Author: Elijah Wilson
Major Program: Camping
Summer is not summer without 4-H Camp. However, for one 4-H member to attend 4-H Camp in the summer of 2021, the cost is $240 plus transportation. In the spring 2021, the Cumberland County Extension District Board and Cumberland County 4-H Council made a commitment to make 4-H Camp affordable for all youth. The Cumberland County Extension District Board voted to provide the maximum allowed contribution towards each 4-H member’s camp fee ($180 per member) and the Cumberland County 4-
Author: Jeremiah Johnson
2020 brought a halt to many beloved long-standing traditions in 4-H. This includes the magic of 4-H camp and the impact made in the lives of youth from all across Kentucky. While 4-H Camp 2021 certainly had it struggles, from planning in the era of COVID restrictions to securing transportation and limited capacity numbers; watching youth form new friendships, strengthen bonds, and learn new skills were worth it. For the 2021 camping season, Christian County had bed space for forty-seven cam
Author: Amanda Sublett
Youth who attend 4-H Camp acquire vital leadership skills, learn responsibility, and gain social interaction skills as well as gaining an understanding of nature and our environment. During the Covid 19 Pandemic, camp capacity was limited to 50% but provided a vital outlet for youth to develop life skills and just have fun and experience social interaction after long periods of virtual school and limited group gatherings. The community supports the program monetarily by providing donations
Author: Laken Campbell
Summertime can be an exciting time of the year. However, it can be a very expensive time for parents. In Lee County, Kentucky the median family income is $21,185.00 per household. For a family to pay $245.00 per camper to participate in 4-H camp, in many cases is not going to be affordable for many families. The Lee County Extension District Board and 4-H Council took this into consideration. The District Board paid $153.75 per camper and the 4-H Council paid for the volunteers and teen leaders.
Author: Lois Carter
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: Bernita Cheirs
The mission of Kentucky 4-H Camping is to improve people through intentional life skill development. In 2020, 4-H Camp was cancelled which disappointed many youth and volunteers. This year, with the opportunity to take campers to camp at half capacity, excitement filled in my county. When enrollment was opened, all available spaces were filled within two weeks (that has never happened before). Parents wanting their youth to get back to normal activities and youth wanting to be with friends and r
Author: Kimberly Lane
Covid-19 brought a difficult and unsettling change for everyone around the country. For KY youth it took away proms, state sports tournaments, vacations, and for extension programs it took away 4-H Camp. On a more serious level the pandemic brought to the forefront the importance of physical, emotional, and mental health of youth in our communities. According to the CDC ways to help or youth cope during this precedent time is to recognize behavior changes, reinforce preventive
Author: Katie Mills
4-H Camp is an asset to youth, teens, and adults around the world, but most importantly here in Hopkins County. During the time at 4-H Camp, youth learn the importance of team building, responsibility, decision making, make new friends and meet caring adults. According to American Camp Association, “more than 5,000 families from around the country participated. Results confirmed that camps build skills necessary to prepare campers to assume roles as successful adults. Par
Author: Matthew Chadwick
After a year of no camp we were excited to again return to camp. Calloway County was able to fill all beds that were allotted to us and an additional cabin. We had a good amount of new campers and counselors in our group this year which will greatly aid in future camping programs.
Author: Renata Farmer
The primary goal of the 4-H Cloverbuds program is to promote children's healthy development-mentally, physically, socially and emotionally. The program allows for and encourages creativity and learning through play. The 4-H Cloverbuds program is developmentally age-appropriate. Thus, it is fun, leader-directed, group-centered and has a wide range of activities (crafts, health, science and more). In Knox County, the 4-H Cloverbud summer program began in 2013 in an effort to reach younge
Author: John (Connor) Cooper
-H Camp is an asset to youth, teens, and adults around the world, but most importantly here in Hopkins County. During the time at 4-H Camp, youth learn the importance of team building, responsibility, decision making, make new friends and meet caring adults. According to American Camp Association, “more than 5,000 families from around the country participated. Results confirmed that camps build skills necessary to prepare campers to assume roles as successful adults. Pare
Author: Ralph Hance
4-H Camp has been an integral part of Cooperative Extension Service program for over 100 years. Club members look forward to the fun and adventure of 4-H Camp. Yet, behind all the fun that 4-H Camp offers, children are learning valuable life skills. 4-H Camp can be a very good learning experience for youth as well as for adults. Back in 2008, Trimble County had Thirty eight campers, Thirteen teens, six adults, and one agents attended camp. In July 2018, we hit our record number of 83 campers, 12
Author: Tyrone Gentry
Extension programs required a major paradigm shift in the 2021 program year to reach the needs of our youngest clientele. The health guidelines ran the gamut of almost complete isolation in the early days to various levels of social distancing and mask-wearing requirements near the end. As health is a major curriculum focus of 4-H youth programs and the fear of putting our youth in potentially dangerous situations, 4-H modified our long-held camping protocols to allow successful over
Author: Rebecca Hayes
Many 4-Hers went to 4-H Summer camp and learned something new/tried something for the first time. One 4-Her came up to Rebecca Hayes and talked about her time in the High Ropes class. She has taken high ropes just about every year she has gone to camp (about 5 years). Every year she would climb the rock wall and each year get closer to the top but she never made it to the top platform to go down the zip line. This year, she made it to the top and finally got to zip down the line. She was so ecst
Author: Tracie Goodman
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, McCreary 4-H Summer Camp was cancelled in 2020. In 2021, we were able to move forward with 4-H Camp while following Covid-19 guidelines, which included being limited to a 50% camping capacity. We were able to take 25 McCreary 4-H kids to camp, ranging in age from 9-15, along with two teen leaders and two adult leaders. We began advertising camp registration in April, and within two weeks most of our spots were filled. McCreary County had always traditionally camped
Author: Charles Comer
4-H Camp Makes a Comeback in 2021! That should be the headline of every news article reporting on the success of 4-H camp from June to August. According to the American Camp Association, seventy (70%) percent of all camps across the nation did not open in the summer of 2020 due to either government restrictions or by choice as each dealt with a pandemic reaching all corners of the world. Those that did open showed great resiliency and creativity in adapting and flourishing with
Author: Rhonda Jewell
The effects that Covid-19 has had on our youth will not be known for some time. However, many experts believe that the full impact of the pandemic, social isolation and quarantine will have a profound effect on our youth. It’s more important today than ever that kids have opportunities to play, explore the outdoors and interact with others. According to the Washington Post “This summer, children need to do self-initiated activities that are rewarding for their own sake. T
Author: Terence Clemons
The uncertainty and precautions of Covid 19 is still a prominent thought and actions of every person in the United States. Due to that fact, Summer Camp 2021 wasn't guaranteed to happen (like in 2020). Through months of discussion and planning from U. K. Legal down to Bath County 4-H Program Camp 2021 happened.The new year brought many changes at 4-H Camp in 2021. All camp sites were limited to 50% capacity, new handwashing stations were installed, social distancing was req
