4-H Summer Camp … Fun for all Ages
By BILL HAMMOND, Coweta County 4-H Agent
This summer has been packed with fun in the sun for 4-H members!
Experiencing new things, meeting new friends, and having fun while learning are all goals for the Georgia 4-H Summer Camp Program. This year, Coweta County 4-H hosted 345 youth and adult leaders in various camping experiences with other youth from across Georgia.
The first event of the 4-H Summer kicked off with Adventure Day Camp in May. Coweta County hosted 36 3rd and 4th graders and six teen leaders for activities that included gardening, a police K-9 demonstration, metal detecting, and more. Participants also learned about weather from meteorologist, Danielle Banks; science “magic” from Dr. Donald White the “Science Guy”; and reptiles and bats from Bear Creek Nature Center. The busy week concluded with a field trip to the Wild Animal Safari.
The next summer destination was a trip to the beach where 7th and 8th graders enjoyed Burton 4-H Center at Tybee Island. In addition to all the typical fun and games held at Junior Camp, 4-H’ers enjoyed activities like a marsh walk, tours of Fort Pulaski and the Tybee Lighthouse, ocean seining, beach ecology, marsh ecology, “critters” classes, and shopping on River Street in Savannah. The highlight of the week for many campers was a riverboat dinner cruise down the Savannah River.
From the beach to the mountains, the next summer camp took 7th and 8th graders to Wilderness Challenge Camp held at Camp Wahsega near Dahlonega. There, campers learned valuable survival skills such as building a fire and cooking over it, navigating the wilderness and handling first aid, tying knots, and building shelters. The adventures continued with the zip-line, climbing wall, flying squirrel, and a two-mile hike to the Black Falls on Camp Merrill Army Ranger Base. The natural waterfall and Wahsega Pond offered chances to cool off in the mountain streams flowing through camp. The highlight of the week was the whitewater rafting trip down the Ocoee River.
Our high school 4-H members also enjoyed Camp Wahsega 4-H Center for Senior Camp where they visited with friends they made across the state and participated in river tubing down the Chestatee River, hiking at Amicalola Falls, shopping in the historic Dahlonega square, and touring the University of North Georgia.
The world’s largest 4-H Center, Rock Eagle, was the final destination for 4th-6th grade campers where they participated in classes like herpetology, entomology, wildlife, lake ecology, archery, canoeing, sailing, and more. Our adventurous 6th graders even braved the high ropes challenge course.
Coweta County made our presence known with 266 campers, teen leaders, and adults. At Rock Eagle, youth are divided into three groups: Firebirds, Skybirds, and Thunderbirds and compete for the coveted Eagle Shield by attending classes, competing in games and events and having the cleanest cabins. The Coweta County Thunderbirds brought home the 2024 Eagle Shield victory!
Summer camp is a wonderful opportunity to experience new things, meet new friends, and have unforgettable experiences. Registration for Summer Camp 2025 begins in February. To learn more about this incredible opportunity, contact the Coweta County Extension Office at 770-254-2620.
