Extension
It Starts With Us
Author: Meagan Klee
Major Program: Camping
The problemThe educational program responseThe participants/target audienceOther partners (if applicable)Program impact or participant response.14 of our first year campers attended our recruitment event in the spring: 4-H Camp-a-Palooza64% First-Time Campers! 56 (out of 87) campers experienced 4-H Camp for the first time. How many participated in camp-a-palooza?Also first-timers: 5 out of 16 adult leaders, 1 out of 3 teen leaders, 3 out of 5 CITs.
Author: Ashley Duvall
Major Program: Camping
One of the greatest successes of 4-H Camp for Clinton County was providing the opportunity for financially struggling families to receive the funding to send their children to camp. A total of 5 children received full or partial scholarships/donations that granted them the experience that would have otherwise been unattainable. According to the U.S. Census Bureau 2021, Clinton County has 22.6% of our population living in poverty and our students are enrolled in a Title 1 school system acco
Author: Brian Walker
Major Program: Camping
Kentucky State University 4-H Youth Development hosted five camps for children ages 5 to high school this summer. At the first S.T.E.A.M Camp, students ages 8-11 learned about all things S.T.E.A.M (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math). For four days, students were engaged in activities such as bridge design, robotics, 3-D printing, and more. The youth that were able to attend really had a great time this year and look forward in attending this camp in the future. The 4-H Youth Develo
Author: Peggy Jones
Major Program: Camping
4-H Camp - Making memories and creating opportunities for young people to interact with others while learning life skills in a week long camping experience. This natural world of innovative and educational ways sets Kentucky 4-H camp apart as an activity dedicated to enforcing positive youth development. It is crucial to introduce young minds to an opportunity such as camp to develop life or soft skills among young audiences and allows 4-H to contribute to shaping the next gene
Author: Shannon Farrell
Major Program: Camping
4-H Offers Every Kid a Place to Shine.The list of positive youth development items that 4-H offers is extensive. 4-H offers young people the opportunity to grow their independence, develop and master skills in areas they are passionate about, and become supportive leaders to their peers. One young man in the Harrison County 4-H program has mental and physical disabilities surrounding cerebral palsy. He was first introduced to 4-H as a 5th grader when he got to attend overnight 4-H Environmental
Author: Ashley Vice
Major Program: Camping
4-H Camp Benefits Youth and Adults A typical 5-day 4-H Camp session offers upwards of 96 hours of direct, uninterrupted contact between youth and their cabin leaders/counselors. That’s the equivalent of a family sitting down at the dinner table for 30-minutes, 192 days of the year. The interactions offered in a residential camp/group living setting is so important to youth. The time we spend with youth in the camp setting offers opportunities for those youth to feel a sens
Author: Samantha Klotz
Major Program: Camping
Thinking back to the warm summer days that are filled with many fun activities, time at the lake, and games in the evening. Nelson County 4-Hers traveled to Nancy, Kentucky during the second week of July to Lake Cumberland 4-H Camp. 264 community members experienced the great joy that 4-H camp brings to life! Nelson County planned special activities that took place during the camp days. These activities included making tie-dye t-shirts and the Kentucky Reptile Zoo brought many interesting creatu
Author: David Embrey
Major Program: Camping
4-H Camp gives youth the opportunity to spend time meeting new people and learning life skills by participating in activities that focus on physical activity, teamwork, and personal development.Edmonson County youth and volunteers were excited to attend summer 4-H Camp again after a record breaking year last year. An understaffed office at Edmonson County started advertising early and was completely taken aback with how quickly spots filled up with kids eager to go to camp, even the week of July
Author: Genaea Sarantakos
Major Program: Camping
4-H Camp was a success!! We had all the fun- fishing, canoeing, swimming, shooting archery and riflery, sallying, playing gaga ball, learning the 4-H pledge, getting messy at messy games, making new friends, celebrating the 4th of July, and SO much more. Fayette County introduced 232 new youth to 4-H Camp magic and programs. We had the highest camp attendance in Fayette County since 2014 and grew our attendance by 37 participants from the 2022 summer season. We successfully brought 278 participa
Author: Mary McCarty
Major Program: Camping
