TOWNSHIP COMMUNITY INFORMATION TOWNSHIP COMMUNITY INFORMATION 32 Zorra Now | Spring 2026 Zorra Now | Spring 2026 33 Oxford 4-H Club Oxford 4-H is growing… Oxford 4-H has three new 4-H Clubs this year—Oxford Fishing 4-H Club started April 9, Oxford Horse 4-H Club starts April 25 and Oxford Vet 4-H Club starts April 23. Oxford 4-H clubs also have a variety of projects happening this spring for hands-on learn to do by doing activities for youth ages 9-21. Oxford Quilting 4-H Club did a ‘Hoodie’ 4-H project; Thamesford 4-H Club did a ‘Breakfast’ 4-H project; the Mt Elgin 4-H Club did a ‘Maple Syrup’ 4-H project; Brooksdale 4-H Club is doing a ‘Craft’ project now and starting an “Anything with an Engine’ 4-H project April 25; the Community 4-H Club will be doing ‘Community Engagement’ project starting April 29. The Oxford Beef 4-H Club started the ‘Beef’ project; the Oxford Swine 4-H Club started to learn about biosecurity & recordkeeping with swine. The North Oxford Dairy 4-H Club starts April 27 and the Ingersoll Kiwanis Dairy 4-H Club starts April 27. The two Cloverbud 4-H Clubs in Oxford for the ages of 6-8 year olds have youth learning about maple syrup, field crops, alternative livestock, fruits & vegetables, our heritage, butterflies & pollinators, alternative dance & breadventure. The Thamesford 4-H Club will be serving up strawberry shortcakes at the July 1st Embro Highland Games; and the Community & Cloverbud 4-H Clubs will be at the Embro Truck & Tractor Pull July 31 & August 1 at the pizza booth and selling pop & water with the wagon. Thank you in advance for supporting these 4-H club fundraisers!! Oxford County 4-H Association Chairperson: Melvin Bergsma, Vice Chairperson: Terri Muir, Treasurer: Jack Danen, Assistant Treasurer: Christy Brekelmans, Secretary: Shonna Ward, Assistant Secretary: Kirsten Dill, Livestock Coordinator: Amy Reinhart, Association Rep: Kirsten Dill, Oxford 4-H Awards Coordinator: Shonna Ward, Dairy Classic Coordinator: Geoff Innes, Beef Royal Coordinators: Terri Muir & Sarah Pletsch, and other Directors: Deb Bailey, Elizabeth Bruce & Michelle McCoy. The 4-H Ontario youth participant fee is paid online directly with 4-H Ontario. The Oxford County 4-H Association will be subsidizing the provincial youth participant fee by $25.00 for Oxford 4-H youth members for 2026 with the George Thornton Bequest Funds. Oxford 4-H youth members will pay $95 to join 4-H in 2026—registration is done on the 4-H Ontario website. Please contact the club volunteer or oxfordcounty4h@gmail.com to confirm the project you are interested in is running in 2026 before registering. The 4-H program is a leadership development program for youth ages 6-21 from urban and rural areas learning about health, environment, technology, agriculture, science, food, community and communication in a hands-on learning atmosphere. To know more about the 4-H program, please contact the Oxford 4-H Communications Coordinator, Shonna Ward, by email oxfordcounty4h@ gmail.com or call/text 519-854-6919 or check out Oxford County 4-H Facebook. As we look forward to warmer days ahead, we’re pleased to share some updates from the museum’s team. Curator Stephanie Radu welcomed a new baby in January and is currently on leave. While she’s away, Sidney Williams has stepped into the role of Interim Curator to support the museum through 2026. April brings the addition of Interim Assistant Curator, Keely Shaw, and the return of our groundskeeper, Jeff. Our team of dedicated volunteers and staff are preparing for an active spring and summer at the museum. In April, we celebrate National Volunteer Week - an important opportunity to recognize and thank the many people who generously give their time and talents in support of the Beachville District Museum and the Beachville District Historical Society (BDHS). Their dedication is central to everything we do. From helping bring community events like car shows, the annual BBQ, and Light Up the Museum to life, to supporting collections care, digitization work, and ongoing community projects, their contributions are invaluable. We are grateful for their commitment, not only in April, but throughout the entire year. On Friday, April 24 we’ll celebrate Earth Day with our Colours of Nature PA Day Camp for children ages 5–11. In addition to activities centred on eco-art, upcycling, and earth sciences, Ox On the Run will join us for seedplanting and storytime. Registration is open now on our website at beachvilledistrictmuseum.com/2026-pa-daycamps. May is Museum Month! Led by the Ontario Museums Association, this province-wide initiative highlights the important role that museums play in our communities. Follow along on our social media channels throughout May for features that highlight the impact of Ontario’s museums and celebrate the work museums do to preserve and share the objects and stories that continue to shape our communities. The BDHS Speaker Series continues this spring with talks by Todd Pearson (The Kintore Coffee Co. Story) on Tuesday, May 12 at 7pm, and Helen Dowd (The History & Legacy of the Zorra Caledonian Society) on Tuesday, June 9 at 7pm. These events will take place in the museum’s program room and are free to attend. If you weren’t able Beachville District Museum: Upcoming Events to catch the January talk about Thomas Russell, with Carol Bossenberry, or the February talk about the Mighty Men of Zorra play, with Bill Butt, you can now find them on the museum's Youtube page. The car show season is just around the corner, with the first show scheduled for Sunday, May 24. Show vehicles are welcome to arrive on the museum grounds after 9:30 a.m., with the event opening to the public at 11:00 a.m. These popular events bring together an impressive variety of vehicles, from classic cars and VW vans to motorcycles, tractors, and more. They also help raise funds for the museum and the Legion. Visitors are invited to stroll the grounds, enjoy food and music, and cast a vote for their favourite vehicle. Additional shows are scheduled on June 14, July 26, August 23, and September 27, weather permitting. The museum is currently building its summer staff team through the Young Canada Works programs. Those who qualify for the programs and have an interest in local history or children’s education are encouraged to visit our website or Indeed to view current job postings. Staff orientation and training will take place in early June. Summer Camp begins on June 29, with registration already open for full-week sessions. Single-day registration will open April 16. This year’s themes include Junior Archaeologists, Water Wonders, Astronaut Academy, History of Me, Clue Crew, and more. Campers can look forward to a summer filled with hands-on activities, outdoor play, creative projects, and special guest visits. Visit the museum website at beachvilledistrictmuseum.com/ summercamp2026 to register. Throughout the summer, the museum will also offer its Hands-on Heritage programs - interactive experiences in baseball-making, Victorian quilting, and butter churning - designed to connect visitors of all ages with local history. These workshops invite participants to explore traditional skills, artifacts, and community stories in an engaging way. Program dates and details are available on our website, and we encourage visitors to check back regularly as the schedule continues to grow.
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