Success StoryIntroducing Youth to 4-H through Natural Resources



Introducing Youth to 4-H through Natural Resources

Author: Terence Clemons

Planning Unit: Bath County CES

Major Program: Natural Resources

Plan of Work: Unrelated to a specified County Plan of Work

Outcome: Long-Term Outcome

Since 2003, Bath County 4-H and The Bath County School District has collaborated to present 4th Grade Environmental Camp. The annual camp is held at North Central 4-H Camp, in Carlisle.  The average attendance of 130 youth and 40 adult Chaperones have participated in this overnight camp. That number has continued to grow due to increased enrollment numbers and yearly request/support for this delivery method.  3 School Superintendents, 11 School Principals, and countless 4th Grade Teachers have given reports on how the camp supplements school instruction, offers diversity to education, promotes parents involvement, etc. Reports given from youth and adult participants are "It was there first time staying away from home," "It's my first time being introduced to 4-H", "Participating in Environmental Camp is still one of my favorite memories in school", "I have been to Environmental Camp as a Chaperone 5 times with my kids and grandkids", "I went home and tried the Wint-o-Green Candy experiment and it worked".  

Due to the success of this type of programming, a 5th Grade Overnight Camp was offered in the spring of 2014 to 2019. This program has been a feeder to Summer Camp participation growth since 2003.  The only years this type of camp wasn't held (2020-2021) and it was because of Covid Precautions and in the spring of 2021 a version of this delivery method was conducted as a day camp, on the grounds of the Bath County Extension Office. 






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