Kansas 4-H to Host National Camping Institute 1/23/04

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Summer camp is more than S’mores. The experience often is a child’s first time away from home and first exposure to the outdoor world, said Pat McNally, co-chair of the National 4-H Camping Institute to be held at Rock Springs 4-H Conference Center near Junction City, Kan. Feb. 7-11, 2004.

“That’s why it’s important for camp professionals to plan experiences that will offer opportunities for a camper’s personal growth and development in a safe environment,” she said.

McNally should know. She is the Kansas State University Research and Extension 4-H youth development specialist who oversees Kansas’ annual 4-H camps and the Venturer’s outdoor program. She also is a longtime camper, outdoor and environmental enthusiast.

What can a child learn at camp?

Citizenship;

Personal responsibility, yet also the importance of interdependence with others;

Self-confidence and self-reliance;

Social skills, including how to make new friends and to interact with a diverse group of people;

Indoor and outdoor skills that foster new interests;

An appreciation for the environment;

Camp cooking, food safety and more…

— Pat McNally, K-State Research and Extension 4-H Camp Coordinator

“4-H camps have an enviable history of providing experiences that offer educational value and skill-building programs. And, nationally, the number of 4-H campers has increased from slightly more than 250,000 in 1996 to nearly 400,000 in 2001,” she said.

“This is the first time Kansas has hosted the camp gathering, which is held every two years,” McNally said.

Although organized and hosted by Kansas 4-H, camp and youth development professionals need not be connected with 4-H to attend,” said Jo Ellen Arnold, longtime Franklin County 4-H youth development agent and co-chair of the Institute.

The theme for the Institute is “Trails and Tales.” The five-day program offers 49 workshops that focus on everything from planning and pacing activities and training camp counselors to food safety, nutrition, landscape architecture and electronic enrollment programs. The educational sessions are planned to benefit day and residential camp managers and staff and environmental program planners and managers.

Amy Gerdes, Ford County 4-H youth development with responsibility for planning the educational sessions, said that many of the workshops also could be beneficial for after-school program planners.

To date, 135 camp and youth development professionals have registered for the Institute,” said Shawna Mitchell, McPherson County 4-H youth development agent who is managing registrations.

“Guests will travel to Kansas from nearly 30 states, including Alaska, California, New York, Texas and North Dakota, and stay at Rock Springs, which is known nationally as one of the premier 4-H camp facilities in the U.S.,” Mitchell said.

Session presenters from other states, including Florida, Georgia, New York, Ohio and Utah, will join Kansas professionals in offering educational sessions.

Although organizers say the institute is “chock full,” attendees will have an opportunity to get acquainted with Kansas on optional day trips to the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve and Council Grove; buffalo country and Swedish culture in and around Lindsborg; Kansas Cosmosphere in Hutchinson and the Wizard of Oz Museum in Wamego.

Attendees also can enroll in a post-conference Wilderness First Aid Certification program recommended for camp and wilderness program personnel, Arnold said.

The 16-hour training session is being offered in cooperation with the nationally known Wilderness Medical Institute (National Outdoor Leadership School, or NOLS), based in Lander, Wyo., she said.

Exhibitors and vendors will display the latest in camping equipment and support and management tools, ranging from recreational equipment to computer software.

Registrations for the National 4-H Camping Institute are still being accepted. For more information, contact Kansas 4-H at 785-532-5800 or Shawna Mitchell (for registration information) at 620-241-1523. For information on local educational 4-H programs, contact the county K-State Research and Extension office, or visit Kansas’ 4-H Web site: www.oznet.ksu.edu/4hyp/

K-State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the well-being of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county Extension offices, experiment fields, area Extension offices and regional research centers statewide. Its headquarters is on the K-State campus, Manhattan.