The following 4-H Youth Development articles printed in the 2018 Winter edition of the Oldham County Extension Newsletter.

Teen Conference is Around the Corner – Mark Your Calendar

If you are an Oldham County 4-H teen and have not attended Teen Conference, you’re missing out! Teen Conference is for those who have graduated from the eighth grade through the age of 19. Participants select tracks, college visits, tours, workshops, and issues seminars. The conference will be held at the University of Kentucky on June 10 through 13.

Financial assistance requests must be submitted to the 4-H Council by April 1 and the complete registration is due April 15. Contact the Cooperative Extension Service for registration materials and additional information.

Take Your Dog to Camp

4-H Dog Camp is the perfect opportunity for 4-H members to work with their dogs one-on-one as well as in group instruction situations. Dog Camp will be held at J.M. Feltner 4-H Camp on May 17 through 19. Please contact the Extension office at 222-9453 if you would like to receive registration information when it becomes available.

4-H Speech Program Builds Confidence

Public speaking is one of Americans’ biggest fears. 4-H presents the opportunity for youth to conquer this fear at a young age. By learning public speaking skills, youth develop the confidence, organizational skills, and composure to become the influential leaders of tomorrow.

Competition begins at the club level, qualifying for the county competition on April 15. County winners advance to a district tournament on April 27, and district champions move on to the state tournament, held in July at the University of Kentucky in Lexington. Judges evaluate the presentation and the speaker’s ability to clearly deliver a message. It’s not too late to get involved in a 4-H speech program; visit our website at oldham.ca.uky.edu/4h-communications for more information.

HELP!! We need judges for the 4-H Communication Competitions on April 15 and 27. If you are interested in volunteering to judge a speech or demonstration contest, contact Kelly Woods at 222-9453. We need your help to make this a rewarding experience for our 4-H members!

Kentucky Forest Leadership Program

Interested in the environment? Want to know more about forests, trees, insects, water, and wildlife; in short, Kentucky’s natural resources? Then consider the Kentucky Forest Leadership Program where you can explore the many aspects of forestry and related fields. If you like hands-on learning in the great outdoors, then this program is for you.

The Kentucky Forest Leadership Program is open to high school students that have completed their sophomore and junior years. It will take place at the Kentucky 4-H Educational Center in Jabez, Kentucky, on June 2 through 7.

The Kentucky Forest Leadership Program offers three educational tracks: Forestry, Entomology, and Wildlife. While choosing a track provides you the opportunity to experience a concentrated program, the three tracks will work together throughout the week just as real-life natural resources experts do.

This leadership program is not a recreational summer camp. You can expect to be busy with a full schedule of hands-on forestry and natural resource activities for the week.

More information available online at kflp.ca.uky.edu or from Laurie Thomas via laurie.thomas@uky.edu.

Written by Kelly Woods, Oldham County 4-H Agent; Lauren Fernandez, Oldham County Extension Assistant; and Laurie Thomas, Extension Forester.