4-H Camp 2021 was a week like none before!  With implementation of Covid-19 guidelines including 50% capacity, masking/facial covers, increased disinfecting, scheduling in cohorts, and other adjustments in the middle of pandemic…4-H Camp magic was still felt!

After suspending the 4-H Summer Camping Season in 2020, the future for camp was unknown.  Once the word was received in early March that the 2021 Camp Mitigation Operation Plan was accepted by the University of Kentucky, the Marshall County Extension Agent for 4-H Youth Development worked with the West Kentucky 4-H Camp Director, Kentucky 4-H Camping Director, and Ballard, Fulton, Carlisle, Calloway and Graves County Extension Agents with the goal to provide the perfect setting for campers to “learn by doing” while maintaining personal health in what is now the “new normal.”

4-H Camp 2021 programming was different than in past years due to the cohort system and Covid-19 guidelines, but campers (and counselors) still learned a lot through the eight standard provided classes by Camp Program Staff and the three county sponsored classes.  Marshall County’s Camping Group worked together to provide kits/lessons for the three volunteer led classes including STEM (straw rockets, catapults, & play dough making), Arts & Crafts with an international focus, and “The Great Outdoors” focused on learning about the water cycle, tree identification and more. 

Since there was not a formal evaluation held at camp, Marshall County Camp Counselors conducted camper interviews in their cabins. Out of the campers interviewed, Marshall County campers learned and/or liked:

• Enjoyed making friends/spending time with friends
• Kayaking/Canoeing 
• Swimming (Breastroke & Frog Swim
• Archery & Riflery 
• How to Work as a Team
• Getting out of their comfort zone.
• Lessons about nature.
• Gaga Ball

The most powerful part of 4-H Camp 2021 was the fact “kids got to be kids.”   Even with masking and other restrictions in place, they got to interact with other youth.  They made friends and met new people.  Some even noted they liked being with their county more than in the years past due to the cohort setup.  Interaction with people did so much for the youth’s mental health as well as those of the adult/teen counselors and even the Extension Agents.  Three of the female adult counselors were returning Marshall Teen leaders after 10/11 years since the last time they went to camp.   Two came with their daughters and one of the female adults noted “I missed this place (camp).”

One young man was not very happy the first 24 hours of camp, then got to do a little more activities.  By the last day, he was not ready to go home and told the Marshall 4-HYD Agent that he was definitely coming back in 2022.  This was a common theme among the Marshall County campers which is a “win” given the fact more than half were first time campers!

Once again, 4-H Camp 2021 was quite different, but camp magic was all around!