Back to 4-H Night open house set for Sept. 30 at Ware Agriculture Building
MANNINGTON — Salem County 4-H is inviting families across the county to its annual Back to 4-H Night, an open house where residents can meet current members and volunteers and learn what it takes to join.
The event runs Wednesday, Sept. 30, from 6:30 to 8:30pm at the Ware Agriculture Building, 51 Cheney Rd. (off Route 45, behind the Vo-Tech school). It’s open to all youth in kindergarten through 13th grade.
“Back to 4-H Night is an open house event where families can explore information about joining Salem County 4-H while meeting many of our members and volunteers,” said Chelsey Lynn Van Sciver, Salem County 4-H Program Assistant.
Attendees can expect a full lineup of the county’s clubs, from animal-based programs to project areas that don’t involve livestock at all. Van Sciver said members and volunteers from clubs covering horses and rabbits to pollinators, homesteading and teen leadership will be on hand to talk with visitors, and a live animal appearance is possible.
“We have members and volunteers from our animal-based clubs and non-animal-based clubs ready to talk to everyone at Back to 4-H Night. This includes but not limited to horses and rabbits to pollinators and homesteading to teen leadership/service,” she said.
Van Sciver said one of the biggest misconceptions about 4-H is that it’s only for kids who live on farms.
“4-H is for all youth. It does not matter if you live on a farm or not, we serve for all. We have many opportunities for our youth to join 4-H wherever they live,” she said.
She added that the range of projects often surprises newcomers. Beyond the animal clubs the program is best known for, 4-H in Salem County also offers sewing, gardening, leadership and homesteading clubs, and Van Sciver said the program is open to adults who want to share a hobby they’re passionate about with the next generation.
“We would love to have a conversation with you about our steps integrating those passions into the 4-H program,” she said.
Families who join aren’t just signing up for a single club, Van Sciver said, they’re connecting to opportunities at the state and national level, including camps, leadership and personal development programs, and travel.
“Once a member is in the 4-H program they are connected to resources and programs ran at State and National 4-H level. Many of our members have been connected to opportunities such as camps, leadership and personal development opportunities, and have been able to travel nationally and internationally on amazing once in a lifetime experiences,” she said.
Enrollment for the current 4-H year is open now through Jan. 1, and Van Sciver said Back to 4-H Night is designed to answer questions about that process on the spot, since each club meets on its own schedule.
“We encourage families to talk to each club they are interested in to get all details at Back to 4-H Night,” she said.
Van Sciver said the night is aimed at anyone who has wondered about 4-H, whether they’re new to the county or have considered joining before.
“Maybe you are new or you have thought about the program before but were not sure about joining. Even if you are not sure what 4-H is we would love to connect and have you meet our 4-H community and see what makes us strive to the 4-H motto ‘To Make The Best Better,'” she said.
She’s hoping current members and families will help spread the word.
“We encourage our families and community members to invite someone new. This may be a neighbor, friend, or someone you met at the grocery store. We are all about connection in 4-H and we want to connect with as many people as we can in our community,” she said.
For more information on Salem County 4-H, or to RSVP questions ahead of the event, contact the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Salem County at 856-769-0090, or reach Chelsey Van Sciver directly at Chelsey.Fitton@salemcountynj.gov.
