The minute school lets out for summer, the screen time wars ramp up for parents. “It’s such a slog … a never-ending battle,” said Rachel Lyons, a mom of three from Hillsborough. But for one week each summer, Lyons gets a truce. Her children head to New Jersey 4-H Camp, which runs. The wooded retreat run […]
Rutgers Department Co-Launches Educator-Community Climate Resilience Initiative
The Rutgers Department of 4-H Youth Development and the Jacques Cousteau National Estuarine Research Reserve (JCNERR) have launched a multi-year initiative designed to engage New Jersey educators, students, and community partners in climate resilience planning and action. The project is part of EduCATE (Education, Climate Awareness, Training, and Engagement), a program within New Jersey’s broader […]
Youth Represent New Jersey at 4-H Leadership Academy Program in Washington, D.C.
Five New Jersey 4-H teen members traveled to Washington, D.C., from May 19–21, 2026, to participate in the national 4-H Leadership Academy, a program that aims to develop young leaders into lifelong problem-solvers who are passionate about tackling society’s biggest challenges. Representing New Jersey 4-H were Aditi Anand (Middlesex County), Raima Bera (Morris County), Rylie […]
Can Penguins Help Teach Kids About Climate Change? New Research Says Yes
Penguins waddling across Antarctic ice might seem far removed from a classroom in New Jersey, but a new study shows that these charismatic birds can be a powerful hook for teaching young people about climate change — and inspiring them to see themselves as future scientists. The study was led by researchers at Rutgers University, […]
New Jersey Kids Care About the Planet — But Don’t Connect It to What’s on Their Plates
Ask a New Jersey middle schooler what they think about when choosing what to eat, and you’ll probably hear: taste, texture, and whether it’ll upset their stomach. Ask them what they do to help the planet, and they’ll mention picking up litter or recycling. What most won’t mention? The connection between the two. A new […]
Rutgers Cooperative Extension Hosts 2026 Annual Conference
The 2026 Rutgers Cooperative Extension (RCE) Annual Conference convened on January 15 at the Busch Student Center, bringing together faculty, staff, and stakeholders from across New Jersey. The annual gathering provided a shared space for networking, professional development, research collaboration, and the exchange of best practices in delivering research-based educational programming with service excellence. The […]
Rutgers Showcases Research and Expertise at 2026 Northeast Agricultural Expo
Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station (NJAES) played a leading role in shaping the 2026 Northeast Agricultural Expo (formerly the New Jersey Agricultural Convention and Trade Show), held January 21–23 at Harrah’s Resort and Waterfront Conference Center in Atlantic City. In remarks to the delegates, NJAES Executive Director Laura Lawson expressed appreciation to Secretary of […]
Announcement: Patrick McMullen Joins Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Atlantic County
Announcement by Nicholas Polanin, chair of the Department of Agricultural and Natural Resources Please join me in welcoming Patrick McMullen as our newest tenure-track faculty member. Patrick joins us from Cornell University, where he recently completed his PhD focused on soilborne pathogen management and healthy crop establishment. He earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from […]
Rutgers Cooperative Extension Leads Drafting of New Food Donation Guidelines to Reduce Waste
Rutgers Cooperative Extension has co-authored new statewide guidelines aimed at clearing up confusion over what food can be safely and legally donated, a move expected to divert millions of meals from landfills to people in need. The New Jersey Food Donation Guidelines, published online this fall, were developed by Rutgers and the Meal Recovery Coalition, […]
Rutgers Historian Is Telling a New Story About New Jersey Wineries
American Studies Professor Angus Gillespie, an expert in folklore who taught at Rutgers for more than 50 years, has a new passion: Promoting New Jersey’s growing wine industry and the university’s efforts to bolster its success. Several years ago, Gillespie and his wife, Rowena, were strolling Lambertville’s Bridge Street when he found a tourism brochure […]
