County Jr. Leaders may be for you. This group

of young leaders 7th to 12th grade make their own decisions about what their club will do. They

do many fun activities during the year. They support and run Countywide Cloverbud activities,

as well as volunteer in communities across the county. As a reward for all their work they have a

lock-in each winter and take a Road Trip each summer.

If you want to be on the mailing list add Jr. Leaders to your groups list in 4-H Online or email

Joshua at [email protected] to get added.

Project Fun Day

Saturday, January 2, 2021!

WHAT

:

We have 5 classes to choose. Each of you will be able to

participate in only one class for the day. If classes fill-up there

is a possibility more sessions can be added. If there are no spots

on the sign-up, please email

[email protected]

. Classes

are $5 for materials, except Ceramics. The five session are:

Ceramics (3 Sessions)- Create your own ceramic work of art. There

will be many projects to choose from that you will learn to paint and

finish. Figures will be between $10 & $20, you pay Kathy Grabitske

directly for this class.

Cake & Cookie Decorating- You will learn the art of decorating cakes

& cookies. You will learn to make frosting and the techniques to

write on and decorate.

Glass Etching- You will get custom materials to etch a glass block. You

can feel free to bring in other objects to etch as well like dishes or

mirrors.

Leather Craft- Make a personalized leather key chain or other item

that you will hand stamp and create just how you like it.

Sewing- You will create three items in this class. You create your own

face covering, a pillowcase, and a hat for the coming cold weather.

WHERE: Sparrow’s Nest @ The Abbey, 17304 Havenwood Road,

Sparta

WHEN:

1—3 p.m. Come join in on the fun!

To sign up for this event, go to:

Clothing & Sewing Project

Attention all Clothing/Sewing Project members—if you would like help with your Clothing/Sewing projects, please contact Barb Ornes at 608-823-7872 to set up a session for learning and working.

For those just starting out, we will talk about tools needed, parts of the sewing machine, practice sewing, how to read a pattern and much more.

Key Leadership & “I Dare You” Awards

These are the two most prestigious awards given in 4-H. Any adult can nominate

a youth for these awards.

The Key Award is open to members in grades 10 - 13. Youth who have done

outstanding things in the realm of leadership and project work should be

considered for this award. This is for members who have demonstrated consistent

growth in their 4-H involvement, developed and applied their leadership skills and

actively participated in the functions of their 4-H club and community.

The “I Dare You” Award is 4-H members, who demonstrate personal

integrity, lead well-rounded lives and possess a willingness to assume

responsibility. Those nominated for this award should be “emerging”

leaders - those youth who have the qualities and the abilities to lead,

but who may not yet recognize or act on their leadership potential.

This award is designed to be given to a member in grades 8 - 10 and

can only be received once during their 4-H career.

Nomination forms will be in the January Cloverlink.

Happy Holidays

from the Staff

KITS (Kids Inspired to Try Stuff)

You have another chance to sign up for this great program! Every month you will

receive a KITS that showcases a certain project in 4-H. This will give you an idea of

what the project is all about. Instructions are included in every KITS and a video is

usually available as well.

The November KITS included Scrapbooking and Dog Project

materials. Members created appreciation cards for our veterans

and no bake treats for doggies. The December KITS held parts of

an Arts & Woodworking Project. For Arts, a

glass ornament and for Woodworking a wooden snowman.

What will January’s KITS hold for you? If you’d like to sign up for

a January KITS, please go to: https://docs.google.com/forms/

d/1n2E7j-9j7jawrqeaH-faCQfXco6sOREfjvCzWayPYK0/

Foundation Art Contest

The Wisconsin 4-H Foundation is pleased to announce that we

are extending the deadline for the Foundation Art Contest

until January 1, 2021. We know that the beginning of the

4-H year has challenges, especially this year. Recognizing those time

constraints, we wanted to extend the deadline to allow for more

promotion within your county and the state arts programs.

The contest is open to ANY Wisconsin 4-H member. For more

information go to:

Wis4HFoundation.org/events/celebrate-the-arts/

. Please feel free to share this information with those who might be interested.

Here are the details:

The Wisconsin 4-H Foundation Art Contest is open to any current Wisconsin 4-H

member with cash prizes totaling nearly $1,000. The contest will be held virtually,

with photos of all entries submitted electronically through the 4-H entry portal

(https://forms.gle/FCQSKVBowpru5J7H7) no later than January 1.

