Expand your geospatial skills!! Orienteering is an exciting and challenging sport that calls upon your ability to navigate in the woods or at a park. Between checkpoints marked on your map, you choose your own route – around the hill on a trail or cross-country over the top. The event is free, but groups should pre register.

Flier online: http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/mclean/downloads/19215.pdf

Ever wonder how to tie a service project into something more than local? Check out the service calendar provided by Youth Service America. It includes a list of related days and weeks to local and world issues.

http://tinyurl.com/seasonsofservice09

The end of the 4-H program year is very near and it's time to start on 4-H records!

There are two different types of 4-H records in Mclean County - My 4-H Project Record forms and County/State forms - Illinois 4-H Award Application.

Standards of Excellence & Achievement and the My 4-H Project Record form facts:

• All members receive a Standards of Excellence & Achievement form with their project books at the time of enrollment.
• Depending on the projects enrolled in, members will get ONE copy of the My 4-H Project Record form in EACH Award/Curriculum area.
  • Example: If you enroll in horses, cats, clothing you will receive an Animal Science and a Home and Family form.
• These forms are available online for members to fill out and carry on from year to year. You do not have to use a new sheet or form each year if you are typing them on a computer. Just be sure to put the year down with new information.
• If several projects are taken spanning several curriculum areas members can CHOOSE to focus on a few Award/Curriculum areas so that they do not have to fill out a My 4-H Project Record form in each area.
  • Example: If you are enrolled in visual arts, leadership, breads and cereals, food demonstration, beef, horses, horticulture and welding: You can CHOOSE to focus on Personal Development, Food, Nutrition and Health and Animal Science.

County/State Forms - Ilinois 4-H Award Application

The Illinois 4-H Award Application is all a member needs to apply for county and state awards in one or more specific award/curriculum areas. No other records will be used in selecting county and state award winners. The application covers the member's entire 4-H career. Suggested starting ages 12-14 years old.

This form can be downloaded here: http://tiny.cc/MDxnn

For more information about the 4-H Recognition of Excellence program go here: http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/mclean/4hrecognition/680.html

The dates for the McLean County 4-H Show & Fair for 2010 are August 4-8.

The fair typically runs on the first Saturday of August. Since the first Saturday of August is the 7th, the entire fair is in August next year.

The calendars that were enclosed with premium checks have incorrect dates. Please update any calendars you have at home with the above dates.