The Deadline to Re-enroll for This Project Year is December 31, 2022.

4-H Online is OPEN for Reenrollment.

https://v2.4honline.com

If you run into any issues or have questions, please feel free to contact the 4-H Office for assistance.

December PhotoCorps: “Follow Me”

The NJ 4-H PhotoCorps is open to youth in grades 4-13.

This month’s PhotoCorps theme is “Follow Me”. In this photo theme, your photo beckons “Follow Me”! Through the power of your camera lens, you can draw us in to follow you down unique paths. Lead and we will happily follow! You can download directions for joining PhotoCorps. Entries for this theme are open from the beginning to end of the month.

If you have any questions, please contact williams@njaes.rutgers.edu

New Jersey 4-H members in grades 9-12 who are members in good standing are invited to participate in a multi-level leadership program called the NJ 4-H Leadership for Life Program.  

Adapted from Ireland’s youth development program Foróige, the Leadership for Life Program is based on theories and principles of youth work, leadership development, and leadership styles.

Offered in three sequential modules, this program is aimed at equipping young people to explore their vision and passion and to develop such key skills as planning, decision-making, critical thinking, goal setting, and problem-solving.

Members must complete Modules 1 and 2 before they are eligible to complete Module 3. The Advanced Module is held during a 9-day travel experience to the Foróige Leadership for Life Conference at the University of Ireland in Maynooth, Ireland.

The Leadership for Life Program will be offered on the following dates during 2023–2024:

ModuleDates & TimeLocationRegistration Fee and Due Date
1Sat., Dec. 9, 2023
10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Mercer County Extension Office
1440 Parkside Ave.
Trenton, NJ
$75 for program materials, lunch, and snacks

Registration due Dec. 1, 2023

Module 1 Registration Packet (341k PDF)
2Sat., Jan. 6, 2024
10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Mercer County Extension Office
1440 Parkside Ave.
Trenton, NJ
$75 for program materials, lunch and snacks

Registration due Dec. 28, 2023

Module 2 Registration Packet (343k PDF)
3Sat., Feb. 10, 2024
10 a.m.–3 p.m.
Mercer County Extension Office
1440 Parkside Ave.
Trenton, NJ
$40 for program materials

Registration due Feb. 1, 2024

Module 3 Registration Packet (342k PDF)
AdvancedJuly 25–August 2, 2025

(tentative)
University of Ireland at Maynooth,
Ireland
Applications will be accepted in Dec. 2024

Information and registration for all of the NJ 4-H Leadership for Life Program Modules are available on the NJ 4-H Website at: 
http://nj4h.rutgers.edu/leadership/leadership-for-life/ 

Questions about the Leadership for Life Program can be directed to Camden County 4-H Agent Sharon Kinsey (sbkinsey@njaes.rutgers.edu) or Warren County 4-H Program Associate Michelle Teitsma (teitsma@njaes.rutgers.edu).

Ocean 4-H Animalology Trivia Game

When: January 28, 2023 

Where: Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 708 Rt. 88, Point Pleasant, NJ

Registration starts at 8:30 am, teams set by 9:15 am

Animalology is a friendly Jeopardy!-style competition for youth in grades 4-13. Topics may include animals but also go beyond the animal world. Youth register as individuals and have a team of four drawn from a hat on the day of the competition. Awards will be given in Junior and Senior divisions to the top four teams and the top 10 individuals. The Ocean County 4-H Association will have delicious breakfast and lunch items for sale. Contact the Ocean 4-H office for more information, 732-349-1227 or Ferrie@njaes.rutgers.edu

NJ 4-H STEM Teen Planning Committee

For youth in grades 8-13. You have probably heard the phrase, 4-H is more than cows and cooking.  We all know that 4-H caters to a lot of different interests, and this is a group for teens interested in 4-H projects and programs that focus on science and technology. This group is being formed to explore the idea of hosting a one-day NJ 4-H Technology Symposium in the late spring/early fall to bring together 4-H youth interested in technology on Rutgers–New Brunwick campus. We are currently seeking 4-H teens who would be interested in being on the planning committee. Fill out the interest form here for more information.

4-H Animal Science Video Contest and Film Festival

New Jersey 4-H, in cooperation with the New Jersey Junior Breeder Symposium, is sponsoring the 4-H Animal Science Video Contest and Film Festival to include ALL 4-H animal project areas.

Youth may work individually or as a team to create short educational videos (3:30 minutes or less) about alpacas, cats, cattle (beef/dairy), dogs, goats, herpetology, horses, llamas, poultry, rabbits, sheep, small animals, and/or swine to enter in the 4-H Animal Science Video Contest.  Youth must upload their video and media release(s) by the end of March 4 (see website for details).  The videos will then be shared at the film festival in the Round House of the Rutgers Cook Campus Farm during an afternoon session of the Junior Animal Science Symposium on Saturday, March 23.  

