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4-H Camp Ohio |
What is available at Camp Ohio? 4-H Camp Ohio Vision, Mission, & Values The 4-H Camp Ohio Youth Education Center is nestled along the Rocky Fork Stream approximately ten miles east of Utica. It is situated on more than 500 acres in the beautiful rolling hills of northern Licking County. Approximately 10,000 young people camp annually. These youth are primarily from 4-H and school groups. In addition, 4-H Camp Ohio provides a wonderful retreat and workshop setting for civic organizations, businesses, scout groups, family reunions, and others. Food Services:
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Program and service staff are available to assist you. Ask us about Winter opportunities at camp! Please call us to schedule your free tour. 4-H Camp Ohio is a 4-H camp centrally located in northern Licking County, approximately five miles east of Utica, Ohio. It is set in beautiful rolling hills and now has more than 300 acres of land to serve young people. An additional 220 acres are available through a 10-year (renewable) no-cost lease. The first Ohio 4-H Camp was held in 1920. The first camp lasted two weeks. Forty 4-H boys and their advisors attend the first week and 48 4-H girls and their advisors attended the second week. Early facilities were crude. Campers slept in tents on the ground with wool sacks stuffed with straw as mattresses. Cooking and eating were outdoors. 4-H Camp Ohio was established in 1928 when several 4-H Extension Agents (now titled as Educators) each contributed $500 of their own money to buy 129 acres for $1,632.67. This unselfish act was done to give young people in central Ohio a readily accessible camp that could offer excellent programs from which the campers could learn. Members of the Extension staff signed notes for $800 to finance the operation the first summer, 1928, at 4-H Camp Ohio. One hundred forty-four Extension workers invested in mortgage debenture notes to finance the original swimming pool which was built in 1936. 4-H Camp Ohio corporation membership includes all Ohio State University Extension faculty who devote at least 50 percent of their time to Extension work. The Hawke Farm (92 acres) was purchased for $8,500. The Hersman property (11 acres) was purchased for $1,500. The Colville Farm (81 acres) was purchased for $50,000 in 1974. 4-H Camp Ohio now has more than 310 acres in land holdings. It has summer facilities for 250 and winterized facilities for 200 resident campers. Staff cabins (Bull Pen and Cow Palace) hold six men and ten women. The camp provides a camping home for thirteen counties and two statewide 4-H camping programs with more than 4,800 4-H members being served yearly. Over 2,000 additional youth are served through resident outdoor education school camps from Coshocton, Franklin, Knox, Licking, Marion and Muskingum Counties. Field trip groups, weekend retreats and conferences are also part of the camping population. 4-H Camp Ohio is striving to offer the optimum in outdoor education for the people attending 4-H Camp Ohio and has established an educational program of which all interested people can be proud. The 4-H Camp Ohio program is designed to use the resources of the camp to the maximum. The program areas are: nature study, creative arts (crafts and photography), Adventure Programming (Tower, High Ropes and Team Challenge), Shooting Sports, Aquatics, Recreation (indoor and outdoor), Living History (pioneer life, Native American life studies and farm studies). Since July 1978 4-H Camp Ohio has received accreditation from the American Camp Association (ACA) yearly. The ACA is the top national youth camping association in the United States. On January 31, 1989 the 4-H Camp Ohio Corporation adopted the following membership for the board of trustees. The management and control of this corporation shall be vested in the Board of Trustees which shall consist of twelve (12) people. Seven (7) shall be members of the Ohio State University Extension and five (5) shall not be employees of the Ohio State University Extension. As 4-H and the Ohio State University Extension is part of The Ohio State University, 4-H Camp Ohio is in the unique position of drawing upon the talents and resources of The Ohio State University. This is not to say that 4-H Camp Ohio is able to draw upon the financial resources (in fact, no tax dollars have ever been used for facilities) but, rather, the talents and abilities of the faculty, staff and students. This, of course, gives a tremendous base from which to design programs and educational opportunities for young people. 4-H Camp Ohio helps campers become successful adults. 4-H Camp Ohio is a quality educational facility where youth and adults build memorable experiences through nature and recreational programs.
