FEMA Youth Preparedness Council

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is seeking applicants for its Youth Preparedness Council.

The Youth Preparedness Council is a unique opportunity for youth leaders to serve on a highly distinguished national council and participate in the Youth Preparedness Council Summit. Additionally, the youth leaders have the opportunity to complete a self-selected youth preparedness project and to share their opinions, experiences, ideas, solutions and questions regarding youth disaster preparedness with the leadership of FEMA and national youth preparedness organizations. Once selected, members serve on the Council for one year, with the option to extend for an additional year, if formally requested by FEMA. 

Council activities and projects center around five key areas of engagement: Programs, Partnerships, Events, Public Speaking/Outreach and Publishing. Members represent the youth perspective on emergency preparedness and share information with their communities. They also meet with FEMA on a regular basis to provide ongoing input on strategies, initiatives and projects throughout the duration of their term. 

Any individual between the ages of 12 and 17 who is engaged in individual and community preparedness or who has experienced a disaster that has motivated him or her to make a positive difference in his or her community, may apply to serve on the Youth Preparedness Council. Individuals who applied last year are highly encouraged to apply again. Adults working with youth and/or community preparedness are encouraged to share the application with youth who might be interested in applying.  

Youth interested in applying to the Council must submit a completed application form and two  letters of recommendation. Specific information about completing and submitting the application and attachments can be found in the application instructions. All applications and supporting materials must be received no later than February 24, 2014, 11:59 p.m. EST in order to be eligible. New Youth Preparedness Council members will be announced in May 2014.  

For more information about the Youth Preparedness Council and to access the application materials, please visit http://www.ready.gov/youth-preparedness-council.

Appalachian Ski & Snowboard Trip!

It's not too late to sign up for the Appalachian Night Ski and Snowboard Trip. We will be taking a ski/snowboarding trip to French-Swiss Ski College at Appalachian Ski Mountain in Blowing Rock on Friday, February 7th. We will leave the County Office Building at 3:00 pm and return around 1 a.m. The cost for skiing is $25 and $30 for snowboarding (this includes all equipment and lift ticket).  Clothing rental will be additional. 

Spaces are limited so contact the office to register.  Deadline to register is January 31st. 

Ages 8 and up.  Anyone under age 12 needs a parent or guardian present.

Will will have dinner available for purchase from Chic-Fil-A or you may eat at the Snack Bar.  To see the slopes live click HERE.

4-H Teen Retreat

The 2014 North Central Teen Retreat will be held on March 22-23 at the Betsy-Jeff Penn 4-H Center. 

This is a leadership building retreat that offers workshops centered around the state 4-H project. This year's community service activities will be based on our "Revolution of Responsibility" initiative.  We will also be electing our incoming District Officers for 2014/2015. Teen Retreat is for youth who are between the ages of 13-18.  You must be 13 as of January 1, 2014.

The deadline to register is Monday, March 3, 2014.

2014 4-H Beekeeping Essay Contest

All youth between the ages of 5 & 18 are eligible to participate in this great essay contest! This years topic is “Beekeeping in Colonial Times.”

To the earliest European settlers in the New World, honey bees were an important part of their existence. Cargo manifests show that honey bees were among the first shipments of animals. How were they shipped? Why were they important? Why were they so important to the colonists? How does that differ from today?

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.

Historical research will be important. The more authoritative the source, the better. Personal interviews with beekeepers and others familiar with the subject are valued sources of information and should be documented. Sources, which are not cited in the end notes, should be listed in a “Resources” or “Bibliography” list.

Note that “honey bee” is properly spelled as two words, even though many otherwise authoritative references spell it as one word.

State beekeeping essays are due February 15th, 2014. Cash prizes will be awarded to winning essays. Please send all essays ELECTRONICALLY to Liz Driscoll at liz_driscoll@ncsu.edu

2014 NC Volunteer Leader's Conference

If you are interested in becoming a 4-H Club Volunteer please seriously consider attending this State wide Volunteer Leader Conference Jan 31-Feb 2. If you want to volunteer but are unsure of the commitments that come along with the position give me a call and we will talk through it! All leaders are eligible to attend this conference and have the option of attending the entire conference (Friday-Sunday) or just attending the Saturday portion only. Surry County 4-H will pay for registration fees and transportation will be provided.

The registration process for the Volunteer Leader's Conference will be online, using Google forms. If you are interested in attending call Whitney Sprinkle at 336-401-8025 and we will register you once you've completed the necessary volunteer forms. 

4-H Horse Program Enrollment

The 2014 NC 4-H Horse Program Enrollment form is now available online.  Click here to print the enrollment form, fill it out and send it along with all fees required to NC 4-H Horse Program Enrollment, NCSU Box 7523, Raleigh, NC 27695-7523.  

Payment deadline is January 17, 2014.

4-H Plant Sale

The annual 4-H Plant Sale is in full swing. Be on the look-out for your brochure this month if you're on our mailing list. Orders will continue to be taken through Thursday, February 27th. 

Plant pick up will be Thursday, March 13th between 8:15 am and 5:00 pm at the Cooperative Extension Office in Dobson.

Types of plants being sold this year include:

• Strawberries
• Blueberries
• Blackberries
• Raspberries
• Asian Pear Trees
• Peach Trees
• Apple Trees
• Muscadine Grapes
• Various Ornamentals
• Various Herbs

New this year we will be offering Container Gardens (small, medium, and large) full of beautiful plants that will serve as great decor around your house and on your patios this spring! 

Also, we will have Herb Gardens that come with a beautiful container and herbs ready to enjoy for months to come! These include a Fragrant Herb Garden, Spaghetti Herb Garden, and a Medicinal Herb Garden. We are excited to be offering new things and hope that you will enjoy more variety and great plants as you support your county 4-H program!

For a 4-H Plant Sale brochure/order form Click Here. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to email or call us at whitney_sprinkle@ncsu.edu or 336.401.8025.

2014 4-H Scholarships

Scholarship information is here!!!  The applications must be reviewed and signed by me before they are forwarded to the State 4-H Office. Please click on the links below for more information.

Scholarships are open to 4-H members in North Carolina who will be registered as a full-time student. Recipients awarded NC 4-H Academic Scholarships will have an outstanding record of 4-H participation and achievement. Additionally, recipients will possess an excellent high school record of academic achievement measured chiefly by their performance on solid secondary school courses including English, mathematics, physical sciences and social sciences. Also, recipients will demonstrate an aptitude for college work which will be measured by their performance on college entrance examinations including the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) and American College Testing (ACT).

SCHOLARSHIP GUIDELINES

SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION

Deadline to apply is February 3.