September 26, 2019

News Release

For Immediate Release

EDITOR'S NOTE: Members of the media may contact Jeannette Rea Keywood, Rutgers 4‑H Youth Development by phone at 848-932-3597 or by email at nj4h@njaes.rutgers.edu.

New Jersey Youth Celebrate National 4‑H Week

The anticipation is building for National 4‑H Week, during which millions of youth, parents, volunteers and alumni across the country will be celebrating everything 4‑H. New Jersey 4‑H youth members and volunteer leaders will observe National 4‑H Week this year by showcasing the incredible experiences that 4‑H offers young people, and will highlight the remarkable 4‑H youth in our community who work each day to make a positive impact on those around them.

The theme of this year's National 4‑H Week is Inspire Kids to Do, which highlights how 4‑H encourages kids to take part in hands-on learning experiences in areas such as health, science, agriculture and civic engagement. 4‑H reflects the principles of positive youth development, experiential learning and the importance of having fun. The positive environment provided by 4‑H mentors ensures that kids in every county and parish in the country—from urban neighborhoods to suburban schoolyards to rural farming communities—are encouraged to take on proactive leadership roles and are empowered with the skills to lead in life and career.

"4‑H provides an opportunity in which youth members and adults volunteer leaders learn, grow, and work together as catalysts for positive change. 4‑H promotes the development of skills that help young people succeed in higher education, their chosen career path and as members of their families and communities" Said Jeannette Rea Keywood, Department of 4‑H Youth Development, Rutgers Cooperative Extension.

One of the most anticipated events to kick-off National 4‑H Week every year is 4‑H National Youth Science Day (NYSD) celebrated on October 1 and continued throughout the month of October. NYSD sees hundreds of thousands of youth across the nation taking part in the world's largest youth-led STEM challenge. The exciting theme for this year's challenge is Game Changers, which will run throughout October. Developed by Google and West Virginia University Extension Service, Game Changers will teach kids coding skills through fun exercises including gaming, puzzles and physical activity.

To learn more about how you can get involved, visit the New Jersey 4‑H website at: www.nj4h.rutgers.edu

About 4‑H:
4‑H, the nation's largest youth development and empowerment organization, cultivates confident kids who tackle the issues that matter most in their communities right now. In the United States, 4‑H programs empower six million young people through the 110 land-grant universities and Cooperative Extension in more than 3,000 local offices serving every county and parish in the country. Outside the United States, independent, country-led 4‑H organizations empower one million young people in more than 50 countries. National 4‑H Council is the private sector, non-profit partner of the Cooperative Extension System and 4‑H National Headquarters located at the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) within the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Learn more about 4‑H at www.4-H.org.

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Cooperating Agencies: Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and Boards of County Commissioners. Rutgers Cooperative Extension, a unit of the Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, is an qual opportunity program provider and employer.