4-H camp is a program that offers so much in 4 days and 3 nights. Some attendees this may be the first time that they are away from home without a guardian there to help them in their decisions. Campers learn about time management, responsibilities, camp chores, money management and many more. They also learn skills at camp that they may not realize that they had the ability to make accomplish. This program could not happen without teen and adult leaders. This year
Author: Shelby Cleaver
Major Program: Camping
A typical 5-day 4-H Camp session offers upwards of 96 hours of direct, uninterrupted contact between youth and their cabin leaders/counselors. That’s the equivalent of a family sitting down at the dinner table for 30-minutes, 192 days of the year. The interactions offered in a residential camp/group living setting is so important to youth. The time we spend with youth in the camp setting offers opportunities for those youth to feel a sense of belonging, to have meaningful conversations wit
Author: Mary Beth Riley
Major Program: Camping
Henry caught this fish during the fishing class at 4-H Camp Summertime is here and that means 4-H summer camp at West KY 4-H Camp! Lyon County 4-H attended 4-H camp on June 6-9 at West KY 4-H Camp in Dawson Springs, KY. Campers ages 9-14 had the opportunity to master new skills such as riflery, swimming, canoeing, fishing, archery, high ropes, cooking, and agriculture. 4-H campers had the chance to gain independence and confidence due to being away from home for a week. There were plenty of
Author: Sherri Farley
Major Program: Camping
4-H Camp offers more hours than any other delivery method in 4-H. It provides opportunities for youth & teens to learn independence, gain life skills that will carry them into successful adulthood, become positive & productive members of our society & learn how to acquire skills in a natural setting. Camp helps build self-confidence and self-esteem. 4-H Camp is a place to build social skills and make friends. In 2023, Campbell County 4-H experienced the 2nd highest camp attendan
Author: Molly Jordan
Major Program: Camping
Spending a week at 4-H camp is one that many kids dream of getting to experience. In 2023, the opportunity was given to a very special young man to attend 4-H camp with Bracken County. Tyler is very active member of Bracken County 4-H! There isn’t a club or activity he doesn’t try or get involved in. Tyler was born with Downs Syndrome but that never stops him at trying something new or giving his best at it! Tyler’s parents approached me inquiring about camp because all of his
Author: Emilee Bryant
Major Program: Camping
According to 2021 Census data, the median household income for Powell County KY is 39,493. The 2023 cost for one youth to attend 4-H Summer Camp is $275, in addition to any transportation and supplies needed for camp week.For the 2023 camping season, Powell County was able to attend camp with 10 adult volunteers, and 73 youth participants. This number remains the highest on record since 2010 for the county - tied with the 2022 camp season.The Powell County 4-H Council has made it the
Author: Annette Buckman
Major Program: Camping
July 4-7th, 2023, was the largest camp attendance for Union County. We welcomed 48 campers, 6 teen leaders, and 3 adult leaders. This attendance record was a 38% increase from the previous camping year 2022. 4-H camp provides a place for youth to explore their interest and passion. The mission of Kentucky 4-H camp is to improve people through intentional like-skill development. This goal is enforced and carried out through research-based methods and educational prog
Author: Melissa Goodman
Major Program: Camping
4-H Camp Benefits Youth and AdultsA typical 5-day 4-H Camp session offers upwards of 96 hours of direct, uninterrupted contact between youth and their cabin leaders/counselors. That is the equivalent of a family sitting down at the dinner table for 30 minutes, 192 days of the year. The interactions offered in a residential camp/group living setting are so important to youth. The time we spend with youth in&
Author: Bernita Cheirs
Major Program: Camping
According to the American Camp Association, “The camp experience is recognized by child development professionals as valuable in helping children mature socially, emotionally, intellectually, morally, and physically. Camp participants learn to problem-solve, make social adjustments to new and different people, learn responsibility, and gain new skills to increase their self-esteem." Summer day camp has so many benefits such as keeping youth unplugged, out of trouble, in a safe l
Author: Lisa Dodson
Major Program: Camping
Camp provides an ideal setting for embracing beneficial challenges. This might involve the physical challenge of kayaking or scaling a climbing wall, or the emotional challenge of mingling with unfamiliar faces to make new friendships. Camp promotes an organic, tech-free experience. It encompasses crucial life skills that many young individuals seek, such as creativity, problem-solving, team management, and nurturing relationships. Activities like arts and crafts, rifle, archery, counselor train
