Award-Winning Program Brings Teens Together for 4-H Camp Training

The idea was simple: Instead of each 4-H camping program preparing teen counselors, get everyone together for a statewide training.

The result, says Kimberly Fry, 4-H educator in Campbell County, was that 21 teens in 2018 contributed more confidently and competently to the experiences of 475 Wyoming campers last summer.

In recognition of the Wyoming 4-H counselor camp, University of Wyoming Extension recently presented its Creative Excellence Award to the 4-H educators and state youth development specialist who piloted the program.

Those receiving the award at UW Extension’s state conference in Casper Nov. 7 were 4-H educators Amber Armajo, Washakie County; Megan Brittingham, Goshen County; Robin Schamber, Uinta County; Mary Louise Wood, Albany County; Warren Crawford, state youth development specialist; and Fry.

“This camp opened my eyes to new ideas we could bring to our camp,” says Carl Gray, a first-time camp counselor from Campbell County.

Teenage volunteers typically take on planning, organizing and teaching roles, and act as group leaders, cabin leaders, friends and mentors. The April 2018 counselor training at the Wyoming state fairgrounds in Douglas was organized around 15 core competencies, Fry says.

Organizers included sections on teaching, facilitating, teamwork and leadership, child and adolescent development, and camper behavior management. Participants shared practices for flag etiquette, vespers, camp songs and recreation.

Wyatt Bullock, an Albany County 4-H’er, says he supports continuing the counselor training next year.

“I want our camp to get better, and this would help, but it also was a lot of fun,” he says.

For more information on UW Extension and to find a county office, see www.uwyo.edu/uwe.