The 2019 Regional 4-H Camp was held at the University of -Minnesota, Morris campus from
June 18-20. Camp is an educational and recreational program open to all youth in grades 3-6. There were 141 campers and 28 teenage counselors from thirteen Minnesota counties who participated.
Minnesota 4-H conducts camps all year long at various locations. At camp, youth can work on projects they are already doing or start new ones. 4-H campers have the same high-quality, hands-on learning experiences that they have in clubs, events or fairs, but can spend more time on them. Activities are designed to develop a greater awareness, understanding and appreciation of nature and our relationship to it. Research shows that a well-planned youth camp improves self-esteem, environmental awareness, peer relationships, and has other measurable positive outcomes.
Campers had an opportunity to select from six educational track choices led by 4-H Staff: Agriculture, Agronomy, Crafts and Fine Arts, Shooting Sports, Shop/Woods, and Engineering Design/STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics). Each track is designed to give campers a hands-on opportunity to explore various 4-H project areas. In addition to track time, campers also participated in large and small group activities, recreational time at the RFC, flag raising/lowering ceremonies, and evening programs/campfires.
Kimball participants attending were
Trinity Erickson, Counselor, Kimball Kruisers
Chris Erickson, Counselor, Kimball Kruisers
Participant Jacquelyn McCann said, “It was fun! I got to do experiments with and learn a lot about eggs. My favorite game was Bonkers.
Chris Erickson shared he has a lot of fun as a counselor because of all the awesome activities they get to lead and help with and his favorite was Bonkers.
Counselor Trinity Erickson shared, ”I have been attending the 4-H Regional Camp held at the University of -Minnesota-Morris for three years now as a camp counselor and camp director. My leadership skills and passion for positively impacting others drives me to be a counselor for camp each year. Sadly, this was my last year of the camp being that it is my last year in the 4-H program. However, the best was saved for last! Camp’s theme this year was “Around The World”. Each camper was given a passport to explore the world of options 4-H has to offer. Not only that, but the campers also stayed in the campus dorms where each floor had a different country theme. It was fun to see the campers learn more about our world, different cultures, and 4-H while having fun at camp. I am going to miss being a part of that learning and growing experience as well as being a part of the counselor team, but I am thankful I got the opportunity to do so!”
To learn more about 4-H in Meeker County, go to www.
extension.umn.edu/meeker or call -Cassidy Martin, 4-H Program Coordinator at (320) 693-5275.
About Extension 4-H
4-H is a youth development program of the University of -Minnesota Extension. Available for youth beginning in kindergarten, 4-H’ers participate in hands-on learning experiences in STEM, leadership and civic engagement, animal science, creative arts and much more. Through 4-H’s learn-by-doing process, youth obtain essential life skills such as problem solving, decision making, coping and communicating that help them succeed in their school, college, community and career. Research shows that youth who participate in 4-H have better grades and are more emotionally engaged with school, are more than twice as likely to be civically active and contribute to their communities. Learn more at https://z.umn.edu/mn4h.