Success Story4-H Environmental Day Camp



4-H Environmental Day Camp

Author: Kimberly Lane

Planning Unit: Morgan County CES

Major Program: Natural Resources

Plan of Work: 7. Community and 4-H Leadership Development

Outcome: Intermediate Outcome

Morgan County 4-H Council has partnered with the Family Resource Center Directors, and four Elementary school staff for the past twelve years to provide an educational environmental overnight camping program for all 4th graders in Morgan County. This partnership was developed to provide hands on applicable learning experiences for all 4th graders.  However, Covid has altered this experience for Morgan County youth.  After several planning meetings the decision to move forward, the overnight program has transitioned into an Environmental Day Camp for all 4th and 5th graders in the county.  This was done at the same local youth camping facility we had used in the past. The Day Camp is based on environmental science and natural resources. 4-H Teen Club members provide group activities and either instruct a class or aid an instructor. When this program begun, it was solely a 4-H Program and now it has become a school program with 4-H aiding. This year we conducted two-day camps just so we could have enough space for all the youth. The first one was 126 youth, 14 adults/teachers, and 31 teens. The second one was 123 youth, 12 adults/teachers, and 31 teens. From personal interviews: 1. Teachers cited their students needed this more than ever after a year of social distancing. 2. Teens gained public speaking skills, self-esteem, greater respect for the work of teachers, and applied leadership skills 3. 90% of the 4th and 5th graders cited learning ways that science applies to their surroundings and reasons for studying the environment 4. Teachers also stated that the unity of their class was so strong after attending the event. They were more team oriented than before.  5. 75% of the students experienced a first time while at the day camp, whether it be hiking in the forest, canoeing, touching an owl pellet, or studying animal tracks. Also, once the agent visited the 4th and 5th graders the following month during club meeting, students shared their desires of wanting to be a teen leader and to attend summer camp.  Teachers also shared how impressed they were with the 4-H Teen’s Leadership, involvement, and initiative to ensure all campers had a positive experience.






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