4-H Camp 2022-Post Pandemic

              The first experience that I had with 4-H Camp was 2021, during the Covid-19 Pandemic time, when masks were still required, even outdoors during activities, and the numbers were limited to half of the normal number attending.  My concerns about the livelihood of camp, post-pandemic, were numerous, among those being whether we would ever be able to recruit students to ever return to camp.  Trips to the elementary schools were made to give information about camp to all 4,5, and 6^th grade students in the county, to make an effort to encourage them to participate.  Hundreds of brochures were handed out, with hopes of some students being interested and persuading their parents to let them attend.

              When registration was opened up, we began to get calls right away for kids to attend camp.  Needless to say, we were somewhat shocked.  Magoffin County ended up with more kids attending camp this year than have attended in many years prior.  We ended up with a total of 42 campers total.  As a result, we had to recruit more Teen Counselors and Adult Counselors, to cover the number of students that we had going.  Even recruitment of teens to help went very smoothly with more than enough to go with us, with 5 teen leaders and 2 volunteer adult leaders, in addition to the two agents who went.  

              Some of the campers were so thrilled with camp that they even stated that they wanted to attend every year, and then come back as adult leaders.  They had an amazing time, and were well-behaved.  All of the campers participated eagerly in all of the activities, and several students earned awards in their respective classes.  

              We were happy to have 12 scholarships provided in full, for 12 elementary school students, by the Family Resource Centers and two of the schools.  This allowed 12 students, who would otherwise not have had the opportunity to attend, to be able to go.  We also garnered assistance financially from the 4-H Council to provide opportunities for the students to attend.  Our hope is to build on the successes of this past year of camp, in preparation for 4-H Camp next year.  It has been a pleasure to see so many children benefit from the camp experience.