March 31, 2026
Dear 4-H Leader,
Spring 4-H Adult Leader Meeting
The 2026 spring adult leader meeting will be Thursday, April 30, 6:30 pm at the Fond du Lac County Campus in room 205/206. All general leaders are encouraged to attend. Cloverbud Pumpkin seeds will be distributed to club leaders to give to the Cloverbud members. Raffle tickets will also be distributed at this meeting. This is a meeting you won’t want to miss!
National Volunteer Week
Celebrated April 19-25, this is an opportunity to salute you, the 4-H volunteer! Thank you for giving your all to make your club environment a place where young people can belong, grow, learn, be challenged, have fun, and give back. Your passion to make the 4-H experience meaningful and memorable is commendable. The 4-H program would not exist without volunteers! Help us celebrate all the wonderful volunteers by nominating a volunteer you would like to recognize for doing an awesome job.
Nominate a volunteer or youth leader through the online form at https://go.wisc.edu/2026thankavolunteer or email Tracy a photo of the volunteer you are nominating and why you are nominating them.
Silent Auction
This fundraiser generates thousands of dollars for the Fond du Lac County 4-H Endowment Fund. In turn, the interest from the Endowment Fund supports the activities of 4-H members. Each club is asked to donate an item to the silent auction, volunteer to help man the area, and secure donations from three businesses in your area. Let Cindy Koffman know ahead of time how your club will be involved, so space for auction items and volunteer time slots may be allocated. Call her at (920) 477-5006.
Volunteers Needed for Adult Leader Food Stand Committee
Adult volunteers are needed to serve on the Adult Leader Food Stand Committee. If you are interested in helping, please contact Jennifer Ladwig at jaladwig73@hotmail.com.
Adult Leaders Raffle
The 4-H Raffle Committee is looking for help with securing donations for the annual raffle. It would be very much appreciated if each club could please acquire at least one raffle prize. Please get raffle prize information to Judy Bertram byApril 5 at mandjbertram@gmail.com or 920-922-9379. Most prizes are mailed to the winners, so certificates/gift cards work the best. Raffle tickets will be distributed to clubs at the April Adult Leaders Meeting. The drawing will take place at the Adult Leaders Meeting in August. This is a primary source of money to build programs for our 4-H youth. Raffle tickets will be sold for $5 a ticket.
Club Dues
Club dues are included in this mailing and should be paid by April 30th. If you have any questions about the dues, please reach out to the office at 920-906-4623.
Project Workshop Committee Volunteers Needed
Do you enjoy helping youth learn new skills or connecting people with great resources? The Project Workshop Committee is looking for 2–3 volunteers to help plan a few hands-on project workshops each year. The top projects in Fond du Lac County include Art, Swine, Photography, Dairy, Beef, LEGO, Foods & Nutrition, Woodworking, Poultry, and Drawing and Painting. Shooting Sports, Sewing, and Crops could use additional support in the top 20 projects. Meetings are flexible and held only a few times annually—this is a fun, low‑commitment way to support 4‑H projects and make a big impact! If interested, please reach out to Tracy.
Art Workshop – Acrylic Painting & Drawing
4-H Youth Leader Austyn is hosting a hands-on Acrylic Painting & Drawing Workshop on April 25. All materials are provided. The 3-4pm session is for youth in grades K5-5th and is almost full! A waitlist will be started once we reach capacity. The 4-5pm session is for youth in grades 6 and up. Please share with your club members. Registration is through 4-H Online. Additional workshops will be scheduled in the future.
Summer Camp Update
There will be a variety of day camp programs offered this summer.We are seeking volunteers who would like to be part of the 2026 Day Camp Committee. If you know of individuals who would be a great fit, please contact Tracy. The planning for many of these opportunities is done over the next couple of months. Youth can start signing up for day camps in 4Honline on April 15. Camps are held at the Fond du Lac County Campus. More information on camps can be found on the Extension website: fonddulac.extension.wisc.edu/events-activities/
Around the World Camp – Get ready for an exciting global adventure! Pack your bags and grab your passports as we explore different cultures from around the world. Campers in grades 3-8 will engage in a variety of activities, including sports and geography games, listening to music from different countries, creating cultural crafts, and savoring traditional foods. Each day, youth will visit one country in the morning and another in the afternoon, collecting a total of 6 passport stamps by the end of the camp. In addition to these activities, campers will learn about the history, customs, and languages of the countries they visit.
Cloverbud Day Camp is a day camp for youth in grades K5-2. Each day camp focuses on a different topic for the youth to explore, including Foodie Camp, Superheroes in Our Community, and Art. We are seeking volunteers who would like to help plan the camp as well as volunteer during camp.
