When was the first time you attended a camp? Was it an overnight camp or a day camp? Do you have a favorite memory from camp? The first camp I ever attended was a church camp when I was going into second grade for a weekend. I think I stayed at arts and crafts the whole time creating art out of salt dough. The next camp I attended was in 5th grade for a whole week at Jekyll 4-H Center. I experienced canoeing for the first time, danced with my best friends, looked for sea turtles on the beach, and participated in fun group competitions. It was my second big 4-H activity I participated in and by the end of the week I was hooked on 4-H. I sang camp song after camp song the rest of the summer, which I am sure my mother loved.
Georgia 4-H hosts camps for youth 4th – 12th and programming differs per center providing teens with a unique and hands on experience. We have a 4-H Center in the North Georgia Mountains, 2 camps on the Georgia coast, 1 camp near Atlanta, and another camp just outside Athens. Campers who attend camp depending on location can experience up close encounters with reptiles and amphibians, learn about the surrounding area through a hike or marsh trawl, witness a sea turtle release, learn a new dance, learn native lore, challenge themselves on the climbing wall, or canoe the beautiful Rock Eagle Lake. All in all, youth gain independence and find a place to belong when they attend 1 of Georgia 4-H’s Summer Camps.
To learn more about the specifics of the 4-H Center and general camp details check out: https://georgia4h.org/4-h-centers/summer-camp/
As always I encourage parents, teens, and 4-H Military staff to reach out to their county program leaders to learn what 4-H Camp your local county is taking youth to. Also, the County 4-H staff can provide staff members with registration information, advertisement posters, and other helpful tools to help promote this great way for military teens to connect with other teens in their area.