Success Story4-H Camp Can Influence Lives



4-H Camp Can Influence Lives

Author: Jay Hettmansperger

Planning Unit: Garrard County CES

Major Program: Natural Resources

Plan of Work: Leadership Development and Recruitment of Volunteers

Outcome: Long-Term Outcome

Youth are influenced by their surroundings and experiences.  4-H camp can be a positive influence that gives them direction in their life. Youth can experience several first in their lives while at camp. The Garrard County ANR agent volunteers to go to camp and instructs the campers in trap shooting and safe handling of firearms. For many of the students, this is their first experience of shooting a shotgun. While at camp in 2021, the agent had one of those ah ha moments. Upon arriving at camp he noticed that one of the camp staff members was one of his former students from several summer camps back.  This staff member was now the rifle instructor at North Central 4-H camp.  During the staff introductions the first day, he explained how attending camp had influenced his life. He told the campers how experiencing trap shooting class had sparked an interest in shooting and hunting. He went home from camp after having been through the trap shooting class and joined the local 4-H shooting sports club. Where he grew to enjoy the sport and learned to excel. Years later he applied and was excepted as the rifle instructor at camp. He told the campers that because of having a good experience while at camp and because of the Garrard County ANR agent showing him how to be safe with a firearm, he was there to pass on his love for the sport. The Garrard County ANR agent also learned that this staff member was leaving camp at the end of the summer to join the National Guard.






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