Kids pick up packets for total virtual camp experience
By Harley Benda
WVU Extension Service’s 4-H Youth Development program is starting their yearly 4H camp this week in Monongalia County, but with twist: A virtual camp.
The camp, called Monongalia County 4H Camp from Afar, will comprise of Zoom calls and feature activities that can be done from home with the help of the provided “camp-in-a-bag” kit. The kit is made up of several activities, including friend bracelets, sidewalk chalk thank-you notes, rock painting, an obstacle course, frog searching and trail mix supplies. All of the activities are based on the group’s values: Head, heart, hands and health.
“I think kids are pretty bummed about not being able to be in-person at camp,” said Becca Fint-Clark, WVU Monongalia County 4-H extension agent. “It’s something that everybody looks forward to. I do think having a virtual camp is better than nothing.”
Kits and T-shirts were passed out Sunday to campers, and Fint-Clark said it was nice to see campers, even if it was just in their cars.
“A lot of our regular campers have come through to pick up their supplies and their T-shirt, and they’re all really excited to see our camp staff here and greeting them and being cheerful and excited to see them,” she said. “It gives them a little bit of a camp fix.”
4H campers who didn’t have access to internet were able to make accommodations with the 4H office, but Fint-Clark said that didn’t end up being an issue for any campers.
“One of the questions on the registration was, ‘Do you have access [to the internet]?’ If someone really, desperately wanted to do it that didn’t have access, we would try to make accommodations for them so that they could participate,” she said. “Luckily, nobody addressed that as a concern to us. Even if they can or can’t get online though, they can still use the activities in the kits.”
And while the camp has a lower enrollment number this year compared to past years, Fint-Clark said she’s still happy with the outcome.
“We typically have 350 campers present at camp during the summer when we actually have a camp,” she said. “We’re right around 85. I think that’s pretty good compared to other counties in the state.”
4H Camp from Afar Virtual Camp will go throughout the week for 4H members in Monongalia County.
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