Virtual ‘adventures’ offered through virtual 4-H Summer Camps

Posted on May 29, 2020

By SAMANTHA MURRAY / UF/IFAS

Summer camp will look different for many young people across the country this year, as the coronavirus pandemic has made gatherings around the campfire and other in-person activities too risky. The thousands of young people who annually attend 4-H camps across Florida are no exception.

So, instead of packing their bags for a week of songs, S’mores and arts and crafts, Taylor County youth are invited to log on for a virtual camping experience this summer. They’ll have some 45 different ‘4-H Adventures’ to choose from, said Stacey Ellison, associate state program leader of Florida 4-H, the youth development program of UF/IFAS Extension.

“The health and safety of our youth, volunteers and agents is our highest priority, so having our members stay home this summer was the right call,” Ellison said. “However, we’re committing to providing our members, and any interested youth and families, opportunities to learn, explore, build confidence and meet new friends, so we’ve worked hard to create these fun, educational adventures geared toward different ages and interests.”

Each 4-H adventure has been designed by 4-H agents and specialists from around the state. Some involve regular scheduled meetings while others can be completed at the participant’s own pace.

Most 4-H adventures are free of charge and only require an internet connection and a connected device. Youth ages five to 18 may participate, though some adventures are only open to specific age groups.

A complete listing, schedule and registration information for all 4-H Adventures is available on the Florida 4-H website.