This summer
eight youth and I attended Betsy-Jeff Penn 4-H Camp (BJP in Reidsville, NC. My guess is that some of you reading this
attended that camp yourselves. (If so,
I’d love to hear from you) “The Betsy-Jeff Penn 4-H
Educational Center was dedicated May 17, 1964 as a gift from Betsy Penn to the
NCSU 4-H program in honor of her late husband Jefferson Penn. The Center’s
nearly 200 acres of fields, forests, lakes, and streams were given to the
citizens of North Carolina by Betsy Penn, who built the facility and then
donated it…” (http://www.bjpenn4h.org/)
Jackson County
4-Hers have been attending summer camp for many years and we were happy to
carry on the tradition. For many
children this is their first time away from home and the opportunity provides an
important step in learning independence.
At BJP the campers participate in many activities such as arts &
crafts, canoeing, a climbing wall, swimming, sports, horseback riding, and
archery. Through these activities they
can learn teamwork, creativity, courage, persistence, and skill development. An 11year old boy quoted in the American Camp
Association study on the benefits of camp stated “I learned better
sportsmanship and listening skills that helped me bring up my grades in
behavior.”
We are so
appreciative of members of the Jackson County ECA (Extension Community
Association) for their contributions to 4-H to assist with camper
scholarships. We welcome contributions
to the Camper Scholarship fund. Please make
checks payable to Jackson County 4-H or contact me at 586-4009 or heather_gordon@ncsu.edu
for more information.
Sign up for 4-H
Camp now. Yes, you read that right. A group of youth from Jackson County will
attend Betsy-Jeff Penn Camp next summer (probably the last week of June). The camp is for ages 8-15 and the cost is
$420. We request a number of spaces for
Jackson County campers in September and if you sign up now your child can look
forward to camp for the whole year.
If you have a
child or grandchild interested in joining 4-H this is a great time to do
so. We have the following clubs:
Cloverbuds: ages
5-8, meets the 1st & 3rd Wednesday of each month,
program focus – jobs people do/cooking/heritage crafts
Explorers: ages 9-13, meets the 2nd Monday of
each month, program focus – outdoor education (hiking, trees, streams &
rivers, maps, birding)
4-H Book
Club: ages 9-13, *NEW CLUB, potentially meets the 4th
Monday of each month. This club needs an
adult volunteer leader. If interested
please contact me at 586-4009 or heather_gordon@ncsu.edu.
Youth Leadership Council: ages 14-18, meets the 1st & 3rd
Sunday of each month, program focus – youth voice, leadership, service,
youth-led projects.
