COURT HOUSE – Cape May County 4-H club members will give their annual public presentations March 30 through April 4.
4-H Public Presentations have long been an integral part of the 4-H “Learning by Doing” approach to youth development.
New this year, according to a release, 4-Hers can bring their small animals to be part of their presentations from Monday through Friday at the Rutgers Cooperative Extension Building, 355 Court House-South Dennis Road, Court House.
Additionally, presentations that showcase larger animals, such as horses, or presentations that are more suited for outside will take place on Saturday at the Lockwood 4-H Youth Center or on the 4-H Fairgrounds.
Last year, 100 members of the Cape May County 4-H Youth Development Program performed public presentations before volunteer judges from the community, their fellow club members, and adult leaders during the event that 4-H members are required to do each year.
4-H members 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 given the opportunity to try their hands at speaking in front of a group.
Their requirements are much easier, three to five minutes as opposed to the eight to 15 minutes expected of older youth members.
4-H Public Presentations are judged using the Danish System, which rates the performance of competitors compared to a standard of achievement, not to one another.
Ratings are excellent, very good, good and fair. Teen members who achieve a score of excellent from the judges will be invited to compete at the 4-H State Public Presentations Program in June on the Cook/Douglass Campus of Rutgers University in New Brunswick.
For information about Public Presentations or the 4-H Youth Development Program, please call (609) 465-5115, ext. 3606 or visit capemay.njaes.rutgers.edu/.
