The Dirt Devils ATV 4-H Club of Ocean County (NJ) is looking for new members from fourth graders to high school seniors. The leader, Kenny Dean Montamaro, has extensive experience in the recreation sport of 4-wheeling all-terrain vehicles. He was director of the Jersey Shore Off Road Park in Chatsworth until it closed in 2008 when its lease expired.
Both boys and girls can join and learn about ATV safe riding practices and maintenance of their ATV.
Anyone interested in the Dirt Devils 4-H Club must pass a safe riding course that is held at Montamaro’s 8-acre property in Waretown, part of the New Jersey Safety Institute, with Montamaro as instructor.
“I also give classes to local police departments,” he said.
In addition to ATV safety, members also learn about leadership, goal setting, public speaking and civic engagement.
Montamaro said the club meets at different locations and at adult instructors’ homes. The club travels to an ATV park in Millville and also to all-terrain courses outside New Jersey.
Riding ATVs on public land in New Jersey is prohibited. The state has promised a second ATV park somewhere in New Jersey as a trade-off for requiring off-road vehicles to be registered.
“Yes, we need at least one more park in the state, and hopefully a trail system,” said Montamaro. The Dirt Devils Club has worked on a PowerPoint presentation to show to the public and government officials to gain support for additional ATV parks.
There are no dues for participation in 4-H, which has chapters that focus on animal husbandry, home economics and anything else that young people might be interested in.
The 4-H pledge is: “I pledge my Head to clearer thinking, my Heart to greater loyalty, my Hands to larger service, my Health to better living, for my club, my community, my country and my world.”
If a family is interested in joining the Dirt Devils ATV 4-H Club of youth and adults, call Montamaro at (609) 713-4882.
