By Pam Dudding
Contributing writer
When summer begins, many Craig County kids have a “to do” list already written in their minds. For most of them, attending 4-H Camp is on the list.
Extension Agent Sally Farrell was elated to announce this year that 4-H Camp was on “go” from the cancellation last year because of COVID-19 restrictions.
“We were able to offer camp this summer but with limited capacity and distance restrictions applied,” Farrell said. “We were very excited to get everything ready for our kids to be able to attend camp.”
Camp for 2021 Craig County Junior 4-H campers was held at the W. E. Skelton 4-H Educational & Conference Center at Smith Mountain Lake during the week of July 12 -16, with 26 Craig 4-H’ers attending.
“They enjoyed sharing the week with campers from Roanoke City, Roanoke County, and Salem as they attended classes, met new friends, and learned new skills,” Farrell noted before adding, “Campers were able to enjoy new classes such as campfire cooking, drones and leather crafting. They also experienced favorites like archery, arts and crafts, basic horsemanship, canoeing, climbing, fishing, kayaking, outdoor adventures, performing arts, Polar Bear swim, riflery, small animal science and swimming, just to name a few.”
There was truly something for everyone at 4-H Camp.
They also hosted special events, which included a talent show, dance party and a movie night. The Field Olympics, by those who attended, made the fun activities even more enjoyable.
“As the Craig County 4-H Agent, I provided supervision for our camp this summer with our adult leaders, Austin Matthews and Michael Hinson,” Farrell said. “They did a terrific job for us.”
She added, “We were also very fortunate to have a hard-working group of Craig Teen Leaders – Morgan Beane, Shelby Devinney, Riley Beane, Justin Boitnotte, and Isaac Lucas. Each of these trained teens did an amazing job working with their assigned campers and making sure our camp ran smoothly.”
The campers were able to attend camp this summer because of the “generosity of the following individuals and businesses” to the Junior 4-H Camp Scholarship Fund.
Craig County Extension staff and Craig 4-H’ers wish to thank these companies and individuals for making Junior 4-H Camp a reality for the local youth. “Your support is very much appreciated,” Farrell said. The donors were:
- Adams Construction Co.
- Mr. & Mrs. Ron Baker
- Mr. & Mrs. George Canode
- Charlton Associates
- Chestnut Grove Church
- Craig-Botetourt Electric Cooperative
- Craig County Fairgrounds Association
- Craig County Farm Bureau
- Craig County Farm Bureau Women
- Craig County Health & Dental Center
- Craig Healing Springs Christian Church
- Crawford Oil Company
- Crossroads Christian Church
- Dodson Pest Control
- Farm Credit of the Virginias
- Farmers & Merchants Bank of Craig County
- Mr. & Mrs. Carter Fleming
- Mr. & Mrs. Lanier Frantz
- Guthrie Insurance Inc.
- Blair & Erica Jones
- Market Street Pharmacy
- Maywood Garden Club
- Mountain Castles Soil & Water Conservation District
- New Castle Christian Church
- New Castle United Methodist Church
- Paitsel Funeral Home
- Pembroke Charity, Inc.
- Red Rock Farm
- St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church
- Sisson & Ryan Quarry, LLC
- Mr. & Mrs. Leonard Smith
- Deborah D. Snead
- Tickle Oil & Propane
- The Family of Mr. Harold Wingate
- Nadine C. Allen Excellence Fund
- Arthur Taubman Scholarship Fund
- Ned and Rosalyn Lester Youth Leadership Development Endowment
She continued, “We would not have been able to have such a successful camping experience for our youth without the added generosity of so many people.”
- Craig County School Board for their loan of two school buses
- Mrs. Kirstann Edwards and Mrs. Josie Jennings for driving the buses with our campers to and from camp
- The Farmers and Merchants Bank of Craig County for their additional support of paying the bus drivers’ fees
“Our heartfelt thanks and appreciation go to each of these supporters of our camping program,” Farrell said. “Thank you all again for helping make the 2021 Craig County Junior 4-H Camp such a successful youth activity.”