NKOA's Club Garden

This summer NKOA is gardening on a beautiful space on Sabattus Pond courtesy of Mr & Mrs Hartley (Tamra's parents)! It is an amazing space that offers lots of fun for the whole family. Our members and their families have been having a fun time gardening, swimming, and socializing!

Over the last three work sessions we have made raised beds and planted: potatoes, onions, carrots, tomatoes, pumpkin, watermelon, radishes, lettuce, nasturtiums, marigolds, popping corn, pole beans and various herbs. We've also transplanted a grape vine, blueberry bushes and raspberries. Next week we hope to transplant strawberries as well. It is all coming together and looks wonderful! Thank you to everyone who has helped transform the space!

How to Remove Attached Ticks

It is summer time and also tick season in Maine. Ticks can be tricky and embed in your skin before you know it. When they do embed in your skin you will be prepared after reading this easy to follow tutorial on how to remove attached ticks!

Maine 4-H Days Rock!!

Here is a letter from, Tamra (Co-leader of NKOA) after attending Maine 4-H Days with her daughters:

"Arrive home a few hours ago from an amazing weekend at Maine 4H days. Arrived early Friday morning and stayed to the very end today!

I am very impressed! The entire event was so organized, the workshops for youth were amazing! It was a very relaxed and enjoyable environment! We loved the workshops, the planned activities in the evening, the animals, the families....made loads of new friends and reconnected with old ones! We were very comfortable at our site, you pick where you want to camp. I had 4 little ladies with me, I set up our camp REALLY close to the bathroom and main intersection to all the goings on! We had full use and access to the kitchen and the bathrooms had showers! Here is a list of the workshops we attended collectively:

Playoga
Sensory Discovery Games
My Dirt is Alive
Water Rocketry
Ember Bowl Making
Shelter Building
Everyone Lives Downstream
Wild & Wonderful
New Sewers Wanted!
Wet Felting
Green & Growing Earth Buddies
Archery
Land Navigation
Modular Origami
Natural Skin Care & Spa

Besides all of the above (over 2 1/2 days) there was a Creativity Center set up for kids to visit if they needed a break or had some free time. The center was LOADED with art and crafts supplies that were there for full (no restrictive) use! Plus, kids were riding their bikes everywhere, hanging out and making new friends. There was an ice cream social (Gifford's Ice Cream with ALL the fix-ins,) a parade, silent auction and scavenger hunt!

I am very excited about next years event already and am hoping that more families will join in!

It was also incredibly cool to be camping out under that huge, bright, full moon last night!"

Some Pictures from Maine 4-H Days

Goats!!

Water Rockets!!

Spending time with friends!!

Cooking!

Our Goals & Wishes

1. A Nature Playground planned, created and maintained by NKOA

2. Ruck Sucks for each 4-H Member

3. NKOA T-Shirts/Patches

4. NKOA Letterboxes and Geocaches all around the state

5. NKOA created curriculum

6. NKOA stamp

7. More raised beds for club garden

8. An adopt-a-spot maintained by NKOA

9. Bring club to Bryant Pond 4-H Camp

10. Once a month county wide hikes with other 4-H families

11. Camp at Swan Island

12. GPS for club/compasses for each member

13. Critters of Maine guides for each member

14. Trees of Maine guides for each member

15. A lending library with books, guides, thematic tote bags

16. NKOA Nature calendars

17. Annual Family Nature Day

18. Annual Nature Camp

The Reason for the Seasons

The Old Farmer's Almanac has a great explanation for The Reason for the Seasons! Happy Summer!

Summer Solstice

The Summer Solstice on June 21 heralds the beginning of summer!

The solstice is the time when the Sun reaches its farthest point north of the equator. This year, it occurs on Monday, the 21st, at 7:28 A.M. EDT.

The word “solstice” comes from the Latin sol (Sun) and stitium (to stop), reflecting the fact that the Sun appears to stop at this time (and again at the winter solstice).

Here is a short video about the sun:



For Summer craft ideas please check out the links on the right-hand side of our blog! Have a great summer!

Nature's Blemishes?

These were discovered while walking at the Papermill Trail in Lisbon. What causes this?

NKOA's 1st Car Wash Fundraiser 7/24!

Mark your calendars...

NKOA's 1st Car Wash Fundraiser
at Tractor Supply on Lisbon Street in Lewiston
on Saturday, July 24th from 11am-3pm!!

Please bring your vehicles by!! Also don't forget to stop into Tractor Supply who are graciously letting us use their water and space!

June: Full Strawberry Moon

On June 26th look for the Full Strawberry Moon because it is a wonderful time of year to gather ripened strawberries!

To find a Pick-Your-Own farm in Maine check out this link!

Here is a video on how to grow your own strawberries!

How to grow strawberry plants

Help Maine 4-H Power of the Wind Win $50,000!

Please Vote everyday in June to help our local 4-H Power of the Wind program win a $50,000 Pepsi Refresh Grant!! Vote for Engage Maine Youth in Science and Engineering with 4-H Power of the Wind ! Don't forget to vote each day in June!

Here is a video to learn more about 4-H Power of the Wind!