Many have opted for virtual programs, including in WV
By Harley Benda
Newsroom@DominionPost.com
4-H offices across the country are battling with what to do regarding the organization’s annual summer camps during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many have opted for virtual camps, including in West Virginia.
WVU Extension Service’s 4-H Youth Development program will give 4-H’ers a virtual camp with Camp URL (You Are Linked) in Monongalia County, instead of the traditional two five-day-long camps and one day-only summer camp.
Becca Fint-Clark, WVU Monongalia County 4-H Extension Agent, has tagged the Monongalia County virtual camp “Monongalia County 4-H Camp From Afar” and will provide many activities for 4-H’ers across the county.
“So, we’ve divided each day into an H and then the last day is just being excited about being in 4-H spirit,” she said.
The 4 H’s — head, heart, hands and health — are the core values of the group, and Fint-Clark said she has activities planned for each day relating to the themes, including STEM science experiments, sidewalk chalk thank-you notes, guest speakers, a homemade-obstacle course and yoga.
While all the activities are optional, Fint-Clark said they can all be done at home with items provided by the program.
“We’re going to make like a camp-in-a-bag, and they’re going to pick them up on Sunday, July 12,” she said. “It’s going to have different materials that they can use for the different activities that we can do. So, I think it’s going to be really fun.”
Fint-Clark said that Zoom will be used for various activities, including the evening Camp Chat.
“Every evening, we are going to have a Camp Chat, so they can join in on Zoom if they want to and talk about what they learned that day and just connect with their friends that way,” she said.
And while enrollment is down this year compared to past years, she said that she is still happy with the current headcount for the camp.
“We typically have 350 campers present at camp during the summer when we actually have a camp. So, I was kind of bummed by the current number of virtual campers, which is 65,” she said. “But, I think with the way people are like Zoomed out and schooled out, I actually think 65 is a pretty good number.
“Compared to other counties, that’s actually pretty high. People like that camping experience and like being together and I think that there might be concern that maybe virtual camp won’t have that.”
While it won’t feel the exact same as Camp Muffly, Fint-Clark is confident that kids will learn and have fun.
Camp-in-a-bag pick up will be from 3-7 p.m. July 12 at the Extension Office, at Mylan Park. The camp will be the week of July 13 and is free to all 4-H members in Monongalia County.
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