4-H Summer Day Camps - University of Idaho Extension (Ver página)

Canyon County, 501 Main Street, Caldwell, ID 83605; 208-459-6003; Fax: 208-454-6349The SituationAlthough Canyon County still has very agriculturalroots, the composition of Canyon County isbecoming more and more urban. 4-H is traditionallyviewed as an agriculture program in Canyon Countyand the majority of the project enrollment in the clubprogram is in livestock areas. 4-H activities offeringyouth an opportunity to be involved in a way thatdoes not necessarily center on agriculture is neededfor youth who have other interests. 4-H summer daycamps provide an opportunity for youth toparticipate in positive social and educationalactivities during the day. The Canyon County 4-Hprogram has not offered a summer camp program inrecent history to fill this need.4-H Summer Day Campscurriculum available and an opportunity for youth tohave interactions with other youth. Through the daycamps, youth could learn life skills such ascooperation, respect, tolerance, sharing, and helpingothers as well as subject matter knowledge.Our Response4-H summer day camps provide an opportunity foryouth living in more urban areas of Canyon Countyto experience the potential of the 4-H program. Theday camps provided a sampling of projectTen summer day camps were planned, implementedand evaluated. Day camp subject matter was selectedto provide opportunities in science, art, outdoor life,foods and nutrition, sewing and small animal. Daycamp presenters included existing 4-H club programvolunteers, community members and Extensionpersonnel. A brochure was created including thecamp descriptions and registration information. Fivelocal schools serving 3 rd through 5 th grade weretargeted with the brochure as well as direct mailingto families previously expressing interest in 4-H.Brochures were also available at the front desk ofthe Extension Office, as a 4-H newsletter insert andposted on the County Extension website. Twoarticles promoting the day camps appeared in the

Idaho Press Tribune and each camp was posted onthe University of Idaho youth programs web page.Program OutcomesOf the ten 4-H summer day camps offered inCanyon County this year, six reached maximumenrollment before the camp date, in many cases withseveral more youth wishing to register. All campsreached the minimum number of youth required tobe held.The majority (89%) of youth participants were notpreviously exposed to 4-H, 19% of participants notpreviously enrolled in 4-H have followed up andmade efforts to enroll in the 4-H club program. Bothof these statistics quantify the success of the daycamps reaching new audiences that 4-H has notpreviously reached and increased the awareness ofenrolling in the club delivery method of 4-H. Theday camps have exposed youth and parents toproject areas of 4-H outside of the stereotypicalagricultural projects.For More InformationNancy Shelstad, Extension EducatorUniversity of Idaho Extension—Canyon County501 Main StreetCaldwell, ID 83605208-459-6003Fax: 208-454-6349Email: shelstad@uidaho.edu28-08nshelstad-camps.doc9-08Youth reported on the day camp evaluation changesin their knowledge and how they will use it.Comments include; “Art isn’t just like how well youdraw, you can do other stuff instead. I can use itwhen people tell me they’re not good, so I can tellthem otherwise!”, “I learned about pollinators, I’lluse it in the future as an entomologist.”, “I really likebaking, but I didn’t know how to frost, now I do!”The FutureDay camps will be offered annually during thesummer in Canyon County. As a result of thepositive response, additional day camps will beadded and plans will be made to accommodate alarger enrollment, although not to exceed 20, in mostcamps.Other ContributorsTina Holmquist, 4-H Program Coordinator