With school quickly approaching the last few months, many youth will be looking for activities to occupy their time this summer.
The 4-H Rural Life Center offers traditional camp activities — outdoor recreation, crafts, swimming, and camp songs.
It also goes beyond the traditional experience and includes activities for personal growth and active learning.
Campers engage in camp activities while developing key life skills such as teamwork, self-confidence, and communication. Experiential learning is utilized, which brings learning to life with real world hands-on experiences.
This summer will encourage youth through thematic camps.
From the Going Green camp designed to cultivate an appreciation for the environment to a Cooking Camp intended to nurture culinary skills,
Returning after popular demand is the 4-H Horse Camp which includes getting to interact with and ride horses as well as learning many cowboy skills such as outdoor cooking and even how to use a lasso.
Horse camp has limited spots available, so offering it again provides an opportunity for youth to sign up who missed it last year as well as those who would like to do it one more time.
For the young person desiring an active camp, look no further than Super Hero Camp.
Youth will experience a week of superhero training with activities such as archery, obstacle courses, low ropes, field sports, and team-building games.
While learning these skills, major emphasis will be placed on teamwork and healthy lifestyles through keeping active and proper nutrition.
Culminating at the end of the week, the 4-H Rural Life Center will hold a camp wide Heroes vs. Villains Capture the Flag event.
For youth who enjoy magic and mystery, there will be the Magical Mystery Camp.
Campers will learn about magic, the science behind illusions, field games of Quidditch, and trying to get out of the camp Escape Room.
The camp will host a live professional magician for a show.
The NC Museum of Natural Science will be bringing live animals to camp for youth to handle and learn about their habitats during the Great Outdoors Camp.
This week will also provide campers with an opportunity to possibly explore a local farm as well as check out some larger farm animals.
For those who enjoy games, there will be the Game Show Mania Camp.
This camp will stroll through as many game shows as time allows such as Shows Amazing Race — Survivor style – Deal or No Deal, Family Feud, America’s Got Talent, and Minute to Win It.
Sheriff Wes Tripp is sponsoring Junior Deputy Camp.
Campers will play field sports, participate in educational law enforcement activities, and have the opportunity to meet law enforcement officers.
Camp programs are open to all youth ages 6 – 14.
There is also a Counselor in Training Program for young people who are at least 14 years old and would like to volunteer at camp.
In order to be eligible to be a CIT, attending a mandatory training is required, which will be held at the 4-H Camp on Saturday, June 2, from 9 a.m. until noon.
Once trained, CIT’s are eligible to volunteer during the summer as their schedule permits. More information can be obtained from the Cooperative Extension Service on the Counselor in Training Program.
The camp is fully accredited by the American Camp Association, meeting more than 300 safety standards.
Every staff member is certified in CPR and First Aid and participates in two weeks of intense training covering all aspects of camper safety and how to work effectively with children.
Some staff specialize in additional trainings certifying them as lifeguards, canoe instructors, and archery instructors.
Children who are interested in attending camp this summer can have a parent/guardian apply to the 4-H Camp through an application found at www.halifaxnc.com/4hrurallife with a registration fee of $55.
Checks can be made out to Halifax County.
Space is limited on a first come first serve basis.
Call the Cooperative Extension Service at 1-252-583-5161 with questions or for more information.
