Success StorySowing Seeds with Faith Summer Camp Undertake 4-H Camp
Sowing Seeds with Faith Summer Camp Undertake 4-H Camp
Author: Chanda Hall
Planning Unit: Jefferson County CES
Major Program: Camping
Plan of Work: Making proactive choices for a healthier life
Outcome: Intermediate Outcome
The 2025 Sowing Seeds with Faith 4-H Camp experience created meaningful and measurable outcomes for participating youth, families, and our broader community. A total of 62 inner-city youth and 14 adult volunteers attended the one-day camp, many for the first time, engaging in immersive outdoor and team-building experiences.
Post-camp evaluations were completed by 52 youth participants (84%) and all adult chaperones. The data reflects significant growth in several key areas:
- 89% of youth reported feeling more confident in trying new experiences after camp, particularly those involving outdoor and nature-based activities.
- 80% of participants indicated improvement in teamwork, citing activities like outdoor cooking and rope courses as instrumental in building trust and communication.
- 75% reported overcoming a personal fear—most commonly related to water or heights—and felt more resilient as a result.
- 76% of campers stated they now feel more comfortable in outdoor environments and are more likely to engage in future 4-H or nature-based programs.
- Among adult chaperones, 100% observed increased independence, cooperation, and leadership among the youth over the day.
- Parents/guardians surveyed post-camp shared that nearly 3 in 4 youth talked about the experience with enthusiasm and expressed interest in returning or joining year-round 4-H programming.
These outcomes demonstrate that even a single day of well-structured, experiential learning can create lasting change in young people, enhancing social-emotional skills, increasing self-efficacy, and broadening their worldview. The impact extends beyond the individual participants, contributing to stronger family engagement, heightened interest in outdoor learning, and expanded access to youth development opportunities within our community.
© 2024 University of Kentucky, Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment