East Hills 4-H Newsletter

April 2013
(Online Edition)

In this issue
Members News 4-H Earth Day at Sausal Creek Alameda County 4-H Film Fest 2013 Around the States in 80 Plates Clover Buds Poetry April Meeting Clover Buds Poetry March Did you know? Dog Project Dog Project Drama Project at Skit Night Face painting, planting, and weeding for earth day Fiction Writers March Making a bow-stringer Ping-pong ball and bunnies at the Lego project Sausal Creek Sectional Presentation Day The 4-H Petting Zoo The Petting Zoo Project The Hiking Project March 25 Volunteers Needed for Earth Day Event! Walt Whitman free verse WANTED: 4-H FILM FEST CREW MEMBERS Water and Clover Buds Poetry Project Working at the Food Bank You Be the Judge Officers Corner Project Leaders Pin Board Information Upcoming 4-H Events Page 9 Page 16 Page 2 Page 13 Page 3 Page 1 Pages 5 & 6 Page 7 Page 11 Page 10 Page 5 Page 7 Page 2 Page 9 Page 11 Page 12 Page 12 Pages 14 16 Page 10 Page 4 Page 17 Page 4 Page 8 Page 3 Pages 18 & 19 Pages 20 Page 21 Page 21

Did You Know?

Alameda County Fair registrations are now open! Entering items is super fun! Visit http://acfairexhibits.com/ for more info. Remember: enter before May 22, 2013!

Members News
Around the States in 80 Plates
At our last Around the States meeting, we learned about the flavors of the Southwest. We split up into teams and started following different recipes. Here is what we made: Chicken & Cheese Enchiladas Chili Colorado Cowboy Caviar Sweet Corn Bread Tres Leches Cake I helped make the Cowboy Caviar (my favorite dish) with my team. It had different kinds of beans in it, corn, bell pepper, chilies, and more. There were no actual fish eggs in Cowboy Caviar, which was so named because the beans apparently look like caviar. I really enjoyed trying all of the different dishes. I am looking forward to our next Around the States in 80 Plates meeting!

Ping-pong ball and bunnies at the Lego project

In the March Lego project I built a ping pong ball popper. It worked really well and the ball shot about two feet high. Luke built a ramp and the ball curved because of a plastic fence that curved. It was pretty bouncy so sometimes the ball went out or it would fly off the track. At the end we had chips and watermelon. Ian had baby bunnies so we petted and held them. That day was the most fun day I've had doing Legos.

You Be the Judge

In Photography Project, we judged our photos and selected some that we might put in the Fair. We brought our computers and selected some photos from previous meetings, including some nature pix and some of our pets. We also picked out the photos we thought were the best or needed work before they could be submitted. Next time, well learn about putting them on mats, which are cardboard backgrounds for the photos.

Clover Buds Poetry March

Clover Buds Poetry Project met on Monday, March 4th. The project leaders introduced us to a new type of poem called a synonym poem. They explained to us what a synonym poem is. We read several synonym poems together out loud. Then we had time to write our own synonym poems. To write the kind of synonym poem we were trying to write, first you think of something you want to write about. The title of the poem would be your subject. The first line of your poem would have a few synonyms for your subject, or different ways of describing it. It's good to try to make the last word in the line be a word that is easy to rhyme! We had Thesauruses and synonym and rhyming dictionaries to help us! The next line of the poem might rhyme, and also say more about the subject, or how you feel about the subject. If you wanted, you could also write the poem so that it had a repeating rhythm. Sometimes it's hard to come up with a poem in a short amount of time, but it's always fun to try!

Water and Clover Buds Poetry Project

In March poetry we looked at poems that have rhyming words at the end of each line. We all made one and it was really fun. This is my poem. Water is held inside a backpack Inside a backpack, there's a water bottle That's what holds water.

Walt Whitman free verse

(American Poets March Meeting)
Walt Whitmans poetry was carefully metered and rhymed but Walt created his own style of poetry. In his first edition of Leaves, he left his name off the title page, using only his photo. He declared himself on page 29 as a poet. Instead of normal punctuation he used ellipses. The book was written w/o separation of poems, and the poems were without stanzas. There was no strict rhyme or meter. In later editions, he made Leaves more readable by using normal punctuation, poem titles and regular meter. In general, Whitman's poetry had grand, rolling lines and was influenced by oratory, music and the rhythm of the surf. Whitman allowed his ideas to incubate for a long time before writing them down as poems. He was inspired by common people and everyday life, by diversity and dreams, and by his Civil War experiences and political interests. Leaves was not originally popular-one reviewer called Whitman an escaped lunatic, but Ralph Waldo Emerson (who inspired writers to unleash their imaginations) wrote a glowing letter about Whitman's poetry and Lincoln is said to have enjoyed reading the book aloud. By the end of his life, Whitman had become one of America's best-loved writers.
Editors Note

w/o is a shortened way of saying with out.

Fiction Writers March

At Fiction Writers this month we discussed dialog and the importance it plays in stories. Afterwards we each read something we'd written in advance and gave color commentary on one anothers. Color commentary is just commenting on the things that happened. Usually done during it, but in this case it was kept until the end.

Dog Project
Our March dog project meeting was the 4th Friday at the Alameda library. For this meeting we were working on writing about our dogs and dog beds! I told my mom what I wanted to say about our dog Dusty, and she typed it. This is what I said: Dusty has three different beds. One of those beds is actually really our bed, but he sleeps in it with us. He has a special spot down at the foot of the bed that he really likes. And that has sort of turned into his own special spot. When we first get into bed, he comes up to the top with us, by our heads, to keep us company and get some kisses and have his tummy rubbed. Then after a while, he goes down to his spot at the foot of the bed. The next bed is the bed in the living room. This bed is not really his bed either, but he sleeps on it a LOT. It's a brown couch with black stripes. There's a towel on it, because it's easier to wash a towel than it is to wash a couch. Dusty sleeps on the couch lying down with his face resting on his front paws. He feels safe on this bed, because it is not on the floor, so he doesn't have to worry about getting stepped on. The very first time he ever came into our house, he hopped right up
Dusty and a 4-H member together on the couch. on the couch likesit he recognized it.

(Continued on next page)

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(Continued from previous page) The third bed is in the kitchen. It's a doggie bed that is under the table. He likes that this bed is under the table, because he feels safe there. It's like a little cave under the table for him, and no one can step on him or trip over him. Really this bed is my big sisters old doggie bed that she slept in when she was a baby. When she was older, she slept in a regular bed, but we still kept the doggie bed. After I was born, when Elly was three, sometimes I slept in the doggie bed. We didn't know that we were going to get a dog, because he just showed up one night at the front door. So when he showed up at the door, we let him in. And we gave him the doggie bed that used to be ours when we were babies. When he sleeps in this doggie bed under the table, he sleeps curled up in a circle, with his head touching his tail. It is very cute. I think Dusty should sleep with us when we are at home. Dusty gets awfully lonely if he's not with us, and he also gets scared if he's not with us, and he thinks we are gone forever. When we aren't home, he sleeps on his couch or in his bed under the table. And he waits for us to come home. ****************************************************************** A project member had done some research on where dogs sleep. He asked a lot of his friends with dogs where the dogs sleep. Most of the dogs sleep either in their own dog bed or else on the bed with their owners. No one that he interviewed said their dog slept outside, and I was glad. His dog is so cute. He's a little cocker spaniel and he has a giant doggie bed, probably big enough for a Great Dane! Ian brought a picture of his little dog sitting on his giant round doggie bed. The reason that the doggie bed is SO big is so that Ian can fit on it too! Our project leader read to us and told us a lot about different kinds of dog beds. There are even heating dog beds and cooling dog beds! She told us a lot about the differences between pure-bred dogs and mixed-breed dogs. Some pure-bred dogs can have health problems that mixed dogs don't have. Our other project leader taught us all about grooming. She brought 2 different kinds of nail clippers and we got to try them out by clipping twigs and straws. We talked about fleas and what to do about them. We also learned about how important it is to give your dog healthy food. Dogs, dogs, dogs! Yay!

Dog Project
Dogs are my favorite animal. Cocker Spaniels are my favorite type of dog. I also have a Cocker Spaniel and his name is Rumpole. In the Dog Project we talked about where our dogs sleep. Rumpole sleeps on my bed or sometimes in my parents bed or on his dog bed. Then we talked about mixed breed dogs. Mixed breed dogs get less diseases. There are lots of mixed breed dogs at animal shelters. When I get my next dog it will be a mixed breed dog. It's going to be a Puggle which is half pug and half beagle. After that we learned how to trim a dogs nails. We couldn't bring a dog into the library so we learned on straws and twigs. Then my mom taught us how to get rid of fleas without poisons or toxins. I like the dog project because I like talking about dogs.

