4-H Cloverbud Camp brought a 3 day weekend of joy, success, and much needed opportunities that changed the pace of what we’ve all experienced the last year and a half because of Covid restrictions.  Harrison County had 14 campers, 1 Junior Counselor, and 3 Adult Counselors during this extended weekend camp.  Of the delegation, 3 of the counselors and 10 of the campers were first time camp attendees.   The campers attended 8 class options and all participated fully in the activities.  Some of the firsts included sliding down the pool slide for the first time without a life vest, spending money on their own at the country store, canoeing, tie dying a pillowcase, and witnessing their first dance flash mob!   Photos taken during camp captured the very essence of the 4-H camp experience that keeps 4-Hers coming back year after year.  As a result of the posts made on the county’s Facebook 4-H page, one adult female commented that “she felt like she had never really lived, not having attended 4-H Camp”.   This led to the communication between the 4-H Agent and the adult (who is a loved, respected teacher in the county) resulting in her signing up to fill the final vacant adult female camper spot for regular 4-H Camp.  The joy brought by and had by this counselor was second to none.  Some quotes that she shared on her personal Facebook page as nightly reflections while at camp included:

“Already getting sappy over my Cabin #17 gals and my Team Lightning McQueen kiddos.  Watching the bonds being made, kids building others up, and the never quit spirit gives me great hope.”

… “but the best part of my day…watching an entire team continue to cheer even when we were gonna come in last in a giant relay.  They encouraged each other until the last kid finished their turn.  The team spirit is STRONG and I love them for it!  I even heard some of the oldest ones say… “We are the winners.  We finished together; as a team and that’s what it’s all about.”

“This is MY team!  When they tell you never to judge a book by it’s cover they should also tell you not to judge a cabin or a team by the names on the lists.  It wasn’t that there were any “undesirables” but the age span was WIDE and I just wasn’t sure the whole “come together” idea would happen.  Boy was I wrong.  From the moment we got into our cabin, the girls instantly started to form bonds…ALL of the girls.  And then we met our boy team.  It was acceptance at first sight.  There were no… “I don’t want to be with them” or “I wish I was on another team”.  No, we were instantly Team 11; Team Lightning McQueen!  We have played together, laughed together, struggled together, learned together, made memories together, cried together and it truly was “camp magic”.  But I really think that if any of these kids see each other out back in town, they’ll yell out his/her camp nickname or “KA-CHOW” because they truly made some lasting bonds.  As a first time camper/counselor, I don’t know how this year could be topped.  I was encouraged and lifted up by my team this week as well.   I needed camp just as much as they did.  I got in a kayak today and it was a truly “over coming of fears” moment.  The kids cheered me on LOUD!”

Two days after the return from camp, this counselor messaged the agent and asked to help with County Fair – of which she instantly signed up for help with concessions!  As she put it in the message – “I think I’ve been bit by the 4-H bug!”