Many youth today have limited opportunities to explore hands-on, creative learning experiences outside of traditional classroom settings. In Jefferson County, there is a growing interest in developing practical life skills and fostering creativity through experiential learning. Youth often lack access to structured environments where they can try new things, build confidence, and discover talents in areas like the arts, agriculture, and craftsmanship—skills that connect them to both their heritage and emerging community interests.

To provide meaningful enrichment and skill development, Jefferson County 4-H hosted a Fair Day Camp for youth. The camp offered a variety of hands-on workshops designed to expose participants to new interests and potential    4-H fair project areas. Youth rotated through interactive sessions led by 4-H Agents and Assistants in the following areas:

• Arts & Crafts
• Horticulture
• Photography
• Woodworking
• Repurposing and Upcycling

Participants learned basic techniques, explored their creativity, and created projects they could enter into the county fair.

The Fair Day Camp served 15 youth, representing many areas within Jefferson County. Many of the participants were new to 4-H or had limited prior exposure to fair project areas, making the camp an important introduction to the broader 4-H program.

Evaluation feedback collected at the end of the camp showed:

• 95% of participants reported learning a new skill they had never tried before.
• 100% expressed interest in completing a project to enter in the Jefferson County Fair.
• 100% said they enjoyed the hands-on activities.
• Youth also demonstrated increased confidence in expressing creativity, working independently, and completing tasks using tools or materials that were new to them.

The Jefferson County 4-H Fair Day Camp successfully met its goal of exposing youth to skill-building activities while encouraging creativity, confidence, and future engagement in fair projects and lifelong hobbies.