University of Maryland Extension for Caroline County

What is Extension?Established by Congress in 1914, University of Maryland Extension (UME) is an educational network, centered in the country’s seventy-two land grant universities. UME provides research-based practical education to the problems of American families, agriculture, business, and industry. In Maryland, UME operates through the University of Maryland at College Park, and the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. UME has field offices in all twenty-three Maryland counties and Baltimore City. UME is financially supported by federal, state, and local government. UME faculty and staff are professionals engaged in non-formal educational programs that address economic, environmental, technical, and social concerns of all citizens. UME faculty and staff efforts are supported by a multitude of dedicated volunteers.UME programs in 4-H and youth development, family and consumer sciences, agriculture and natural resources are carried out in response to the needs of the people of the state. Local field staff develop educational programs tailored to the unique problems of their area. UME professionals use a variety of educational methods such as public presentations, demonstrations, publications, computer networks, satellite down links, videos, newspapers, radio, and television spots to reach their audiences. –Agriculture and Natural Resources program includes farm management, pesticide certification, and insect identification. Contact Jim Lewis at 410-479-4030.–Family and Consumer Science offers educational programs in the areas of nutrition, safe food handling, and family finances, contact the office for more details.–Caroline County 4-H offers life skill building opportunities for all youth ages 5—18 (as of January 1st of current year). Youth ages 5—7 are Clover members. They participate in special programs for their age which consist of 1 to 1 1/2 hours of age specific topics. Please feel free tocontact leaders for club information. All clover members earn recognition ribbons for participation, premium money is not awarded to Clovers. Clovers are not permitted to compete in the Maryland State 4-H Program. 4-H members ages 8—18 (as of January 1st of current year) can participate in the club, county, regional, state and national 4-H Program. All eight year old and older members are encouraged to select and complete at least one project during the year. The project choice should be one the 4-H member really is interested in. Choices could include small engines, woodworking, nutrition, photography, small pets, beef, horses, entomology and much more! 4-H’ers are encouraged to keep records of their project throughout the year. Members set goals and learn new skills through the project. 4-H offers opportunities for youth to learn public speaking skills. Each project record requires the member to give a visual demonstration or speech about something the member learned. This requirement can be completed in the club meeting or during the county public speaking contest held annually usually in February. All 4-H members are encouraged to exhibit something they have accomplished or learned from their project during the county fair held in August. Examples of exhibits: a poster of dog care needs; a drawing or painting; a series of photographs; or a project display of a sewing kit. Contact the office for more details–For rental of the 4-H Park and its many facilities, please call our office at 410-479-4030.