Ada County 4-H

If you're in the 9th grade or higher and want to help with our camp this summer you can apply to our camp counselor program! Our camp counselors work with youth at camp in a cabin setting, including staying in the cabin with a group of campers and helping with workshops and other events at camp. To apply for this program fill out the application and return to the Ada County Extension Office, 5580 Glenwood, Boise, ID 83714 by Monday, January 13th. All applicants are required to call 287-5900 and schedule an interview with the camp director by Friday, January 24.

Check out 4-H events and deadlines for the month of December! Monday, December 2: Outbound International Travel applications are due to the State 4-H Office. Teens have the opportunity to travel to another country and live with a host family for 4 weeks. Send applications to University of Idaho, 4-H and Youth Development, 975 Perimeter Dr MS 3015, Moscow, ID 83844. Monday, December 2: National 4-H Conference applications are due to the State 4-H Office. This program is open to 4-H members between the ages of 15 and 18 (age as of January 1, 2014) the conference will be April 4 to April 10, 2014. Friday, December 13: Applications are due to the Ada County Extension Office for the Know Your Government Conference. KYG is open to 4-H members in the 8th and 9th grades. Learn about how our government works from trials to passing laws. Monday, December 16: Applications are due to the State 4-H Office for Citizenship, National Focus.  This event is open to 4-H members 15 and 19 and pr

The annual Know Your Government Conference is held every year on President's Day Weekend (February 15-17, 2014) in Boise. This event is open to 4-H members in 8th and 9th grade. Delegates can choose between two workshop options for the conference. The Legislative Workshop will give participants the opportunity to learn how a bill becomes a law including debating bills and lobbying for or against bills. The Judicial Workshop concentrates on how the Idaho Court System works. There will be a mock trial with participants in the various roles. The cost for KYG is $110 per person. Applications are due to the Ada County Extension Office on Friday, December 13. Scholarships are available through the Ada County Endowment Board. Follow this link for applications and more information or call 287-5900.

The Ada County Western Heritage Clinics are designed for youth to learn more about ranching, roping, working cattle, trail riding, branding, and more! These clinics are open to any registered 4-H member. If you would like to attend the clinic and are not enrolled in a 4-H club, please contact our office at 287-5900 or email dhobbs@uidaho and we will find a 4-H club for you!  Our 4-H horse program is open to all youth ages 8 and up (age is considered the age of the youth on January 1, 2014) The next clinic will be Saturday, November 16, 9 am at Jeff and Jane Spencer Training (10059 Highway 16, Eagle) This clinic will focus on desensitizing, roping, and cow work!  All participants are required to wear a helmet, long sleeved western shirt, jeans and boots. Bring a rope if you have one and leather gloves. Breast collars and back cinches are necessary to participate in your qualified events. RSVP to Lianna by text or phone at 908-2043. Email lianna5470@gmail.com

Learn how to build Lego robots and program them to compete with other teams in various events. The First Lego League is designed for youth ages 9 to 14 and new teams are forming now! Youth teams will build and program their Lego robot while learning teamwork and problem solving skills. We are having a parent and youth meeting on Wednesday, September 11 at 6:30 pm at the Ada County Extension Office.

Now that the fair is over it's almost time for our new 4-H year! We'll be kicking our new year off with an Open House event. Everyone is invited to come and learn more about 4-H and what type of projects we offer. There will be 4-H clubs and leaders sharing information about their projects. You can also stop by the Western Idaho Fair from now until Sunday, August 25 at the Expo Building and see what projects our members completed this year. Open House will be Monday, September 30th from 6 to 8 pm and Tuesday, October 1st from 6 to 8 pm at 5880 Glenwood, Boise.

It's that time of year again! There are many deadlines and important dates coming up, be sure to check your fairbook so you don't miss any of them. Here's a few to watch for: July 26th: Horse Fair Entry forms are due to the Extension Office by 5 pm. These forms can be faxed (287-5909), mailed, or emailed ( dhobbs@uidaho.edu ) August 1st: All other fair entry forms are due to the Extension Office by 5 pm. These forms can also be faxed, emailed, mailed, or entered online at http://idahofair.com/ August 10th: Interview Evaluations for the Horse Project only. Interviews are held at the Double Nickel Ranch. Your 4-H club leader will notify you of your interview times. August 13th and 14th: Interview Evaluations for all other projects. The interview is mandatory, call 287-5900 to schedule an interview time. August 15th: Bring your animals to the fair. Refer to the fairbook for times to bring each species. August 16th: First day of the Western Idaho Fair! Parents need to

The 2013 Horse Fair Entry Forms are available for the Western Idaho Fair! The entry forms are due to the Ada County Extension Office on Friday, July 26 by 5 pm. You can also fax them to 287-5909. The forms have been combined this year into a two page form. The Hi-Point election form and the Hunter Hack permission form are included. You will still need to include the breed awards and stall requests with the fair entry form. If you are entering the Versatility Classes the $10 livestock fee must be included with your entry. Refer to the fair book for classes and more requirements. Horse Fair Entry Form Instructions

