4-H Camp Facts

4-H Summer Overnight Camp

What is the purpose of 4-H camping?

• 4-H camping is cooperative group living in a natural environment that focuses on developing life skills, social, spiritual, mental, and physical development in young people.
• 4-H camping emphasizes experiential learning; campers “learn by doing.”

Who participates?

• More than 10,000 youth ages 5-18 are involved in the W.E. Skelton 4-H Educational Conference Center programming annually.
• 1,000 4-H teen and adult volunteer leaders support, supervise, and teach those youth.

How are youth involved?

• The W.E. Skelton 4-H Educational Conference Center provides opportunities for youth in four ways: 4-H residential camping, 4-H specialty/day camping, 4-H school enrichment (based on Virginia Standards of Learning), and adventure education.

What type of educational programming is provided?

• Leadership development, environmental/aquatic science, performing arts, shooting education, forestry, outdoor adventure, computer science, low ropes course, climbing, primitive skills, arts/craft, horsemanship/animal science, multimedia, robotics, wildlife, canoeing, fishing, outdoor sports, ceramics, skateboarding, mountain boarding, backpacking, rock climbing, caving, whitewater rafting, and swimming.

How do youth benefit from 4-H camping?

• Youth have the opportunity to learn and have fun in a safe environment while surrounded by caring adults.
• A recent study of the impacts of Virginia 4-H camping conducted with 11,000 youth campers (ages 9-13) from across the state of Virginia found that 4-H camp participation helped youth learn to:
  • Make new friends
  • Develop new skills
  • Become more independent and able to take care of themselves
  • A recent study of parents/guardians of Virginia 4-H campers found that 4-H camp participation changed youths’ behaviors in the areas of:
    • Taking care of their own things (self-responsibility)
    • Becoming more independent /Taking initiative
    • Sharing

4-H Day Camps

These camps are offered through the Giles County Extension Office and vary from summer to summer. Examples of summer camp themes include Forestry, Agriculture, History, Outdoor Adventure, Arts & Crafts, and 4-H Fun.

4-H Specialty Camps

There are a variety of specialty camps offered throughout the state. Information and registration forms are available at the Giles County Extension Office, located at 507 Wenonah Ave, Pearisburg. Specialty camp information may also be linked below as it becomes available.