“Learning by doing” is not just an expression in Lafayette County. 4-H summer camp members have spent their summer participating in hands-on activities ranging from painting to food preservation.

Learning by Doing

The Florida 4-H Slogan is “Learning by Doing”. 4-H is a youth development program that helps them reach their fullest potential by hands-on activities. There are many benefits to hands-on learning, such as retaining information and program material and critical skill development.

Lafayette 4-H Summer Day Camp

Lafayette County Summer 4-H camp is divided into seven weeks. Cloverbuds camp kicked off the summer with an introduction to 4-H for kids five to seven. Youth ages 8-12 were able to attend six other day camps which included Health and Fitness Camp, Pioneer Living Camp, Civics and Public Service Camp, Cooking and Food Preservation Camp, Marine Biology Camp, and Back to School Camp. These camps have allowed 4-H members an opportunity to learn yoga, activities that encourage cardio vascular exercise, how to make toys used by pioneers, ways to preserve fruits and vegetables, cooking on an open campfire, aquatic life, the basic fundamentals of state and local government and skills needed to be successful at school. Field trips included bowling, a trampoline park, The Florida State Capitol, museums, state parks, Suwannee Valley IFAS Research Land Lab and other farms. 4-H Day Campers also made weekly visits to local assisted living facilities to pay bingo with residents and make homemade ice cream, as well as art projects.

Back to School Camp

This is the year of “Back to School Camp”, which was held late in the summer. This camp allows students the opportunity to have some last minute fun before starting back to school, but also focuses on helping students learn good study habits and strategies to help relieve anxiety. There are also lessons on how students can assist in bullying prevention in their school.

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