Welcome
Welcome to the National Junior Horticultural Association (NJHA). The NJHA was founded in 1934 and was the first organization in the world dedicated solely to youth and horticulture. It is a national program that helps young people develop skills in and obtain an understanding of horticulture. Horticulture is often thought as gardening, but it is so much more. It’s the biotechnology of the future. It’s working with retirement and nursing homes with therapy. It’s helping commercial growers produce strawberries, sweet corn, and Christmas trees. It’s installing a landscape. It’s the trees in your city, parks, and backyard.
The focus of NJHA is summed up with the acronym HYCEL.
H stands for Horticulture. Horticulture is an art, science, business, or hobby used in everyday life. It is the love and passion for plants. It conjoins backyards to neighborhoods, and neighborhoods to community, introducing new cultures and a new way of life.
Y stands for Youth. The youth of today search for knowledge and have a desire to learn new skills. As youth attain more knowledge and greater skill, they develop a respect for the dignity of work and become more productive and responsible citizens.
C stands for Careers. A career represents an individual’s life and work in society. NJHA acquaints youth with horticulture careers to inform them of opportunities to continue their passion into adulthood. Careers represent the future of horticulture in NJHA.
E stands for Education. NJHA promotes and sponsors an educational program for youth through projects and activities which relate to the understanding of horticulture.
L stands for Leadership. A leader is someone who moves out in front, who forges ahead with ideas, ambition, and determination to get things done. A leader motivates others and makes them want to join him or her in an endeavor. This is the goal of each NJHA member.
Let NJHA introduce you to all the possibilities of the world of gardening. Whether you like to grow plants, give a presentation, take photos, experiment with gardening, or learn how to identify plants, NJHA has an activity for you. While most of the projects and activities are completed by yourself, many of the programs can be multi-person projects such as 4-H, FFA, scouts, vocational horticulture and agriculture groups, and other gardening groups.
How to Join
Participation in NJHA is open to anyone between the ages of 5 and 22 – and is attained by enrollment or participation in any NJHA project or activity. There is no enrollment fee, since funding is provided through donations from corporations, associations, agencies, and individuals interested in youth and horticulture. Participation is in two divisions – junior (ages 14 and under) and senior (ages 15 -22). Those in the senior division are eligible to attend the annual NJHA national convention held throughout the U.S. each October. Note, eligibility is based on an individual’s age as of December 31 of the year of project participation.
NJHA has a network of state leaders around the United States. Some states offer contest opportunities, where individuals are selected to represent that state, however entry in these events is not necessary to participate at the national level. Your state leader is a good resource for information about the various projects NJHA offers. If your state does not currently have a leader, you can contact the NJHA national program chairperson or the Executive Secretary if you have questions. Project participation from outside the U.S. is encouraged. If you are outside the U.S. and are interested, contact the National Program Chairperson. Project reports should be submitted in English.
For more information about the projects and opportunities that NJHA offers, click on any of the links on this page. For further information contact:
Carole Carney
NJHA Executive Secretary
15 Railroad Ave
Homer City, PA 15748-1378
carole@njha.org
Phone: 724 479-3254