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Cape May Court House – Congratulations to an impressive 115 youth members of the Cape May County 4-H Youth Development Program who participated during 4-H Public Presentations Week, March 17 through 21, at Atlantic Cape Community College. “Eighteen clubs filled the college’s classrooms to perform their presentations for volunteer judges, their fellow 4-H club members, family members, friends, and adult leaders,” said Linda Horner, Cape May County 4-H Program Coordinator.
4-H members are required to do a presentation each year. They may choose from four types of presentations: demonstration, illustrated talk, formal speech and performing arts. Even the youngest members of the 4-H family – Cloverbuds, kindergarten through third grade, are asked to try their hands at speaking in front of a group. This year’s presentations covered a diverse range of topics from high school wrestling to Orbeez (small hard pellets that grow in size when submerged in water) and everything in between.
4-H Public Presentations have long been an integral part of the 4-H “Learning by Doing” approach to positive youth development. “It is always wonderful to see the pride on the faces of first-time presenters and to hear the encouragement they received from older 4-H members,” added Horner. “The public speaking experience 4-H youth build throughout their 4-H careers are one good example of the life skills that 4-H provides.”
Teen 4-H members who achieved a score of excellent are eligible to compete at the 4-H State Public Presentations Program at Rutgers University in June. This state event offers qualified 4-H members an advanced public speaking experience. More than 100 4-H members from throughout the state are expected to participate in State Public Presentations. To date, 19 of our 4-H members in 8th grade and above have qualified to go to state.
Cape May County 4-H wants to thank our volunteer judges and Atlantic Cape Community College for generously donating their state-of-the-art classrooms.
For more information about Public Presentations or the 4-H Youth Development Program, please call (609) 465-5115, ext. 3605, email linda.horner@co.cape-may.nj.us, or visit our website https://capemay.njaes.rutgers.edu/.
4-H Youth Development Program is part of the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station and Rutgers Cooperative Extension. 4-H educational programs are offered to all youth, grades K-13, on an age-appropriate basis, without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, or disability.
