Nearly One Hundred 4-Hers Practiced Public Speaking Skills at 2016 4-H Public Presentations Program

COURT HOUSE — Atlantic Cape Community College’s Cape May County Campus was home to 4-H members during the week of March 14, 2016 as 4-Hers completed their annual public presentations.
Nearly 100 members of the Cape May County 4-H Youth Development Program performed their 4-H public presentations before volunteer judges from the community and their fellow club members and adult leaders during the annual 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, kindergarten through third grade Cloverbuds, 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 more seasoned 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 achieved a score of excellent from the judges are invited to compete at the 4-H Public Presentations Program on Saturday, June 11 on the Cook/Douglass Campus of Rutgers University in New Brunswick.
Public presentations have long been an integral part of the 4-H “Learning by Doing” approach to youth development. Linda Horner, Cape May County 4-H Program Coordinator said, “Each year the 4-H Youth Development Program offers this opportunity for 4-H members to develop their skills in public speaking as well as the chance to overcome their fears. Former members inevitably come back to thank us for these lifelong skills they gained, even though they may have been a bit painful at the time!”
For more information about the CMC 4-H Youth Development Program, please call 465-5115, ext. 605.
The 4-H Youth Development Program is part of 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, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, or disability.