2013 Bee Essay Contest

All youth between the ages of 5 & 18 are eligible to participate in this great essay contest! The 2013 topic is “Reducing the Usage of Bee-Killing Pesticides in my Community.”

Pesticides are a fact of modern life, but misuse or overuse of pesticides, or making poor choices when selecting and applying pesticides can be devastating to honey bees and other pollinators. The 4-H’ers are encouraged to learn about bee-killing pesticides being used in their communities – by homeowners, businesses, or farmers. Then, they should investigate how the impact of those pesticides on honey bees can be lessened.
 
The scope of the research is an essential judging criterion, accounting for 40% of your score. The number of sources consulted, the authority of the sources, and the variety of the sources are all evaluated.

Personal interviews with beekeepers, farmers and others familiar with the subject are valued sources of information and should be documented. Sources, which are not cited in the endnotes, should be listed in a “Resources” or “Bibliography” list.

Those interested in entering the contest need to have their essays submitted electronically by February 1st, 2013. There will be cash awards for the winners. Please send all essays to Liz Driscoll at liz_driscoll@ncsu.edu.

Help 4-H Grow Greener!

A fellow 4-H Agent said it best when she said “Our 4-H members, who are learning leadership and citizenship today, are the same adults who will be our future citizen leaders in communities near and far. The skill and ability they have in communication, negotiation, problem solving, working together, managing resources, and keeping records are the same skills most employers will be looking for in the workforce!”

We need adult volunteer leaders who will give a couple of hours each month to organize local 4-H clubs. We need more clubs in Dobson, Mt. Airy, Westfield, Pilot Mountain, Shoals, Siloam, Elkin and Lowgap. We know the kids in these communities would benefit from having a “place to belong” where they could socialize and meet with kids who share similar interests. We also know that when parents gather with other parents, they share stories of how 4-H has impacted their life. 4-H is very much, an organization that the whole family can benefit from.

Boys and girls together in one club with elected officers and an agenda filled with opportunities for youth to educate one another, participate in community service projects and share in fun and fellowship is the perfect recipe for building our next generation of leaders!

Would you like to volunteer your time to organize a club? Would you be willing to share a skill that you have in woodworking, photography, clothing construction, art, animal science, rocketry, shooting sports or any of a number of interesting subjects? We have curriculum, written by university experts that we can share, and we even have prepared kits that can be checked out, so that having a ready made activity at a club meeting is that much simpler.

I am convinced that our young people need strong adults who can give an hour or two to stand with them as they grow and develop into capable and contributing members of our society!

If you should like to visit with us give us a call at: 401-8025. 4­-H is open to girls and boys ages 5­ to 18 without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin or disability.

4-H Spooktacular!

Mt. Airy Public Library
Friday, October 12
3:30-5:00pm
Free!

Halloween is fast approaching and promises lots of sugary treats! Join in as we discover simple sugar facts that may help in your trick or treating decisions. Participants will not leave empty handed as each family will be able to make a special craft to take home. You don’t want to miss our special story with Ms. Angela and opportunity to learn some tips on how to be safe this Halloween!

New 4-H Horse Club!

Come and check out the new 4-H Horse Club starting at Cardinal Stables on Monday, October 15 at 6:00pm. All youth between the ages of 5 & 18 are welcome to attend, no previous equine experience necessary. All youth will have opportunities to interact with horses at the stable and will not need to provide their own.  This meeting is a welcome and planning meeting where youth will help determine what they would like to learn at these monthly club meetings and get to know each other.

Please note: the meeting will be held at the barn and closed-toed shoes is required.

For more information contact Beverly McGee at 336-399-7099 or cardinalstables@surry.net.

The Great American No Bull Challenge

If you’re a teenager, you already know how difficult it can be to deal with online bullying. It’s a fact that being the target of a cyberbully can ruin your life, and it’s important to know that you’re not alone and that there are things you can do to limit your exposure to the disasters of technology.  

Take a look at a few important statistics that speak to the issue of cyberbullying:

« Over half of America’s teens have been harassed online, and about the same number have engaged in cyberbullying others. [iSafe, Inc.]

« School cyberbullying statistics are increasingly viewed as a key contributor to youth violence, including homicides and suicides. [CNN]

« Victims of cyberbullying are 1.9 times more likely to attempt suicide. [Cyberbullying Research Center]

« The majority of cyberbullying attacks go unreported to parents, teachers and the authorities. [Adoption Articles Directory]

« 39% of teens admit to using social networks to victimize and harass their peers. [The Examiner.com]

The truth is, cyberbullying affects almost every family in America and almost every teen has experienced some form of online harassment.  

Remember these few important steps if you find yourself a victim of cyberbullying:

·         Ignore the person or people sending the harassing texts and Facebook posts.

·         Block the cyberbully from your Facebook and your cell phone.

·         Finally, Report them! There are things that can be done to make sure that bullies are made responsible for their actions and that they face the appropriate consequences.

WARNING: Sometimes when you’re surrounded by people that are constantly accusing you of something that isn’t true, you may actually start to believe them, which can be very dangerous and harmful to your health! Rely on your true friends to stand by and stand up for you. Remember, it’s difficult to fight cyberbullies on your own, ask for help!

For more great information what cyberbullying is and how you can stop attacks check out the Great American Challenge No Bull website at http://nobullchallenge.org.

Source:  http://nobullchallenge.org/campaign-toolkit