Union County 4-H clubs are open to students interested in a wide variety of topics.
Union County, NJ – Union County 4-H Clubs are gearing up for a new season, and students in grades 1-12 are invited to join the fun. Youth in Union County who are within their first year after graduating from high school are also welcome to join a 4-H club.
The list of clubs this year includes anime, archery, cooking, disc golf, engineering, gardening, LEGO robotics, living history, nature exploration, civic service, and sewing. Students can also join clubs that encourage exploration in multiple areas.
“The 4-H program provides unique hands-on learning and leadership experiences. It also encourages young people to become experts on topics that interest them, and to share their knowledge with others,” said Board of County Commissioners Chairman Alexander Mirabella. “The Board of Commissioners is very proud to support the 4-H program in Union County.”
The national 4-H program is the largest youth development program in the country. It began as a way to encourage young people in rural communities to learn about innovative new farming practices. The focus on innovation and leadership continues to the present day, through age-appropriate topics and activities…
Today’s 4-H program offer a long list of contemporary topics of interest to urban and suburban areas, too. The focus is on engaging students in foundational skills including teamwork, organization and public speaking, while building knowledge and experience in their chosen areas.
The club members meet with an adult leader each month during the school year, to plan activities and programs.
For the 2021-2022 school year, the clubs are organized by age as follows:
- Anime Club, grades 4 and up
- Archery Club, grades 4 and up
- Cooking Club, grades 4 and up
- Disc Golf Club, grades 5 and up
- Engineering Club, grades 4 – 5
- Gardening Club, grades 4 and up
- LEGO Robotics Club (with LEGO Robotics MindStorms kits), grades 4 -5
- Living History Club, grades 4 and up
- Nature Club, grades 5 – 9
- 4-H Service Club, grades 8 – 12
- Sewing Club, grades 6 and up
- 1st and 2nd Grade 4-H Club (activities exploring different skills and hobbies), grades 1-2
- Variety Club (different topics focusing on the environment), grades 3 – 4
- Variety Club (different topics with crafts and cooking), grades 9 – 12
To sign up for a 4-H club and to get more information about the program, contact Union County 4-H Agent James Nichnadowicz by email at jnichnadowicz@ucnj.org.
The national 4-H youth development program is part of the Extension system under the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In Union County, 4-H is run by the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County as part of the Rutgers New Jersey Agriculture Experiment Station. It is supported in part by the Union County Board of County Commissioners, with offices at the Union County Complex at 300 North Avenue East in Westfield.
For more information about all Union County Extension programs, including 4-H, Master Tree Stewards, and Master Gardeners, visit ucnj.org/rce. More information about 4-H in New Jersey is available at nj4h.rutgers.edu.
For information and updates on all Union County services during the COVID-19 outbreak, including the Union County COVID-19 Test Center at Kean University, the Mobile Test Unit, vaccination information, emergency food distribution and other support services, visit ucnj.org/covid19. General information about COVID-19 is available through the New Jersey Department of Health at nj.gov/health.
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For all Union County programs and services visit ucnj.org, call the Public Info Line, 877-424-1234, email info@ucnj.org or use the online Contact Form.
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