From June 10th to 13th, agents, assistant, parent's, volunteers and youth from the Whitley County Extension Office traveled to JM Feltner Kentucky 4-H Camp to join three other counties for several days packed with fun, learning, and adventure. This year, Whitley County was well-represented with 82 youth, 11 teens, 12 adults, 2 program assistants, and 4 agents in attendance. We camped alongside 341 youth and adults from Bell, Knox, and Rockcastle Counties, with Whitley County making up 33% of the total camp attendance for the week.

The camp staff went above and beyond to offer a wide variety of activities for campers to enjoy. Youth had the opportunity to choose from classes like archery, riflery, crafts, crime scene investigation, boating, fishing, outdoor cooking, zip-lining, photography, sewing, origami, and many more! Our outdoor cooking class had a special focus this year—campers prepared fun and nutritious recipes from Plan Eat Move, learning not only how to cook over a campfire but also how to make healthier food choices that support lifelong well-being. Our Counselors-in-Training (CITs) also participated in leadership classes each afternoon to help them develop the skills they’ll need to become outstanding teen leaders in future years.

On top of the daily recreation—swimming, carpet ball, and the always-popular GaGa ball—each evening ended with special events including Party Bingo, Messy Games, and a Carnival. We are grateful to our 4-H Council and District Board, who generously covered just over half of the total camp fee for each camper. The Soil Conservation District provided camp t-shirts, and the 4-H Council also supplied snacks and water for the cabins. Seven 4-H Council members attended camp as volunteers and class instructors, adding extra support and excitement for our campers.

Leading up to camp, youth participated in three fundraisers—flower sales, discount card sales, and Krispy Kreme sales—which helped raise $800 toward their camp fees. Thanks to generous donations from local businesses and community members, $25 in scholarship funds were also awarded to campers facing financial hardship. The incredible support from our community made camp possible for every youth who wanted to attend. We hope our campers returned home with new skills, unforgettable memories, and excitement for next year’s 4-H Camp experience!