Virginia 4H Camping Volunteer Training Modules

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Virginia 4-H CampingVolunteer Training Modules
MODULE 1 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA 4-H CAMPING AND
VIRGINIAS 4-H CENTERS
Developed by Barry A. Garst, Ph.D., Assistant
Professor and Extension Specialist 4-H Youth
Development, March 2006
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How to Use this Information

• If you are a 4-H adult volunteer leader
• 1. Review the 4-H camp-related information
  contained in this presentation.
• 2. Consider the Discussion Questions listed on
  the last page.
• 3. Contact your local 4-H Extension Agent (or
  other person responsible for
• 4-H camping in your county/city) to review
  this information.
• If you are a VCE faculty or staff member
  responsible for 4-H camping in your unit
• 1. Review the 4-H camp-related information
  contained in this presentation.
• 2. Use this presentation to support your 4-H camp
  teen/adult volunteer
• leader training.
• 3. Use the Discussion Questions listed on the
  last page as a resource in
• reviewing this information with your 4-H
  camp volunteers.

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Overview

• History of youth camping
• History of Virginia 4-H camping
• Overview of the six 4-H educational centers
• Camping as a delivery mode for 4-H programming

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History of Youth Camping

• Camping is a unique American tradition. With
  almost 140 years of history, the summer camp as
  we know it today has its roots deeply planted in
  American soil. But while clothing, music and
  past-times have changed over the years, camp has
  always been a place where children could prepare
  to be productive and healthy adults in the
  context of fun and games. (ACA, 2004)

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History of Youth Camping

• The Gunnery Camp, which was founded in 1861, is
  considered to be the first organized American
  camp.
• Frederick W. Gunn and his wife Abigail operated
  a home school for boys in Washington,
  Connecticut.
• In 1861, they took the whole school on a two-week
  trip. The class hiked to their destination and
  then set up camp. The students spent their time
  boating, fishing, and trapping.
• The trip was so successful that the Gunns
  continued the tradition for twelve years (ACA,
  2004).

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History of Youth Camping

• For more information about the history of youth
  camping in the United States, please visit the
  American Camp Associations web page at
• http//www.acacamps.org/media_center/about_aca/his
  tory.php

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History of 4-H Camping

• The first 4-H camp in the nation was conducted in
  Randolph County, West Virginia. The focus of
  this first event was education. Extension Agents
  taught 4-H club members better techniques for
  growing corn.
• The name of this 4-H camp was Camp Good Luck

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History of 4-H Camping

• Virginia conducted its first county 4-H camp in
  Loudoun County in 1917.
• It was conducted for girl members of the county
  canning and tomato clubs and the educational
  programming focused on teaching better growing
  and canning techniques so that girls could sell
  their produce.

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History of 4-H Camping

• Many of the early Virginia camps (which were
  initially called short courses) were conducted
  on college campuses, farms, and campsites owned
  by other organizations.
• The first 4-H camp built specifically for 4-Hers
  was the Jamestown 4-H Camp in 1928. It was
  followed by the Holiday Lake 4-H Camp in 1941 and
  Camp Farrar in 1948.

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History of Virginias 4-H Educational Centers

• The development of Virginias six 4-H educational
  centers came about over a period of about 20
  years.
• Under the leadership of Dr. William Bill
  Skelton, state 4-H Agent (1950-1962), Virginias
  4-H camping program changed to a concept unknown
  anywhere else in the United States (Meadows,
  1997).

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History of Virginias 4-H Educational Centers

• Instead of 4-H camps, Dr. Skelton proposed the
  4-H Center concept in the late 1950s. This
  model involved establishing a 4-H educational
  center in each geographic area of the
  Commonwealth. Each 4-H Center would conduct year
  round programs in support of 4-H and Extension.

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Virginias 4-H Educational Centers
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Virginias 4-H Educational Centers

• Southwest 4-H Center (began operation in 1960)
• W.E. Skelton 4-H Educational Conference Center at
  Smith Mountain Lake (began operation in 1966)
• Jamestown 4-H Educational Center (converted from
  a 4-H camp to a 4-H educational center in 1976)
• Holiday Lake 4-H Educational Center (converted
  from a 4-H camp to a 4-H educational center in
  1976)
• Northern Virginia 4-H Educational Conference
  Center (began operation in 1981)
• Airfield 4-H Educational Conference Center (began
  operation in 1981)

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Virginias 4-H Educational Centers

• Each 4-H Center operates as a private, non-profit
  corporation 501-(c)(3).
• A memorandum of understanding between each 4-H
  Center and Virginia Tech determines the linkages
  and methods of operations between the two
  entities.

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Virginias 4-H Educational Centers

• Each 4-H Center supports Virginia Cooperative
  Extension and provides 4-H youth development
  programming through this Memorandum of
  Understanding.

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Camping as a 4-H Delivery Mode in Virginia

• Annually, each of Virginias 107 local Extension
  programs participates in the 4-H camping program
  at its respective 4-H educational center.
• Camping is recognized as one of the primary ways
  that 4-H educational programming can be delivered
  to youth.

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References

• American Camp Association (2006). The history of
  organized
• camping. Retrieved on March 14, 2006 from
  http//www.acacamps.org/media_center/about_aca/hi
  story.php
• Meadows, R.R. (1997). History of Virginias 4-H
  camping program A
• case study on events leading to the development
  of the 4-H
• educational centers. Doctoral Dissertation,
  Virginia Polytechnic
• Institute and State University.
• Stewart, G.H. (1969). A touch of charisma The
  history of the 4-H
• Club program in West Virginia.

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Discussion Questions

• How long has 4-H camping been offered in
  Virginia?
• If 4-H camping is one of the ways that 4-H
  educational programming can be delivered, then
  what other ways can you think of? (How else can
  youth be involved in 4-H?)
• What might be the benefits of creating regional
  4-H educational centers that serve specific
  counties and cities?
• Identify one thing that you learned from this
  module (that you did not already know).
• What do you think is the most important thing
  that should be remembered from this module?