Extension
It Starts With Us
Author: Lee Ann McCuiston
Planning Unit: Todd County CES
Major Program: Camping
Plan of Work: Promoting Individual and Family Development
Outcome: Intermediate Outcome
The problem
The interactions offered in a residential camp/group living setting are so important to youth, especially considering the isolation brought on by social media. The time we spend with youth in the camp setting offers opportunities for those youth to feel a sense of belonging, to have meaningful conversations with caring adults, to practice generosity, group decision-making, they experience new activities they typically do not have access to at home, and they gain independence by taking on the responsibility in keeping track of their belongings and keeping to the camp schedule.
The educational program response
A typical 5-day 4-H Camp session offers upwards of 96 hours of direct, uninterrupted contact between youth and their cabin leaders/counselors. That’s the equivalent of a family sitting down at the dinner table for 30-minutes, 196 days of the year.
A total of 142 campers, 12 teen leaders and 18 adults attended residential summer camp with Todd County 4-H. Todd County's 2nd largest year since 1994. The campers attended 4 classes for three days to master new skills in canoeing, rifle, cooking, wood working, sports, communications, drama, swimming, nature, challenge courses and so much more.
The participants/target audience
Todd County 4-H promoted summer 4-H camp to 4th - 8th graders in the county. Nearly 19 percent of the kids in those grades throughout the entire county attended 4-H camp during Todd County's week in July.
Other partners (if applicable)
Todd County 4-H raised more than $9500 in scholarship money to support over 55 lower income youth in attending summer 4-H Camp. Businesses, churches, FRYSC and individuals answered the call to send a kid to camp.
Program impact or participant response.
An end of camp, common measures survey was conducted by the counselors with their cabin of campers. The results were as follows:
88% said 4-H is a place with caring adults
71% felt 4-H camp was a place where others like them.
91% felt safe at 4-H camp.
95% felt like 4-H was place it was ok to make mistakes.
89% said 4-H camp encouraged them to plan for their future
97% said 4-H camp gave them a chance to be a leader
95% said 4-H camp was a place they felt they belonged
99% said they learned a new skill while taking classes at 4-H camp.
The vision of Kentucky 4-H Camping is to serve the citizens of Kentucky and beyond by providing a safe environment for experiential learning opportunities. The mission of Kentucky 4-H Camping is to improve people through intentional life skill development.
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