During the summer in Franklin County, youth get excited about heading to 4-H Summer Camp!  Teachers in the county have shared with the Franklin County 4-H program the excitement and benefits they notice with the youth who attended 4-H Camp when they return to school in August.  Each summer, the Franklin County 4-H Program offers a week long Summer Camp for youth to learn new skills, experience new activities, and develop social skills.  

The Kentucky 4-H Camp objectives for 4-H campers are to learn practical skills, develop effective interpersonal relationships with adults and other youth, and develop socially acceptable behavior, personal standards and values for living. The Franklin County 4-H program fulfilled these objectives in 2019 when it took over 100 campers to the Feltner 4-H Camp for five days in June.  Adult and teen counselors, who volunteer their time, were an integral part of the camping week by demonstrating responsibility and leadership as part of the camp team. Counselors went through multiple hours of training, both through modules and face-to-face. Classes such as canoeing, low ropes challenge course, nature, archery, crafts, recreation, rifle, and high ropes were offered.  

As a result of camp, more than 75% of the campers made new friends and tried something new at camp and 95% of campers felt good about something they accomplished at camp.  The big change for 2019 was the camp location Franklin County 4-H attended from previous years.  Franklin County 4-H had been attending North Central 4-H Camp, but changed locations to J.M. Feltner 4-H Camp, which was a great change.  Verbal comments from 4-H Camp participants included, “this camp is so much better!”  “this new bath house is the best, love the privacy!”  and “I would not have tried this if it wasn’t for attending 4-H Camp.”