Success StoryLil Buckaroo Boot Camp



Lil Buckaroo Boot Camp

Author: Crystal Smith

Planning Unit: Letcher County CES

Major Program: Agriculture

Plan of Work: Developing Responsible Youth and Families--2020

Outcome: Intermediate Outcome

Summer Camp began at The Stables at Creekside Glen and local Letcher and Harlan County youth attended. This was a multicounty program with youth aged 12 and under. Teen’s age 13 to 19. There is such an “active” variety on the agenda for the days. Of course, there are camp songs, crafts, singing, playing games, and the best part is being introduced to horses. The kids are being introduced to the world of horse and each child enjoys some up close and personal time with the horses at The Stables.

Some kids are worried about the giant creatures, the youth are first invited to pet them, love one them, and we even get to paint on them! The kids learn how to bath, groom, ride, and give them care of feed and hay.

Teen leadership and adult volunteers run this summer camp and it is one of the best partnerships that Letcher County 4-H gets to make all year. This is one of the reasons that we have such a great 4-H Horse Club in Letcher County.  Rodeo games are a way for young teen leaders to learn how to put their 4-H communication and public speaking skills to work in from of a large captive audience. The kids are in stations for 45-minute time periods. This allows young teens to put leadership skills to work with an audience that they may have never worked with before and it can be a bit intimidating at first but by the end of the week they realize the value of the skills that they have learned through their 4-H years and they see, just how much the young kids look to them for guidance.

Day 1- Monday, June 05 : 125 youth attend camp  30 teen leaders 49 adult leaders 7- Letcher County Certified horse volunteers  

Day 2 Tuesday, June 06: 106 youth attend camp 30 teen leaders 49 adult leaders 7- Letcher County Certified horse volunteers 

Day 3 Wed, June 07: 73 youth attend camp 30 teen leaders 49 adult leaders 7- Letcher County Certified horse volunteers 







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