A Barren County 4-H member discovered his leadership potential during his first 4-H camping experience. He has been involved in the 4-H program in the 4-H Home School Club for four years and 2018 was his first 4-H camping experience (and trip away from his family). He wrote about his experiences and entered it in the Barren County Fair 4-H Floral Hall -Leadership Project Class: 

“I am normally quite a shy person. However,despite my shyness, I was recently thrown into a leadership role at 4-H camp. Even though this was my first camping experience- ever, I soon found out that I was the oldest in our cabin as well as that there was only one camper who had attended for multiple years.

Therefore, I was asked by the adult leaders to be a type of caretaker for my cabin. I took it upon myself every meal to find all of the boys in my cabin and make sure they knew where we were supposed to meet. Before tracking all of them down however, I would find my cabin leaders first to ask if there was anything different they needed me to tell my cabin mates and would again return to the cabin leaders to let them know that their message had been relayed.

As all but one of our cabin members was a first year, we all mostly had the same clueless attitude, except for a child who I will refer to as "A", for safety reasons.  "A" was a nine year old who had clearly never been to a camp before (either I guess because it was his first year, he just assumed that all of our cabin members were going to be very nice, which sadly was not true). "A" constantly would keep trying to talk to a few of our cabin members, which almost always ended with rude and sometimes straight-out mean answers. Since "A" seemed to need a friend and guide, I decided to make sure to pay special attention to him. During the first day I stuck near him for most of it, but on the other days we did not have any matching activities so I was forced to leave him. During the afternoon free recreation, Sally time and meals he would usually be upset, or just tired. Since he could not go back to the cabin and sleep, I would sit with him and try my best to comfort him. 

During the first day, I immediately could tell who the rambunctious ones in our cabin were. The first night my adult leader ask me to lead our cabin members back to the cabin, as we were told to stick together. It was kinda tough each night and morning leading them to the destination, as they always wanted to run ahead or race. Each time I had to lead, I would always try my best to keep them together.However even trying my best to keep them together there was always two or three who would run ahead,which I would report to my leader.

My experience at 4-H camp was a good one, except for a few stressful or forgetful moments. At 4-H camp I was indeed able to come out of my antisocial shell a little bit in order to communicate with my cabinmates and leaders. I feel that in my assignment to help with our cabin, I went beyond what was expected of me in assisting and comforting other cabin members in their activities. Next year, I hope to go back to 4-H camp as an official teen leader, so that I can continue to assist the adults with our cabin.”

Since this 4-H'ers return from 4-H Camp, he has taken on new resposbilitires and leadership opportunities.  His Mother said "It is like he discovered his potential and the confidence that he had been looking for."