Georgia County Government - February 2009 - (Page 21)

For students in the fifth grade, older brothers, sisters and other relatives, possibly including parents, may have paved the way by attending camps across the state in the past, whetting the youngster’s camping appetite. For others, they may be hearing of the wonders of a week away from home for the first time. For the potential campers, the “buzz” is the hook. The 4-H camping experience often sells itself – students tend to go home that same day as the camp promotion session, begging for the chance to go to 4-H camp. As parents review the documentation, they discover that not only is all of the child’s excitement justified by the program offerings, but that the week of camp is a truly unbeatable bargain. Whereas some weeklong, residential camping programs may cost $600 to $800 or more (and typically do not include transportation), a week of camp at a Georgia 4-H facility typically costs $250 to $350, and that includes round-trip transportation. To help families who might still be unable to meet the challenge of funding a week of 4-H camp for their child, many county Cooperative Extension programs have worked diligently to secure donations and grant support for the purpose of offering limited camp scholarships. Many county 4-H programs, too, sponsor and conduct fundraising activities for this purpose. In many cases, a 4-H member’s fundraising efforts are returned proportionately and directly to that child, meaning that he/she can defray the cost of attending camp by working hard in the effort. 4-H camp offers many children their first opportunity to experience a bigger world than they have known previously. Charlie Wurst, Georgia 4-H state staff specialist who coordinates and oversees the camping program, felt privileged to serve as a 4-H camp counselor and remembers: “I was no stranger to the beach, so I wasn’t totally prepared for the looks of awe and excitement on the faces of campers putting their feet into the Atlantic Ocean for the very first time when I served as a counselor at Jekyll Island 4-H Center in 1985. I’m thankful for the opportunity to have been part of their moment of discovery.” For South Georgia 4-H members heading into the mountains toward Wahsega 4-H Center, or rural youngsters camping at Fortson 4-H Center in Hampton who explore the big city of Atlanta, or children from all over this state who reach the top of the tower and look out over the great Rock Eagle effigy mound for the first time, 4-H camp offers these moments of discovery. Wurst explains the drive he brings to his work by saying, “It’s one of the best reasons for dedicating ourselves to an outstanding 4-H Camping Program as young people are given the chance to experience the wonders of this great state.” He continues: “Beyond that, 4-H camp is a great recruiting tool to introduce children to 4-H and all of the opportunities to learn, grow and achieve that are available by participating in 4-H. Every Thursday night during the summer I tell fi ft h and sixth graders, ‘Stay in 4-H and you might be a camp counselor one day.’ I could just as well say, ‘Stay in 4-H and you’ll be the kind of citizen and leader our state needs one day.’ ” ■ 409738_Skanska.indd 1 FEBRUARY 2009 www.accg.org 12/15/08 21 10:43:53 AM http://www.skanskausa.com http://www.accg.org

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Georgia County Government - February 2009

Georgia County Government - February 2009 Contents President’s Message County Matters ACCG Training Programs: A Foundation for Excellence in County Government ACCG Welcomes Newly Elected Commissioners Georgia’s Trauma System: The Emergency Management System Component Demographics Program Addresses County Planning Extension News: 4-H Camping Program Benefits Georgia Youth Research Corner: Promote Economic Development in Your Rural County County Parade Index of Advertisers

Georgia County Government - February 2009

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