January 4-H Newsletter

A Note from Your CYC...

Looking Ahead

Happy 2022 4-H families and volunteers! I hope your holidays were filled with quality family time and maybe even some 4-H project work. With the new year, we released the latest multi-county overnight and day camp schedule. County-only camps are still in the works. These multi-county camps are a great opportunity to meet fellow 4-H members from surrounding counties. You’ll find everything from a zoo trip in Omaha to winter camp here in DeWitt. Check out the full list on page 2! It’s also posted on our website. The Foundation is also offering $25 toward some camps for Clinton County 4-H members. Any questions? Reach out.

1/7: Volunteer Lunch & Learn

1/11: Foundation Committee Meeting

1/17: "School's Out" Day Camp

1/29-30: Winter Plunge Camp

2/3: Family Camp starts

2/4: Volunteer Lunch & Learn

2/9: Capitol Bound Trip

2/26: Youth Mental Health First Aid

2/28: Bucket Bottle Calf Workshop

January 2022

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Clinton County 4-H News

Babysitting Basics - Jan 17

Are you ready to start babysitting for your family, neighbors, or friends? Then don't miss this class designed to help you learn numerous babysitting basics! Register through 4hOnline. Cost is $20 to cover workbook, lunch, snacks, and other resources. Class is limited to 20 youth!

Winter Plunge Camp - Jan 29-30

Plunge into Winter with an overnight camp for 4-6th graders. 4-H members are encouraged to bring a friend and explore the great outdoors! Register online at v2.4honline.com by January 19, 2021. Cost is $25 for Clinton County 4-H members and $50 for non-members.

Market Beef Identification - Feb 1

Market Beef exhibitors MUST identify the market beef they weighed in on December 11 through 4hOnline before February 1, 2022. ID sheets and instructions were mailed to you. Members also received an email with directions. Need help? Reach out to Haylea at clinton4h@iastate.edu.

Iowa 4-H Foundation Scholarships are Open - Mar 1

Scholarship applications are due March 1. More information. Scholarships range in value from $250 to $5,000. Apply today.

Looking for 16+ year old 4-H members to be camp counselors

Older 4-H members who are interested in overnight camp opportunities like Winter Plunge and Junior Camp can still attend camp as a camp counselor! Primary duties are to help supervise younger youth and participating in activities as a role model. Reach out to Haylea or Amanda at clinton4h@iastate.edu for more details.

Multi-County Camp Schedule Announced

Multiple camps have opened up for registration! You can learn about them all on our website. Reach out for registration.

JANUARY

17– Babysitting Basics (5-12th Grade)

29-30— Winter Plunge Camp (4-6th Grade)

FEBRUARY

9—Capitol Bound (7-12th grade)

MARCH

23— ISU Farm Trip (plus YQCA! 7-12th)

APRIL

22-23 — Penguins and Pajamas (7-9th)

JUNE

6-7 — Outback Camping Experience (7-9th)

7-9 — Junior Summer Camp (4-6th)

9-10 — Junior Adventure Camp (4-6th)

Looking ahead - workshops!

Workshops are a great tool to learn essential skills AND bring exhibits to the county fair. Specific dates will be announced soon. Topics for this winter/spring will include:

Preparing your beef exhibit for county fair (March/April)
Composting workshop (April)
Matting a photograph (May)

Fruit Sales Update

We just received pricing guides from MinnTex yesterday. Order sheets will be delivered to the Extension Office soon. Watch for emails with more information—both from your club leader (if your club is participating) and the county office. We will NOT be doing online ordering.

RAGBRAI Community Impact Grant Received for 4-H

Each club will be receiving a brain break kit, first aid kit, and vibrant club curriculum this spring from the RAGBRAI grant we recently received. Club leaders will be invited to a training in April to learn about the materials and practice some activities. Clubs with wellness or recreation officers can also attend! This grant will also be paying for Youth Mental Health First Aid training for club leaders in February. Thank you RABGRAI committee!!

Clinton County Clover Kids News

Upcoming Clover Kids Meetings

This is the most up-to-date list we have. Please check with your club leader or club Facebook group for more information!

Cal-Wheat Clover Kids - Jan 19

DeWitt Clover Kids - Jan 9

Elk River Eagles - Jan 20

Goose Lake Clover Kids - Jan 12

Grand Mound Clover Kids - Jan 20

Low Moor Clover Kids - check with leader

Summer Discovery Registration will open Mi-March

Each June, we offer day camp options for K-3rd grade youth. Camp pricing and schedule is still TBD. Registration will be ready by mid-March though. We can only accept 20 youth per camp. Last year they filled up fast! Check the March Newsletter and your email for details.

DeWitt Clover Kids Only

DeWitt Clover Kids members MUST sign a winter activity waiver before attending the sledding meeting on January 9. Please fill it out with this link: https://go.iastate.edu/VUNBQO

January Activity at Home

Activity: Super U!

Supplies: yarn, jumbo straws, pipe cleaners, tissue paper, (or substitute items!)