A winner will be chosen in each category with a Best of Show award given to one entry

chosen by the judging committee. Category winners will receive a $100 cash

award. The Best of Show entry will receive an additional $150 cash award.

Although the contest is virtual, the winning art piece from each category and the Best

of Show must be delivered to the nearest H Office or the Wisconsin

4-H Foundation. The winning art pieces will become the property of the

Wisconsin 4-H Foundation to be used to raise funds for 4-H arts and

communication programs and will not be returned.

Area 13 4-H Activity Kits

The 4-H Camp in the Box program was a big hit! With 4-H club meetings being mostly virtual--we wanted

to offer meaningful activities that members can do together during their zoom meetings. We also want to

provide 4-H activities that members and/or families can do at home.

Orders are due by December 21st and will be ready to pick up January 11th: please plan accordingly.

Option 1 For Club Leaders: Choose an activity for your club to do. You can plan to do these during the

educational portion of your virtual 4-H meetings. Please indicate the number of activities you will need

(You can choose one per family or one per member)

Option 2 For 4-H Members and/or Families: Is your family looking for fun, educational activities that you

can do together at home? If you would like to do an activity/set with your family outside of your regular

4-H club meetings.

You can choose from any or all of the below:

 Captivating Culture Series: $2 per lesson/$3.50 for whole series

 Mehndi: Learn about the origins of henna tattoos, and practice a traditional design

 Lunar New Year: Learn about China's version of celebrating the new year, and create a traditional decoration

 S.T.E.M. Lesson Series: $2.50 per lesson/$10 for whole series

 Homemade Flashlight  Fruit Batteries

 Barn Owl Encounter: Owl Pellets  Valentine Light Up LED cards

 Wind/Weather/Gravity: $2.00 per lesson/$10 for whole series

 Hover Craft - Learn the basics of lift, mass and area with your own mechanical hovercraft

 Kite - How can you make your kite soar to great heights? Let’s learn how we balance gravity with lift and wind.  Airplane - Understanding the forces of

lift, drag, gravity and thrust help us bring our planes to new heights!

 Hot Air Balloon - Hot air is another way to gain lift. Learn how a hot air balloon works as you make your own!

 Survey of 4-H Project Activities: $3 per lesson/ $15 for whole series

 Woodworking: Wooden Snow Folks - Create festive winter people from blocks of wood and learn the steps used to create the kit.

 Dogs: No-Bake Dog Treats - Make a nutritious treat for Fido or to donate to a shelter in your area.

 STEM: Marble Roller Coasters - Study the forces that propel us and the ones that keep us grounded using marbles, tape and foam tubing.

 Entomology: Insect Pinning kit - Create the start of your insect collection with this kit. Learn the proper technique to preserve your specimens.

 Scrap Booking: Homemade Holiday Card - Learn creative ways to tell friends and family how much they matter.  There is an arts kit that will be available in the

digital form.

Order a full box for your family.

This would be a great stocking

stuffer. Or, leaders can pick a kit

and send one to all your

members and do them as a club.

Sign-up digitally at:

How to Make Digital Meetings More Than Virtual School

Many of you have been behind screens way more than ever before. 4-H Educators have been compiling games and ways to bring back the fun and connectedness of your 4-H meetings. Before we get to the list. Let us give you permission to change the mission of the clubs for a bit, until we are able to be together easily. Your meetings can focus on fun ways of “being” together, to listen to each other, and support one another. If the leaders and officers need choices made, right now it is ok to put the choice to the members, “Do we want to sponsor an Angel from the tree? Should we send baked goods to the VA?”. Take a quick vote and try some of the games or activities from the list below.

 The Wayne Game: Members are given a object

to find in their house. Count to 3, everyone turns off their camera and races to find the object. If you are keeping score the first three back with the camera on get points, 3,2,1. If the object is socks, be prepared for a wind sock, or a Red Soxs hat. Maybe the most creative gets 2 points each round.

