4-H Summer Resident CampsAre Educational and Fun

Source: Donna M. Fox

Nearly 10,000 youth, ages nine through 14, will attend 4-H resident camps this summer at one of four camping sites across Kentucky. Participation in these camps places 4-H members in new environments that are conducive to fun and learning.

Varied residentcamping experiences help Aeducate boys and girls on the art of living@, a primary objective of Kentucky=s 4-H/Youth Development program.

Campers gain educational learning experiences that create positive changes in their knowledge, skills and attitudes. The well-planned programs include fun activities designed to help 4-Hers meet personal development needs by enhancing their physical, moral, social and economic growth.

Each camp has a manager and paid program staff who develop and administer various activities including recreation, nature, riflery, archery, swimming, crafts, canoeing and obstacle courses such as low- and high-rope challenges.

Group activities might include an early morning polar bear swim, night hike, carnival, or swim and field games.

For their youth attending a resident camp, counties also might offer activities such as specialty nature classes like birds of prey, tree identification, entomology, fishing and stream watching. Other classes might include tie-dying, outdoor cooking, breads, Polymer clay and scrapbook.

Resident camps have teenage and adult volunteer leaders to help supervise campers. Each camp provides a certified Emergency Medical Technician to provide necessary care for campers.

Kentucky=s 120 counties are served by these camps: Western Kentucky 4-H Center, a 450-acre facility serving 36 counties, at Dawson Springs; Lake Cumberland 4-H Center, a 1,500-acre facility serving 22 counties, near Jabez; North Central 4-H Center, which serves 33 counties on 344 acres near Carlisle; and J.M. Feltner Memorial 4-H Center, a 182-acre facility near London, serving 28 counties.

These resident camps are just one part of our 4-H mission to help young people become self-directing, productive, contributing members of society.

For more information on the many educational opportunities available through Kentucky 4-H/Youth Development, contact your (CountyName) Cooperative Extension Service.

Educational programs of the Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of race, color, age, sex, religion, disability or national origin.

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