How do youth benefit from 4-H camping?
Youth have the opportunity to learn and have fun in a safe environment while surrounded by caring adults.
A study of Virginia 4-H camping conducted in 2002 with 11,000 youth campers ages 9 to 13 from across the state found that 4-H camp participation helped youth to learn to:
- Make new friends
- Develop new skills
- Become more independent and able to take care of themselves
A study of 363 parents/guardians of Virginia 4-H campers conducted in 2001 found that 4-H camp participation changed youths’ behaviors in the areas of:
- Taking care of their own things (self-responsibility)
- Becoming more independent/taking initiative
- Sharing