Youth who attend 4-H Camp acquire vital leadership skills, learn responsibility, and gain social interaction skills as well as gaining an understanding of nature and our environment. During the Covid 19 Pandemic, camp capacity was limited to 50% but provided a vital outlet for youth to develop life skills and just have fun and experience social interaction after long periods of virtual school and limited group gatherings. 

The community supports the program monetarily by providing donations for camp scholarships. The local District Board subsidized $45 towards every camper’s registration fee and $1,000 was donated by a local civic organization to allow youth to attend camp who wouldn’t have otherwise. Their experiences and memories made at camp would not have been possible without the generosity of the community.

 Forty youth and five teen leaders attended 4-H Camp and of that number, twenty-six campers and four teen leaders attended for the first time.  Campers made new friends, learned new things, and accomplished goals at camp. Campers also learned responsibility at camp by taking care of themselves and their belongings and cleaned up after themselves at 4-H Camp.

 A parent and camper attended a parent/camper orientation prior to leaving for camp to discuss camp rules and procedures. Two volunteers performed the lice checks. Five adult leaders and five teen leaders attended a leader orientation leadership training to prepare them to serve as effective leaders at camp. Most of the adults and teens have pledged to return to camp as leaders next year. 

One teen leader stated, “This year I was a teen leader at camp and I had the opportunity to meet new people, create new friendships, I leaned how to de-escalate situations/confrontation between campers and that there is such a thing as a “Beaver” song.   I have been to camp as a camper and teen leader and I would like to attend camp next year as an adult leader.”