​Oaktown 4-H had our first Environmental Stewardship meeting on Sunday, October 30th. We wrote in our journals and discussed what it means to be an environmental steward. We took an online quiz to find out what our ecological footprints are. I got 5.3. This means if everyone in the world lived like I did, it would take 5.3 Earths to sustain us all. We then watched a video about why compost is good for the environment. Did you know that all the trash in landfills emits methane, which harms the atmosphere? By composting, we can reduce the waste that goes into the landfill. We made our own compost jars filled with food scraps, dirt, and leaves. When we had filled our jars, we drew and labeled a picture of them in our journals. We are going to monitor their progress until the next meeting. New members are still welcome to join us!
-Hannah

The Videography project is looking for new members (Ages 11 and up) If you are interested in working behind or in front camera, this project is for you. They're looking to start meetings SOON so if you might be interested let us know. They're looking to meet twice a month and can flex the meeting schedule around the kids who are interested. 

Oaktown 4H to the rescue!

1. Bring to our September meeting one of the preferred cat or dog donations listed below.  No need to sign-up, just bring to the meeting.  All donations need to be new.  Thank you in advance!
2. Volunteer at the Oaktown 4H donation request table outside of Pet Food Express in Montclair on Saturday, September 24th.  We will be there from 11-3, asking customers for donations (money or products) on behalf of the Oakland SPCA.  

The second part (and most exciting part) of this community service event is that on Sunday the 25th at 10 am we will  go to the SPCA to bring the donations and receive a tour of the facility. Signup here: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0B4FABAD2AA4FB6-community

Thank you!
Alice and Andrea

FELINE CARE
CAT FOOD/TREATS/ENRICHMENT: 

• Canned/Dry Cat Food. Preferred Brands: Canidae/Felidae, Castor & Pollux, Pinnacle, Innova, Wellness, Newman’s Own, Royal Canin, Diamond, Premium Edge, Natural Balance, Nature’s Variety, Taste of the Wild, Nutro, Eukanuba, Purina Cat Chow.
• EZ Collar -All Sizes
• Heavy Ceramic Cat bowls 
• Cardboard cat scratchers 
• Kuranda Cat Towers
• In-kennel cat scratchers

CANINE CARE
DOG FOOD/TREATS/ENRICHMENT:

• Kong Wobbler, Treat Dispenser: 6ft and 4ft long leashes (nylon/cotton), preferably 1inch wide
  
• EZ Collar -All Sizes
  
• Kongs and/or Hard Rubber Toys
  
• Canned/Dry Dog Food. Preferred Brands: Canidae/Felidae, Castor & Pollux, Pinnacle, Innova, Wellness, Newman’s Own, Royal Canin, Diamond, Premium Edge, Natural Balance, Nature’s Variety, Taste of the Wild, Nutro, Eukanuba
• Pig Ears
• Nylabones
• Galileo Bones (Medium & Large)
• Pet Food Express gift cards 

OakTown 4-H Families, the online registration system is now open• for the 2016-2017 year. The link is here: https://california.4honline.com

The instructions for registering are on our "Oak Town 4-H Enrollment" page.
​
It's important for our adult volunteers to get registered as soon as possible . However, the youth can wait until September to enroll and won't be approved until all paperwork and fees and such are received. 

* 8/24/16 The online Registration site is now OPEN

​*8/19/16: The online registration system is temporarily unavailable for maintenance.  This note will be removed when the system is back up. In the meantime, all the links to forms and documents on the "Oak Town 4-H Enrollment" page are current and you can go ahead and print, read through them and complete them while waiting for the registration site to open back up.

This past July, in partnership with 4-H, Fenton's gave 25% of the profits of the sundae of the month to the Alameda County 4-H Program to help those who need it with registration fees. 

OakTown's Rabbit project made plenty of noise at the Fair, sweeping 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place in first year Rabbit Showmanship.  Congratulations to Alice, Mickey, and Jessica, who won in their first year showing.  Bailey took home Reserve Champion in Advanced Showmanship.  Oaktown's 3 Rabbit Bowl teams had a strong showing, with Bailey's senior team taking the gold medal. OakTown Rabbits, including Nora, Mabel, and Evie may receive some more recognition at this evening's Small Animal Awards.