Over and over teachers say they can pick out students who have been in 4-H because of their ability to give effective oral presentations.   In Idaho, an oral presentation is a required component to complete every 4-H project. New, updated resource materials are available to help youth learn to refine their presentation skills.   Speak up with Confidence: Tips on Presenting in Nine Key Areas is available on the State 4-H website ( http://www.uidaho.edu/extension/4h/pages/documents ), then look under Project Publications.   Youth and adult volunteers alike may use this publication to learn more about how to become a confident, polished public speaker.   Each of the nine tip sheets in this publication can be used as a stand-alone document to practice and learn more about some element of a presentation.   Here’s a preview - Tips on Presenting #1 – Putting Parts of a Presentation Together describes three basic parts of any presentation, components of each part, and how the prese

This annual event is open to 4-H members ages 14 to 18 who have not previously attended. Applications are available here . This event is an opportunity for 4-H members to exchange ideas and learn through workshops, culture events, and speakers. 4-H National Congress will be held November 29 - December 3, 2013 in Atlanta, Georgia. applications are due Friday, July 5, 2013.

Can your team build a Lego robot that can beat the competition? Join us at the first annual Sumo Bot Contest at the Western Idaho Fair! Following guidelines, teams of up to 5 members build a Lego robot and compete against other teams! Fair passes will be provided for each child participant and a pass for one chaperone per family. For complete rules please contact the Ada County Extension Office at 287-5900 or ada@uidaho.edu Registration due August 1, 2013 Contest will be held August 24, 2013 at the Western Idaho Fair Ages 9 to 14 in teams of up to 5 members Fair passes provided Must submit a poster documenting your robot Prizes will be provided for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places!

We're holding a fundraiser for the 4-H Afterschool Program on Friday, June 7 at Farmway Village in Caldwell from 5 to 8 pm. There will be authentic Mexican food, music, and children's activities! Tickets are $8 for 10 tickets and can be purchased on the day of the event. Everyone is welcome to come and support our Afterschool Program! For more information please call Marisol at 459-2232 or check out the flyer!

The first annual Idaho 4-H Public Speaking Contest will be held during the Idaho 4-H Teen Conference on the University of Idaho campus in Moscow. Winners of this will be eligible to enter the national contest at the Western National Roundup in Denver January 9-21, 2014. There are two categories of speeches: Impromptu and Prepared. If you would like more information call 287-5900.

4-H Adventure Camp is an overnight summer camp on Cascade Lake near Donnelly. Campers will have a great time canoeing, swimming, fishing and more! There will also be archery, shooting sports, and craft workshops. June Kids Camp June 28 to July 1 Grades 3 to 5 Cost: $165.00 if paid by June 14 August Kids Camp August 2 to 5 Grades 3 to 5 Cost: $165.00 if paid by July 19 Teen Camp July 8 to July 12 Grades 6 to 8 Cost: $205.00 if paid by June 24 The cost includes bus transportation to and from camp with stops in Boise, Caldwell, Horseshoe Bend, Weiser, and Fruitland. Adult chaperones and trained teen counselors will be at all camps and on the bus too. Scholarships may be available, call the Ada County Extension Office at 287-5900 to check on availability. We also offer payment plans with a small down payment. For registration information go to cascadelake4hcamp.com

If you want to do something fun, educational, or help with a community project this is a great weekend for you! May 18-19 4-H Adventure Camp Clean Up Weekend . You can help prepare the camp, located in Donnelly for the summer camping season. It's too late to reserve a cabin, but it's not too late to help! May 18  Ada County Field Day. Learn how to show large or small animals in a round robin type setting. No need to bring your animals, we'll provide them! No pre-registration required or fees, just show up at Expo Idaho (use the Livestock entrance) at 8:30 am. May 18  Ada County Western Heritage Clinic. Bring your horse and explore the old time ranching ways. There will be packing and back country riding, skills training with roping, sorting, and penning. Come on out to 3007 Can-Ada Rd, Melba at 9 am May 18  Silver Spurs Horse Show. You missed the pre-payment discount, but you can still pay and register on the day of the show. The classes are $9 each or $75 for the d

This year's Field Day features a Round Robin of Fun! Learn how to show animals large or small on Saturday, May 18, 8:30 am at Expo Idaho. There will be a large animal session and a small animal session. Animals will be provided, so no need to bring yours. No preregistration required - just come on out and join us.

