4-H Camp

4-H Camping

For more than 80 years, Virginia 4-H camping has been a proven and effective method of teaching youth life skills. Each year more than 17,000 youth participate in 4-H camping programs at Virginia’s six 4-H educational centers.

Both residential and day 4-H camping programs have a rich history of providing educational programming to thousands of youth annually through hands-on, experiential learning. 4-H camping teaches youth to make their own decisions, solve problems, and manage their resources without the help of family. Through involvement in the 4-H camping program, youth gain a better appreciation of family members by learning how to become more responsible. Campers and parents of campers also learn to better appreciate each other.

Please visit this page to learn more about Virginia’s 4-H camping program.

4-H Junior Camp

4-H Grows Campers  

 Westmoreland and Richmond County boys and girls ages 9-13 can attend 4-H Jr. Camp at the Jamestown 4-H Educational Center from July 18-22.  4-H Camp is a week of fun, hands-on experiences where children “learn by doing”.   4-H is cooperative group living in a natural environment that focuses on developing life skills, social, mental and physical development in young people.  Camping experiences include swimming, canoeing, campfires, new friends and playing games all under the supervision of caring adults. 

4-H Camp grows life skills.  After the closing of camp activities each year, parents completed written evaluations that help us gauge behavior changes that might be attributable to camp.  The most significant increases came in these life skill categories: communications, teamwork and self-responsibility.  The specific behaviors were: shares own thoughts and ideas verbally, shares work responsibilities and takes care of his/her own things.  Parents have described the best thing about camp as “interaction with other students outside of her core friends” and “teamwork and being responsible”.

Our 4-H Center occupies a beautiful 16 acre riverfront site near the Jamestown Settlement in Williamsburg.  Facilities include air-conditioned lodges and cabins, dining hall, recreation hall, health clinic, pool and aquatic resource center.  4-H camp staff extension agents and trained volunteer leaders provide camper supervision, instruction and support.  The Jamestown 4-H Educational Center has earned the American Camping Association accreditation for its standards of safety and excellence.  American Camping Association accreditation is the seal of approval for camping facilities and programs.

Jamestown 4-H Educational Center and its programs are accredited by the American Camp Association (ACA).   What does that mean?  ACA is the only organization that accredits all types of camps, with up to 300 national standards for health and safety.  ACA camps have undergone a thorough review of operations.  This includes things like staff qualifications and training to emergency management.  Safe environments promote positive youth development.  ACA camps provide: healthy, developmentally-appropriate activities and learning experiences, discovery through experiential education, caring and competent role models, service to the community and environment, and opportunities for leadership and personal growth.

If you are a person with a disability and desire any assistive devices, services or other accommodations to participate in this activity, please contact the Westmoreland Extension Office at 804-493-8924/TDD* at 804-333-3420/TDD* during business hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. to discuss accommodations 30 days prior to the event.  *TDD number is (800) 828-1120.

Registration form: HERE

Scholarship Application: HERE