According to Childventures.com, “Respect is one of the most important virtues a child can have. Teaching your child how to respect others will ensure they develop positive relationships with their family, friends and teachers throughout their life.”  

In 4-H Boot Camp, we instill the Seven Core Values of the Army into each youth participant.  Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity and Personal Courage.  The 4-H program, as a whole, has the same values when working with youth, just not put into those words.  The youth are demonstrating Personal Courage when they sign up for the first time.  The teamwork and leadership skills taught are Selfless Service.  Giving their best is their Duty.  Loyalty is being there for others as well as themselves.  Honor and Integrity is demonstrated in their every action.  The groundwork for Respect is laid out by addressing the instructors with sir or ma’am and being part of a team with one goal, To Make the Best, Better.  

The 4-H Boot Camp program is not a recruiting tool for the US Military, but instead, introduces youth to working towards a common goal, as a team, and to put others before themselves.  This program is open to all 3^rd through 5^th grade students in Grant County, Williamstown and Homeschool.  Drill and Ceremony, Physical Training, 1^st Aid, Shooting Sports, Land Navigation, and Challenge Course are some of the lessons used to help mold a team.  In eight short hours over two weeks, they transform from thirty three individuals into a team.  

What does this team do?  They take these lessons and demonstrate to the rest of their peers the Seven Core Values.  They come to school prepared, they prioritize their daily schedule, and they apply these values on a daily basis.  They practice these skills in their everyday life.  

On Monday afternoon, after the 1^st session, a teacher stated that one of my recruits held the door for her, a behavior not previously displayed.  Others stated that the recruits use words like: thank you and yes ma’am.  Parents also proclaim the difference in the attitude of the recruits.  A mother was upset because her daughter wants to attend Boot Camp instead of going to a family wedding.  After graduation the recruits will wear their shirts with pride.

100% of the campers feel that they have a better understanding of how to be a better member of society, 94% say they will change their behavior in class, and 100% of the parents see improvement in