In a typical summer, over 8,000 children ages 9 and up, accompanied by over 1,000 adult and teen leaders, travel annually to Georgia’s unique 4-H centers for a week of camp that will be remembered and cherished for years to come. Every 4-H camping opportunity offers adventure, friendship, and fun, and all seek to develop the camper’s Head, Heart, Hands and Health. As a former Union County 4-H’er and summer camp counselor alumni, one of my favorite parts of summer camp is talking to adults who attended summer camp as a child and cannot wait to send their own child off to create their own magical summer memories.
Forsyth County 4-H offers a variety of week-long summer camp opportunities to local youth in 4th through 12th grade. The first camping experience that youth can participate in as a young 4-H’er is Cloverleaf Camp. This camp is open to youth who just completed 4th, 5th, and 6th grade. Upper elementary students gain much more than just a fun camp experience when they attend residential summer camp. They develop important life skills that help them become more independent, confident, and prepared for future challenges.
This summer, Forsyth County 4-H staff and volunteer leaders chaperoned youth at Rock Eagle 4-H Center June 8 through 12. During the day, campers were able to learn about the natural world around them through classes such as herpetology, forestry, and lake ecology. They were also able to challenge themselves by learning to canoe, how to safely use a bow and arrow, and compete for the coveted Shield! As I looked over camper evaluations before turning them into the Camping Program Director, I could not help by smile when I read one girl’s reply to the question “What is the most important thing you learned by participating in 4-H Camp?” She wrote in big, bold letters, “To be brave!” What a great life lesson for a 4th grader to take away from summer camp.
Rock Eagle is the world’s largest 4-H Center housing over 800 campers each week throughout the summer. Rock Eagle 4-H Center was named after the stone effigy that was built by Native Americans, and students have the opportunity to learn about the people who once called the area home throughout the week. Campers are divided into three flights during the week: Skybirds, Thunderbirds, and Firebirds. During the week, the flights compete by cleaning up their areas, being on time for classes and events, and of course having some classic summer camp cheer-offs! During the evenings, everyone at Rock Eagle enjoys dances, a variety show performed by the college-aged counselors, and the Pageant that tells the legend of how the Rock Eagle Mound came to be.
The week of camp at Rock Eagle wraps up on Friday morning when all flights gather to find out which group won the Shield. Win or lose, this is sure to be a week that youth remember for years to come, although there are always a few tears if we lose. However, this year, along with our fellow Firebirds, we won the shield!
Camp does not end after 6th grade. In fact, some youth enjoy residential summer camp so much that they continue to go to Cloverleaf Camp as high school students. Youth have the opportunity to become teen leaders once they reach high school. This summer, Forsyth County 4-H took one teen leader to summer camp. Tallulah Bates says that she wanted to be a teen leader after her first year at summer camp. Her favorite part of being a teen leader is helping younger students have an exciting summer camp experience.
For more information about the 4-H Program or how to get involved, please call the Forsyth County Extension Office at 770-887-2418 or send an email to forsythcounty4h@uga.edu. In Forsyth County, 4-H is supported by The University of Georgia, Forsyth County Board of Commissioners, Forsyth County Board of Education, and generous community donors.