Community Roundup: April 17

4-H seeks teens for new outdoor recreation program

The University of Vermont Extension 4-H is launching a new program for Vermont high school students, ages 14 to 18, who love spending time in the outdoors and want to connect with other teens with similar interests.

The pilot program will be teen-led with participants making the decisions about recreational and social outings, guest speakers for online and in-person programs and community service and job skill development opportunities. It will be split into two chapters, northern and southern Vermont, and is open to all high school students, not just 4-H’ers.

Interested teens are asked to complete a survey by May 9 to provide input and for a chance to win a hammock in a random drawing.

The survey will help gauge interest in how often participants would like to meet virtually and in-person and the types of activities they would like to see offered, such as hiking and nature walks, environmental stewardship projects, camping trips and social gatherings including picnics and game nights. However, each chapter, once established, would make these decisions based on the members’ interests.

If questions, teens in northern Vermont (Addison, Caledonia, Chittenden, Essex, Franklin, Grand Isle, Lamoille, Orleans and Washington Counties) should contact Holly Ferris.

Master gardener helpline now open to assist gardeners

Gardening enthusiasts and homeowners can now receive gardening and backyard composting information and guidance with the spring re-opening of the University of Vermont Extension master gardener helpline.

Operated by trained and knowledgeable extension master gardener volunteers, the helpline provides free, reliable, research-based answers to questions about home gardening, lawn care, composting, integrated pest management and more. 

Interested Vermonters can contact the helpline in two ways. They can submit questions with photos of plants, insects and diseases or upload soil test reports to the online portal at go.uvm.edu/gardenhelpline.

Helpline volunteers also are available to answer calls at 802-656-5421 on Thursdays from 9 a.m. to noon through Oct. 30. Questions about plant identification, insect and disease management, soil health and other sustainable gardening practices are all welcome. However, extension master gardener volunteers cannot provide personal site visits to home gardens.

Commercial growers of vegetables, berries, tree fruit and related crops who need assistance with identifying an insect pest or plant disease, should contact the university’s plant diagnostic clinic. For other crop-related questions, contact the Uiversity of Vermont’s extension commercial horticulture team. 

The helpline is part of extension’s community horticulture program that is committed to supporting local communities through science-based horticulture education and outreach. The program’s extension master gardener program trains volunteers in horticultural best practices, empowering them to share knowledge and promote environmentally responsible gardening throughout the state.

Final call for applications to Winona Smith Scholarship

The deadline for applications to the League of Women Voters of Vermont Education Fund Winona Smith Scholarship is quickly approaching.

Applications, due on April 30 by midnight, can be completed online. Students need to submit two essays (500 words), one on issues concerning voting rights and the other on the impact of a recent civic, national or world event. A letter of recommendation from a teacher is also required,.

Three $2,000 scholarships will be awarded to three students who demonstrate financial need, scholastic achievement and come highly recommended by their teacher. The scholarship can be applied towards continuation of education in an accredited vocational-technical or trade school and two- or four-year college or university. Scholarship recipients will be announced on June 1.

Created in 1998 to honor the legacy of League leader Winona Smith, the scholarship is awarded annually to local high school seniors who embody the characteristics and qualities Smith displayed of civic participation and community service.

Last year, League of Women Voters scholarships were awarded to students from Essex and Winooski high schools and St. Johnsbury Academy.

Questions can be directed to scholarship coordinator Audrey Grant.