4-H to hold local registration night on Sept. 25

Evenings to highlight how 4-H provides activities for the entire family Middletown — 4-H, the Youth Development Program of Cornell Cooperative Extension, will hold registration nights in Central Valley, Minisink, Washingtonville, Monroe, Goshen and Warwick. This season’s theme focuses on “4-H provides great activities for your whole family,” said 4-H Educator Pamela Castro. “Instead of driving your children to activities that send the family in different directions, 4-H clubs feature activities that parents play a part in. Whether it’s a field trip, a building project or community service activity, whole families share the experience.” The registration nights will be held Monday, Sept. 10 at 7 p.m. at Central Valley Elementary and Minisink Intermediate Schools; Friday, Sept. 14 at 6:30 p.m. at Round Hill Elementary School, Washingtonville (Call 344-1234 to confirm this date and site); Wednesday, Sept. 19 at 7 p.m. at Sapphire Elementary in Monroe; Thursday, Sept. 20 at 7 p.m. at Goshen Intermediate School; and Tuesday, Sept. 25 at 7 p.m. at Sanfordville Elementary School in Warwick. “Another important benefit is the 4-H program’s ability to “grow up” with youth. The projects can continue year after year, throughout a child’s 4-H experience. This gives young people the opportunity to develop real skills and a depth of understanding that isn’t possible with a short-term project,” said Castro. First Year and Second Year Project Sampler brochures will be available to assist 4-Hers and 4-H leaders plan for the coming year and help participants become familiar with the variety of projects available. Today’s 4-H offers a wide range of activities that include rocketry, electronics, woodworking, photography and community service. The value of 4-H Club experience goes beyond working on projects. Youth learn valuable skills and develop assets that help them make a successful transition through childhood stages into productive adults. Research has shown that youth involved in 4-H are more motivated to help others and do better in school. 4-H Club membership offers involvement for the entire family: Cloverbuds for children 5-7 years; neighborhood 4-H clubs for children 8-19 and Teen Programs for those 13-19 years old. Parents and guardians can also volunteer to be a club leader and/or work on a project of their choice. The annual 4-H membership fee is $7 per member with a $14 per family. For information, call the 4-H office at 344-1234 or e-mail at www.cce.cornell.edu/orange.