Katie Jones, 4-H Youth Development Agent
Contributor
Every Year, Suwannee County 4-H offers a variety of youth summer programs for ages 5-18. These programs, which are open to all youth regardless of 4-H membership status, help students develop life skills like teamwork, personal safety and critical thinking. They also introduce other 4-H opportunities that youth might want to explore in the future. This summer, five different camps are being offered locally to Suwannee County youth.
Between Tuesday, June 7 and Thursday, June 9, youth ages 5-7 years old can attend the Crafty Cloverbuds Day Camp. This camp will allow participants to learn about 4-H and develop their creative side with a variety of different handicraft projects and learn about expressive arts and music. The cost of this camp is $45.
Between Monday, June 13 and Wednesday, June 15, youth ages 8-13 will have the opportunity to learn all about horses at our Pony Day Camp. Led by Suwannee Young Riders 4-H volunteers, this three-day camp will focus on basic horse knowledge and learning how to care for horses. Pony Day Camp is a great introduction for anyone interested in getting involved with horses in general or the 4-H equine program. The cost of this camp is $100.
Our Junior Naturalist Camp will be held from Monday, June 27 to Wednesday, June 29 and is also open to ages 8-13. This camp will focus on following our water through the Florida ecosystem. In addition to field trips to see different freshwater systems, we will be learning about aquatic animals and water management efforts to ensure plenty of fresh water for future generations in Suwannee County! The cost of this camp is $55.
We haven’t forgotten our high school-aged 4-H members! From Tuesday, July 5, to Thursday, July 7, we will be hosting an Adulting 101 camp for ages 14-18. In addition to learning about simple money management and budgeting, participants will learn how to plan a healthy meal on a budget and develop workforce skills that can help them prepare to get a job soon! The cost of this camp is $45.
Our summer camp offerings will wrap up the week of Monday, July 11 to Friday, July 15, with our annual Quilt in a Week camp! This camp, open to ages 8-18, teaches basic sewing and fabric skills. Participants complete a quilt over the week and learn about different occupations that utilize sewing skills every day! The cost of this camp is $55.
4-H summer day camps are offered by the Suwannee County 4-H and UF/IFAS Suwannee County, which are Equal Opportunity Institutions. All camp fees include the costs of field trips, materials and snacks, while campers provide their own lunches. Financial assistance for camp fees is available upon request. For more questions or information about registration through Eventbrite, contact the UF/IFAS Suwannee County Extension Office at (386) 362-2771 or email kmjones@ufl.edu.