Cardboard Camp is a multi-day camp for youth in grades 2-8, where youth engineer cardboard creations and participate in team building and leadership exercises under the leadership of counselors. Youth will design a city and use their design to build a model. Youth will construct the model using various materials such as cardboard boxes, paper towel tubes, paper plates, and more. Youth will work as a team to complete a challenge! The goal of this effort is to engage young people in leadership roles while learning about science, technology, math, and engineering. This camp runs in the mornings opposite of LEGO camp.
Art Day Camp is a camp for youth in grades 3-8 to learn different art skills. We are seeking volunteers and youth to be part of this camp planning committee and to help run the camp. The camp will be 3 days, and each day will focus on a different art medium. The committee decides the format of the camp. Topics covered include Art-Rageous 2-D Camp, Super Sculptures 3-D Camp, and Creative Cultural Arts. The art projects are some of the most popular projects youth enroll in. We want to support them with learning experiences and different project opportunities.
Foodie Camp is a camp for youth in grades 3-8 to learn different cooking and baking skills. We are seeking volunteers and youth to be part of this camp planning committee and to help run the camp. The Foods and Nutrition project is one of the most popular projects youth enroll in. We want to support them with learning experiences and different project opportunities.
LEGO Camp is a camp for youth in grades 2-8 to learn different LEGO building skills. The LEGO club and project is growing fast. Join us during this camp and get a taste of what LEGO club is like! Youth will build different creations with the LEGO bricks at the office. No need to bring any from home! Youth will also learn about different building and engineering techniques, as well as do some LEGO crafts they can take home! This camp runs in the afternoons opposite of Cardboard camp.
STEM: Wizarding Day Camp – Step into a world where science and magic come together through hands-on projects inspired by the wizarding world. Youth will experiment with bubbling and color-changing potions, craft their own magical charms and wands, and create wizarding school supplies such as quill pens. A fun blend of imagination, science, and creativity awaits at our Wizarding STEM Day Camp.
Club Officers
Please encourage youth club reporters to complete a short form and upload their articles and photos at this link: go.wisc.edu/2665ok. Articles for the current week must be submitted by 12 pm on Wednesday. *Secretary minutes can also be submitted using the same form! Youth can write articles of any length. They can use photos and information from your club’s Facebook page for the newsletter.
This is a great learning opportunity and skill builder. Motivated youth can earn officer position awards by completing an officer book. Details can be found at https://fonddulac.extension.wisc.edu/4h/records/#officer. Assembled officer binders were distributed to each club. If you don’t have a copy or if you need additional officer resources, please reach out to Tracy.
New Family Newsletters
Each month, new families will receive the Exploring 4-H for New Families newsletter to help support them through their family’s first year in the 4-H program. Each edition will cover a new topic and will be two pages. The front page is meant to give adults a more well-rounded understanding of 4-H. The back page is meant for youth 4-H members to either go through on their own or with a parent or caregiver to explore how 4-H operates and fits their interests. While Exploring 4-H for New Families will cover a wide variety of topics, new families may reach out to club or project leaders with more questions!
Summer Academy
This program is open to any 4-H members in grades 8-11 and will be held from June 14-18, 2026, on the UW-Madison campus. Youth will be able to experience life in a residence hall, with the chance to build lifelong friendships with other students from across Wisconsin. There will be chances to learn about higher education from UW-Madison and Madison College, as well as career discovery and networking opportunities. Thanks to generous donors, the registration fee is only $150 per youth and covers lodging, meals, transportation, activities, and more. For more information about this experience visit: https://4h.extension.wisc.edu/opportunities/statewide-events-and-opportunities/summer-academy/
Exploratory Tracks: (Grades 8–10) Theme: Experiential Learning
Best for first-time delegates. This track is designed for youth who are looking to learn about a number of career pathways and discover new interests. As the name suggests, it is a place where you can explore your future through hands-on learning experiences in a variety of content areas—from Science, Agriculture, and Game Design to Communications, LEGOs, and the Visual & Performing Arts. Each youth will participate in 3 or more different workshops in each track to get a broad taste of what is available. Workshops are grouped into three career areas so that youth will get a variety of experiences.
Core Tracks: (Grades 9–11) Theme: Career and College Readiness
Best for returning delegates. These tracks are designed for youth who have attended before or who are starting to have specific ideas about their future. Rather than rotating through many topics, youth in Core Tracks will focus on a specific area for 1.5 days, interacting with professionals in the field. This is a chance to dig deeper into career pathways such as Agriculture, Automotive, Culinary Arts, Construction, Health & Wellness, and Artificial Intelligence.
Advanced Track: New! Advanced Academy (Grade 11) Theme: Career and College Readiness
Best for youth ready to transition to college or a career. The Advanced Academy is for older youth looking to take a deep dive into career exploration by working alongside professional educators and practitioners. Participants will spend 15–20 hours working hands-on in the field. Small groups of 6–8 youth will work with a track leader to build skills and make connections with UW-Madison faculty and students.
