Every summer 4-H Camp is anticipated by 4-H-ers across Tennessee. Union County youths go to Clyde Austin 4-H Center in Greeneville. Typically, it is a week-long camp where students stay in the cabins and stay busy daylight to dark. This year, as everyone eased back into normal, 4-H camp looked a little different. As many camp activities as possible were packed into a one-day event in June, full of fun activities and new friendships.
Union County’s John R. Monroe bussed the 35 students, five teen leaders, and five adult volunteers to Greeneville at near sunrise on camp morning. Camp is very engaging and aimed at creating lifelong memories through exciting, constructive activities and fun-filled learning experiences. The property features an Olympic sized pool with a one-hundred-thirty-foot water slide, a wildlife center, a large recreation hall, ball fields, basketball court, and shooting and archery ranges. There is a nature center and woodworking and airbrush shops.
Campers can fish, canoe or enjoy a kayak ride on the lake. Low ropes courses, leather crafts, and fossil classes are other favorites. Gaga ball is the favorite activity of many campers through the years. New this year were ax throwing and gem mining activities.
Campers attending included: Zeeva Boucher, Kallie Buck, Mitchell Wayne Buck, Briar Cooper, Jonah Delp, Alexis Demetroff, Caleb Demetroff, Emily Demetroff, Jadazia McMurry-Dyer, Wynter McMurry-Dyer, Kiersten Hickle, Milah Hickle, Angela Jarnagin, Nevaeh Jarnagin, Jacob Johnson, Katie Johnson, Chloe Lloyd, Gracie Lloyd, Emmagayle Malone, Jennagrace Malone, Kenzy McBee, Ayden Nicely, Abigail Roop, Lily Sheffield, Brayden Shupperd, Brylee Smith, Gracie Tindell, Navada Tipton, Kaylee Venable, Kolton Venable, Silas Whitley, Meradeth Whitley, Ben Woods, Alexus Wynn and Carter Wyrick.
Some of our campers shared their experiences:
Briar Cooper: “Fishing was the best!”
Meradeth Whitley: “I enjoyed being a teen leader for the first time. I loved the interaction with all the great campers.”
Silas Whitley: “There were too many things to list that were fun. Best day of my life! But the coolest experience was to see how to retire an American flag. I had never seen that before.”
Nevaeh Jarnigan: “Tie-dye, swimming, and being with friends was the best.”
Angela Jarnigan” “Crafts, swimming and friends was my favorite part.”
Jennagrace Malone: “My favorite part of 4-H Day Camp was canoeing with my sister and the waterslide in the swimming pool!”
Ayden Nicely: “My favorite part of camp was gaga ball and the pool. It was a great day!!”
Brayden Shupperd: “I enjoyed all of it. I really liked the gaga ball the best. I can't wait to come back!”
Jonah Delp: “My favorite part about camp was fishing and boating. I don't get to do these things often and it was terrific to get to.”
Union County youths in grades 4-8 can attend camp each summer as a part of the local 4-H program. If your child would like to be notified when registration opens for summer 2022, give us a call to get on the list at 865-992-8038 or Ashley.Mike@utk.edu. Union County 4-H would also like to thank all of the individuals and organizations for sponsoring portions of camp this year. We rely on donors and supporters to keep 4-H camping programs impactful for Union County youth.