Making a bow-stringer
In this archery meeting I made a bow-stringer by putting two loops around each side of a piece of string. On the bow there are these notches that you put the string through and then you pull the bow up and put your feet on the bow-stringer. Then you notch the bow with the bowstring and then take the bow-stringer out. Next, I shot at a few targets and I hit the bulls eye. I hit it from 25 yards. That was really hard to do.

Working at the Food Bank

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On Friday, April 22nd, several East Hills members went to the Alameda County Food Bank for a community service opportunity. This time, instead of sorting packaged foods, we packed pears into bags. Whenever we came across a damaged pear that wasnt suitable to eat, we would throw them into a bin where they would be composted. There were many different sizes and shapes of pears, and we had an interesting time looking for the strangest, smallest, or biggest pear. East Hills 4-H was not the only group at the event; several other groups came, including the Girl Scouts and some Safeway employees. We had a great time, and I hope we can go back again soon.

4-H Earth Day at Sausal Creek

April 18, 2013 3:307:00pm Dimond Park, Oakland

During the break, we all stood still for a photo.

Station Tables
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Make seed starters Face painting Community Serviceinvasive plant removal Refreshments Scavenger Hunt with prizes

The Sausal Creek Community Service Project is inviting you to a fun day at Sausal Creek to celebrate Earth Day. There, you will learn the difference between invasive plants and native plants. You will have an opportunity to visit our restoration site, and participate in our on-going restoration of the Dimond Park trail.
Directions: Take I-580 to the Fruitvale Ave Exit. Turn onto Fruitvale Ave towards the hills. Head up Fruitvale and you will pass Dimond Park on your left. Stay straight on Fruitvale and it turns into Lyman Rd. Turn slight left onto Waterhouse Rd and left onto Hanly Rd. Follow Hanly Rd. into the parking lot. From the parking lot, head down the stairs towards the playground. Take a left at the playground and you will see a large field on your right. Please note: The City of Oakland needs a liability waiver for all who wish to participate in restoration work at Dimond Park. Please fill out the waiver and bring it to the event.

Sausal Creek
I went to go get water for the plants. I pulled up a bunch of onions. I took a bunch of pictures of the plants and the site. I took pictures of the onion, a close up of the ivy, and the bags that we put the weeds in. Then I went to the park and took care of the neighbors dog.

Face painting, planting, and weeding for earth day

In the March environmental stewardship meeting we weeded a lot of onions and me and my friend cleared up a big spot. We watered the plants that we had planted. We
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wrote the different names of the plants on placards. Later, we're going to put them beside the plants for earth day. I took pictures of cow parsnip, ivy, wood rush, California blackberry, wood strawberry, sneezeweed, miner's lettuce, and hedge nettle. We took those pictures to give people for a scavenger hunt for earth day. If you want to come to earth day, you can look at the flyer. We will have 4 activity stations. One will be seed planting. One will be face painting. One will be the scavenger hunt. One will be weeding the site. I hope you come and its going to be a lot of fun. There will be refreshments. I hope its sunny.

Volunteers Needed for Earth Day Event!

The 4-H Sausal Creek Community Service Project needs volunteers to help at the different tables for earth day. You will be helping at these stations:

Make seed starters Face painting Community Serviceinvasive plant removal Refreshments Scavenger Hunt (with prizes)

You can choose to do one or more one-hour shifts. The shifts will be from 3-7pm on Thursday, April 18 at Dimond Park in Oakland. We need at least one adult and one youth to staff each table.

Sectional Presentation Day

Today I will be telling you about the Sectional 4-H Presentation Day. At Sectional Presentation day we went to UC Davis, which is a very large university campus,
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at which most of the people there gave speeches. Some of us went to watch other peoples speeches and to give support. We all had a great time at Sectional Presentation Day.

Drama Project at Skit Night

This year, on March 22 the East Hills drama project competed in Skit Night. They were a small group with only ten members, four of which were primaries. One member wrote the script and directed. The East Hills 4-Hers won second place with their skit called Tiger Trouble. I was proud of our win, since we had so little resources and such cramped time.

