Community Service Hours Available
High School Members in need community service hours the 4-H office is looking for help to serve as virtual Room Host for our Zoom Presentation Nights.
Must have a basic understanding of Zoom and the ability to help presenters troubleshoot problems.
If you would like to help please Contact Tanya Patrie at patrie@njaes.rutgers.edu to volunteer.
STEP and Workshops open to all, 4-H members and Non-4-H Members.
Upcoming NJ 4-H Workshops
February 22 at 6 pm: Managing Stress for Teens
February, Tuesday 23 at 7:00 pm: Celebrating Black History through Photography: Creating a mini permanent personal exhibit- Youth grades 5–12 welcome
February, Thursday 25 at 7:00 pm: Open Mic for All Ages
Current/Upcoming
NJ 4-H STEP Clubs
Finer Things Book Club
Join us on the 4th Thursday of the month to discuss the book of the month. We’ll talk about our favorite parts, lessons learned, and more. This month we’ll meet on Thursday, February 25 at 7:00 pm to talk about the book, Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg. This group is for youth in grades 8–13, so we recommend the regular version of the book, but the Young Readers’ Edition is okay, too. Check out your local library for a copy and join us for the February meeting—and help us choose our book for next month! Our first session is on Thursday, February 25 and additional sessions will be scheduled with club members following the first meeting.
Finer Things Book Club registration link
Globetasters 5:
30 Minute Meal Mondays
Join us for Globe Tasters 4-H Cultural Cuisine S.T.E.P. Club—Session 5. You can cook right along with us or watch and make later. This program is for youth in grades 4–13. Sessions will run on Mondays, 4–5:30 pm starting March 1 thru April 19.
Money Matters:
Reducing Your Risk
Youth will learn to identify some of the most common money mistakes people make and understand why people fall prey to financial issues. Teens will start forming good financial habits now so that that they can reduce risks in the future, such as avoiding scams and fraud, identity theft, predatory lending, and bankruptcy. The club is geared towards youth in grades 8–12. Sessions will meet on Tuesdays from 3:00–4:00 pm from March 2–30, 2021.
Money Matters: Reducing Your Risk registration link
Bee-Ginners
Looking forward to spring and warm weather again! We are too! Join our Bee-ginners 4‑H STEP club and learn about how you can help the bees when they will start to be out and about this spring. Even if you can’t keep bees, it’s good to know how to help them! We’ll cover how to tell the difference between the more common bee-looking insects you’ll see in your yard and how to help these pollinating miracles. Thinking of keeping bees? We’ll cover that too! Open to youth grades Sessions will run on Mondays from 4–5 pm starting March 8 through April 26.
Bee-ginners 4‑H STEP Club registration link
Bird Nerds
Looking to spend more time exploring the outdoors, learning about the natural world around you, AND enjoying some 4-H fun? Youth grades 4&6 are invited to join the BIRD NERDS 4-H STEP CLUB! Share six weeks of exploring the fascinating world of birds. Activities will include backyard bird Identification, scavenger hunts, nature-themed arts & crafts, exotic feeder and nesting camera observation, DIY bird feeder creations, get to know raptors, and how dinosaurs & birds are related. Sessions will be 6:30-7:30 pm, Wednesdays, March 17–April 21
Travel Bug STEP Club
We may not be able to travel right now, but we can still take a trip to some faraway lands to learn about what it’s like to visit some beautiful countries. Join us each week as we embark on adventures to Iceland, Ireland, Scotland and England, Belgium, Italy, Belize, and Chile. This program is open to youth in grades 7–9. Sessions will be held on Thursday afternoons from 4:00–5:30 pm from April 1–29, 2021.
Travel Bug STEP Club registration link
State Bridge to 4-H Club
Next Meeting – March 18
If you are a registered 4‑H member in New Jersey and are looking for a monthly online 4‑H Club experience, join Bridge to 4‑H! This is a life skills, healthy living, and leadership club. Maybe your regular 4‑H club is on hiatus, or you want to meet 4‑Hers across the state. Youth will learn financial literacy and resume-building skills, share recipes and activities to get moving, play interactive games, meet youth from across New Jersey, and so much more. For 4‑H members in grades 4–13. Sessions will run on Thursday’s from 7:00-8:00pm (Feb 18, and March 18).
STEP Clubs Coming Soon
– Book Club …coming soon
– Career Explores: Marine Science…coming soon
Lessons from COVID and Your Animal Science Projects Webinar
Thursday, February 25 at 8:00 pm
Are the lessons we are learning from COVID applicable to your animal science projects with youth?
Join the discussion on February 25 at 5:00 PM Pacific time (8:00 PM Eastern time) to hear from Extension educators about the lessons we have learned from the COVID experience—as a zoonotic disease affecting humans globally—and how this pandemic applies to the spread and prevention of farm animal diseases as well.
Our presenters will discuss the impacts of farm animal diseases such as avian influenza, and how youth biosecurity education can encourage positive change in behaviors to prevent and manage the spread of diseases.