4-H CAMP OHIO MISSION 4-H Camp Ohio supports camp directors in their efforts to plan and conduct programs that will help youth reach their fullest potential as capable, competent, caring and contributing citizens. To accomplish this
mission we: We help youth and adults improve their lives through outdoor educational experiences focused on their individual needs.
4-H CAMP OHIO VALUES Camping is and will continue to be an important laboratory for developing youth in the Ohio 4-H program. Organized camping is cooperative group living in a natural environment which focuses on the individual's social, spiritual, mental and physical development (4-H Camping Handbook). It is an effective, extensive and intensive delivery system. Organized camping is an American invention that has spread throughout the world. Outdoor living by young people in groups, isolated from home distractions, dedicated to free and joyous experiences with educational value, with leaders especially selected and trained has helped thousands of young people grow and develop (Eells, 1986). Why has camping been such an effective teaching method? Learning is concentrated into one brief action-packed time frame. All elements of the camper's existence are coordinated to encourage the personal development which is the goal of the camp. Camp is a great "equalizer." At camp it makes little difference if the camper came from a wealthy or supportive family, an active or dynamic club, or a progressive county. All campers take part on an equal basis. Youth from difficult home situations may, for the first time, be exposed to a wholesome, supportive living situation. Over-dependent youth are encouraged by the camping situation to assume more personal independence and responsibilities. Over-demanding and
"spoiled" youth are influenced by the group living situation
to learn to cooperate and share. PHILOSOPHY STATEMENT OF 4-H CAMP OHIO Probably no other activity of the 4-H program contributes more to the primary objective of 4-H "to train boys and girls in the art of living" than does the 4-H camping program conducted at such locations around Ohio similar to 4-H Camp Ohio. The economic, social, spiritual and physical growth of each camper is enhanced by well planned camping programs like those offered Ohio youth by the Ohio State University Extension at 4-H Camp Ohio. The economic values of the 4-H program are emphasized in that campers are encouraged to earn enough money to pay their own camp fees and expenses. In social growth, 4-H camp offers opportunities for campers to become better acquainted with each other in an atmosphere of work and play. The camp program is a cooperative project with the campers sharing together necessary work details, recreation, swimming, singing, outdoor sports, nature study, crafts, campfire programs and inspirational periods such as flag ceremonies, vespers and candlelighting. Flag and inspirational ceremonies, vespers and candlelighting programs contribute to spiritual growth and development. Camp is the ideal place to teach health, safety and community living. All campers are urged to participate in the numerous activities and are encouraged to practice safety, sportsmanship, cooperation and citizenship. The program at 4-H Camp Ohio aims at giving all youth an opportunity to gain new life skills and the wise use of leisure time. Group games are emphasized to give youth a chance to learn about inter-personal relationship and teamwork, but youth also have a chance to improve individual skills such as diving, archery or table tennis. The crafts program at 4-H Camp Ohio is designed to offer youth a variety of opportunities at various skill levels that will encourage youth to express themselves through handmade crafts. An emphasis in the past in teaching about our national heritage and about conservation while at the same time giving youth an opportunity to improve their hand-eye coordination will continue to be the focal point of a well conceived crafts program. The total development of an educational youth program at 4-H Camp Ohio ultimately depends on the nature education program and the way it inter-relates all of the disciplines into a total program for the benefit of all youth. 4-H Camp Ohio's outstanding feature is the development of and conservation of natural resources which make it unique in offering teaching possibilities over a wide range of soil, water, forest, meadow, stream and wildlife topics. 4-H Camp Ohio is designed to teach and show Ohio youth the importance of conservation practices in relation to the ecosystem of which man is a very important part. 4-H Camp Ohio will continue to teach youth how to live in harmony with the environment without destroying it but, in fact, improving it. |
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All educational programs and activities conducted by Ohio State University Extension are available to all potential clientele on a non-discriminatory basis without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, sex, age, handicap or Vietnam-era veteran status.