Related topics: STEM, Leadership

Background: Through a story, we will learn that Captain Magma has three superpowers. He is really strong, has lava vision, and a friendly personality, but he wishes he could fly. Since Captain Magma can’t fly, our challenge is to use the supplies provided and a variety of household items to build a zip line to help him reach the villain’s hideaway, stop their evil plan, and save the day.

Link: Extension Store (it is free!)

Recipe of the Month

This month's recipe is Pasta Fagioli Soup. Find the recipe on Spend Smart. Eat Smart.

Iowa 4-H News

Healthy Living Club Challenge - "Boosting our Brain Health"

This year’s challenge will feature monthly “bonus” activities to learn about the importance of our brain and how that impacts our well-being. This is a 6-month challenge. Register by December 23 to receive a goodie bag of challenge supplies. Clubs can register via JotForm or learn more online.

States' 4-H Summer Exchange

States’ 4-H Summer Outbound programs provide American 4-H youth with the opportunity to travel to foreign countries for a cultural immersion experience. Outbound delegates live with volunteer host families and engage in experiential learning about a new way of life. Delegates

experience aspects of daily life that allow them to more deeply understand both their host culture and their own culture. You can sign up to travel or be a host family. For more information visit our website.

Citizenship Washington Focus Trip Registration Due Jan. 25

CWF is a 4-H leadership and civic engagement program for high school youth (completed grades 9-12 at the time of the trip). Each summer teens gather in Washington DC to learn what it means to be a strong leader in their community, country, and world. Funding options may be available, please reach out to clinton4h@iastate.edu. Learn more online.

Pioneer Seed Grant - Due Jan. 30

4-H clubs can apply for “seed money” from Pioneer in the form of grants of up to $500. These grants are to be used by 4-H clubs for community improvement projects in their community. Applications are due to the state office by January 30th, 2022. For application materials, tips, and more info check out the website.

Around the Word in 12 Dishes

This newsletter is open to all who want to travel to a new country each month to learn about its history, culture, and food while trying out new recipes that are traditional to that country. Sign up online.

Awards, Trips, and Leadership Opportunities - Due Feb 1

Are you in grades 9-12th? Are you interested in receiving recognition for your efforts as a 4-H member? Interested in ways to get more involved in 4-H? Applications are due February 1 for these exceptional opportunities from Iowa 4-H:

State Project Awards ($100 prizes!)
National 4-H Conference (in D.C.)
National 4-H Congress (in Atlanta, GA)
State 4-H Council
Shooting Sports Ambassador
Iowa 4-H Reporter Program
Healthy Living Ambassador
STEM Leadership Accelerator
Teen Influencers for Equity and Inclusion

Learn more by visiting the website. Amanda is happy to help with applications too! Interviews are offered in person and virtually for 2022!

Volunteer Lunch and Learn Webinar Series

Iowa 4-H Youth Development is offering a Volunteer Lunch & Learn series! The lunch & learn series consists of four brief 15–20 minute Zoom sessions that will dive into topics that you can

apply into your role as an Iowa 4-H volunteer with your clubs or programs. The sessions will be

held via Zoom.

Clinton County Extension News

Adapting Infrastructure for Flood Resiliency Webinar - Jan 13

This webinar is a virtual cover crop field day on Thursday, Jan. 13, at 1 p.m. CST. Join for a live conversation with Matt Frana, project coordinator for the Turkey River Watershed and Upper Iowa River Watershed, following video footage from a road project site within the watershed.

Horse Breeders Can Balance Mare Nutrition with New Guide

A new publication helps horse breeders determine the dietary needs of their mares during gestation and lactation. the information in the publication, "Nutrition for the Gestating and Lactating Mare," applies to anyone involved with the breeding of mares – whether at the hobby or commercial levels.

Family Camp - Registration Open!

We’re excited to offer a weekly program starting February 3 and running weekly until March 10 here at the Extension Office.

About Camp: Families will enjoy time together learning and playing. If one of your new year's resolutions was to spend more time as a family, this can help you reach your goal!

What to Expect: Parents and youth will share a meal to start each week. Youth and parents will learn their own skills for a little bit and then come back together for games before heading home. Weekly incentives like ice cream nights, board games, movie tickets, and more are included.

Cost: None. Family Camp is free!

Finding Answers Now

As Iowans deal with disruptions to their families and communities, these resources provide information to help you cope with concerns about healthy eating, relationships, mental health and wellbeing, personal finance, food safety, and nutrition and wellness.

Powerful Tools for Caregivers available online starting 1/11

Feeling stretched in your role as a caregiver? Caregiving can be stressful — physically, emotionally, and financially. Whether you care for a loved one at home or in a care facility, nearby or far away, your role is important. You will learn ways to take care of yourself, reduce stress, improve your caregiving confidence, and establish balance in your life as you care for others. Intended audience: Family caregivers of adults with chronic conditions or family caregivers of children with special health or behavioral needs Format: Six 90-minute or 2.5 hour classes

Writing Your Retirement Paycheck available online 1/20

It’s not too soon to take steps to make your resources last a lifetime. You can “write” your own retirement paycheck as you learn to make informed decisions about your retirement savings and withdrawals. You’ll learn how health insurance, inflation, required minimum distributions and taxes will impact your retirement paycheck. Intended audience: Adults of any age Format: Two 2-hour workshops

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