Introduction to Nature Photography with Isak - "The African Photographer"

Saturday, April 25, 2026 at 1pm on Zoom

The Shutterbugs 4-H photography club is excited to invite you to join them for a workshop with world-renowned and award-winning wildlife photographer Isak Pretorius. Isak is a specialist wildlife photographic guide from South Africa who aims to showcase the beauty of his continent’s natural wonders in a creative way. You can find out more about Isak's work here: https://theafricanphotographer.com/

This will be a workshop for all experience levels from beginner to advanced photographers, whether you use your phone or a (fancy) camera. 

Feel free to come with questions and be prepared to get inspired to create more and better photos. 

The zoom link will be sent to the email address you provide in the registration form.

Please sign up here by April 23 for this free event: https://forms.gle/dXrkgPsNUuvjSHdx7

4-H Public Presentations

Friday May 1, 2026 at 6pm @ CCM

Register by April 24

All members are invited to give a presentation at the Morris County 4-H Public Presentation Day on May 1st at the County College of Morris. Public presentations are a big part of the 4-H experience. The topic can be on pretty much ANYTHING you are passionate about. It could be something you already did for school or other group, or something you want to learn about. Maybe a demonstration about your hobby, your pet, or favorite food, a performance, or an illustrated talk about a topic of your choice. Members in grades 8-12 who receive an excellent score at their county Public Presentation qualify to participate at the State Public Presentations event. 

Check-in will start at 5:45pm with an event kick-off at 6:15pm. The presentations will promptly begin at 6:30pm followed by a short break and awards ceremony after.

Register here by April 24: https://forms.gle/TStFpD4bJXgmDZ3P6

There is a Morris County 4-H video with tips for a successful presentation plus a NJ 4-H document with helpful details. Get more details on the Club Resource Page.  

Promote 4-H at local events

4-H will have a table or booth at many events in Morris County throughout the year. All 4-H families are invited to participate (talk to visitors about 4-H and your club, offer an activity, hand out flyers, bring your friendly animal - if permitted at the event, and help with the set-up and take-down). It is a lot of fun! Please contact the group if you would like to be included: mc4hpromotions@gmail.com. Or simply support 4-H and the events by visiting and stopping by at the 4-H table to say Hi. 

• Eco Fair with Master Gardeners at Lake Rickabear Girl Scout Camp - April 18, 2026

• Rockaway Township Library's Spring Festival - April 26, 2026, 12-4

• Community Day at the Lafayette Learning Center in Morristown - May 2, 2026, 11-2 

• Spring Blossom Festival at Riamede Farm - May 9, 2026, 10-3

• Rockaway Township Day at Peterson Field - June 6, 2026, 2-8

• Diversity Day Celebration on the Green in Morristown - Sunday, June 7, 2026

Morris County 4-H Fair

July 24-26, 2026 at High View Farms in Mt Olive

Help us get ready for our annual showcase and family-fun event. All details can be found on the Fair pages about:

• Fair Sponsorship - Donate + share the link

• Volunteer opportunities at the Fair - Starting now

• What to expect at the Fair - So many fun things to do and see!

See you at the Fair! 

Somerset 4-H TOPS Camp

Register now
Camp Dates: June 22-26, 2026
Grades 1-5

The Somerset 4-H TOPS Camp is a 5-day week of fun, friends, and fascination! With a combination of outdoor activities, educational workshops, experiments with science, and making new friends – this is the perfect week-long Summer Day Camp! Experience opportunities like woodworking, arts, theater, nature, animals, geology, Olympics, water fun, games, a field trip, guest speakers, dancing, cooking, tie-dying, leadership, and bonding!

This Summer Day Camp will take place June 22-26 at the Somerset 4-H Center in Bridgewater and is for kids who will have completed Grades 1-5. The cost is $350 for all 5 days.

View the registration packet at: https://4histops.org/s/TOPS-Camp-2026-Registration-Packet-dd8p.pdf

-OR-

Register at this Google Forms link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf5rpHomPnGTOoUItiVmAJ1j-Q6US1QVUxNJDeAhdZRsxwZ_Q/viewform

Free NJ Farm Bureau student membership for 4-H

Grades 11 &12

Interested in Agriculture? Maybe you want to pursue a career in the field or connected areas? High school juniors & seniors who are 4-H members can get a free student membership. It will provide access to many resources and local experts - and looks great on resumes and college apps. Active 4-H or FFA members only.

Find out more here: https://njfb.org/join/

Backyard Chicken Basics

April 21, 2026 (6:30-8pm)
at the Rutgers Snyder Reseach Farm in Pittstown

Join Hunterdon County 4-H for their Backyard Chicken Basics program on April 21 at the Rutgers Snyder Reseach Farm in Pittstown. A virtual option is available as well. This family friendsly event is great for current chicken owners to anyone interested in learning more. It is open to the public and costs $10 per person. In-person participants are offered a free tractor tour of the research farm at 6pm. 