RESOURCE OF THE MONTH: Idea Studio makerspace at the Fond du Lac Public Library
The Idea Studio is a makerspace – a permanent do-it-yourself zone where people can gather to create, invent, and learn. It includes work tables, laptops, equipment, and projects, and is open to anyone age 13 and older. Children under 13 are welcome if accompanied by a parent or caretaker.
Some equipment is available for use without prior training, whereas other equipment requires a user to first become “badged” before use. All users of the space are expected to follow safe use practices, clean up after themselves, and respect the space and its other users. There is no fee for use of equipment, but some have fees for supplies, or require users to bring their own supplies. For more information please visit: https://www.fdlpl.org/ideastudio. Contact Idea Studio with questions, at: ideastaff@fdlpl.org
Check the calendar for any changes due to special programs.
Available equipment:
- 3-D printers
- Button maker (no training req.)
- Drawing Tablet
- Embroidery machine
- Glowforge Pro Laser
- Mayku Multiplier
- Printmaking press
- Recording studio
- Serger
- Shotbox lightbox (no training req.)
- Sewing machines
- Silhouette Cameo 4 paper/vinyl cutter
- Sublimation printer and heat press
- VHS tape conversion station to USB (no training req.)
- X-Carve CNC Router
Calendar of Events
April
2- Dog Project Orientation, 5:00pm, FDL Co Fairgrounds Rec Center
2- Junior Master Gardener Club, 4:00-5:30pm, Fond du Lac County Campus
4- In-Person YQCA, 9:00 am, Fond du Lac County Fairgrounds
9- Dog Project Class, 5:00pm, FDL Co Fairgrounds Rec Center
14- Wildlife Club, 6:00 pm, Fond du Lac County Campus
14- Dairy Judging, 6:30 pm, Westphalia Holsteins, W6301 West Byron Road, Brownsville
15- Day Camp Registration Opens
16- Dog Project Class, 5:00pm, FDL Co Fairgrounds Rec Center
16- Junior Master Gardener Club, 4:00-5:30pm, Fond du Lac County Campus
19-25- National Volunteer Week
23- Dog Project Class, 5:00pm, FDL Co Fairgrounds Rec Center
25- Acrylic Painting & Drawing Workshop, 3-4pm (K5-5th) or 4-5pm (6th grade & up), FDL Co Campus
25- Horse Project Meeting, 12pm, Double Bar A, N3758 Dehring Rd, Oakfield, WI 53065
27- TLA Meeting, 6:45pm, Rolling Meadows Meeting Room
28- LEGO Club, 6:30 pm, Fond du Lac County Campus
29- Dairy Judging, 6:30 pm, Vir-Clar Farms, N5119 County Road K, Fond du Lac
30- Dog Project Class, 5:00pm, FDL Co Fairgrounds Rec Center
30- Junior Master Gardener Club, 4:00-5:30pm, Fond du Lac County Campus
30- Adult Leaders Association Meeting, 6:30 pm, Fond du Lac County Campus
30- Club Dues Deadline- send payment into Extension office
May
5- Air Gun and Archery, 5:30-7:30 pm, Izaak Walton, N6491 Co Rd K, Fond du Lac
7- Dog Project Class, 5:00pm, FDL Co Fairgrounds Rec Center
7- Air Gun and Archery, 5:30-7:30 pm, Izaak Walton, N6491 Co Rd K, Fond du Lac
12- Air Gun and Archery, 5:30-7:30 pm, Izaak Walton, N6491 Co Rd K, Fond du Lac
14- Wildlife Club, 6:00 pm, Fond du Lac County Campus
14- Dog Project Class, 5:00pm, FDL Co Fairgrounds Rec Center
14- Air Gun and Archery, 5:30-7:30 pm, Izaak Walton, N6491 Co Rd K, Fond du Lac
14- Junior Master Gardener Club, 4:00-5:30pm, Fond du Lac County Campus
15- Scholarship deadline for Fond du Lac County 4-H Scholarships
19- Air Gun and Archery, 5:30-7:30 pm, Izaak Walton, N6491 Co Rd K, Fond du Lac
21- Dog Project Class, 5:00pm, FDL Co Fairgrounds Rec Center
21- Air Gun and Archery, 5:30-7:30 pm, Izaak Walton, N6491 Co Rd K, Fond du Lac
25- Memorial Day – Extension Office Closed
26- Air Gun and Archery, 5:30-7:30 pm, Izaak Walton, N6491 Co Rd K, Fond du Lac
26- LEGO Club, 6:30 pm, Fond du Lac County Campus
28- Dog Project Class, 5:00pm, FDL Co Fairgrounds Rec Center
28- Air Gun and Archery, 5:30-7:30 pm, Izaak Walton, N6491 Co Rd K, Fond du Lac
28- Junior Master Gardener Club, 4:00-5:30pm, Fond du Lac County Campus
Sincerely,
Tracy Keifenheim
4-H Program Educator
UW-Madison Division of Extension, Fond du Lac County
cc: Executive Board, TLA Advisor, Horse Project President