OakTown Rabbits will be on display at the fair through Saturday, 6/25.

OakTown 4-H is pleased to announce our garden display won 1st in its class and Best in Show at the Alameda County Fair.  Our theme is "Back Yard Picnic", and will be on display for the length of the Fair.  Youth members and adults alike pitched in on the design, hand-painted backdrop, and transformation of this empty space into a beautiful setting for a picnic.

Volunteer and help get donations for food for the Alameda County Food Bank.
Saturday, November 21st 1:00 - 2:30 or 2:30 - 4:00

The event is a collaboration between Safeway and the Alameda County Food Bank to get donations of food to the food bank.

We will have a table outside of the Fruitvale Safeway (across the street from Dimond Library) asking people, as they walk in to consider buying the $10 pre-packed food bags to donate to ACFB. Wear your Oaktown 4H T-shirt. I will also bring extras if you do not have one.

This is something young kids can definitely participate in.  We do need adult volunteers too.  Please consider staying with your child and helping out.

Date: 11/21/2015 (Sat.)
Location: Safeway on Fruitvale

​http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0b4fabad2aa4fb6-4hsign

OakTown 4-H November Club meeting is November 9th at 6:30pm at Dimond Recreation Center off Hanley Road in Oakland. Come join us for

• Healthy Living Presentation for all youth members
• New Angora Goat Project information for youth 9+
• Reports on recent 4-H events and information on coming events
• Special Primary Member (ages 5-8) program
• Games, door prizes, snacks
• "Oak Town 4-H Club" T-Shirt Order info
• 4-H Uniform Ordering Info

When: Monday, August 10 6–8pm
Where: Dimond Park, Sequoia Grove Picnic Area
What: Bring your own picnic, we will provide dessert

Find out all about 4-H, meet the members of OakTown club and get answers to your questions about:

• 4-H projects, membership and volunteer opportunities
• See project displays and information
• Play games and participate in activities
• Get to know other families

We look forward to meeting you!

This year our new club, OakTown 4-H, made its debut by doing community service and outreach at Fentons Creamery in Oakland (yes it's a real place!) The weekend they gave us was coincidentally Fentons 120th Anniversary. Boy, were we busy! -- George Butko

Fair Dates: Wednesday, June 17—Sunday, July 5, 2015

Oak Town 4-H Project Leaders and Parents,
Most of the Alameda County Fair information for youth is now posted here. (Livestock is not yet up but I don't believe we have any leaders for livestock projects at this point). Please do take a look at the catalogs. There is much information here and kids can enter many different things. I intend to go over this in more detail at the April Club meeting but PLEASE look at the various packets under the "Competitive Youth" column or view the " YOUTH Complete Guide" here.

If you have Primary members (youth 5–8 years old) pay special attention to what they can enter. There are special categories and contests for this age group. ANY questions, please ask. 

Thanks, Barbara    

Wednesday, April 22, 2015 6:30PM
2727 Fruitvale Ave, Oakland, CA 94601
Tickets can be purchased at: 
http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/1285402 
  
Journalist and Author Kiera Butler reads from her new book "Raise: What 4-H Teaches 7 Million Kids and How Its Lessons Could Change Food and Farming Forever" Join Pollinate Farm & Garden as we welcome journalist and author Kiera Butler for a reading and discussion from her book "Raise: What 4-H Teaches 7 Million Kids and How Its Lessons Could Change Food and Farming Forever".

Saturday, April 4, 2015!

This spring there are several opportunities to take part in community service activities… most fairly local or drives to collect items for other club's projects. 

Dunsmuir House has an annual Easter Party the day before Easter and asks for 4-H families to come with whatever small animals can be easily transported and contained for a 4-hour community event. Participating in this event helps offset the cost of the facility use fees for Dunsmuir House for Dog Field Day in May and they are looking for rabbits, chickens, guinea pigs, rats, small goats and the like with some sort of portable enclosure to contain them.