Oh Yea! 4-H Grows True Leaders

For the past year, Mano en Mano has been partnering with the University of Maine Extension program to support the ​​“Oh Yea! 4-H Grows True Leaders,” program.

Mano en Mano is one of the partner organizations for the program, with other locations including communities of Lewiston, and Greater Portland, as well as community partners in Brattleboro and Burlington in Vermont.  The program aims to produce future leaders and advocates of food production and healthy living through experiential learning opportunities and place based learning.  In order to center communities that are key to food systems but often not included in decision making spaces, the University of Maine is partnering with community led organizations throughout the state.  The ultimate goal of the program is to prepare youth from underrepresented communities for careers in the Maine food system and help provide lived-experiences in order to understand the role of food in their daily lives. 

The program focuses the curriculum and  learning around the interests of students in the areas of: STEM, Healthy Living, Community Service, Cultural and traditional ties, and Career Pathways.  Jason Palomo (University of Maine) and Maria Paniagua (Community Health and Wellness Advocate at Mano en Mano) are partnering to design curriculum and programming for two age groups- elementary aged students and teenages (ages 13-18).  

Elementary Student Programming

The group's first project was designed for elementary aged students to learn about local species, and engage with the environment around them. Students learned about how green crabs have been distributed around the world, and their impact on local ecosystems.  The Green Crab is an invasive species in Maine, and has been distributed around the world due to biofouling.  This invasive species is more resilient to warmer ocean temperatures, and poses a threat to local species.  Students learned about this species via hands-on activities and took their learning to the field- visiting a local tidal pool where they found Green Cabs in the wild!  

Currently, students in the elementary age group are learning about Aquaponics- a method of agriculture that combines fish raised in aquariums with growing soilless plants.  Students will learn about aquaponic systems and write their own proposals in order to receive their own aquarium!  

Teen Programming 

The older students in the program are in the process of designing their own projects and learning around the question, “What do you think that is missing in your community, and how can we make a difference with our program?” Students will then design a collaborative project to work on together with the opportunity to teach the younger students in the program and receive a stipend for their work.

With limited programming designed to serve teens in the Downeast area, the “Oh Yea! 4-H Grows True Leaders,” program represents an opportunity for students in the area to form connections and have an additional  outlet to grow.  Jason Palomo, who leads the program shares, 

There are limited opportunities for teens to get involved in activities outside of athletics. We want to create a safe, supportive and fun space for students to get involved in their community and see the impact of their work. One of the biggest things that we provide is exposure to education and careers that they may not have thought of.  I want students to feel like there are opportunities out there ripe for the picking, and that there are programs out there that are eager to help make them successful.  I want them to then pass it on to their friends and family and share what they are doing with their friends and family.

Students in the program will also have the opportunity to visit Washington DC and attend the Ignite! By 4-H teen summit.  At the summit students will have the opportunity to attend different seminars that align with their interests, meet students from around the United States, and explore DC.  This is the first time students from Maine will be attending.

As the program continues to grow and develop, students will be at the forefront of designing projects and curriculum.  Maria Paniagua, co-leader shares:

Students have the ability to make the program their own, and follow their passions and interests.  I am excited to see how this develops, nurture student interests, and for students to know that they are doing good things for themselves and their community.

If you want to learn more about the Maine 4-H program, please visit the Cooperative Extension: 4-H page at the University of Maine.