Upton 4-H at Fireworks Festival!

Saturday, June 27, 2009

The sun was finally shining, and we had a great day!

"Hooray for 4-H!"

Members offered Face Painting and a craft activity, along with info about the club.



Many people stopped by to play with the rabbits!

THANKS to Gina & Gabby and Ann & Isabella + Gabriella for planning/organizing our club's participation at this annual community event!

Easter Egg Hunt

9 Members of the Cuddly Critters Rabbit & Cavy Club represented Upton 4-H Club at this year's annual Easter Egg Hunt, sponsored by the Upton Men's Club and Upton Police Dept. held at the Upton Community Playground Parking lot and VFW Fields. The weather was beautiful and many families enjoyed visiting with our animals while waiting for the egg hunt to begin. Ally attended w/Chris & Dave and their 5 rabbits; Tori & I brought her velveteen lop ("Ace") and my American Chinchilla ("Merlin"). Taylor was in charge of Merlin for the day and handled him very well! Bella & Beth brought Rainbow and 2 Flemish Giants; Gabriella & Ann brought mini-rex "Licorice" and LionHead "Fuzzy Bear". Chris, Maia and Trish brought 'Charlotte' (an English Spot) and 'Emma' (a LionHead). Gabby & Gina were there with 'Mr.BunBun', Gabby's mini-rex, and Kate & Lucy brought their 7 brand-new baby Rhode Island Red chicks!!
Here are a few pics from this morning's festivities. Thank you to all who participated!

Helping Hands at a Yellow Ribbon Event

5 members of our club volunteered at a Yellow Ribbon Event yesterday, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Worcester. Our club provided entertainment/activities for children of military personnel while their parents attended conference workshops, preparing for deployment.

Molly, Brianna, Ally, Noah & Tori assisted the youngsters in making BooBoo Bunnies. They also joined the kids in making cards and play-doh creations, and played some games.

Upton 4-H Cares About Community!

Our Club is participating in the
Massachusetts 4-H Food Drive

“4-H Cares About Community”

As part of this statewide service project, the Upton 4-H Club has collected and donated 110 pounds of food for the Upton Food Pantry, located at United Parish. Gabby, Tori, Gabriella and Noah helped deliver and sort through donations this morning, and then helped the staff stock the shelves. Helping at the food pantry was a really great experience and we will continue to collect and donate items even after the statewide drive is over. Food Pantry staff told us that they are seeing a big increase in people who are requesting the assistance of the pantry in the past few weeks.

Our help is appreciated!
Thanks to all who have donated so far!
We have collection boxes located at the Upton Town Library and at Fin & Feather Sports in Upton.

*UPDATE: the Statewide Food Drive officially ended on Nov 15. Our grand total of donations to the Upton Food Pantry was 175 pounds of food! Food pantry staff are currently working on a "Wish List" of high-demand items for us: On Dec 19 our Club will be having a Holiday Party. Instead of exchanging gifts, we will bring items from this wish list and decorate a box to put them all in, to deliver to the food pantry!*

CCC Day at Upton State Forest

Thank you to the Giglio, Millett and Stratton families for representing the UPTON 4-H CLUB at CCC-Day yesterday, at The Upton State Forest! Thanks, also, to the Suazo, Killeen and LeClaire families, who donated supplies for the day, even though they were unable to attend! It was such a beautiful Autumn day ~ I am so glad that we participated in this historic event, sponsored by the Friends of the Upton State Forest, honoring the alumni who served at the CCC Camp during the 1930s!

Our Club members spent the day providing info about 4-H, and sharing Nature Crafts ... leaf rubbings, rock painting, and pinecone birdfeeders ... with families who visited our booth.

Senator Ed Augustus stopped by to say hello, and posed for this picture!
(We also wanted a picture with Smokey Bear , but he left early ... maybe off to fight a fire somewhere?!)

We saw 3 live falcons,

and attended the flagpole dedication and ribbon cutting ceremony of the newly-named CCC Way (the main trail heading into the State Forest parking lot).

We also had fun with Letterboxing, and found the first 2 boxes in the new series of 5 boxes placed in honor of the day. We're planning to go back, possibly next weekend after the Fishing Derby, to scout out the other 3!

National 4-H Week is October 5-11, 2008.

National 4-H Week is October 5-11, 2008 and the theme is Keeping it Green!

This will tie-in perfectly with our club volunteering at the CCC Day Event at the Upton State Forest on October 11th! We will provide info about 4-H, and set-up some nature craft activities for families to make-and-take, including pinecone birdfeeders, leaf rubbings, and more!

Celebrate the Legacy!
75th Anniversary
Civilian Conservation Corps

October 11, 2008
10 AM to 3 PM
Upton State Forest Headquarters Area, Intersection of Southborough and Westborough Roads, Upton

Join Friends of Upton State Forest and others as we honor the men who laid the cornerstone for the park system we enjoy today. Ceremony begins at 11 AM to honor CCC alumni, dedicate Upton’s new flagpole and CCC Way.

Fun for all ages throughout the day!

Displays indoors and out. Games and crafts for children, live falcons, music, antique vehicles, fire control demos, Smokey Bear, letterboxing, living history tent, talk on a ham radio and more.

Jam Tent-Play a fiddle, banjo, mandolin, guitar? Bring your acoustic instruments and jam! Play music from the 30’s and 40’s!

Upton Footsteps in History Raffle
Visit CCC Day at Upton State Forest (Oct. 11). Visit Sweetwilliam Farm and Fin and Feather during Columbus Day weekend. A card stamped at all three locations enters your name into a raffle.

For more information: fusf@charter.net
http://www.friendsofuptonstateforest.org

Upton 4-H Club meeting: August 15, 2008

Here are some more pictures from Friday ...

... digging the garden ...

...planting the garden ...
Mixing mortar for stepping stones!


Getting ready to Tie-Dye!


Admiring the Garden!