4-H Camp Offers Fun Learning Opportunities
Most years, about 600 youth travel to the North Dakota 4-H Camp west of Washburn to have fun and experience adventures while gaining skills.
The camp is on 80 acres of wooded riverfront property along the Missouri River. Youth age 8 and older spend four or five days at camps such as the Just Starting to Ride: Wish I Had a Horse, Livestock, 4-H Adventure, Survivor and STEM Explorer camps. Youth 5 to 9 years old can enjoy Clover Camp.
This year, campers have a new adventure awaiting them: the 4-H Energy Camp. David Ripplinger, NDSU Extension bioproducts/bioenergy economist, will lead campers on field trips in western North Dakota so they can learn about the state’s production of oil, natural gas, coal, renewable energy and ethanol. Youth will spend a week learning about energy science and job opportunities and interacting with North Dakota energy leaders.
Youth do not need to be a 4-H member to attend any of the camps.
The camps will look a little different this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, organizers scheduled camps with smaller capacities, such as Wish I Had a Horse, Livestock Camp, and Clover Camps I and II, for early in the season.
“We have prepared a COVID plan for camp, which will add extra cleaning, sanitizing and social distancing requirements for campers and staff,” says Lindsey Leker, Extension 4-H youth development science specialist.
Youth see the value of camp and are excited about getting back to it this year after the 2020 season was canceled because of the pandemic.
“Camp was fun,” says Stran Ressler, a Morton County 4-H’er. “I was able to learn how to clip my steer and improved my showmanship skills. It helped me to understand how to work with my steer.”
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Lindsey Leker, 701-231-7039, lindsey.leker@ndsu.edu
Adrian Biewer, 701-231-6184, adrian.biewer@ndsu.edu