By: Krystal Smalley
Ksmalley@wbcowqel.com
It may have been a little chilly, a little windy, and a whole lot of rainy but, by the campers’ enthusiasm, you would have thought it was sunny and 75.
Friday marked the first day of Crawford County 4-H Camp and 114 kids traveled by ferry from Marblehead to Kelley’s Island to partake in four days of fun and camaraderie. That sense of fellowship started before the kids even stepped foot off dry land when camp counselors led them in a rendition of The Littlest Worm song right on the docks of the Kelleys Island Ferry Boat Line.
“We try to, first of all, provide an opportunity for campers to learn and grow. We do all kinds of different sessions and team building activities,” explained Brenda Young, Crawford County Extension Educator for 4-H Youth Development. “There’s crafts and citizenship; a whole list of things.”
Young added that the campers get to sleep in cabins, a new experience for many of them.
Though everyone was still getting to know each other, campers quickly caught on to chants and songs that echoed throughout the dining hall.
Tori Kirian, a 2014 Galion High School graduate, is no stranger to the songs and games that go on during 4-H camp. She has attended 4-H every year – in one aspect or another – since 2005. This year will mark her fourth year as a camp counselor.
Why does Kirian keep coming back?
“I love it,” said Kirian. “I love the experiences. Camp has actually made me the person I am.”
Kirian admitted she used to be a shy person but 4-H camp has helped her break out of her shell.
“Now, I’ll go up and talk to anybody,” Kirian said with a smile. “I just love the experience, getting to work with all the kids. It’s a great time.”
Kirian has learned a lot of leadership skills in her years as a camp counselor. “I’ve been able to carry experiences from here and take them to my school. I’m involved in a lot of different clubs and from here – working with the kids – it’s helped me work with other kids and younger members of our school and the different people with the different clubs there.”
The job of a camp counselor begins long before the first ferry ride to Kelley’s Island. Counselors started planning this year’s camp in January. Committees are formed to plan the various activities throughout the four-day experience. Counselors continue their responsibilities when the campers arrive by keeping track of who is in their cabin and getting everyone where they need to be.
“We have to take care of the campers, just keep an eye on them,” explained Kirian. “We have to be their friend, their counselor. Kind of like a parent: make sure their cleanliness stays up. Just basically keep an eye on them most of the time.”
Bucyrus graduate Abbey Gulley will have five years under her belt as a camp counselor after this camp is up. Gulley attended 4-H camp for a few years as a camper before making the transition to a counselor.
“I’ve enjoyed being a counselor so much more than what I remember being a camper. It’s just, I love being a counselor, I love the kids. It’s so much fun. We always say the camp is for the campers but honestly, the counselors get so much out of it too. It’s such a good experience for us.”
Gulley wasn’t ashamed to admit that her years as a counselor looked good on her application too.
“We become such good leaders through this because we’re in charge of camp, basically,” Gulley said. “I’ve become so much more of a leader. I know how to lead a session, lead a group of stuff. I can get up in front of the campers and sing songs. That’s stuff that I wouldn’t have done if I wouldn’t have been a counselor. I would have been a lot less of a leader if I wouldn’t have went to camp.”
Blake Buckley and Nolan McKibben are both second-year campers.
“Last year I had fun,” said Buckley. “All the sessions. My favorite one was probably the campfire cooking because we got to make s’mores and pies. And then we just sat around and talked and it was fun.”
Buckley had one piece of advice for those who weren’t sure if they wanted to attended 4-H camp. “You should really come; it’s a lot of fun.”
McKibben said he had a lot of fun last year too, especially swimming and getting to know his camp counselor.
This will be Seth Wirebaugh’s first year as a 4-H member after having moved up from Cloverbuds. He hopes to take archery this year.
“I think it’s going to be lots of fun,” Wirebaugh said about 4-H camp. He said he was looking forward most to eatin.
Buckeye Central sophomore Jordan Stockmaster headed up a cabin full of first- and second-year campers with Grant Penna, a Vermilion High School student.
“It’s very interesting,” Stockmaster said about being a counselor to such a young group of kids. “It’s pretty fun actually. You give the kids a fun time here at camp and give them a good learning experience.”
Though Penna isn’t a member of Crawford County 4-H, he did volunteer to help be a camp counselor. Penna knew few people at camp – much like many of the first-year campers – but that mattered very little to the counselor. At 4-H camp, no matter which county may be participating, the feeling of camaraderie is always the same.
“It’s a great experience because you’re helping out kids, you’re having fun with it and there’s a lot to it. The work is completely worth it,” said Penna. “It going to still be a lot of fun.”
Visit our Photos page to see a photo gallery of the first day of 4-H camp.