The Union County Board of County Commissioners invites Union County students in grades 1-12 to join a 4-H Club this fall and explore popular fields ranging from cooking, sewing, art, archery, robotics and more. Youth in their first year after graduating from high school can also join.

"Joining a 4-H Club offers our young residents a unique opportunity to discover their passions, develop new skills, and build lasting friendships," said Commissioner Chairwoman Kimberly Palmieri-Mouded. "We are proud to support this program, which promotes creativity, teamwork, and a commitment to community service among Union County's youth."

The majority of the clubs meet at Union County's' Colleen Fraser Building at 300 North Avenue, East in Westfield on either Friday, Saturday or Sunday. 4-H Clubs are organized by age and topic. The members meet with an adult club leader on a monthly basis during the school year to plan activities and programs.

Each club emphasizes the ability of students to learn, organize, and communicate with activities appropriate for their age. For the school year 2023 - 2024, the clubs are:

• Variety Club (different topics with crafts and show-and-tell), grades 1-3.
• Cooking Club (prepare deserts, main courses and more), grades 4-12.
• Community Service Club (plant trees, make sandwiches, teach younger youth), grades 8-12.
• Sewing Club (learn how to hand sew and use a machine), grades 6-12.
• Lego Robotics Club (work with NXT kits and Spike) grades 4-12.
• Craft Club (have fun with paints, fabrics and more) grades 4 - 12.
• Engineering Club (make model cars, bridges, and learn about electric) grades 4-7.
• Archery Club (learn basics and more advanced techniques) 4-12.
• Photography Club ( learn basics of using a camera) 4-12.

Union County 4-H is run by the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County and supported in part by the Commissioner Board, with offices at the Union County Complex at 300 North Avenue East in Westfield. The national 4-H youth program is the largest youth development program in the U.S. As a program of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 4-H encourages students to develop expertise in a subject of their own choosing, and share their knowledge to benefit their community.

Participation in 4-H is associated with better grades at school, and a stronger interest in taking science classes, attending college, and contributing to the community. A recent Tufts University study found that as a group, girls who join 4-H clubs are especially likely to demonstrate positive behaviors.

4-H Clubs run from October to June. To sign up for a club, email James Nichnadowicz Union County 4H Youth Development Agent at [email protected] or call 908-654-9854 ext. 3.

For more information about all Union County Extension programs, including 4-H, Master Tree Stewards and Master Gardeners, visit ucnj.org/rce.

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