Marshall County ended up scheduled twice in same fiscal/reporting year for 4-H Camp.  This was second round with what’s known as the East Meets West Camping Group.  The 4-HYD Agents from Ballard, Barren, Fulton, Hart, Monroe and Marshall County worked with the new 4-H WKY Camp Director (former 4-H Agent) on a successful four days and three nights of 4-H Camp 2025.  The Planning Committee rallied together to create standard counselor orientation videos to provide a united front.  The group also pivoted on schedules when the Friday before news was received the pool would not be available due to maintenance issue.  We put on “our capes” and made things happen!

Marshall County received a great response of super hero candidates to be Adult and Teen Counselors CIT-15s.  There were new to 4-H Camp adult and teen leaders who sometimes seemed to have more fun than the campers.  Marshall’s returning counselors mentored the new counselors and provided support to the 4-HYD Agent by conducting teen/CIT-15 applicant interviews; assisted with cabin assignments; and ran the camper check out process in the Agent’s absence.  The Marshall County Super Hero (aka Counselor) Team of 14 adults and total of 12 Teen/CIT-15 Counselors provided care and support for 66 campers.  Out of the 66 campers there were 32 FIRST time campers and 34 returning campers.

The real success of our 4-H Camp Super Heros was seen in Marshall’s campers!!!  The campers smiles and laughs; the cheers for their Team mates during Mega Relay; the excitement of sharing what new thing they learned in a camp class and/or accomplished; and so much more is the reward we all wanted.  While the formal State 4-H Camper Survey results have not been received, Marshall County once again asked their campers on the last night to name one thing they learned and one thing they liked.  Responses from three out of four cabins showed a definite theme of FRIENDSHIP.  Feedback provided below…

What Marshall County Campers Learned

Friendship & Social Skills

- Friendship is everything

- Making new friends is fun

- How to make new friends

- To make friends you have to have courage

- How to cooperate with people

Life Skills & Personal Growth

- How to keep track of my stuff

- Value of nature

- How to fish and bait my own hook

- How to read fingerprints or handwriting to identify people (2 responses)

Outdoor & Adventure Skills

- How to kayak, canoe, shoot a bow & arrow (archery), and use a rifle (14 responses)

- Enjoyed the variety of classes (6 responses)

What Campers Enjoyed Most

- Meeting new people / Making new friends (8 responses)

- Being with people

- Seeing my friend (from a different county)

- Made friends along the way

- “Everybody!” (Comment from a camper on the autism spectrum)

- “EVERYTHING / All of it!!!!”

Parent & Guardian Feedback (First-Time Campers)

“They had a blast!” (Son and daughter attended.)

“She had fun!!!!”

“She had a blast, she missed us but did enjoy the activities offered.” (Camper’s first overnight away from home; overcame homesickness.)

“She loved camp so much!! She is doing just fine. Took her a few days of good rest, but then she was good... She did absolutely love camp though!!”

Seeing feedback from parent/guardians of especially first year campers with all of them planning to go back next year is a success.  On last day having several campers tell the Marshall 4-HYD Agent they plan to apply to be CIT-15s; have goals to possibly be on camp staff one day; and/or want to get more involved in 4-H beyond camp makes it a great summer!