 Tracks Activity: This one requires sharing your

screen, but you put up graphics like the one at this link, http://www.drstemmom.com/2012/05/ footprint-lab-playing-and-designing.html. The club makes up the story of the tracks, you can share the answer or leave it with the club’s story.  4-H Stories/Club Lore: All clubs have a

history, some longer than others. Event new clubs have a reason they were created. What are some of the stories from your club. What were great stories that came from your activities in 4-H. Members can share stories of learning and fun, both serious like beating the odds, or funny. One story I remember is when Jordyn Steinhoff dropped her glass baking dish at fair, she was worried I was upset at the mess, I was more sad about the ruined baking, she can bake.

 Invisible Maze: A grid is shared with the group either on the screen or emailed ahead of the meeting. One member at a time attempts the maze with the cheers and support of the whole group. There are numbers on the grid, the member can go left, right, up, or down. No

diagonals. The Maze Keeper tells if they make it. Each member takes turns until the maze is solved. Them all members must go through the maze.

 Photo Change: This one requires screen

sharing. You take a photo of a still life. Then change 3-10 things about the photo. Put the photos up next to each other. Members try to find the changes.

 Project work together: You can look on page 7

for projects you club can complete together. All members should get or collect the necessary items ahead of time.

 Ice Breakers: Ice breakers help to meet the

group and learn important things about each other. They give us a chance to find our place in the group. All ice breakers should be challenge by choice. Here are a few quick, easy games to break into your meeting or activities.

Have Ya: All members turn off their cameras. Ask a series of questions like have you gone off the high dive, have you raised a baby animal, etc. If they have done it they turn on their cameras. Then go to a new question.

What’s on your Desk: Each member is

asked to pick up the item that is most important to them that they can reach from where they sit or stand. Members are given the opportunity to explain the item and it’s meaning. “This is the clock that my uncle and I built when I was in 7th grade.”

 Dice Game: Come up

with 6 semi-deep questions. A dice is rolled for each member’s turn and they answer their question.

If you have any questions about how to use these in your meetings please email

Exploring 4-H for New Families

Adult Edition

What does

4-H

stand for?

Head, heart, hands, and health represent the 4 H’s. Each meeting begins with a recitation of pledges, including the 4-H Pledge. While the 4-H pledge has a very direct meaning for our 4-H clubs and members, there are additional ways that adults can apply the pledge before, during, and after club meetings and events.

I pledge

My head

to clearer thinking

It’s normal for youth to have questions or be unsure about things. Give your youth the information you can to help them plan, organize, make wise decisions, and problem solve. It will encourage your child to think critically and use this knowledge throughout life.

My heart

to greater loyalty

Success is awesome. Some failure is inevitable. Both help youth develop strong personal values and a positive self-concept. Encourage and support all youth, especially your own, to have empathy and concern for others. Show your child, by example, how to cooperate and communicate with those around them.

My hands

to larger service

When you help your family’s club, you model volunteerism, community ser-vice, and inclusiveness to your youth. If you don’t have the time to be a vol-unteer, you can help in many equally important ways. If you do want to learn more about volunteering, contact the Extension Office!

My health

to better living

In addition to keeping youth physically healthy—body and mind—it is important we provide them the skills to make healthy decisions and to lead healthy lifestyles. You can help create safe spaces to support youth learning and character development.

for my club, my community, my country, and my world.

4-H does not happen without supportive adults serving as positive role models. Stay involved as a family/caregiver as best as you can; it makes the experience much richer for everyone. The more involved our 4-H members are, the more impactful they are upon the world around them.

Have a minute? Please provide feedback by filling out this 5-question survey

Exploring 4-H for New Families

Member Edition

I pledge

My head

to clearer thinking,

My heart

to greater loyalty,

My hands

to larger service, and

My health

to better living

for my club, my community, my country, and my world.

Adapted from “Design Your Own Clover,” Dr. Darlene Z. Millard, University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension, by Ben Hoppe, Brown County 4-H Program Educator, UW-Madison Division of Extension.

Exploring 4-H for New Families is developed by Heidi Vanderloop Benson, Chippewa County 4-H Program Educator and Ben Hoppe, Brown County 4-H Program Educator, UW-Madison Division of Extension.

An EEO/AA employer, University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension provides equal opportunities in employment and programming, including Title VI, Title IX, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act requirements.

I would like to learn...

My hobbies...

We could help our community by...

Just for fun we could...

What does the 4-H Pledge mean to you?

The 4-H Pledge

4-H meetings start with pledges, including the 4-H Pledge. In each leaf of the clover below, write what each “H” might mean for you!