The leaves are falling and it’s getting cooler outside—a great time for fall fun with your Cloverbud! Read the latest post on the Cloverbud Connections blog for some great ideas with your little 4-H’er! u.osu.edu/cloverbudconnections

HEALTHU

Are you a 4-H’er interested in health? Do you see yourself potentially working in health one day? Nutritionist? Therapist? Nurse? Athletic Trainer? Geneticist?

Who: Any current 4-H’ers in grades 7 thru 12.

When: Friday, October 27 to Sunday, October 28, 2022

Where: Canter’s Cave 4-H Camp, 1362 Caves Rd, Jackson, OH 45640

Cost: $50 per youth (check or card)

Deadline: Register by 11:59pm on Sunday, October 8, 2022

Registration: https://go.osu.edu/4HHealthEvents

What: Health University (HealthU) is a weekend camp in October focused on Healthy Living for 7^th through 12^th graders in Ohio 4-H. Join us at Canter’s Cave 4-H Camp for a weekend as we explore four of the 10 Dimensions of Wellness and explore health-related careers. We will be exploring the following four tracks of wellness:

• Physical wellness allows a person to engage in activities of daily living without experiencing undue fatigue or exhaustion. The physical dimension of wellness is supported through health behaviors, which include exercise, eating a healthy diet, limiting alcohol intake, not smoking, and getting adequate sleep each night.
• Emotional wellness involves recognizing, accepting, and expressing feelings. Adequate rest is required for wellness in this dimension. If an individual’s mental function is hindered by stress and lack of sleep, they may struggle with accurately assessing a situation which then triggers negative emotional responses and disrupts emotional wellness.
• Social wellness requires the ability to trust and respect other people and leads to the creation of supportive partnerships and friendships. Being socially well allows one to develop and maintain intimacy, and to have empathy and respect for others.
• Creative wellness allows a person to appreciate and/or participate in a diverse range of arts or cultural experiences, and to value and cherish the surrounding world. Freely expressing thoughts and emotions through dance, song, drawing, painting, or writing are some of the ways to engage in creative wellness.

Health HEROES

Application for 2023-2024 Ohio 4-H Health HEROES are open. This statewide teen healthy living advocacy group are called HEROES because they serve as Health Education Resources for Outreach, Engagement, and Service. Youth will learn about current issues and topics in healthy living, learn lessons and activities to implement in their local 4-H community, will be tasked to create an action plan to create change in their local community, and will be a part of a statewide cohort who cares about the health and well-being of Ohio youth.

Benefits of becoming a 4-H Health Hero are:

• Learning about a variety of healthy living topics
• Gaining valuable leadership and communication skills
• Meeting other 4-H youth from across Ohio who are invested in healthy living
• Leaving a positive impact on your family, friends, and community
• Promoting the 4th H!

In previous years we have had youth focus on making change in health topics such as; mental health, vaping, opioids, and more.

Youth who are passionate about health and in grades 9 though 12 may apply! For more information, important dates, and expectations, you may check out https://go.osu.edu/HealthHEROES. Application is due Sunday, October 15th, 2023 by 11:59p.m.

Questions can be directed to Justin Bower, State 4-H Healthy Living and Ohio Military Kids Educator at bower.183@osu.edu or at 614-247-1979.

Join Pawsitively Barktastic for an orientation meeting on Monday, October 16, at 6:30 p.m. in the 4-H Hall. Pawsitively Barktastic is a new 4-H Club in Clermont County that will focus specifically on dog projects. Mark your calendar to come out and learn more about the club!

This fall, Teen Leadership Council will be hosting a virtual Achievement Form Workshop for 4-H members statewide! The event will be held October 1, 2023 from 6:00-7:30 p.m. on Zoom. An informational session will be held, providing a basic overview of the Achievement Form, giving introductory tips for completion, and sharing about potential opportunities available to members who complete and submit their forms. Participants must register at https://go.osu.edu/AchForm2023 by September 29 to receive Zoom information for the workshop. This session will be recorded for those who cannot attend in live-time.

Have no idea what the Achievement Record is? That’s okay! Click the link below to see the additional flyer that describes what the achievement record is and what awards are available for those that win.

What is the Ohio 4-H Achievement Record?

