This year was the fifth year that the J.M. Feltner Cloverbud Camp has been held. This is an overnight camp for cloverbuds to help them adapt to the camping experience and began the development of personal care skills. 

Situation

In 2013 Estill County 4-H attended the North Central Cloverbud Camp with three youth. After seeing the positive impact on youth as well as the love for camp it instills in young people the 4-H agent approached the 4-H Council in Estill County about founding a Cloverbud Camp at J.M. Feltner 4-H Camp in order to help the youngest campers adjust to camping at the camp they would continue to go to for their camping career. 

Educational response

The Estill County 4-H Agent developed a strategic plan to found in sustain a Cloverbud Camp at J.M. Feltner by recruiting no less than four other counties to help launch the program, coordinate with agents and the state specialist to ensure that age-appropriate developmental goals were set, developing a schedule that would fit the camping facilities, training materials for adult and teen leaders, and marketing materials for the recruitment of youth. 

Target Audience

Cloverbud Camp targets individuals 6 to 8 and 16 and up

Outcomes

J.M. Feltner Cloverbud Camp has grown each year for the past five years. Starting with 65 individuals from five counties attending to over 125 individuals from eight counties attending in the summer of 2018. This number will increase to include more than ten counties in 2019. This is almost a 100% increase in participation. From surveys conducted by youth, parents, volunteers, and agents we know the program has been very successful in multiple areas. Of those young people who attend Cloverbud camp 85% turn into 4-H Campers, 90% report learning a new skill, 75% report meeting someone new, 90% report they will be coming back to camp next year. Of the adult leaders, all report a high level of gratification during post-camp meetings. As of the Fall of 2018, a J.M. Feltner Cloverbud Camp Committee has been created to ensure the program continues long into the future made up of an agent from each of the districts that bring youth to Cloverbud Camp.