In June 2018, Rockcastle County traveled to London, Kentucky for a weekly camping session at JM Feltner 4H Camp.  In attendance were 34 campers, 4 adult counselors and three (8) junior counselors in training.  five of these youth were first time campers. Prior to leaving for camp, 100% of the campers and their guardians attended an orientation to discuss  rules and guidelines for the week.  Camp is an opportunity for many  campers to “learn by doing” and experience new educational and  recreational activities, build healthy relationships, develop leadership traits and communication skills in addition to exploring new interests.  The 4H Camping experience is an implementable resource that assists to  instill students with qualities such as discipline, respect, time  management, reliability, resourcefulness and independence.  The 4H  Program is beneficial for all ages as it promotes development thought  every stage of life.

The 4H Camp program offers participants a fun, instructional setting in which students develop their skills level and improve their social  aptitude.  Youths may participate in twenty plus different classes that  included, Archery, Swimming, sports, arts and crafts and many other  promoting life skills; encouraging leadership and citizenship and expand the minds of these young campers.

Though campers have many other options to occupy their time during  the summer, 4H Camp is a powerful program that has the ability to  provide campers with skills for life.  In the follow-up survey completed by campers, 80% of campers strongly agreed that they had learned how to do something new at camp and 75% of campers felt that camp teaches  things that can be useful in the future.  One particular camper thanked  the leaders for her experience and exclaimed, “It may be a short week,  but I’ve made memories to last a lifetime!”