Register in advance for this webinar: https://uvmextension.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_7ppalW9uR6KycUcPN36aBQ
Contact us if you have questions about this event:
Joanna Cummings – joanna.cummings@uvm.edu
Massachusetts 4-H invites youth (ages 8-18) to participate in the Heroes Wear Scrubs series to be held on Wednesdays, March 3-April 21, 3:00-4:00 PM. Register by Friday, February 26 by sending an email to: angelica@umext.umass.edu
On February 26, Rutgers School of Environmental and Biological Sciences will be hosting a “Conversation with Entrepreneur and Author Ben Weiss,” founder of Bai Brands!
Register at: https://rutgers.zoom.us/…/tJApdu-qrzIiHNUd1_XGtEY0j…
NJ State 4-H
Equine Presentation Contest
Registration now open. The deadline to register is March 1.
The New Jersey 4‑H Equine Presentations Project is a project area that is beneficial to the total 4‑H Horse Program. By learning to give presentations and demonstrations, 4‑H’ers gain self-confidence and speaking abilities that are valuable in life situations such as school, the workplace, and the community.
For more information go to: NJ State 4-H Equine Presentation Contest : Horses : Rutgers New Jersey 4-H
The SJTC Teen and Staff Planning Committee is excited to offer the South Jersey 4-H Teen Conference virtually.
The teen and adult members of the South Jersey 4-H Teen Conference Planning Committee invite you to join us for EMPOWERED TOGETHER WHILE APART, a virtual teen conference on Saturday, March 20th. The conference will take place via Zoom from 9:45 am to 1:00 pm.
This half-day conference is open to teens in 8th grade through one year out of high school who would like to come together with other teens to be inspired, see old friends and make new ones, learn new life skills, share some laughs, and feed your soul (and your belly!).
Highlights include:
- Renowned Keynote Speaker Rhett Laubach, BE A TORCHBEARER!
- Two sessions of empowering workshops on mindfulness, upcycling DIY, decluttering tips, and how to strengthen your mental health and financial muscles.
- Create your own Buddha Bowl lunch with the help of Globetaster 4-H STEP Club chefs
- Our conference wrap-up will be a fun compilation video starring YOU! Submit a 10-15 second TikTok-like video on one change you can make or one thing you can do to help the environment.
- Each participant will receive an AMAZING conference swag bag!
For full details click here, including a save-the-date flyer, conference agenda, speaker’s bio, workshop descriptions, and Buddha Bowl lunch activity flyer.
Be a part of this awesome event by registering at: https://go.rutgers.edu/qaz2uarz
Don’t hesitate – The conference registration deadline is MONDAY, MARCH 8th!
The cost of this conference is $30.00. Please send payment to your county office by Friday, March 12th.
Thanks, and don’t hesitate to contact your county 4-H staff for more information.
ATTENTION HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS/COLLEGE STUDENTS –
Agricultural Scholarships are now available
Agricultural Scholarships are presented each year by the Ag. Division of the NJ State Fair/Sussex County Farm & Horse Show and applications are now being accepted for any Sussex County graduating high school senior or college student currently enrolled in an agricultural program pursuing a two or four-year degree, or graduate studies in one of the many fields of Agriculture.
For more information and the application please go to Sussexcountyfairgrounds.org and click on Fairgrounds/Ag/Ag. History for the PDF application. Information is also available in local guidance offices.
The application can also be found here: Agricultural Scholarship (sussexcountyfairgrounds.org)
Mail application to the Ag. Scholarship Selection Committee, c/o G. Danko, P.O Box 2456, Branchville, NJ 07826. The deadline is April 15th.
Information and Programs For Our 4-H Parents and Leaders
Check out the Rutgers NJAES Online Calendar to see all of the classes and seminars that are available.
NEW Classes are added daily
Rutgers NJAES Calendar: All Statewide Events
Classes scheduled for next week are:
Monday, February 22, 2021; 6:30 pm – Gardening@Home Series – Houseplants I (fee)
Tuesday, February 23, 2021; 12:00 pm – Live Well & Stay Healthy Webinar: Popcorn Granola
Wednesday, February 24, 2021; 2:00 pm– Bean Basics and Benefits
Thursday, February 25 , 2021; 12:00 pm – Deer-Resistant Garden Design
Thursday, February 25 , 2021; 1:00 pm – Winter Lunch and Learn Online Series: Communicating with Confidence and Authority (fee)
Thursday, February 25 , 2021; 1:00 pm – Rutgers Pet Care School: The Tail that Wagged the Dog – Canine Body Language (fee)
Thursday, February 25, 2021; 2:00 pm – Love Your Heart: Physical Activity & Lifestyle Factors
Friday, February 26, 2021; 11:00 am – 5-Minute Mug Cake
Saturday, February 27, 2021; 9:30 am – Coffee Talk for Home Gardeners Meet the Pollinators and Plan Their Paradise
Caring adults are needed to volunteer to help us evaluate those 4-H youth taking part in our presentations program.
If you or someone you know would like to serve as a 4-H public presentation judge, please contact Tanya at patrie@njaes.rutgers.edu for more information about how you can help. Or you may go ahead and sign up to serve as a presentation judge at: https://go.rutgers.edu/gdwi7zwt.
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@SussexNJ4H
