Madara Dias of Bridgewater, an 11th grade member of the Somerset County 4-H Youth Development Program, has been honored for her exemplary volunteer service with a President’s Volunteer Service Award… The award, which recognizes Americans of all ages …
Youth/Community Development
Co-author of Design It! and Explore It! Afterschool Curricula Receives 4-H Educator of the Year Award
Charlie Hutchison of Lexington, Massachusetts, Director of Active Science Learning, Inc. and Principal Investigator for the National Partnership for After-School Science project funded by the National Science Foundation’s Informal Science Education Program, was recently recognized by the New Jersey Association of 4-H Agents with the 4-H Educator of the Year Award for his significant contributions […]
Rutgers 4-H Salutes NJ Volunteers during National Volunteer Week April 12-18
Each year, thousands of volunteers in New Jersey donate their time and energy to make their communities a better place to live. These volunteers will be among the millions across the country who will be spotlighted during National Volunteer Week, April 12-18. One group that relies heavily on volunteers is the New Jersey 4-H Youth […]
Sandy Storm Inspires George Street’s ‘Green’ Production
Channeling the Heat Miser from the holiday cartoon classic “A Year without a Santa Claus,” Adam McDowell snidely punctuates his character Captain Carbon’s disdain for “Humans” in one of two show-stopping numbers that make “Gabi Goes Green!” a sure hit for young audiences… Two and a half years in the making, “Gabi” tells the tale of an eighth-grade student who has transferred to a new school after her family’s home was destroyed by Sandy. Armed with her clever smartphone app Eartha, Gabi transforms into the Green Hero and battles Captain Carbon by empowering others to reduce their carbon footprint with environmentally sound decisions… The public will get to see “Gabi” on March 30 and April 1 at the Playhouse. The latter date is tied to the theater’s free “Spotlight on Environmental Education” conference, featuring keynote speaker Anthony Broccoli, chair of Rutgers University’s Department of Environmental Sciences, and workshops to introduce climate change and other environmental issues into curriculum.
Rutgers VETS Program Graduates Inaugural Class
Unique partnership among a university, a church and companies makes a difference for unemployed veterans in Newark It was a proud moment at the Willing Heart Community Care Center in Newark, NJ, on March 3, where 12 local veterans graduated as the inaugural class of the Rutgers Veterans Environmental Technology and Solutions (VETS) program. […]
Madara Dias Honored for Volunteer Service with President’s Volunteer Service Award
Madara Dias of Bridgewater, an 11th grade member of the Somerset County 4-H Youth Development Program has been honored for her exemplary volunteer service with a President’s Volunteer Service Award… The award, which recognizes Americans of all ages who have volunteered significant amounts of their time to serve their communities and their country, was granted by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program on behalf of President Barack Obama. Somerset County 4-H Youth Development, part of Rutgers Cooperative Extension, nominated Madara for national honors this fall in recognition of her volunteer service… In addition to her commitment to the 4-H program, Madara spent three weeks in Sri Lanka teaching English to underprivileged students. Her desire to help the community comes from her grandparents in Sri Lanka. “They have always helped the less fortunate and I want to do that too,” says Madara… The 4-H Youth Development Program is part of Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Somerset County, an off-campus division of Rutgers University.
Local Members Participate in 4-H Leadership Conference
Sixty-nine 4-H members representing 18 counties will be participating in the 4-H Discover the Leader in You! 4-H Leadership Conference scheduled for March 21, at Rutgers University in Middlesex County… The Discover the Leader in You! 4-H Leadership C…
Getting a Jump Start on Spring Gardening at Trailside Center in Mountainside
A group of 54 teachers and community volunteers braved the icy grip of winter to get a running start on the spring planting season, at last month’s “Get Your Youth and Community Garden Growing” conference. The event was conducted by experts from the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County at the County’s Trailside Nature and Science Center in Mountainside… The free Gardening Helpline is a project of the Rutgers Master Gardeners of Union County, an all-volunteer group run by the Extension with the support of the Freeholder Board. The group is based at the Extension offices in the County’s Colleen Fraser Building in Westfield. Among their many civic projects, Master Gardeners cultivate the elaborate grounds of the Demonstration Garden and host the Spring Garden Fair.
Bridgewater-Raritan Senior Wins First Place in Woofminster Dog Show
James Clelland, a senior at Bridgewater-Raritan High School, and his Australian Shepherd, named Jack, won first place in the Junior Showmanship Master Senior Class, at the recent 4-H Woofminster Winter Dog Show… According to James, he and his parents have met a lot of new people and made many friends at the various 4-H and AKC dog shows. He considers the past eight years “as a great experience to show and work with dogs, as well as compete in Obedience Trials and Junior Showmanship classes.”… Somerset County 4-H Woof Dog Club members and their dogs, as well as members of the 4-H Wags & Whiskers Club (Somerset County) can be seen at the annual NJ State 4-H Dog Show. It will be held on April 25 at the Rutgers G.H. Cook Campus, New Brunswick.
Hunterdon 4-H Members’ Bird Knowledge Put to the Test at Avian Bowl
Nineteen 4-H members were part of six teams representing four counties (Hunterdon, Middlesex, Ocean, and Salem) who competed in the New Jersey 4-H Avian Bowl Winter Event held on Feb. 28 in Gloucester County… The Ocean County Shore Poultry team captured first place in the Senior Division and Salem County Cool Chicks team took second place. In the Junior Division, the Hunterdon County Fur ‘n Feathers Junior 2 team won first place and Hunterdon County Fur ‘n Feathers Junior 1 team captured second place… “The 4-H Avian Bowl is an educational event, in its inaugural year in New Jersey, which offers 4-H’ers an excellent opportunity to work as a team to advance their knowledge in poultry related topics.” said Jeannette Rea Keywood, New Jersey 4-H Youth Development Program – Small Animal Project Advisory Council liaison… The 4-H Youth Development Program is part of Rutgers, New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station – Cooperative Extension.
