County 4-H Members to Participate at 60th Annual South Jersey Teen Leadership Conference

COURT HOUSE – Thirteen Cape May County 4-H teen members will attend the 60th Annual South Jersey 4-H Teen Conference (SJTC) on March 10 to 12, 2017 at the Hotel ML in Mount Laurel, New Jersey. Sam Barry, Alena Brown, Coryn Dykhouse, Julia Gindville, Steve Gindville, Maggie Harrington, Kristin Hughes, Mina LaFrance, Victoria Matt, Victoria McCann, Colby Schalek, Erin Schalick, and Tessa Wozunk will be a part of approximately 200 4-Hers from 10 South Jersey counties at the conference. Cape May County will also be providing three chaperones: 4-H Program Coordinator Linda Horner, Ross Unkle and Nicole Simpkins
This year’s theme is “SJTC: 60 Years of Making the Best Better!” This year’s topics are all about art. During the three-day event, participants will explore topics that emphasize artistic expression and communications, while encouraging creativity, innovation, and imagination, develop their artistic awareness and creative potential, appreciate art and the artistic process, understand integration of art into our daily lives, and learn about leisure-time activities as potential hobbies that enhance the quality of life. Teens will also have the opportunity to go on a field trip to either the Philadelphia Flower Show or a tour to explore Philadelphia’s famous outdoor murals.
There will also be leadership and team-building sessions, a formal banquet on Saturday evening, which will highlight the activities of county 4-H Teen Councils, and a closing session on Sunday that includes an inspirational speaker and reflections on the weekend.
The Cape May County 4-H delegation’s responsibility at the conference is to provide voting booths and to compile a summary of the weekend’s activities. The voting booths are provided courtesy of the Cape May County Board of Elections. Linda Horner, Cape May County 4-H Coordinator, is grateful to Board of Elections Director Michael Kennedy and his staff for providing the voting booths to the conference every year. “The value to these South Jersey teens of having the opportunity to learn how the voting process works and getting to vote in real voting booths cannot be overstated. Thanks to our Cape May County Board of Elections, we are preparing future experienced voters each year at the South Jersey Teen Conference.”
The South Jersey 4-H Teen Conference is an annual event which brings 4-H members in grades 8-13 (one year out of high school) together. All of these 4-H members practice leadership, citizenship, and cooperation skills. Horner, added, “It is a great opportunity for our teens to make memories, meet new people and enhance their leadership skills.”
The 4-H Youth Development Program is part of the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station and Rutgers Cooperative Extension. 4-H educational programs are offered to all youth grades K – 13 on an age-appropriate basis, without regard to race, religion, color, natural origin, gender, sexual orientation or disability.
For more information about 4-H, visit cmc4h.com or nj4h.rutgers.edu, or contact Linda Horner at (609) 465-5115, ext. 605.