Camp is an important delivery mode for Extension education and a powerful experience for youth participants (Garst, 2010). Multiple studies have demonstrated that camp experiences produce positive developmental outcomes in youth (Henderson, Bialeschki, & James, 2007; Mishna, Michalski, & Cummings, 2001; Readdick & Schaller, 2005; Thurber, Scanlin, Scheuler, & Henderson, 2007; Yuen, Pedlar, & Mannell, 2005). Camp research conducted by 4-H professionals (Arnold, Bourdeau, & Nagele, 2005; Baughman, Garst, & Fuhrman, 2009; Ferrari & McNeely, 2007; Forsythe, Matysik, & Nelson, 2004; Garst & Bruce, 2003; Garton, Miltenberger, & Pruett, 2007) which was validated by the American Camping Association (2005) provides sufficient empirical evidence that the camp experience contributes to healthy youth development.

Camping professionals and researchers have long recognized that camp is more than a location or a program. Camp includes what happens to youth both during and following the camping experience (Garst & Bruce, 2003). Camp participation has been found by multiple studies (Brannan & Fullerton, 1999; Chenery, 1994; Gillett, Thomas, Skok, & McLaughlin, 1991; Henderson, 1999; Hopkins & Putnam, 1993; Shepard & Speelman, 1986;) to affect youth in multiple ways, enhancing many forms of growth. Growth areas affected include affective (self-esteem and self-concept), cognitive (knowledge, skills, abilities, and attitudes), behavioral (self-reported behaviors and behavioral intentions), physical, social, and spiritual.

The Targeted Life Skills model (Hendricks, 1998) has been an important guide to planning, implementing, and evaluating 4-H youth development programs. This model provides a holistic youth development approach, referred to by multiple researchers (Barkman & Machtmes, 2002; Garton, Miltenberger, & Pruett, 2007; Pittman & Yohalem, 2002; Scales, 1996; Wright & Bersamin, 2004.) 4-H based studies using Targeted Life Skills identified a positive relationship between participation in 4-H activities and life skill development in youth participants (Boleman, Cummings, & Briers, 2004; Ferrari, Hogue, & Scheer, 2004; Fox, Schroeder, & Lodl, 2003; Garton, Miltenberger, & Pruett, 2007; Smith, Genry, & Ketring, 2005; Ward, 1996). 

Former 4-H members fondly recall their experiences at summer camp, often for a lifetime (Garton, Miltenberger, & Pruett, 2007). This fondness for 4-H camp has contributed to Kentucky’s 106-year history of 4-H camping. In Kentucky, large numbers of commonwealth citizens participate in 4-H camp. In 2017, 8,459 youth, 1823 volunteers, and 260 extension employees participated in one of 35 sessions at one of four state-operated camping centers. 4-H camp is an integral delivery method of Kentucky 4-H youth development activities, with each of the commonwealth’s 120 counties participating.

Youth are eligible to attend residential summer camp as a participant for a span of 6 years, beginning at age 9, and aging out at 14. In 2017, the average age of the 8,459 youth participant was 10.2 years old, and ranged in tenure from camping for the first time to 8 years attendance (attended prior to the standard beginning age of 9). The breakdown of attendance includes: 1^st year (43.45%), 2^nd year (22.32%), 3^rd year (16.96%), 4^th year (10.12%), 5^th year (4.76%), 6^th year (1.19%), 7^th year (0.89%), 8^th year (0.30%). 

Attending 4-H camp provides youth an opportunity to engage in activities in which they may otherwise not experience. Using a post-pre-post scale, youth rated, through self-reflection, 13 of the 35 4-H targeted life skills. These life skills included: Head (decision making, goal setting, critical thinking, problem solving), Heart (nurturing relationships, concern for others, communication, accepting differences), Hands (teamwork, leadership, contributions to group effort), Health (self-responsibility, character). The results yielded statistically significant data that indicates 4-H camp provided opportunities for youth to grow in each of the life skills. The results include:

Life skill                                     Pre-camp rating              Post-camp rating

Decision making                      3.101                              3.409

Goal setting                                2.700                              3.057

Critical thinking                       2.816                              3.095

Problem solving                       2.875                              3.368

Nurturing relationships        3.029                              3.409

Concern for others                  3.202                              3.466

Communication                        2.839                              3.157

Accepting others                      3.029                              3.409                

Teamwork                                 3.000                              3.368

Leadership                                 2.238                              2.528

Contributions to group          2.873                              3.304

Self-responsibility                   2.816                              3.095

Character                                    3.009                              3.357

The vision of Kentucky 4-H Camping is to serve the citizens of Kentucky and beyond by providing a safe environment for experiential learning opportunities. The mission of Kentucky 4-H Camping is to improve people through intentional life skill development.

This will happen through:

• collaboration with local, state, and national partners,
• research-based methods and programming,
• service-oriented practices,
• long-term strategic planning,
• and play.