The Petting Zoo Project

I brought my snakes to the Dunsmuir House for the petting zoo. A pig was there. Two dogs were there. Luke brought his chickens. Our snakes were really popular. The pig was popular, too. Snakes and pigs are really uncommon pets. The visitors liked the snakes because they were soft. They could feed the pig. It was fun.

The 4-H Petting Zoo

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We went to the Dunsmuir House and created a 4-H petting zoo. I had a lot of fun. There was a pig, chickens, two dogs, my two snakes, a bearded dragon, and a skink. We got some popcorn, lemonade, and hot dogs. You could feed the pig cheerios. A 4-H'ers dog shared his water with the pig. Another 4-H member threw his chickens up and they soared down. Everyone wanted to see my snakes and I thought it was really fun. There were a lot of people that came from outside 4-H. I hope you come next time!
(Above photo) There goes the pig! (Above photo) Kids like to hold & pet the snakes!

Clover Buds Poetry April Meeting

In this poetry meeting, we wrote that repeated words two or three My favorite poem that was on the example was English is a Pain! (Pane?) by Shirlee Curlee Bingham. like this: Rain, reign, rein,
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poems times. It goes

English is a pain. Although the words Sound just alike, The spelling's not the same! Bee, be, B, I'd rather climb a tree Than learn to spell The same old word, Not just one way, but three! Sight, site, cite, I try with all my might, No matter which I finally choose, It's not the one that's right There, their, they're, Enough to make you swear, Too many ways To write one sound, I just don't think it's fair! To, two, too, So what's a kid to do? I think I'll go To live on Mars And leave this mess with ewe! (you?)

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The Hiking Project March 25

We hiked Joaquin Miller Park in Oakland. Below are the pictures of the hike. There were a couple new members and Ive been in the project for 3 years. Weve also encountered some unusual shortcuts. There was much vegetation.

(Photos from the hike on this page and next two) These photos are of the trail that we hiked on, the view and some interesting things that we saw a long the way.

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(In photo at right) Outdoor Adventures Project members stop to eat a snack.

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Alameda County 4-H Film Fest 2013

Do you like to watch films with your 4-H friends? If you answered yes, then this might be the event for you. The 1st Alameda County 4-H Film Fest will be held on Sunday April 21, 2013 starting at 12:30PM Sharp, in the Lecture Hall at the San Leandro Library. There are 200 seats, so please come and watch. Participants and attendees are being asked to wear Cocktail/Prom Attire - Minimal Business Formal attire (no jeans, t-shirts, or tennis shoes). At this event, they will be showing films that 4-H members from our county made using the theme Adventure and giving out awards to the participants. I know of at least 10 4-H members from our club that are in films in this event. Our County 4-H All-Stars are putting together this new event and we want to help make it a success. They are looking for members and or parents who are willing to help out on the day of the event starting at 12PM (for a short orientation). If you want to help,

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please e-mail the Film Fest Committee at acfilmfest@gmail.com. (See flyer on next page.) I hope to see you there!

WANTED: 4-H FILM FEST CREW MEMBERS

The Alameda County 4-H Film Fest Committee needs you!

SUNDAY APRIL 21st, 2013 The City of San Leandro Library 12:00 3:30pm
The 4-H Film Fest committee calls to all available 4-H members and volunteers to lend a hand at the 4-H Film Fest on Sunday April 21st, 2013. The Committee needs crewmembers to fulfill the following duties: Photographers Its not a red carpet event without the paparazzi! Photographers/Cameramen will be in charge of capturing the glamour of our events guest and ceremony. Reporters Be the one to get the all scoop! Reporters will be needed to interview events filmmakers and record the highlights of the film fest. *Reporters may pair up with a photographer. Stage Hands The Film Fest will depend on stage crew to keep our guests organized within the theater, escort winners to the stage, operate stage equipment, and serve where needed Servers (TBA) Food may or may not be prohibited in the library. If allowed, the Committee will need members to help serve food to our guests. Adult Supervision The Committee looks for adult volunteers to assist in securing and supervising the Film Fest. Note to All Crewmembers: Crewmembers are welcome to dress in business/formal attire or complete black clothes, please. The Film Fest is exclusive to 4H members and guest only. There is no admittance to the general public. Please contact acfilmfest@gmail.com to confirm which position(s) you are interested in Note that general set-up begins at 12:00. The event starts at 12:30. Thank you!
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Officers Corner
From the Editors Desk
Newsletter Editor Hi 4-Hers! I hope you have a great time reading the newsletter each month. Thank you everyone, for all the 4-H articles and photos! Please continue to e-mail all 4-H newsletter articles and photos to me by May 1st 2013. A special Thank You to two 4-H members for writing your first 4-H newsletter articles this year! Writing a 4-H newsletter article counts in your 4-H record book under communications. It also is a point on your super member award form but remember: if you are a junior, intermediate, or senior 4-H member you need to write three newsletter articles in at least two different newsletter editions. So, write your articles now, because there are only TWO newsletters left for this 4-H year!
Photos and images not mentioned in the following list were submitted by various club members and parents. Clip art is from www.Clker.com except the 4-H clover on page 1 and the State Field Day Logo on this page (both from www.ca4h.org), and the County Fair logo (from the county fair website).

