The problem:

Ever since I began working 5 years ago, I have wanted to get environmental camps happening again for the youth of Robertson County. It has been difficult to schedule with the schools, then COVID, and so many other factors that it was not possible until this year. 

The educational program response:

Youth were unaware of all that would take place during environmental camp and were apprehensive at first. Once they got to camp and started participating in the classes, they were excited and eager to learn more. 

The participants/target audience

Robertson County 4th grade participants 

31 total youth 

Other partners (if applicable)

Robertson County School (4th Grade teachers)

Robertson County 4-H Council - paid registration fee for students and bus fee 

Program impact or participant response.

The youth participated in four classes at our environmental day camp. Those classes included: The Bird Blind, KY Mammals, Lake Study, and Owl Pellets. They were able to explore North Central 4-H Camp and get a feel for what camp is like during the summer. The vast majority of participants had either attended Cloverbud or 4-H Camp prior to our environmental camp, but the response of those who wished to attend 4-H Camp 2024 were astonishing. Youth talked about what all they had learned that day and how exciting it was to get to experience the hands on component of it. I had parents calling me and saying how excited their child was after attending and how much they had learned. The teachers were thrilled and were already talking about next year and the things that they wanted to do (possibly having an overnight camp). 

This Environmental Camp not only brought back a program to the county that benefited the teachers and the youth, but it also could potentially impact our camp numbers next summer and have more youth that attend because they attended our environmental camp.