4-H Camp Fundraisers

Five years ago the Simpson County 4-H Council identified 4-H Camp and the lack of 4-H members that were attending camp as an issue to address. The Council decided more fundraisers were needed that would afford active 4-H members the opportunity to attend camp at a lesser cost. The Council appointed a 4-H Camp fundraising committee to plan fundraisers to assist 4-H members with their camp registration fee.  In 2016 this 4-H Camp Fundraising Committee received the KVF Together Everyone Achieves More award and in 2018 this same committee of dedicated 4-H leaders is still making a difference!  

Simpson County took 27 youth to 4-H camp in 2016, 28 in 2017, and 35 in 2018 which is a 20% increase over last year.  The cost to attend 4-H camp with Simpson County was $220 this year.  $205 is the fee charged by camp to attend, and the other $15 covers incidentals like a camp week shirt, water slide supplies, camper snacks, clean cabin rewards, etc.   

Of the 35 youth that Simpson County took to camp this year, only 6 paid the full camper registration fee.  Thirteen campers received a scholarship to attend, thanks to $2,300 in community donations given specifically for 4-H camper fees.  Of those on scholarship, 9 of them only had to pay a $55 deposit to attend and 4 were on a full scholarship.  In addition, sixteen 4-H members that attended participated in 4-H camp fundraisers, with eleven of these members earning their full camper fee and 3 earned all but the $55 deposit.  These fundraisers included selling concessions, salsa, donuts, and having bake sales, earning campers over $3,500 to send them to camp.  One camper's mom who earned enough to pay his full camper fee said, "Awesome, thank you! I'm glad he is able to 'work' for his own way. It's a great learning opportunity and he loves camp!"  

Simpson County 4-H has a great group of empowered volunteers that understand the benefit 4-H camp provides youth, and they successfully worked hard to increase the number of youth able to attend this year!