Each summer, thousands of Kentuckians attend a Kentucky 4-H camp—but to many, it’s “more than just camp.”  

“It’s a place where children find friendship, growth and lifelong memories,” said Alyssa Canupp, a Harrison County teacher and 4-H camp counselor. “It’s a place that plants seeds of leadership and passion that flourish for years to come.” 

Administered by the University of Kentucky Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment and Cooperative Extension Service, the Kentucky 4-H Camping Program has seen steady growth in summer enrollment since 2017, with a record 14,107 youth, teen and adult attendees in 2024.  

There are four 4-H camps positioned regionally throughout the Commonwealth: J.M. Feltner in London, Lake Cumberland in Nancy, North Central in Carlisle and West Kentucky in Dawson Springs. 

Joey Barnard, principal specialist for camping for Kentucky 4-H Youth Development, said Kentucky 4-H camps not only enrich the lives of individuals but also strengthen communities.  

“The benefits of attending a 4-H summer camp extend far beyond the memories made and the skills learned during a single camp session,” Barnard said. “They plant seeds of curiosity, nurture the spark of potential, and empower youth to thrive in all aspects of life.” 

Throughout the 10-week season, campers attend for four-to-five days and find activities that range from environmental and cooking classes to kayaking, archery and high rope courses. In a camper parent survey, 90.4% of campers said they learned new activity skills and 87.7% new life skills.  

Hosting camps requires the work of extension agents for youth development in all 120 counties, plus full-time and seasonal camp employees and volunteers. In 2024, 1,459 adult and 1,546 teen volunteers attended 4-H Camp. 

Every member of the Scott family from Wilder, Kentucky, is involved in 4-H camp: parents Matt and Amy as counselors, 18-year-old Lydia as a counselor, 14-year-old Cecilia as a camper and 10-year-old Greta as a camper.  

“4-H camp has given our daughters the chance to try new things and experiences that they wouldn’t have at home and allowed us parents to relive a bit of our childhood,” Amy said. “Camp has also shown our children the importance of volunteering and giving back to our community in a positive way while learning to be positive role models.” 

Cecilia and Greta said they enjoy reconnecting with camp friends year after year.  

“I like hanging out with my friends and getting to do new things that I don’t get to do at home, like canoeing and high ropes,” Greta said. 

Many 4-H agents who now help make camp happen were campers themselves as youth — like Brandon Darst, 4-H youth development agent in Madison County.  

Growing up in West Virginia, Darst and his brothers always looked forward to 4-H camp as “a chance for us just to be kids,” away from a difficult home life.  

“At 4-H camp, I was treated like someone who had potential. I was given leadership roles and flourished,” Darst said. “Year after year, my goal is always to give campers the same opportunity I had at camp."  

To learn more about Kentucky 4-H camp opportunities, reach out to your local Cooperative Extension office or visit https://4-h.ca.uky.edu/camp.  

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Writer: Bailey Vandiver, bailey.vandiver@uky.edu  

The Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment is an Equal Opportunity Organization with respect to education and employment and authorization to provide research, education information and other services to individuals and institutions that provide equal opportunities for qualified persons in all aspects of institutional operations and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnic origin, religion, creed, age, physical or mental disability, veteran status, uniformed service, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information or social or economic status.