The Laurel County 4-H Advisory Council has identified 4-H summer camp as a priority issue. 4-H summer camp helps youth develop life-long skills. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, a skill is a learned ability. A life skill is an ability that is useful throughout daily life and enhances the quality of life. The Targeting Life Skills Model (Hendricks, 1998) highlights 35 life skills developed in 4-H programs to help youth succeed. At our 4-day summer camp, we focused on honing three life skills – teamwork, sharing, and self-responsibility. 

Extension staff held two in-person camp counselor training courses in addition to utilizing the Kentucky 4-H Camp Volunteer Training Guide as self-study training for 27 counselors. During training, emphasis was placed on how to help campers practice teamwork, self-responsibility, and sharing during camp. Extension staff developed and held two renditions of a required orientation for campers and their families with 247 in attendance. An intensive marketing camper was launched to recruit adult and teen counselors as well as campers. Yard signs were created and placed throughout the county. Camp flyers were developed and sent to all elementary and middle schools, churches, and low-income housing complexes. Social media posts were used to help generate an exciting buzz about 4-H summer camp. 

4-H summer camps target youth ages 9-15. It takes a village to run a successful summer camp. First, the extension staff recruited and trained 15 adult counselors and 12 teen counselors. The Laurel County Cooperative Extension District Board, Extension staff paid $25,000 towards educational programming costs for summer camp. 4-H volunteers sought partnerships and sponsors from local businesses such as Flower’s Bakery, Bimbo’s Bakery, and Laurel Grocery Company, and individual donations. Through these efforts, individual camp costs were reduced from $275 to $140. Additionally, the Laurel County 4-H Council granted 28 individuals with camp scholarships reducing their camp costs to $0. 

In total 121 campers, 27 counselors, and two extension staff attended summer camp at J. M. Feltner from Laurel County. During camp, all youth practice teamwork through cabin chores, kitchen duty, field games, and teen-leader development. By being responsible for their belongings, hygiene, and schedule, and ensuring that they are drinking enough water and eating properly, campers experienced self-responsibility in a real-world situation. Sharing is another life skill that was enhanced by 4-H Camp. Youth shared cabin space, bathrooms, feelings, equipment, and responsibilities during camp.