Youth of the top scoring videos will receive awards, including gift cards.  Videos will be scored on educational value, creativity, clarity, pacing, and technical quality (sound, lighting, etc.) – 20 points each, total of 100.  A tip sheet and a description of the judging criteria are both available on the website, along with the top scoring videos from prior years. Youth are encouraged to have fun and be creative in designing their video entries!

Details are available on our website at http://nj4h.rutgers.edu/animals/film-festival

2023 Rutgers NJ Junior Breeder Symposium

The Rutgers Junior Breeder Symposium is scheduled for Saturday, March 25, 2023, at the George H. Cook Campus of Rutgers University. This symposium is not just for breeders, but for any youth or adult who would like to come learn!  Hands-on workshops in Equine, Large Ruminant (Cattle), Small Ruminant (Sheep & Goat), Swine, Poultry, Rabbit, Cavy (Guinea Pig), Small Animals, and Beekeeping! This event is sponsored by the New Jersey Department of Agriculture Junior Breeder program in cooperation with Rutgers Cooperative Extension faculty and staff

https://nj4h.rutgers.edu/animals/junior-breeder/ 

4H Rabbit & Small Animal Project Members
SAVE THE DATE

Sussex County Rabbit & Small Animal Showmanship & Skillathon will be:

Saturday, May 6, 9 am-12 pm
Sunday, May 7, 4 pm – 7 pm

To be held at the Sussex County Fairgrounds.

More information, including a Signup Genius to register for the event, will be sent closer to the event.

Poetry x Hunger: Poetry Call from Middle and High School Youth

Do you want to help eliminate hunger and poverty through the power of your pen? NJ Arts 4-H is introducing Poetry X Hunger. Join in the Poetry X Hunger project promoted by Expressive Arts 4-H of Rutgers Cooperative Extension. If you would like to learn more about the many forms of poetry you can choose from, contact Ellen Williams, Expressive Arts 4-H Agent at williams@njaes.rutgers.edu.

For more information visit https://nj4h.rutgers.edu/comm/poetryxhunger/

Adventure awaits in Australia Summer 2024 with EF tour

This trip is open to all members age 14 and up (at the time of travel) as well as adults (anyone over 20 is considered an adult).

Come learn about the itinerary, activities, academic opportunities, and the cost of the trip at this meeting. Find meeting details below:

·        Date: September 27th
Time: 7:00pm
Location: Zoom

Please register for the meeting here: https://bit.ly/460N3v8

This is not a 4-H sponsored trip and is open for anyone to attend.
It is being coordinated by Kathy Kula, 4-H Teen Council Leader, and Jefferson H.S. Teacher.

Club News

If you would like to have a Club Event, Fundraiser, or Recruitment mentioned in the weekly newsletter, please send info to Tanya (patrie@njaes.rutgers.edu). The info must be received by Thursday noon, to make it in the next week’s newsletter.

The RCE/4H Office will be closed Friday December 23, Monday December 26, Monday January 2, and Tuesday, January 3  for the Christmas & New Year Holidays.

The Newsletter will also be taking a break those weeks. It will return January 6.


Information and Programs For Our 4-H Parents and Leaders

Attention Leaders
Your Annual Rutgers Protection of Minors Training is Due

Leaders, this is a reminder that you must complete your Rutgers Protection of Minors Training annually. This is a requirement before will the office can approve you in the 4-H Online System for the new program year.

Thank you to those that have already completed this requirement for this year.

You may have received an email from the Rutgers Protection of Minors email with the following link: https://pom.ipo.rutgers.edu/.
If not, you can use the link at any time to complete it.

The following are steps to complete this:
1. Click the link. You are taken to the Rutgers Protection of Minors training home page.


2. At the bottom, use the NON-NetID User option to request a PIN login.

2. Once you receive the PIN via email, use the link above again to gain access to the site and enter the training via the PIN Login.


3. Complete the training.  There are 4 modules and quizzes you must complete. The last page you will see is:


The process should take less the 30 minutes. Once you get here, you are all done. We will be sent a notice when you complete the training. 

If you have any issues please contact the 4-H Office for assistance


Gardening Education Series 2023

The Science Behind How Things Grow

This horticultural education program is available to home gardeners and covers a variety of topics related to understanding the science behind how things grow.  Online classroom instruction will run February 9th – May 25th, Thursday evenings from 6:30-8:30 pm (2-hour lectures with question and answers session following). The program consists of 16 content expert lectures and 5 core prerecorded webinars, plus additional elective webinar content and class discussion sessions.

Lectures include the following topics: Botany, Soils, Entomology, IPM, Plant Pathology, Trees and Shrubs, Pruning, Turf, Weeds, Vegetable Production, Small Fruit, Tree Fruit, Composting, and Herbaceous Plants.

For More Information About the Program Contact
Lisa Chiariello -Program Coordinator
973-948-3040 lisa.chiariello@rutgers.edu


Register for the 2023 Rutgers Environmental Steward Class

Make a DIFFERENCE in your community…become a Rutgers Environmental Steward – Classes start in January!
Additional information is on their website- https://envirostewards.rutgers.edu/

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@SussexNJ4H

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