Huron County 4-H celebrated 100 years of memories, friendships, and growth at 4-H Camp Conger in June. Past and present 4-H’ers were invited to commemorate this historic anniversary with a day full of fellowship and fun as they participated in line dancing, swimming, crafts, and special centennial activities.
In early 1925, Charles Hampson and Nancy Polson, the Huron County Extension staff at the time, approached Lewis and Ada Conger asking to use their land to start a 4-H camping program on the west branch of the Huron River. As Ada would say years later, "Lew and I decided to let them use some 
land for a year or two," not knowing if the program would last.
The first Huron County 4-H camp was held later that summer in a cow pasture by the river at the Conger Family Farm. Eighty campers were in attendance and tents were used for sleeping and the dining hall, with a pit filled with ice serving as a refrigerator. Campers made their own mattresses out of wool bags and straw, and drinking water was transported from the spring on the side of the hill to the dining area via milk cans.
The kitchen served as the first permanent structure at the camp and was built in 1927. It was followed by a dining hall in 1928 and construction on cabins began in 1929, with the last 
original cabin being constructed in 1977.
Running water was brought to the camp in 1928 and electricity followed in 1938. A recreation hall was added in 1962 and a year later Wells Lake, named after former Huron County Extension agent John Wells, was dug. It has served as the swimming site for 4-H campers ever since.
After original construction projects were completed in 1977, 4-H Camp Conger did not experience much change until the 1990s. Throughout the early- and mid-1990s, fundraising plans were implemented and grant proposals were written to support the creation of a new dining hall on the property. By the beginning of 1998, more than $220,000 
had been raised thanks to immense community support and grant dollars from the Ohio 4-H Foundation.
Groundbreaking for the Lewis and Florence Conger Hall, which included a dining hall, kitchen, modern restrooms, and a basement, was held in the spring of 1998, with the first campers using the new facility in June of 1999.
Construction continued throughout the early 2000s as the original cabins were dismantled, and new ones were built in their place. Wells Lake was also renovated, and the recreation pavilion was replaced.
Currently, 4-H Camp Conger is in the midst of repairing the old dining hall, which is now used as a 
craft hall.
“The support for Camp Conger within our county is phenomenal,” said Haley Palmer, Extension educator for 4-H in Huron County. “It is absolutely amazing that our county has been able to raise over $340,000 since 1997 to pay for all these major camp improvements in full.”
Aside from a few years during World War II and 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, camp has been held at 4-H Camp Conger every year since 1925, and there are no plans to stop anytime soon. “We expect the tradition that began in 1925 to continue for many years to come,” said Palmer.
To learn more about 4-H Camp Conger, visit the 4-H Camp Conger Facebook page. You can also make a gift in support of 4-H Camp Conger, or any other 4-H camping facility, by visiting our camping facilities webpage.