The Kentucky 4-H Camping program is more than just a fun week filled with outdoor activities; it is a series of educational experiences that have a positive impact of the development of the youth who attend. While at camp these youth learned valuable life skills such as responsibility, independence, character building, and the ability to work with others. 4-H Camp does change campers lives, but it also has a big impact on adult volunteers. One Volunteer from Webster County posted on social media of his story about 4-H Camp.

I want to make a heartfelt SHOUT OUT to everyone who works with children!!!!! I had an awakening this week at 4-H camp to the real power you have to change lives. I am typing this with tears in my eyes thinking of the children I had the pleasure to talk to at camp. I am very sensitive to children's struggles because of the regret I have in my life for the way I acted as a child. As a child I was mean, I misbehaved, and I was a bully. I had the ability to figure out what bothered you and then I would use that to bully you. In elementary school I was terrible to many children, and that's a burden I bare to this day. I rededicated my life to Christ in 1999 and my priorities changed. I can't go back in time and change who I was as a child, but I can try and be a blessing today. So, I'm the weird old guy at 4-H camp who does things like being the only adult to take the swim test with the kids. This happens early at camp and was my ice breaker in getting to know the campers. I was proud of my red wrist band I earned for swimming the length of the pool and treading water for 30 seconds! I got tickled when some young boys I was swimming the length of the pool with said, "we can't let the old guy beat us." After that the campers sort of warmed up to me. I'm getting to old for ga ga ball, so carpet ball and 9 square were more my speed. There's a bench by 9 square under a shade tree where I would rest between games. This bench became kind of a spiritual place for me. As I rested on the bench other kids would sit on the bench with me and we would talk. I started to talk with on little girl and she turned and stared at me in amazement. She proceeded to say that people like me don't usually talk to her. I was confused and said I didn't understand, and she said older white people don't talk to people like her. I said old white people like me don't talk with beautiful young ladies? She smiled and started to talk with me about her life. I asked what mom and dad did? She said mom was a janitor at school in her county and she didn't know what dad did because they woke up last year and their dad was gone and never came back. She told me she wondered what she did to make her dad leave, and I said not a thing. I told her adults do dumb things sometimes and you had absolutely nothing to do with your dad leaving. She smiled at me, we talked a little longer. At another time after getting out at 9 square I rested on the bench. Another young lady who was playing the game with me sat down beside me and we started to talk. She said she needed to lose weight. I thought she was joking because she was skinny, but she was not joking. She told me when she looked in the mirror she sees an ugly fat girl who no one could like. I'm rarely speechless, but I didn't know what to say for a second. I asked her do you trust me? She looked up and said yes. I said when I look at you I see a perfect, beautiful young lady who is precious and special. I did my best to try and help her see the beauty I saw in her, but I just don't know if I got through. Another day I was standing in line to play 9 square and was talking to the kids and a little girl said did I know she was a twin? I said no where is your twin, and she pointed to a girl behind me in line. The twins had completely different personalities. One was bubbly and talkative and the other was extremely shy. After playing for a while the shy one finally opened up to me. I asked her what she did for fun, sports etc. She said no, I'm not good at anything so I just play with my dog. I said of course you’re good at stuff, what's your favorite subject in school, hobby, etc. And again she said nothing. I said I'm going to prove you’re good at something. She said how, and I said because you’re going to make it to the queen square of 9 square. After you have made it through 8 spots the last spot is called the queen square. She gave me a timid smile. I made sure I was beside her in line and every time she caught the ball I encouraged her and she would just look at me and give me that timid smile. I was more ruthless than normal and made sure I got the good players out and after a few tries she made queen square! This sounds weird, but I saw her teeth for the first time with a big smile! Ok, I've got to wrap this up, I have so many stories.  Last night of camp they did their final Sally. This is where campers hold hands and skip around to a song. Boys are in the middle and girls on the outside of the circle and they go back and forth choosing people to Sally with. On that night the twins walked up to me and asked me to Sally, I was super excited to Sally with them they were having a blast! After the circle the bubbly twin whispered in my ear that her shy twin sister had asked 3 boys to Sally! We high fived and I walked back and sat down. A few seconds later the young lady whose dad left her walked over and held her hand out and we Sallied! She hugged me and walked back in the crowd. I sat down again and then the young lady who looked in the mirror and saw an ugly girl asked me to Sally too! She gave me a big side hug and she walked back to her friends. I Sallied so much that last night I almost couldn't walk that next day because my right knee swelled up! The point of this is not about me. I can't do much with these kids in 4 days; however, the people who work with children all the time are dealing with things I had no idea they were dealing with. Thank you for all you do to help children know they are precious, they are valued, they are special, and they are needed! You are my heroes!