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: Susan Campbell
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: Emilee Bryant
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: Elijah Wilson
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: Sue Ann McCandless
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: Dawna Peters
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: Staci Thrasher
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: Samantha Gamblin
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: Lois Carter
Author: Meagan Klee
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: Brian Walker
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: Annette Buckman
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: Lee Ann McCuiston
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: Katie Mills
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: Lisa Dodson
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: Bernita Cheirs
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: Melissa Goodman
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: Molly Jordan
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