Time for Camp!

The Officers of the Upton 4-H Club are now cabin mates at Camp Marshall!

Tori, Gabriella, Gabby, and Isabella are all at 4-H Camp for the week!

Maple Sugaring!

Some members of our club went on a Maple Sugaring Tour in Uxbridge this afternoon and had a great time! Some of us were so inspired we tried our hands at tapping some trees when we got home! What a great experience! We learned so much and had a lot of fun! Here is a link to the website of the Blackstone Valley Sugaring Association, the group who ran the tours: http://www.blackstonevalleysugaring.org/

Here are just a few of the many pictures we took today:
Waiting for the tour to begin ...
tasting the sap...
at the Sugar Shack

Lucy, at home, tapping trees ...


Tori tapping trees at home:

Outdoor Adventures Program off to a Great Start!

After a fantastic Fishing Derby 2 weeks ago, the Upton 4-H Club's New Outdoor Adventures Program had its first official meeting this afternoon, with close to 30 people in attendance! Jeff LeClaire taught us all about Archery, including Safety Rules, parts of a bow & arrow, different types of bows & arrows, the role a Range Captain plays and the importance of following the commands. Then we headed out into the cold and practiced on the range. It was really fun! (and not as easy as it looks!!) Future meeting dates are in the works, with lots of great plans and ideas! It was really great to see so many Dads in attendance at this meeting, too, and their willingness to get involved.

Fishing Derby

The Upton 4-H Club

held its First-Ever

Youth Fishing Derby
this morning at Pratt Pond / Kiwanis Beach in Upton!

35 kids, ages 3-15, showed up and braved the chilly weather! It was lots of fun and we're already working on plans for next year! Everyone received a 4-H participation ribbon! Lots of special ribbons were awarded for the top 5 biggest fish of each species caught, and prizes of fishing equipment were awarded for the top 2 fish of each species! There were 6 species caught in all: Blue Gill, Large Mouth Bass, Perch, Trout, Pickerel, Calico Bass.

Click here to see a slideshow of the event!


Participants, with their ribbons and prizes,
at the end of the Derby. (click the photo for a bigger view!)

October Meeting Info

At the next meeting of The Upton 4-H Club (October 3, 2008) Jeff LeClaire from Fin&Feather Sports will be here to teach us the basics of freshwater fishing!

The first half of our meeting will include learning what species of fish live in Pratt Pond, and how to identify them, what items you should bring to our upcoming Fishing Derby, and how to cast a line!

This promises to be a fun event!

During the second half of the meeting we will be working on RECORDS! They are due at the Worcester County Office by Monday, November 3rd! Click here for access to editable record forms. Please bring a copy of your 4-H Story (a requirement for your completed records) to our next meeting, even if it is only a very rough draft. We can share stories and help each other with editing. You have one month left to complete the final draft!

Announcing the *NEW* Outdoor Adventure Program . . .

. . . starting this Fall!

HIKING ... FISHING ... ARCHERY ... CANOEING & KAYAKING!

• We will be hiking local trails throughout Upton and surrounding area parks.
  
  
• We will be learning and/or fine tuning our fishing skills, and learning about equipment specifically for fishing our local waters.
  
  
  
  
• The 1st Annual Upton 4-H Club Youth Fishing Derby
  will be held Sunday, Oct 19th from 9am-12noon!
  
  Mark your calendars and Pre-Register at Fin & Feather Sports beginning on September 20th!
  

• We will learn the basics of archery, and shooting arrows on a safe archery range *Participants will be divided into age groups for range time.
  
  Limited slots available per group. Minimum age of 8yrs old to participate w/parents in attendance.
  
  
• This winter we hope to have an Ice Fishing clinic and an afternoon gathering of ice fishing on Pratt Pond.
  
  
• In the Spring, we will bring canoeing and kayaking to the group. Learn the basics of kayaking and canoeing for the whole family!

There will be a small cost for taking part in the Outdoor Adventure Program events. (You must first be a 4-H member in good standing.) We are looking into some funding options, grants, etc, and will be buying equipment in bulk to keep expenses to a minimum.

We are still working out all the particulars, so please stay tuned! Jeff LeClaire, owner of Fin and Feather Sports in Upton, will be coordinating this Program, but he needs your help to make it happen!!! Please let him know that you're willing to help get this program going!

He may be contacted through email at: jeffleclaire@verizon.net

A bit of info about our Club ...

The Upton 4-H Club is part of Worcester County 4-H, located in Central Massachusetts. Although we're based in Upton, we have members from many surrounding towns, including Uxbridge, Northbridge, Douglas, Blackstone, Hopkinton, Millbury, Mendon, Framingham, Medway, Charlton ... pretty much all over!!

Our club began in September 2007, mainly focusing on Rabbits & Cavies. During our first year, our membership reached 26 youth members, ranging in age from 5 to 16, and 5 registered adult volunteers. As we prepare for the upcoming County Fair, a culmination of our first year, we look forward to lots of new and exciting adventures in the year to come, including the addition of 2 new interest groups:
Gardening and Nature & Wildlife (which will include fishing, hiking and archery!)
and LOTS of new members!