Virginia 4-H CampingVirginia 4-H CampingVolunteer Training ModulesVolunteer Training Modules

MODULE 2: PURPOSE AND MODULE 2: PURPOSE AND BENEFITS OF 4-H CAMPINGBENEFITS OF 4-H CAMPING

Developed by Barry A. Garst, Ph.D., Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist 4-H Youth Development, March 2006

If you are a If you are a 4-H adult volunteer leader4-H adult volunteer leader:: 1. Review the 4-H camp-related information contained in this presentation.1. Review the 4-H camp-related information contained in this presentation. 2. Consider the “2. Consider the “Discussion QuestionsDiscussion Questions” listed on the last page.” listed on the last page. 3. Contact your local 4-H Extension Agent (or other person responsible for 3. Contact your local 4-H Extension Agent (or other person responsible for 4-H camping in your county/city) to review this information.4-H camping in your county/city) to review this information.

If you are a If you are a VCE faculty or staff member responsible for 4-H camping in VCE faculty or staff member responsible for 4-H camping in your unityour unit::

1. Review the 4-H camp-related information contained in this presentation.1. Review the 4-H camp-related information contained in this presentation. 2. Use this presentation to support your 4-H camp teen/adult volunteer 2. Use this presentation to support your 4-H camp teen/adult volunteer

leader training.leader training. 3. Use the “3. Use the “Discussion QuestionsDiscussion Questions” listed on the last page as a resource in ” listed on the last page as a resource in

reviewing this information with your 4-H camp volunteers.reviewing this information with your 4-H camp volunteers.

How to Use this InformationHow to Use this Information

What is camping?What is camping?

Mission of the Virginia 4-H camping programMission of the Virginia 4-H camping program

Goals of the Virginia 4-H camping programGoals of the Virginia 4-H camping program

How 4-H camping develops life skills in youthHow 4-H camping develops life skills in youth

How 4-H camping provides positive youth developmentHow 4-H camping provides positive youth development

OverviewOverview

As defined by the American Camp Association, As defined by the American Camp Association, organized camping is organized camping is “a sustained experience that “a sustained experience that provides a creative, recreational, and educational provides a creative, recreational, and educational opportunity in group living in the out-of-doors. It utilizes opportunity in group living in the out-of-doors. It utilizes trained leadership and the resources of the natural trained leadership and the resources of the natural surroundings to contribute to each camper’s mental, surroundings to contribute to each camper’s mental, physical, social, and spiritual growth”physical, social, and spiritual growth” (ACA, 1998). (ACA, 1998).

CampingCamping

In MODULE 1, you learned about the history of 4-H In MODULE 1, you learned about the history of 4-H camping in Virginia. The focus of 4-H camp programming camping in Virginia. The focus of 4-H camp programming began—and has continued to be—teaching boys and girls began—and has continued to be—teaching boys and girls research-based information. research-based information.

The mission of 4-H camping is the same as the overall The mission of 4-H camping is the same as the overall mission of the Virginia 4-H program:mission of the Virginia 4-H program:

To develop youth and adults working with those youth to To develop youth and adults working with those youth to realize their full potential—becoming effective, contributing realize their full potential—becoming effective, contributing citizens through participation in research-based, informal, citizens through participation in research-based, informal, hands-on educational experiences.hands-on educational experiences.

4-H Camping Mission4-H Camping Mission

1.1. To provide educational, recreational, and social experiences in To provide educational, recreational, and social experiences in outdoor living away from home.outdoor living away from home.

2.2. To provide opportunities to meet, socially interact, and learn to To provide opportunities to meet, socially interact, and learn to get along with other people by living and participating together.get along with other people by living and participating together.

3.3. To provide opportunities for youth to learn to take responsibility To provide opportunities for youth to learn to take responsibility for their own decisions and actions.for their own decisions and actions.

Goals of the Virginia Goals of the Virginia 4-H Camping Program4-H Camping Program

4.4. To provide new experiences for youth by exploring new To provide new experiences for youth by exploring new interests, or by exposing them to new approaches to old interests, or by exposing them to new approaches to old interests, such as nature, aquatics, music, and other life interests, such as nature, aquatics, music, and other life skills that cannot be provided as effectively outside of a skills that cannot be provided as effectively outside of a camp setting.camp setting.

5.5. To teach youth about citizenship, the importance of being a To teach youth about citizenship, the importance of being a responsible citizen, and to provide opportunities to practice responsible citizen, and to provide opportunities to practice citizenship.citizenship.

6.6. To provide opportunities for developing leadership skills.To provide opportunities for developing leadership skills.

Goals of the Virginia Goals of the Virginia 4-H Camping Program4-H Camping Program

7.7. To allow youth to discover special talents and to provide To allow youth to discover special talents and to provide opportunities for developing these talents.opportunities for developing these talents.

8.8. To provide the opportunity for youth to have fun and to To provide the opportunity for youth to have fun and to learn to create positive, enjoyable experiences individually learn to create positive, enjoyable experiences individually and with others.and with others.

9.9. To learn to meet individual and group responsibilities.To learn to meet individual and group responsibilities.

10.10. To enrich the on-going 4-H club program and to encourage To enrich the on-going 4-H club program and to encourage long-term involvement in unit 4-H clubs.long-term involvement in unit 4-H clubs.