Author: Katie Mills
Major Program: Camping
According to the American Camping Association, “Camp provides children with a community of caring adults who nurture experiential education that results in self-respect and appreciation for human value. All of the outcomes — self-identity, self-worth, self-esteem, leadership, and self-respect — build personal competencies.” This has proven to be true within the Kentucky 4-H Camping Program with youth growing in their responsibilities, having a positive adult leader, and b
Author: Lee Ann McCuiston
Major Program: Camping
The problemThe interactions offered in a residential camp/group living setting are so important to youth, especially considering the isolation brought on by social media. The time we spend with youth in the camp setting offers opportunities for those youth to feel a sense of belonging, to have meaningful conversations with caring adults, to practice generosity, group decision-making, they experience new activities they typically do not have access to at home, and th
Author: Lois Carter
Major Program: Camping
The Targeted Life Skills model (Hendricks, 1998) has been an important guide to planning, implementing, and evaluating 4-H youth development programs. This model provides a holistic youth development approach, referred to by multiple researchers (Barkman & Machtmes, 2002; Garton, Miltenberger, & Pruett, 2007; Pittman & Yohalem, 2002; Scales, 1996; Wright & Bersamin, 2004.) 4-H based studies using Targeted Life Skills identified a positive relationship between particip
Author: Samantha Gamblin
Major Program: Camping
After a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Kentucky 4-H Youth Development’s Summer Camp program welcomed a record-breaking 13,600 participants. “Three years ago, we made the tough decision to cancel our summer camp program because of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Joey Barnard, 4-H Youth Development extension principal camping specialist. “Setting a new camp attendance record this soon after having to close our camp gates tells us that youth need a
Author: Staci Thrasher
Major Program: Camping
The problemIn the fall of 2023, the Fleming County 4-H program was approached by the fifth-grade teacher team from Flemingsburg Elementary School about what it would take to offer the overnight Colonial Camp experience to their youth. They wanted an opportunity to provide a supplemental educational experience actively utilizing and highlighting classroom curriculum to encourage information retention prior to their end of the year testing window. The educational program responseBy ut
Author: Dawna Peters
Major Program: Camping
Leslie County takes pride in promoting 4-H camp to our community. Not only do we strive to promote it to the best of our abilities, but we also spend each year doing multiple fundraisers to sponsor youth in our community. 4-H camp is important to us, because for many of our youth, it is the only opportunity for them to travel somewhere new during their summer break. By attending camp they gain multiple benefits from participating in new activities, experiencing leadership/teamwork, character bui
Author: Sue Ann McCandless
Major Program: Camping
Camp numbers have not met expectations within our county in the past, but have been on the rise in the last couple of years.The Hardin County 4-H program continues to believe that the camp experience has several positive impacts for youth ages 9-14 including personal growth, eliminating screen time and fostering independence and leadership while creating opportunities for mentorship and positive role modeling from teens and adults. We have witnessed first hand a number of youth overcome obstacle
Author: Elijah Wilson
Major Program: Camping
4-H Camp is a cornerstone of the Cumberland County 4-H program, providing transformative experiences for both 4-H members and volunteers who attend. This experiential learning program offers a plethora of educational, recreational, and social activities that foster personal growth, leadership skills, and a deeper connection to nature. In the summer of 2023, 82 people from Cumberland County attended Camp, the largest attendance since 2007. For 4-H members (youth ages 9-18), 4-H Camp provides
Author: Susan Campbell
Major Program: Camping
The Targeted Life Skills model (Hendricks, 1998) has been an important guide to planning, implementing, and evaluating 4-H youth development programs. This model provides a holistic youth development approach, referred to by multiple researchers (Barkman & Machtmes, 2002; Garton, Miltenberger, & Pruett, 2007; Pittman & Yohalem, 2002; Scales, 1996; Wright & Bersamin, 2004.) 4-H based studies using Targeted Life Skills identified a positive relationship between particip
