By:
Kris

Source:
Jerry Culen grculen@mail.ifas.ufl.edu, (352) 846-0996 ext. 250

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Summer is almost here, and parents can send their children to one of Florida’s four 4-H centers for a week of fun and learning.

Youth don’t have to be 4-H members to join the fun, and the possibilities are as endless as campers’ imaginations. Campers ages 8 to 14 choose marine camp or environmental “ed-venture” camp, while campers ages 10 to 18 can venture to shooting sports and sport fishing camp.

“We really provide a lot for youth to learn about and explore at our 4-H centers,” said Jerry Culen, a University of Florida associate professor responsible for 4-H environmental education and camping programs. “This is a great opportunity for children to enjoy the outdoors and learn something new.”

Some activities include owl prowls, sing-a-longs, field trips, canoeing, swimming, campfires and games.

Hailing from across Florida and around the globe, this year’s staff is ready to have fun and help campers explore nature, he said. Youth will have a chance to interact with and explore other cultures while they learn team-building and leadership skills.

Separated from Destin beaches by Choctawhatchee Bay, the Timpoochee 4-H Center will host two weeks of state 4-H marine camps, July 7-11 and July 21-25. A marine lab equipped with aquariums will provide campers first-hand experience with Florida’s marine environment.

Whether campers choose Camp Cloverleaf or Camp Ocala, the outdoors come to life during environmental “ed-venture” weeks, July 7-11 and July 21-25 at Camp Ocala, and Aug. 3-8 at Camp Cloverleaf. Campers can visit nearby springs and wetland tracts, canoe on lakes, investigate a tortoise colony, explore a nature center and hiking trails, and participate in tracking classes.

During shooting sports and sport fishing camp July 14-18 at Camp Ocala, the staff devotes a week to teaching life skills through fun, noncompetitive sport fishing activities, and shooting sports skills and safety. Tracks include archery, angling skills, ethics, aquatic ecology, tackle crafting and shooting sports.

In addition to state camps, county 4-H programs offer residential county camping programs at the 4-H centers and local day-camp programs. Contact local county cooperative extension offices for more information.

4-H is the youth development program of the Florida Cooperative Extension Service, which is headquartered in Gainesville at the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.

4-H worked with more than 271,000 youth ages 5 to 18 last year in Florida and has programs active in the state’s 67 counties and on five Seminole Tribe reservations in South Florida. For more information on 4-H summer education programs, visit the Web site at www.florida4h.org. Or call the state 4-H office at (352) 846-0996 and ask for camping.

PHOTO AVAILABLE: Canoeing is one of the many activities campers enjoy during 4-H summer camp programs.

State Marine Camps
Ages: 8-14
Dates: July 7-11
Location: Camp Timpoochee
Cost: Up to $235 per camper per week

Environmental Ed-venture Weeks
Ages: 8-14
Dates: Camp Ocala: July 7-11 and July 21-25
Camp Cloverleaf: Aug. 3-8
Locations: Camp Ocala and Camp Cloverleaf
Cost: Up to $220 per camper per week

Shooting Sports and Sport Fishing Camp
Ages: 10-18
Dates: July 14-18
Location: Camp Ocala
Cost: Up to $210 per camper per week

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