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Behind the Lens 4-H Photos

By Club Photographer Photos from 4-H Gardening Field Day March 9, 2013

(Top row) At left, A mini garden entered in a contest. Middle, 4-H members make cards for seniors as community service. At right, an older 4-H member helps a primary 4-H member do the horticulture contest. (Middle row) At left, A 4-H member makes a card for the community service project. At right, a dressed up vegetable. (Bottom row) At left, A toy dressed up in fruits and vegetables.

Project Leaders Pin Board

Model Roller Coaster Contest Cancelled

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Thank you to all of the members who expressed an interest in the Model Roller Coaster Contest. Unfortunately, due to a lack of entries, we will have to cancel for this year. If you have completed a coaster, I want to make sure you get the prize you've earned. Please send a photo, a list of all the members on your team who worked on it, and the time it takes your marble to run the track to me.

Physics, Science, and Math Day at Great America

For those of you who purchased tickets to Physics, Science and Math Day at Great America on Friday, May 3, I will be getting those out to you as soon as possible. If you missed the deadline to get your tickets from me, it's not too late! You can purchase tickets directly up to the day before the event. Go to www.cagreatamerica.com/physics. Hope to see you there!

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Information
Talk at the May Club meeting Around the States in 80 Plates Arts and Crafts Collage Art Fiction Writers Workshop Lego Engineering Outdoor Adventures for Teens Photography Teen Photography Project Run, Dogs, Run Animal Science, Dogs Sewing Intermediate Sketching Beginners and Intermediate Square Dance Write an article for the May newsletter American Girl Art-History in the Making Cake Decorating Chemistry Explorations in Chemistry Chess Instruction Community Service Clover Buds Poetry for Primary Members Drama Engineering Challenges Junior Master Gardening Poultry Poetry American Poets Sausal Creek Community Service

Upcoming 4-H Events

East Hills 4-H Club:
East Hills 4-H Club Meeting, St. Paul Lutheran Church, Oakland, April 8, 2013, 2 PM East Hills 4-H Officers Meeting, San Leandro Main Library, May 6, 2013, 2 PM East Hills 4-H Club Meeting, St. Paul Lutheran Church, Oakland, May13, 2013, 2 PM

Alameda County 4-H:

Alameda County 4-H Film Fest*, San Leandro Library, April 21, 2013, 12:30 PM Leaders Council Meeting, Farm Bureau, Livermore, March 26, 2013 Fashion Field Day*, St Paul Lutheran Church, Oakland, April 27, 2013 Small Animal Field Day, The Barn, Livermore, April 28, 2013 Dog Field Day, Dunsmuir House, Oakland, May 18, 2013 Alameda County Fair Entry Deadline, on line or paper forms, May 22, 2013 Alameda County Fair*, Fairgrounds Pleasanton, June 19 July 7 (Closed on Mondays), 2013

North Central Section 4-H:

Sectional Leaders Council Meeting, Alameda County 4-H Office, Alameda, May 18, 2013

California State 4-H:

California State 4-H Field Day**, U.C. Davis, May 25, 2013
* Pre-Registration required for presenters/participants, not required for the audience, remember formal attire for film fest ** Pre-Registration required for some activities
Editors Note How many newsletter articles do you need to write to earn a point on the super member award form? E-mail me if you know.

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