Youth tagging a shark

New Jersey 4-H S.H.A.R.K. (Scientific Hands-On Applied Research Knowledge) Program

Are you a 4-H member in good standing?  Are you in grades 7, 8, or 9?  Are you interested in marine issues?  Do you want to delve deeper into issues facing our oceans?  Do you want to learn from and work alongside real marine scientists?  Do you want to spend four days and three nights living and working on a real-life research vessel?  Do you want to potentially capture, measure, fin-clip, tag, and release live sharks?

If you answered “Yes” to all of those questions, consider participating in the NJ 4-H S.H.A.R.K. program!

Participants will meet every Monday beginning March 2 and continuing until April 20 from 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. on zoom.  At the end of the instate program (the virtual meetings), participants will then spend four days and three nights (April 25 – April 28, 2020) living and working on a real-life research vessel on the waters of Biscayne Bay, Florida!

Interested?

On December 30, 2019, County 4-H Agent conducted a virtual meeting via zoom.  To see that recording for yourself, and see what this program is about, go to: https://zoom.us/j/613359985?pwd=endoczNsdUQ2dk9Lcmt4T0tUbTlRZz09  (This information session was designed for both 4-H members and their parents.)

Some important information to consider:

  • This program is being offered to New Jersey 4-H members in good standing who are in grades 7, 8, and 9.
  • Because of space limitations on the research vessel, this program is only able to be offered to a maximum of 10 (ten) 4-H youth participants at a single time.
  • There will be costs associated with this program (potentially up to $1,850 per participant) – though we will seek out sponsorships, donations, and grants to offset costs.
  • Applications (received upon request by emailing m.newman@njaes.rutgers.edu) are due February 3, 2020.

Please note – there will be an application process.  Even if individuals attended the information session, that did not automatically guarantee acceptance into this program.  If after watching the recording and you/your children want to apply, or if you have any questions about this program or would like more information, contact Matthew Newman , 732 431 7260, ext. 7266

S.H.A.R.K. Program Detail (4 MB)

S.H.A.R.K. Application

About the author

Dave is the 4-H Senior Program Coordinator for the Sussex County 4-H program.