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, 192 days of the year.  The interactions offered in a residential camp/group living setting is so important to youth. 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. 

Youth are eligible to attend residential summer camp as a participant for a span of 6 years, beginning at age 9.  15-year-olds can return as a counselor-in-training, with opportunities to observe adult cabin leaders/counselors, attend leadership workshops, assist with leading some camp classes, and providing behind the scenes support of their camp session programming.  During the 2024 Program Year, 12,183 individuals participated in Kentucky 4-H Summer Camp at one of our four camp facilities. The breakdown of attendance includes: 10,712 youth, 1,272 adult volunteers, and 199 extension staff.  To breakdown attendance even further, of the 12,183 individuals: 6,770 were female, 5,413 were male, 284 were Hispanic/Latino ethnicity, 11,356 were white, 413 were black, 105 were Asian/Pacific Islander, 19 Native American Indian/Alaska Native, and 290 were Other. 

Martin County too 47 youth along with 6 adult leaders to camp this year. In our county, very few families can afford to pay over $300 for 4-H camp.  Martin County 4-H works hard to raise money throughout the year to pay for potential campers.  With fundraising efforts and help from the district board, and Martin County Youth Service Centers, we were able to provide a scholarship for every camper that needed the help.   One of our first year teen counselors said, “Camp was one of the more rewarding weeks I have ever had being able to help young kids develop. “She plans on coming back throughout high school and as an adult.  One camper said “I love how you get to spend time with all your friends and meet new people.  The classes are fun.”

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. This will happen through: • collaboration with local, state, and national partners, • research-based methods and programming, • service-oriented practices, • long-term strategic planning, • and play.