4-H Youth Development

Seeing Eye Puppy Club

Caring Eyes 4-H Puppy Raisers is comprised of both adults and children. We have raised many puppies for the Seeing Eye, Inc., located in Morristown, New Jersey.

Raising a Seeing Eye puppy is an 18 month commitment for a great cause. At meetings, we train the puppies and put them in situations that they will face once they become official Seeing Eye dogs. We give demonstrations to schools, libraries, houses of worship and senior facilities. We marched in the annual Westwood holiday Parade, participated in the State Dog Show and other county and town events, shows, races, and walks. Parent participation is required due to the nature of raising a puppy.

Leader: Claudia Tirello
Phone: 201-666-3484
Meetings: Meets at Immaculate Heart Academy in Washington Twp. on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month at 7:30 p.m.

Community Club

Mahwah Community Club

With a goal of learning important life skills, in our club we use the "each one teach one" model, and the teachers are the parents themselves. Every four months, the parents create a calendar of activities that member families can do. All activities are based on the interests and skills of the parents. Activities may include filed trips, workshops, hikes, game nights, parades, community service projects, carpentry, cooking and much more. We offer more varied projects and focus on "family activities for all interests." We are an active and lively group with a wide range of participants. Parent participation is recommended and encouraged.

Leader: Annette Freund
Phone: 201-512-0434
Meetings: Call for meeting schedule and locations

Pet Therapy

Ther-Happy Pets

This community service club, active since 1983, visits area nursing homes and hospitals throughout Bergen County wit their gentle dogs, cats, rabbits, and guinea pigs. The animals are used as a focus for conversation with the elderly and often disabled residents. Each child introduces him/herself and tells about the animal being presented. This project helps promote self-esteem and character, as well as a sense of community service. You may even see us at the local library or showing our animals at the 4-H fair, Ramsey Day or Waldwick Day. We recently celebrated our 650th nursing home visit.

Leader: Judy Grief
Phone: 201-327-8574
Meetings: Meets at the Bergen County Community Services Building on the 3rd Monday of each month at 7:00 p.m.

Teen Council

Teen Council is comprised of teens from 4-H clubs as well as teens in grades 8 and up who are concerned about the community around them and want to make a difference. Some of the projects the teens have participated in include the Juvenile Diabetes Walk-a-Thon, highway clean-ups, and organizing the Halloween party for younger 4-H members.

We also have delegates attend National 4-H congress in Atlanta, Georgia and Citizenship Washington Focus in DC. If you enjoy planning activities that better your community, this is the club for you. Be a leader in your community!

Leader: Caroline Glynn
Phone: 201-336-6785
Meetings: Meets in the Bergen County Community Services Building, 1st Monday of each month at 7:30 p.m.

Animal Clubs (2)

Bergen Rabbit Raisers

One of the 4-H honors clubs, Rabbit Raisers is devoted to the care and raising of rabbits and other small animals. Our members learn to care for their small animals and in return they grow and build self confidence. We have a strong level of participation in our membership, taking part in many 4-H activities including open house, 4-H fair, county wide and state wide presentations, and community service projects. If you have a small animal, are going to get one or just like them, this is a great way to meet youth with the same interests.

Leader: Helen Donovan
Phone: 201-387-1005
Meetings: Meets in the Bergen County Community Services Building on the last Monday of each month at 7:30 p.m.

Curious Critters

We are a small animal club. Our members bring their small animals to meetings where we learn about each others pets including how to care for them and maintain their habitat. Some of our small pets have included rabbits, hamsters, guinea pigs, gerbils, mice, lizards, tarantulas, ferrets, hens and roosters. Some of our club activities include working on club displays, and projects for the 4-H fair, exhibiting our animals, and riding on a float in the Memorial Day Parade. In the spring we take our animals to visit the Christian Children's Retreat in Wyckoff.

We also visit the residents of Longview Assisted Living Residence. If you enjoy small animals, we are for you.

Leader: Linda Vanston
Phone: 201891-0503
Meetings: Meets at Grace United Church in Wyckoff on the 3rd Friday of each month at 7:15 p.m.

Horse Club

Coming in late fall 2006.

Gardening Club

Garfield Housing Authority gardening club will be reactivated in fall 2006.

Outdoor Adventure Club - NEW CLUB

If you enjoy the outdoors, this is the club for you. Activities may include anything from learning to camp/backpack, outdoor survival, river sports, hiking, rock climbing etc. Youth in grades 1-13 are welcome to participate. Parent participation is required for younger children. This club is new club and the first meeting will be in October.

Leader: Tamara Pellien
Phone: 201-336-6786
Meetings: Meeting schedule is pending.