Over eighty percent of youth receive free or reduced lunch in Jackson County due to meeting economic guidelines.  Making 4-H Camp affordable for Jackson County youth has been a struggle for many years with the cost of 4-H Camp rising by 50% in the past ten years. The Jackson County 4-H Council held several fund-raisers throughout the year to pay half of the Jackson County 4-H Campers Camp fee however with local businesses and plants shutting down even that wasn't enough for youth to be able to attend out local 4-H Camp. Our Jackson County District Board are able to  help pay for environmental programs for youth so they voted to help offset the cost for Jackson County youth to attend camp in 2018. They realized along with many of the community members in Jackson County that youth gain multiple benefits from attending 4-H Camp such as, leadership, character develop, self-esteem, decision-making skills, independent living skills, natural resources and citizenship. This year 26 Jackson County youth attended 4-H Camp which was a 216 percent increase over the 12 that attended in 2017. Our local Jackson County Extension District Board had already voted to help offset the cost for youth to attend camp next year and our Jackson County 4-H Council has several fund-raisers planned as well to continue to be able to offer the youth of Jackson County this life changing opportunity.