2022-23 Projects

Fair Guidelines: Single table setting limited to 24’x 24″ with a 15″ height limit.

A 24’x 24″ piece of sturdy cardboard, wood, or foam board covered with fabric or paper is required as the base of the setting. All components must be placed only on this board.

Include menu and related centerpiece. Use appropriate service & utensils and make sure the setting matches the items on the menu.

Nothing edible or alive may be a part of the display.

Judging Standards: 25% Overall Appearance, 50% Functionality, 25% Creativity

Student materials:
•. bring an old pillow cover, cloth grocery bag or maybe a pair of pants or a jacket that might benefit from a bit of excitement or would be better if the hole was just fixed. –and we can do that…If you don’t have one, I can offer one.
• Scissors (prefer fabric scissors or really sharp ones but most will work)
• Large eye needles if you have them (I can also supply)
• An embroidery hoop of any size can be helpful but not required.

I will offer:
• Fabric swatches and fun yarn
• Large eye needles
• Old fabric bag or pillow cover if you need one
• A few embroidery hoops or find some as needed

4-H offers pathways that encourage members to build on their achievements, try a variety of projects, and gain acknowledgment for their accomplishments and progress. Members can earn titles, pins, and patches and may take advantage of other opportunities. And it all starts with filling out FORMS.

In this project, we’ll team up to make forms FUN, taking on the new and very simple Sparks chart for all who wish to submit their participation in our club’s projects to the regional and state 4-H levels for recognition.

And for members who like to write, scrapbook, and generally make things, we’ll meet to create Record Books. Record Books comprise a nationally recognized component of 4-H. A member’s Record Book includes their Sparks chart, as well as personal reflections and a showcase of their experiences in club projects. For older members, leadership involvement makes up an additional aspect of the Record Book. We’ll get everyone started, so you can finish up over the Summer and submit by the deadline for judging in the Fall.

Your completed Record Book is submitted at various levels for judging. Most importantly, though, it lives on as an account of your growth, and creating it is useful experience; adults who were in 4-H as kids cite the making of Record Books as one of the most valuable learning practices they got out of their time in the organization. You can learn more about Record Books here: https://ucanr.edu/sites/UC4-H/files/263720.pdf

Disclaimer: As a project leader, I’m new to 4-H recognitions. Let’s explore the wild world of incentives and Record Books together and enjoy some writing, making, and yes, filling out forms. Sign up for one or both.

For Record Book makers, if you do not have a Google ID and password, it’s best to create one before we start; we’ll use Google Docs for drafting. Each participant should bring a laptop if possible (we will have an extra or two).

We will walk the same path each time and notice the differences, month after month. Parents will drop off at the bottom of the park, at the recycling center, and pick up in our secret spot, near a seasonal creek. Families are welcome to stay after 12 there for lunch and more nature connections. NB. We will highly recommend carpooling and also will encourage visiting the recycling center with the “Understanding our waste” on March 11 from 10-12

SAT, May 6, 10:00-12:00 (birds)

Presentation Day is an annual Alameda County event. All 13 4-H clubs in Alameda County can participate. This year’s event will take place on March 3 over Zoom or on March 5 in-person at the Creekside Community Church in San Leandro. Some info can be found here: https://4halameda.ucanr.edu/Events/Presentation_Day/ and you’ll also be receiving emails from the county soon about the event.

This is a fun event and we want to help you prepare! In this 3-day workshop, we will help you decide what kind of presentation to create, work with you to build it, and help you practice presenting it.

Sunday, March 12, 1:30-4:30

This is a club where we will watch a movie from a different genre each month. I will give 2-3 movie choices each month and we will vote as a group which one we will all watch.

We will watch on our own before each monthly meeting. During the meeting we will discuss the film, analyze and dissect it and share our opinions on it. I will research some facts about the movie to share with everyone during the meetings as well.

Movies will be G, PG or PG-13 rated.

Meetings will be 60 minutes starting at 10:30 am.

Depending on student interest and timing, we may also explore: how to recognize and understand different textile techniques (e.g., weaving, tatting, knitting, bobbin lace, card weaving), as well as yarn chemistry—how to tell what a fiber is without a label

Oct 2, 16, 30, 1:00-3:00 pm

Sunday, Oct. 23, 10 a.m.-Noon

Sunday, Oct. 30, 10 a.m.-Noon

Come out for a group bicycle exploration of The Bay Trail. So far, we’ve ridden almost all of the trail from the San Mateo Bridge to Richmond. For those that are up for it, together we’ll plan a longer ride for the third outing on May 13.

WHO: anyone willing to ride 5-10 miles, possibly on some gravel roads.

WHAT: group bicycle ride to historically and / or naturally significant areas, discussing what we find along the way

This year’s Cloverbud project will be different from the past years. We’ll be using the 4-H iSprout curriculum and members will receive iSprout pins at the end of the project. The activities will center around the four main topics of Knowing Me, Knowing My Family, Knowing 4-H and Knowing My Community. Through this project, we hope to introduce Cloverbuds to some 4-H concepts, help them get to know one another, explain how 4-H projects work and allow them to sample some hands-on project activities, and support them in planning a simple service activity to reinforce the value of helping our community.

There will be 8 sessions, one per month. Locations vary.

This will be a work in progress. We will likely focus on one community garden in Oakland, perhaps in the Allendate neighborhood, and help the city to refurbish and revitalize the space. In the process, we may learn about growing food, harvesting, and even canning.

This project will be led by experienced community and home gardeners.
Sign up if you’d like to be part of this effort, and we will plan it out together.

This will be a great introduction to the wonderful sport of golf! Or if you already have some experience with it, feel free to sign up too.

Our sessions will be segmented into three parts with practice on the putting green, in the short game chipping area, and the golf driving range.

In addition, during one of our sessions, we may connect with some veterans in the PGA HOPE program.

June 4, Sunday @1:30

Potential Date on April 23

Come cook with us! The whole family can get involved in this fun activity. Sessions will have a “cultural or special food” theme and some will be led by teen leaders. Ingredient lists will be sent out in advance. The leader may explain the significance of the savory or sweet food and will demonstrate how to make it, and we will all follow along and make it too. This will be a great way to expand your culinary repertoire and have fun!

We will also plant any buckeyes members have from last year’s seed collection.

Lafayette Res planting – November 19