According to data USA, as of 2017, Martin County had a median household income of only $29,000 and a poverty rate of almost 30%.  These numbers are well below the Kentucky and national averages of 46,000 and 57,000 respectively.  Poverty rates for all of Kentucky are 18% and 11% nationally.  All schools in Martin County qualify for the national free lunch program.  These statistics alone provide barriers for youth in Martin County to have a great quality of life.  When problems with infrastructure, clean water, and drug abuse are added these barriers grow even more.

Because of all the hardships youth struggle with to get quality experiences, it is important that 4-H does everything we can to provide these kids with positive experiences.  One way we do this is with 4-H camp.  Youth gain multiple benefits from 4-H camp experiences in the areas of leadership, character development, self-esteem, decision-making skills, independent living skills, and citizenship. As illustrated above, most families cannot afford to pay over $200 for 4-H camp.  Martin County 4-H works hard to raise money throughout the year to raise money to pay for potential campers.  With fundraising efforts and help from the district board, we were able to pay for all campers to go to camp this summer.  

This year brought new challenges as we managed a safe camping environment through a pandemic.  In order to go to camp each prospective camper had to do a 14-day health screening.  This process eliminated a lot of potential campers.  A lot of protocols were put into place to have the safest camping experience possible. The biggest change was that camp was only filled to 50% capacity.  Some of the changes while at camp were wearing face masks, eating on a rotational schedule and traveling as a cabin group.  

As a result, 100% of the campers experienced hands-on learning from caring adults, gain leadership, independent living, citizenship and decision-making skills.  They also gained character and self-esteem.