Classes offered at Summer Camp

One of the great things about 4-H Camp is that you have the ability to take classes that interest you! 

YOU HAVE A CHOICE!

You will receive the activity preference form in the mail once you have registered for your camp session. On the form, you will designate five, (5), activities that you are interested in and three, (3), will be scheduled for you. (We ask for five choices because class sizes are limited). 

It is very important to send the activity preference form back to camp with all the other forms by June 1st to ensure that you will be assigned to the activities of your choice. If this form is not received, you will be placed in available activities as space allows. This form is not available for download because classes are available on a first come-first serve basis.

Classes are broken down into five different interest areas. We encourage campers to choose activities from different areas to ensure a well-rounded camp experience. The five areas are as follows:

Creative Arts Classes

Campers have the unique experience to create things in the arts program. This program focuses on individual creativity as campers choose projects that interest them. Whether you like using a hammer or a paintbrush - creative arts is for you.

Creative Arts: From ceramics to water colors, tiling to nature prints (with a few traditional camp favorites as well), Creative Arts is the place to be! New for 2008 will be offerings in multi-media, including digital photography. Sign up and push your creativity to its limits!

Drama I: Open to all campers, Drama I is an excellent introductory program, focusing on skit & games, improvisation and running the all camp skit night on Thursday. This class will also be responsible for a skit at the closing campfire. Sign-up early as Drama is one of our most popular classes.

Drama II: This program is only open to those campers who have completed Drama I previously and are at least 12 years of age. This class will produce the Friday afternoon production. If you are interested in acting, set design or backstage operations, this is the class for you! 

Pottery: Learn the time honored art of pottery. We will teach you everything from forming pots on the wheel to firing your finished products in the kiln! Test your creativity with coil pots and a number of other clay projects.

Outdoor Education

The Outdoor Education classes are the cornerstone activities at 4-H Camp. In fact, 90% of those who attend camp take these classes.  You are encouraged to explore and enjoy the abundant natural surroundings that Lindley G. Cook has to offer. Outdoor Education classes teach outdoor living skills as well as appreciation, stewardship and responsible recreational habits.

Camping: Minimum impact camping, survival shelters, fire building and tent camping are just a few of the topics covered here. You will have the opportunity to take part on an overnight excursion. 

Hiking: Explore Stokes State Forest, discovering its many natural wonders.Topics to include wildlife and forest ecology as well as orienteering.

Outdoor Cooking: (last years #1 class ! ) You will learn about food taken out on excursions in this lesson. Learn how to use camp stoves and to build a cooking campfire. Your mouth will be watering every day as you learn to prepare tasty outdoor meals.

Survival: What do you do if you are lost in the woods? How do you make a fire and get clean water? All these questions and more will be answered in the survival class. You will build a shelter, attempt bow and drill fires, and learn how to be safe in the outdoors. You will have the opportunity to prepare and eat a survival meal in the woods.

Natural Resources

On the shooting sports ranges, you will learn safety and handling skills for bows and firearms. Campers on the archery ranges will have the opportunity to use both re-curved and compound bows. On the firearms ranges, campers use pellet rifles and muzzle loaders. All classes have the opportunity to participate in a tournaments at the end of the week. Our goal is to replace misunderstanding & apprehension with knowledge & personal responsibility. Staff follow strict safety and operational guidelines in these classes and are nationally certified in the 4-H Shooting Sports program.

Archery 1: From stance, position and release, we cover it all. Come as a beginner or a pro, we’ll help you improve your shot and get those bulls eyes! Make sure to sign-up early as this class has limited enrollment, and is very popular.

Archery 2:  This is a second level program open only to those who have completed Archery 1 and are at least 12 years of age.  You will have ample opportunity to shoot on the range as well as on our new 3-D Archery Trail. Make sure to sign-up early as this class has limited enrollment.

Air Rifles: With safety and personal responsibility as first priorities, learn the basics of air rifle and practice at our target range. You will have the opportunity to use pellet rifles and will complete in target competitions at the conclusion of the week.

Muzzle-loader:This course is only open to those who have completed the Air Rifle class and are at least 14 years of age. You will learn traditional care, safety, technique and have a chance to complete in target competitions at the conclusion of the week. This class takes place at the Muzzleloader Range in the limited use area of camp. 

Explorer: Spend a day at the pond collecting, explore the creek, woods and surrounding areas. Look for evidence of wildlife including bears, deer, wild turkey and other residents of the woods. If you like to explore (and catch stuff), this class is always full of surprises, as you never know what you will come across in the forest!

Waterfront

All waterfront activities at 4-H Camp take place on our own eight-acre Lake Shawanni! The lake is spring/creek fed and stays cool even on the warmest summer days. On a warm summer day there is NO better place to be than on the lake! Every camper has the opportunity to go recreational swimming and boating during Choice Recreation periods each afternoon. If you love the water than you will be interested signing up for Swimming and Boating classes.

Swimming: Lessons run in the deep and shallow areas of the swimming section. We focus on having fun while learning to swim better. You will be playing games in the water while learning about; water safety, stroke refinement and advanced classes will learn basic rescue skills. (This class will be divided into groups by ability. Sign up if you love to swim and play in the water!

Boating 1: When it's hot out, the waterfront if the place to be! Learn to paddle and row  while having a blast on the lake. Campers will use both canoes and rowboats. Improve your paddling techniques by learning the J-stroke, learn deep-water exit and entry & swamp the canoes! Sign up early as boating classes are very popular!

Boating 2: For those who just can't get enough of the lake! To take this course you must first complete Boating 1 and be at least 12 years of age. You will learn advanced canoeing skills, take part in canoe competitions and learn the basics of kayaking on our brand new camp kayaks!

Fishing and Pond Study: Pack your fishing rod if you have one and get to the lake. Learn casting, releasing and identification. Learn about the pond to find where the fish are! Fishing poles and tackle are available for campers who do not have their own equipment.

Leadership Development

Learning About Leadership in our Counselor In Training (CIT) Program.

Once you have completed 9th grade, you may sign-up to participate in classes designed to instill leadership skills and to prepare you for your first working experience. You will have the opportunity to participate in activities not available to the rest of the camp including the teambuilding course and later light's out times! If you are interested in some day working at camp as a counselor, you are strongly urged to participate in the CIT I & II program. This focus of this program is to specifically prepare young adults for the rigors of the camp counselor position.

The Leadership Development program at camp is actually a four year process as follows:

Counselor In Training I (CIT I): If you have completed the 9th grade, you may qualify to become a CIT. (Counselors in Training). CIT’s are important to the future of 4H camp! This is a special week of training that balances camp activities with opportunities to take on new levels of responsibility. You will learn about the inner workings of camp while learning about personal leadership development. CIT I is open to any grade eligible camper.

Counselor In Training II (CIT II): If you have completed the 10th grade, you may be eligible to apply for the CIT II program. Please note that you will need to turn in an application to become a CIT II. Learn how to teach classes, deal with camper issues and counselor responsibilities in this counselor training program. CIT’s who have completed the course successfully will receive a CIT certificate verifying the skills they have learned in the course and are very marketable for future staff positions.

CIT's are the future of camp. Every CIT will receive a certificate of completion at the closing campfire. During that ceremony, we will recognize one CIT for their exemplary service and dedication to 4-H Camp. They will receive the Thomas Murphy CIT Award. CIT's are not eligible for the Honor Camper Awards.