BOONE, Iowa—Forty-seven 4th-6th grade 4-H youth and eight teen counselors from Boone, Grundy, Hardin, Marshall, and Story Counties participated in the 18th annual Tri-County 4-H Camp August 10-12 held at the Y Camp near Boone. Campers were involved in “Mystery Madness: Mysteries, Mazes and Magic” theme-based activities led by teen counselors, camp-based activities led by Y Camp staff, and special camp traditions.
Research shows that being outdoors provides a great classroom and health benefits. The American Camping Association shares how camping is an essential compliment to what youth do during school. This includes experiential learning, discovery and active learning, character education, cooperative learning and teambuilding. Health benefits include exercise and stress relief. Tri-County 4-H Camp provides opportunities for all of these.
Tri-County 4-H campers started their camp experiences with get acquainted activities and teambuilding elements at the low ropes course to develop a sense of belonging and community. Other Y Camp activities led by trained camp staff provided physical exercise in the forms of canoeing, archery, climbing/rock wall, zip-line, hatchet throwing, and swimming. Campers indicated on the closing survey that they gained or improved skills in these areas, whether this was their first time at camp or if they were returning campers.
Teen counselors, 4-H staff, and 4-H volunteers engaged youth in a creek walk, night hike and lots of walking. The creek walk provided exploration of wildlife and the effects of water on the creek environment. The annual duck race encouraged good sportsmanship and cheering on their ducks in the pool. An Iowa State University Extension and Outreach student assistant taught the importance of Unlock Ag Innovations on new technology in ag using and escape-room type challenge. Youth learned about night sounds, adjusting to the dark and the spark of wintergreen mints during the night hike.
The tradition of preparing a campfire meal taught campers how to use pie irons to make sandwiches and the challenge of managing temperature in a wood fire. Roasting marshmallows for S’mores revealed preferences on golden brown and burnt marshmallows. During the Thursday evening celebration, campers did challenges and solved clues to find their teams’ Scooby Doo mascots. Then, they create mazes with a variety of items to change their hex bugs to get through their maze.
Campers shared on their evaluations the most important things they learned, what they learned about themselves and what they will use in the future. Frequent responses included that they learned to not be afraid to try new things, developing teamwork skills, trusting others, develop new friendships, and to have fun. They were excited to discover skills they are good at such as archery, canoeing, and rock wall climbing. Several were pleased to overcome their fear of heights on the rock wall and zip line. They shared the skills they learned that they will use in the future. Ninety one percent of the campers that are eligible want to participate in camp again next year. Thirty campers want to be counselors when they are old enough.
The camp concluded with family members joining campers in a BBQ meal, camper recognition and closing campfire with S’mores. Campers, counselors and adults each received a recognition certificate for something unique related to a quality observed or an accomplishment at camp.
Eight teen counselors participated in a day of training and used their leadership, communication and civic engagement skills throughout camp to ensure a safe and fun environment
for campers. Taylor Beck, Julia Brooks, Lily Joseph, Lane Longhorn, Mirrka Taylor, Johnny Sparks, and Emily White from Boone County and Austin Babcock, Story County volunteered as teen counselors.
Boone County campers were Janie Baker, Stella Bickelhaupt, Cecilia Fulton, Allyana Harnss, Drew Hedlund, Reese Howie, Mae Loecke, Gideon Moody, Glenda Moody, Hayden Nerem, Ella Skinner, Emily Skinner, Maeve Stevenson, and Hudson White. Campers from Grundy County were Wyatt Lubbert and Levi Sieh. Hardin County camper was Layla Follett. Campers from Marshall County were Eliza Bell, Hannah Klaas, Zechariah Klaas, and Brooklyn Smith. Story County campers were Barrett Breer, Hope Casey, Adalyn Colebrooke, Kensie Dorhout, Celia Forbes, Adam Graves, Hailey Gruhn, Brynlee Hill, Madelyn Janes, Callie Jedlicka, Colt Jedlicka, Ava Kellen, Zoe Kellen, Sydney Longren, Ady Muhlbauer, Aubrey Olson, Oscar Senske, Lucia Simpson, Elizabeth Soupir, Coralyn Stokes, Addison Thomas, Chase Unruh, Miles Unruh, Joshua Weber, Danika Williams, and Charli Wirtz.
Annette Brown and Katie Lubbert, ISU Extension and Outreach 4-H Youth Development Specialists, coordinated the camp. In addition to Brown’s, Lubbert’s and the teen counselors’ leadership, other 4-H volunteer adults contributing to the success of camp included volunteers Carissa Brown of Coralville, Kelley Kellen of Ames, Kenton Reece of Churdan, and Colton Zalesak of Madrid. They all have great memories of being campers and counselors when they were youth. They want help other youth have camping memories like they had. Iowa State University Extension and Outreach county youth coordinators Natalie Hedlund from Boone County and Jess Soderstrum from Story County also were instrumental in the camp’s success. Volunteers Susan Heck, Kathy Hartwick and David Brown helped prepare the closing family BBQ meal for 170 people. We look forward to holding the I9th annual Tri-County 4-H Camp in 2023.
Funding for Tri-County 4-H Camp in addition to camper registrations included Lowrey Charitable Foundation, Iowa 4-H Foundation and county discounts for 4-H club members from their respective county 4-H funds in Boone, Story, Marshall and Hardin counties.
The 2022-2023 4-H program year begins in September. Information about becoming a 4-H member or a volunteer is available at Iowa State University Extension and Outreach office in each county. Visit your county’s web page to learn more https://www.extension.iastate.edu/countyservices/
Forty-seven 4th-6th grade youth and eight teen counselors from Boone, Grundy, Hardin, Marshall, and Story Counties participated in the 18th annual Tri-County 4-H Camp August 10-12 held at the Y Camp near Boone. The theme was “Mystery Madness: Mysteries, Mazes and Magic.”
Forty-seven 4th-6th grade youth and eight teen counselors from Boone, Grundy, Hardin, Marshall, and Story Counties participated in the 18th annual Tri-County 4-H Camp August 10-12 held at the Y Camp near Boone. Campers created hex bug mazes as a part of the theme “Mystery Madness: Mysteries, Mazes and Magic.”
(contributed press release)