Looking for something to do this summer? Check out the Ada County Summer Day Camp Institute. Our day camps offer hands on learning and fun experiences for everyone! We're offering day camps on Baking Decorating Robotics - WeDo and Sumo Bots! Electricity Art Archery Geology Kayaking Science Parent and Child fun camp Each day camp is geared towards a specific age group, so you're sure to find the right camp for your children. Prices also vary and scholarships are available. See the Day Camp brochure for more information or call 287-5900!

It's time for the 2nd Annual Farmway Village 4-H Egg Drop! All you have to do is create an ETV (egg transport vehicle) following some simple rules and see if your egg survives the fall! Your ETV must be constructed of duct tape and straws (follow the directions on this flyer) There will be prizes and a team award too. The entry fee is $5 per person and includes lunch. This contest is open to youth in grades 5 through 8. There is also a naked-egg drop competition. Wearing protective gear participants attempt to catch an egg without breaking it. This is open to all school age youth and just for fun - no prizes. Don't forget the Tech Wizard Day Camp too. A variety of fun science and engineering activities. The day camp is open to all school age youth. Call 459-6003 for more details.

The University of Idaho Extension is offering an online program to improve reading skills of youth this summer. This individualized program includes support from a professional reading teacher, effective materials, independent reading in great books, and engaging online instructions. There are programs for students in 1st grade through 5th grade. These programs are geared toward each age group and are designed to improved fluency, comprehension, and a love of reading. To learn more about this program or to register call 800-964-9974.

There are some college scholarship applications due in April. If you haven't applied for these scholarships there is still time. All of these applications are available at the Ada County Extension Office, so call 287-5900 to request the applications or email to: dhobbs@uidaho.edu Idaho Agri-Women: Two $500 scholarships will be awarded. Applicants must live or attend schools in Ada, Canyon, Gem, or Owyhee counties and have an interest in pursuing a career in agriculture and/or any supporting/allied industry. Application due on Monday, April 1, 2013. Western Idaho Fair Agriculture Excellence: At least two $1,000 scholarships will be awarded to 4-H/FFA members who participate in the Western Idaho Fair. Applications due on Friday, April 5, 2013. Ada County Endowment Board: One scholarship will be awarded to an Ada County 4-H member. Application due on Monday, April 1, 2013.

The Western Heritage Clinic Series will focus on learning the "good ole'" ways on ranching, roping, working cattle, trail riding, branding, horsemanship, and much more! The clinic kicks off on Saturday, March 16 at the Western Riding Club (6630 Riding Club Ln, Boise) at 9 am for the first Orientation Clinic. The cost is $10 for each clinic and lunch will be available. The dress code includes a helmet, long sleeves, western shirt, jeans, boots. Western wear is a must! Bring a rope too if you have one. Hope to see you there for this fun set of clinics! Check out the flyer for the Western Heritage Clinic

It's almost time for the initial weigh in for market animals. Don't forget to bring your COOL form to the weigh in. All 4-H members must be enrolled in 4-H before the weigh. This can be done online this year using 4-H Online . The enrollment fee still needs to be paid to the Extension Office. The fees are $14 for horse project and $10 for all other projects. Ada County (WIF) Weigh In Dates Beef - Saturday, March 16, Western Idaho Fairgrounds, 9 to 11 am Swine - Tuesday, May 7, Western Idaho Fairgrounds, 4 to 7 pm Sheep - Thursday, May 16, Western Idaho Fairgrounds, 4 to 7 pm Canyon County Fair Weigh In Dates Beef - Saturday, March 2, Treasure Valley Livestock Auction, 9 to 12 pm Swine - Tuesday, April 16, Canyon County Fairgrounds, 4 to 7 pm Sheep - Tuesday, May 14, Canyon County Fairgrounds, 4 to 7 pm Market Goat - Tuesday, May 14, Canyon County Fairgrounds, 4 to 7 pm

There will be a benefit for the Ada County Leader's Association on Saturday, March 16 at Center at the Park (1920 N Records Ave, Meridian) at 6 pm. Tickets are $25 each or $40 for a couple. This includes a prime rib dinner, raffles, and a silent and live auction with all proceeds supporting the Ada County Leader's Association. Some of the items up for auction include a signed Kellen Moore Detroit Lions jersey, signed George Strait cowboy hat, a John Deere bicycle, and couples night out gifts, wine lover deals, and other action packages! There will also be a babysitting service for children ages 3-10 for $5 per child. See the  Benefit Flyer  for more information or call 287-5900 to purchase tickets.

Ada County Horse Bowl will be held on Saturday, February 2, 2013 at Church of Christ, 2000 N Eldorado St, Boise. Junior and Senior Ada County Horse Bowl will be held on the same day and the same location. Registration is $10 and due by Thursday, January 31, 2013. Horse Bowl is a fun way to test your knowledge of horses! The top three teams are eligible to participate in the District II Horse Bowl contest. Horse Bowl is also an Ada County "A" qualifier for the horse project. Registration forms and study packets are available on the Ada County website .