4-H Teen Leadership Program

Nearly 100 children ranging in age from pre-school to sixth grade attend summer camp at the New Jersey Audubon’s Nature Center of Cape May. Who’s in charge of keeping an eye on them during their adventures at the center’s daily Summer Nature Camps? 4-H teens enrolled in the eight-week Rutgers 4-H Summer Teen Leadership Program, just one 4-H program that helps grow bright futures.
4-H teens have been assisting teacher-naturalists and learning leadership skills at the nature center for over 20 years in this unique educational  internship program. This year, 15 teens ranging from seventh through tenth grades are enrolled in the program. This year’s participants include both local teens and summer residents. They are: Alexandra Back, Isadora Basacco, Jordyn Boone, Hope Campbell, Seth Edling, Dave Etgen, Leo Kotler, Max Kotler, Sarah Lofredo, Jakob Pender, Isabella Pruszinski, Ruverlynie Rivera, Emanel Rivera, Yadiel Torres, and Maya Wenger.
During their internships, the teen leaders will mentor their young charges, learning many leadership skills along the way. Every Friday, the teens take part in an intense leadership training session with 4-H Program Coordinator Linda Horner and Teen Leader Program Coordinator Deborah Avicolli. These weekly sessions include activities designed to build communication and problem solving skills and help teens learn to set and reach goals. 
And, as befitting any 4-H group, the teen leaders complete a community service project each year. This summer, you can visit them at the 4-H Fair, where they will be staffing an educational marine science touch tank in the Lockwood 4-H Youth Center.
Be sure to stop by the touch tank to see some interesting sea creatures and to meet our 2019 teen leaders. For more information about the teen leader program, call the 4-H office at (609) 465-5115, ext. 3605.