Stuff memories are made of...

By CharLy Markwart
Princeton Times

July 10, 2009 10:46 am

— PRINCETON — Ahh, the smells, sounds and sights of summer camp.
The nostalgic campfire smell that seems to linger, even during the day. The sound of camp songs sung in unison, and children laughing spiritedly. The sight of a competitive game of ultimate Frisbee over here, and swimmers splashing over there.
The first week of Mercer County's 2009 4-H camp ends tonight, when 87 happy campers and their counselors will bid farewell once again to Glenwood Park, where many of the seventh-grade through aged 21 attendees of this year's event say some of their fondest memories have been built.
“The stuff that happens at 4-H camp is pretty memorable, and the friends from 4-H last forever,” said Stephen Miller, a 2009 graduate of Princeton Senior High School and an eight-year 4-H participant. “I stay in touch with many of these people throughout the whole year. It's kind of one of those things where once you get in, you're in it, because it's a lot of fun.”
Most of the participants in this year's five-day camp, in fact, are return campers, happy to come back to the annual event that gives them the chance to learn numerous new skills, take part in recreational activities, and reconnect with old friends in the unique, primitive atmosphere that pervades throughout the Glenwood Park 4-H Camp. Whether they are yearlong 4-H club participants or just campers looking for a fun and educational summer week, all of the boys and girls who made their residence in the Glenwood dorms this week seemed to agree that 4-H camp is something to look forward to.
“I love the experience of camp,” said Hannah Bailey, a PSHS sophomore attending the camp for her seventh year. “I love learning the new things. And, every year you come back, you know everyone else's name and they know you; it's special being with the people you've camped with since the third grade. The experiences I've had at 4-H camp have really taught me more about myself, and I'm glad for that.”
Teaching campers about themselves, and, ultimately, about how to become better people, are two of the cornerstone missions of the national 4-H organization, which has been in existence since the turn of the 20th century. In Mercer County, 4-H youth clubs have been active for the past 100 years, and, in Glenwood, campers have been coming together for nearly that long to learn the life lessons disseminated through the organization's purposeful activities. Throughout the annual week of fun activities and recreation, 4-H's motto to “make the best better” is constantly reinforced to the students.
“We want to develop their head, heart, hands and health,” explained Brenda Pruett, Mercer County's West Virginia University Agent in charge of 4-H Youth Development. “We try to teach them how to gain independence, master the skills that will keep them healthy, give back and be generous, and gain a sense of belonging. Those are the essential elements of the 4-H program, and we find that kids responding to our surveys say they are getting those things from this camp.”
Often, they reap those valuable benefits without even knowing they are doing so, lost in the excitement of new adventures each day of camp inevitably brings about. From classes in activities including archery, canoeing, drama, woodworking and much more to the recreational activities, assembly hall, reflection hour and the revered 4-H experience known as Council Circle, campers never see a dull moment during their week in Glenwood.
“Council Circle is all the campers favorite part of camp, because there are so many memories formed just being down here together at the fire,” said Miller. “Throughout camp, we are divided into four tribes, and at Council Circle, we sit with our tribes, we sing and yell and we have to perform a funny stunt or a skit or something that we came up with during the day. It's great just being down there and sharing that time together.”
Unity and togetherness seemed to be the underlying theme of this week's camp, and the strongest memory that most campers say they take away from the special experience.
“It's like a huge family; everyone knows you, and everyone cares,” said Ayla Mathias, a longtime camper. “It's just such a powerful, positive, loving place to be. For me, 4-H has been a really positive influence in some dark times in my life, and I see it changing the lives of others, too.”
“We make lifelong friends here all the time, and we know we can rely on each other anytime throughout the year, if we need anything,” added Sarah Shrader. “We become like a close-knit family, because we learn the same values and the same morals, and it lets us have similarities that we don't share maybe with others. Some of us don't have very good family lives, so we get that close-knit feeling from 4-H.”
Part of that feeling of fellowship might stem from the way campers are encouraged to work together for the greater good throughout their stay at 4-H Camp. A unique aspect of the camp is that it is largely maintained by the campers, themselves. Miller, Mathias, and Stephanie Crowe served as camp co-chairs this year, planning many of the activities and leading fellow campers throughout the week, and each tribe has daily responsibilities to keep different camp areas clean and operating smoothly. In addition, many of the older campers from this week will return next week to help counsel the younger students' 4-H camp, which includes students in grades three through six.
“I think the biggest thing that I take away from 4-H is leadership; I have learned so many different skills to be a better leader,” said Miller. “When we leave camp, we really know how to follow the 4-H motto 'to make the best better,' and we know how to be better people.”
And, as the campers prepared today to pack up and say good-bye to their 4-H friends for another year, and camp leaders prepared to welcome next week's younger campers, the week was perhaps best summed up by Carol Bailey, a camp counselor who has been involved in 4-H for more than 50 years.
“This camp is a place where kids can come have fun in a good atmosphere and a good environment,” she said. “It helps them develop and meet friends. Really, it lets kids have fun and get away from the everyday life and the hardships that they might have to face. Mostly, 4-H camp is a place for them to build friendships that they will have for a lifetime.”
To get a child involved in 4-H, contact a local 4-H club leader or the WVU Extension Office at (304) 425-3079 at the beginning of the school year.
— Contact CharLy Markwart at cmarkwart@ptonline.net.