Anyone interested can register with this link: https://ce-catalog.rutgers.edu/coursedisplay.cfm?schID=97402

2026 NJ 4-H Avian Bowl

Register by April 25
Event Date: May 16, 2026

The NJ State 4-H Avian Bowl will take place on May 16, 2026 at the Hunterdon County Senior Services Center in Flemington, NJ.

Click on this link for the entry packet with all details https://tinyurl.com/NJAVIAN2026

Registration deadline is April 25, 2026

New Jersey 4-H Golden Egg Contest

Sunday, April 26, 2026

4-H members in grades K-13

The NJ 4-H Golden Egg Contest challenges participants to produce, select, and present high-quality, uniform eggs. Winning entries will focus on ideal characteristics for the consumer market, such as uniform shell color, properly categorized weight/size, and interior/exterior quality according to USDA egg grading standards and the National 4-H Poultry Judging Manual.

This event is open to any registered 4-H member (grades K-13).

To register visit: https://forms.gle/4vbRLosJ6otq8CtZA

Celebrate Japanese Children's Day

Tuesday, May 5, 2026, 6-7pm on Zoom

Konnichiwa!  Register Today to join Michigan 4-H for this “Kodomo no Hi” Japanese Golden Week Children’s Day Celebration Zoom Interactive Program!  This will be held Tuesday, May 5, 2026, 6-7PM.  Here is the registration link: https://forms.gle/c2TtYnuVCoBm2rM1A

This event is purposely being held during the “Japanese Golden Week Children’s Day” May 5th (Japanese Festival Kodomo no hi).  The presentation has been so successful with our partners around the world in the past that we are offering this global & cultural learning opportunity again!  Please join Michigan 4-H with our Japanese partner from Western Michigan University, along with two Japanese youth currently in Michigan, for this virtual online learning opportunity to celebrate Children’s Day! You will be learning about the Japanese celebration, food, origami, Japanese language, and more! 

4-H Agriculture Career Night

Register by May 11

Event Date: May 13, 2026, 6:00-7:30pm

Grades 7-13

Explore Your Future in Agriculture! Join us for 4-H Agriculture Career Night and hear from inspiring professionals who are shaping the future of agriculture! 

This event will be held on May 13th from  6:00–7:30 PM at the Somerset County 4-H Center in Bridgewater, NJ. A Zoom option available as well.

Meet our guest speakers:

     1. Aquatic Animal Welfare Veterinarian (Australia)

     2. Farmland Preservation Manager

     3. Soil Conservation District Leader

This is a great opportunity to learn about exciting career paths, ask questions, and connect with experts in the field!

Register by May 11th for the FREE event: https://rutgers.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9AIU1Tw1iMYH0hg

Rutgers' 13th Personal Bioblitz 2026

March 1 - May 15, 2026

On March 1, 2026, we start this year’s Rutgers' Personal Bioblitz, our 13th annual and global event run on iNaturalist, a website and app for biodiversity discovery by beginners to specialists alike.  

The project runs March 1 to May 15, 2026 and you participate by joining our 2026 iNaturalist project online, and adding your observations to that project manually – the website will keep track of our totals and people around the world will help you identify what you photograph and report.  

How many wild species can you find this spring, and what new species can you find for your life list, learn to recognize, or see in your backyard or park for the first time? Do you have a personal best to beat, or do you want to challenge your parent or teenager? Learn the most common birds and spring flowers? See if you can find more weird living things than your friend in United Kingdom or Ecuador? It doesn’t matter why, just join in and have fun.  Everyone is welcome, and you absolutely do not need to be an expert on anything. All species observed as part of this iNaturalist project will be added to the fast-growing amount of community observations that is used for global biodiversity science and leading to new discoveries.

Find out more about the Personal Bioblitz: https://herbarium.rutgers.edu/projects/personal-bioblitz/

New Jersey 4-H License Plate

A group of civic minded 4-H teens who participated in the Legislative Leadership Experience have come together with the idea of having a 4-H clover specialty plate in NJ. Other states have done this and it’s time for NJ 4-H to join the movement!

We’re working on getting a legislative sponsor for a bill to make this happen, and the first step is to gauge interest from NJ motorists this summer. Please help us by adding your name, town, and county to this interest survey: https://go.rutgers.edu/nj4hplate 

Click on the flyer to print / share. If you're interested in joining this movement, contact Warren County 4-H Agent, Alayne Torretta, at torretta@njaes.rutgers.edu. 

L.G. Cook 4-H Summer Camp + 4-H Camp at Rutgers Garden

Register now!

Register for 4-H Camp for both our classic overnight program, and our day camp, 4-H camp at Rutgers Gardens. More information can be found on our website at https://nj4hcamp.rutgers.edu Also check out our overview video on or website at https://nj4hcamp.rutgers.edu/videos.html