Cape May County Observes National 4-H Week Oct. 2-8

COURT HOUSE – Cape May County 4-H’ers will join over 6 million boys and girls nationwide in observing National 4-H Week, Oct. 2-8, 2016.
4-H is a community of young people across America who are learning leadership, citizenship and life skills. Building on this, 4-H’ers will continue to be involved in serving their communities. Through 4-H programs, young people combine their concerns with practical skills so they can make a difference. Working together and having a good time through 4-H encourages youth to make volunteering a lifelong habit.
In Cape May County, there are approximately 65 volunteer 4-H club leaders working with nearly 300 4-H members plus another 50 4-H volunteers donating their time and experience to make the 4-H youth development program a success. These volunteers are among the over 500,000 volunteers nationwide who each contributed about 220 hours of service last year.
“Cape May County 4-H volunteers enable us to offer 25 different 4-H clubs for the youth of the county, give our members the opportunity to compete on a county, state and national level, and of course, work tirelessly on the annual 4-H Fair – a tradition in Cape May County,” said Linda Horner, 4-H Youth Development Coordinator.
The 4-H Youth Development Program of Rutgers Cooperative Extension, a unit of Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, is open to boys and girls in kindergarten through one year out of high school wherever they live. Programs are conducted in the 3,150 counties of the United States, the District of Columbia and six territories.
The Cape May County 4-H Youth Development Program will be holding a 4-H Open House on Sat., Oct. 29 during the 2nd Annual 4-H Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch at Lehner’s Farm & Nursery, 175 Rt. 47 South, Dias Creek, NJ. The public is invited to come and learn more about 4-H Youth Development Clubs in Cape May County.
The 4-H Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch takes place on Saturdays and Sundays, Oct. 15-16, 22-23 and 29-30, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Events include 5-acre scare-free maze, hayrides, pumpkin patch and pumpkin painting, tiny tykes hay maze, petting zoo, scarecrow-making, games and refreshments.
Corn Maze admission is $5 each, $20 for families of 5 or more. Two years and under are free. Also, free admission for 12 and under in costume on Oct. 29 and 30.
For more information on how you can become involved in 4-H as a member or volunteer leader contact the Cape May County 4-H Program at 609-465-5115, ext. 605 or on the web at cmc4h.com.
Since its beginning over 100 years ago, about 60 million Americans from all walks of life have been involved in 4-H. In addition, 80 countries around the world have youth programs similar to 4-H. The 4-H Youth Development Program thrives because of a unique partnership with the public and private sectors who contribute at the local, state and national level.
4-H offers educational programs to all youth in grades K-13, on an age-appropriate basis, without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disability, atypical hereditary cellular or blood trait, marital status, domestic partnership status, military service, veteran status, and any other category protected by law.