Did you go to camp as a kid? If you did, you have a camp story. You know, the one where camp changed your life. As a 4-H Agent, I get to hear these stories. Whether it was GA or RA Camp, Scout Camp, 4-H Camp, Woodmen of the World Camp, the stories all have a couple of common themes. One common theme is homesickness. That was me..the homesick camper who called her mama and daddy from the camp pay phone and begged them to drive five hours back to the Withlacoochee National Forest and take me home…but whose parents were tough and said, sorry, no, see you on Friday.) My sister was the camper who was all about camp, who didn’t want to go home, who LOVED camp and who would have gladly stayed another week.

But you know what my sister and I had in common? We both developed some independence that camp week. We both figured out to how to make the week alright, how to get out of our little box, how to make some friends and how to make the best of the five days away from home. Independence from parents needs to happen for our world to function like it should.

4-H Camp Timpoochee is a great opportunity for your kids to grow and become more independent. Sure campers learn things like marine ecology, shooting sports, crazy songs and games, but most importantly, they learn to function in a completely new environment. The life skills that camp can build are immeasurable until you look back one day as an adult, and think about how 4-H Camp really did change your life.

Washington County 4-H travels each year to 4-H Camp Timpoochee located on the Choctawhatchee Bay to experience marine life, kayaking, boating, fishing, shooting sports and of course, crazy camp songs. Will you consider giving your child or grandchild the gift of 4-H Camp? For more information on 4-H Camp Timpoochee, click on the 4-H page.

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