Clermont County 4-H wants to recognize its members for their hard work and participation in the program throughout the year.  4-H members are encouraged to submit an application for the 4-H Clover Award and  Outstanding 4-H’er Award as well as submit officer books for review.

Outstanding 4-H’er Award
The Clermont County 4-H Committee will once again select a 4-H member to receive the “Outstanding 4-H’er Award.”.  The Outstanding 4-H’er Award is meant to honor a 4-H member(s) for their performance, dedication, and passion for the 4-H program.  Applicants must be a current 4-H member, complete the award application in its entirety, have the support of his/her 4-H advisor, and attend the 4-H Recognition Banquet in November.

4-H Volunteer of the Year Award
The 4-H Volunteer of the Year is the highest honor bestowed upon Clermont County 4-H volunteers for recognition at the local level. The purpose of the award is to recognize individuals who have made significant contributions of service to the 4-H program and who have also made an important positive impact upon clubs, communities, and the county or state 4-H program.

Friend of 4-H Award
This award recognizes an individual, family, business or corporation that supports the Clermont County 4-H Program in a charitable manner.

True Leaders in Service Award
The Clermont County True Leaders in Service Award is an award recognizing 4-H clubs for their implementation of community service projects that positively impact their community. Service projects must have been completed between November 1, 2022 and October 31, 2023.

Honor Club Award
Honor club is a prestigious award given to 4-H clubs who meet a minimum standard of activities. There are 14 requirements that are mandatory. Additionally, clubs must meet 16 of the 40 non-mandatory requirements. Clubs will receive a gift for their achievement.

4-H Clover Award
A 4-H Achievement Award is an award that recognizes 4-H members, at least 8 years old and in 3rd grade to age 19, for his/her involvement in the Clermont County 4-H Program. Members earn points for their participation in 4-H club, county, district, state, national and international events and activities. Please submit only one application per person.

Pin Order Form
Member pin order forms are also available. Funds from the Kathleen Retzler Memorial 4-H Endowment Fund will be used to cover the costs of all pins. All volunteers reaching a milestone year will be awarded a pin.  Pin order forms are due to the Extension Office by October 2. To allow enough time for order shipment, no late orders will be accepted.

Officer Book Competition
Club officers (President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, News Reporter, Health Officer, Safety Officer, Community Service Officer, Historian and Recreation Leader) are encouraged to submit officer books for judging.  Books will be judged on content, neatness, workmanship and creativity, and placed 1st-5th.  Books can be dropped off at the Extension Office, Monday through Friday from 8:00a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

All forms and officer books are due by Monday, October 2.

We value our 4-H volunteers and invite them to attend the 2023 Recognition Banquet hosted by the Clermont County 4-H Committee.  The event will be held on Friday, November 3, at 6:30 p.m. in the Multi-Purpose Building, located on the Clermont County Fairgrounds.  Additional details to follow.

Are you looking for a new way to become involved with the Clermont County 4-H program?  The Clermont County 4-H Advisory Committee is accepting nominations for members to serve the 2024-2026 term.  In order to add a youth voice to the committee, youth nominations are also being accepted.  Youth must be at least 15 years of age and will serve a one year term on the committee.  Members of the 4-H Committee assist in determining the priorities and direction of the local 4-H program, are responsible for planning and conducting 4-H events, assisting with fundraisers, and promoting the 4-H program. Members over 18 years of age must be approved 4-H volunteers or agree to complete the 4-H volunteer process. If you would like to nominate yourself or someone you know to serve on the committee, please complete the nomination form below before Monday, October 2.

Clermont County 4-H Committee Nomination Form

As our children transition back to school, below is the link to an article from the 4-H Cloverbud Connections that helps you and your Cloverbud prepare for a successful return.

Preparing Your Cloverbud for a Successful Return to School

Fairgoers participated in the 4-H  STEM Challenge during the Clermont County Fair. Youth were teamed up with a partner to build a solar-powered car. Teams were then challenged to design and construct a device or structure that used the movement of the car to propel a ping pong ball the furthest distance. Participants used ingenuity, creativity, and teamwork to meet the challenge. Eighteen teams participated in the event. Teams were placed 1st-5th place, based on the distance of their ping pong ball. Each winning team received awards including solar backpack, solar earbuds, and solar phone chargers. All participants received a swag bag. Thank you to Clear Mountain Energy for sponsoring the event!