Goals of the Virginia Goals of the Virginia 4-H Camping Program4-H Camping Program

““4-H camping” is not simply a location or a type of 4-H camping” is not simply a location or a type of program. It is program. It is WHAT HAPPENS TO CAMPERSWHAT HAPPENS TO CAMPERS during the event. during the event.

This concept of 4-H camping recognizes the This concept of 4-H camping recognizes the life life skillsskills that boys and girls learn and practice during that boys and girls learn and practice during the 4-H camping experience. the 4-H camping experience.

Life Skills and 4-H CampingLife Skills and 4-H Camping

4-H faculty and staff often design 4-H camp programs 4-H faculty and staff often design 4-H camp programs and activities that target specific life skills. This is and activities that target specific life skills. This is called “intentional programming” or “purposeful called “intentional programming” or “purposeful programming.”programming.”

The The “Targeting Life Skills Model”“Targeting Life Skills Model” (Hendricks, 1999) (Hendricks, 1999) identifies various life skills that can be targeted, and identifies various life skills that can be targeted, and impacted, through 4-H camping.impacted, through 4-H camping.

Life Skills and 4-H CampingLife Skills and 4-H Camping

Targeting Life Skills Model*Targeting Life Skills Model*

*Hendricks (1999), Iowa State University

Youth development is Youth development is “a process which prepares young “a process which prepares young people to meet the challenges of adolescence and people to meet the challenges of adolescence and adulthood through a coordinated, progressive series of adulthood through a coordinated, progressive series of activities and experiences which help them to become activities and experiences which help them to become socially, morally, emotionally, physically, and cognitively socially, morally, emotionally, physically, and cognitively competent” competent” (National Collaboration for Youth Members, (National Collaboration for Youth Members, 2000). 2000).

Positive Youth Development Positive Youth Development Through 4-H CampingThrough 4-H Camping

Although it is impossible for 4-H camping to provide Although it is impossible for 4-H camping to provide total youth development due to the short-term nature total youth development due to the short-term nature (i.e., one week or less) of the experience, 4-H (i.e., one week or less) of the experience, 4-H camping does provide many of the camping does provide many of the essential essential elements of positive youth developmentelements of positive youth development. .

Review Review “Benefits of 4-H Youth Camping” (Garst, 2003)“Benefits of 4-H Youth Camping” (Garst, 2003)

Positive Youth Development Positive Youth Development Through 4-H CampingThrough 4-H Camping

One of the ways that 4-H camping provides “positive One of the ways that 4-H camping provides “positive youth development” is through camper-adult relationshipsyouth development” is through camper-adult relationships—the opportunity that campers have to develop —the opportunity that campers have to develop positive positive relationships with caring adultsrelationships with caring adults while at 4-H camp. while at 4-H camp.

This is one reason why adult volunteers are so important This is one reason why adult volunteers are so important to 4-H camping; positive youth development would not be to 4-H camping; positive youth development would not be possible without the involvement of caring adults.possible without the involvement of caring adults.

Positive Youth Development Positive Youth Development Through 4-H CampingThrough 4-H Camping

Positive youth development also requires long-term Positive youth development also requires long-term involvement. involvement.

When used in conjunction with other 4-H delivery When used in conjunction with other 4-H delivery modes and activities (e.g., 4- H school enrichment, modes and activities (e.g., 4- H school enrichment, 4-H after-school clubs, 4-H community clubs, and 4-H after-school clubs, 4-H community clubs, and 4-H special events, etc.), 4-H special events, etc.), 4-H camping can 4-H camping can encourage long-term involvement in 4-H and help to encourage long-term involvement in 4-H and help to provide positive youth development throughout the provide positive youth development throughout the yearyear. .

Positive Youth Development Positive Youth Development Through 4-H CampingThrough 4-H Camping

How is the definition of “camping” similar to—or different How is the definition of “camping” similar to—or different from—the conception that most people have about camp?from—the conception that most people have about camp?

In your opinion, what are the 3 most important goals of 4-H In your opinion, what are the 3 most important goals of 4-H camping?camping?

If you were a 4-H Camp Director, which life skills would you If you were a 4-H Camp Director, which life skills would you target and why would you target them?target and why would you target them?

What do you think is the most important thing that should What do you think is the most important thing that should be remembered from this module?be remembered from this module?

Discussion QuestionsDiscussion Questions

Garst, B. (2003). Garst, B. (2003). Benefits of 4-H Youth CampingBenefits of 4-H Youth Camping. Virginia . Virginia Cooperative Extension. Publication 388-102. Available at Cooperative Extension. Publication 388-102. Available at http://www.ext.vt.edu/vce/4h/camping/388-102.pdfhttp://www.ext.vt.edu/vce/4h/camping/388-102.pdf

Garst, B.A. (2005). Garst, B.A. (2005). Virginia 4-H Camping Handbook.Virginia 4-H Camping Handbook. Virginia Virginia Cooperative Extension. Publication 388-562.Cooperative Extension. Publication 388-562.

Hendricks, P. (1999). Hendricks, P. (1999). Targeting Life Skills ModelTargeting Life Skills Model. Iowa State . Iowa State University University Extension.Extension.

National Collaboration for Youth (2000). National Collaboration for Youth (2000). Frequently-Asked Questions Frequently-Asked Questions about Youth Developmentabout Youth Development. Retrieved on March 14, 2004 from . Retrieved on March 14, 2004 from http://http://www.nydic.org/nydic/FAQ.htmlwww.nydic.org/nydic/FAQ.html..

ReferencesReferences