Ohio 4-H State Leadership Camp

The Ohio 4-H State Leadership Camp is the premiere leadership development opportunity available to Ohio 4-H members. The focus of the five-day leadership experience is the development of concrete peer leadership skills that will enable participants to have an immediate impact in their home 4-H club, county, community, or school. The camp is active and engaged—there’s very little sitting and listening, and much opportunity for group interaction. Participants leave the camp ready to take on new challenges—after they take an afternoon nap.

The camp program targets 4-H members with significant leadership potential or leadership experience within their home county’s 4-H program. Leadership Camp participants are selected by county 4-H professionals, or by the committees designated by the 4-H professionals. The camp is open to young people age 15 to 18 years old and mature (as deemed by county 4-H professional) 14 year olds.  Accommodations for campers with special needs will be made to the extent possible.  The camp program offers a balance of mental and physical challenges, allowing participants of all backgrounds to have fun and learn new skills and about the variety of their peers’ perspectives.  The camp is intended to be a one-time experience, but campers who would like to re-attend may be considered depending on availability with approval of Leadership Camp director (Hannah Epley, epley.24@osu.edu).  (Returning campers are not eligible for scholarship funds). 

Want to see more about what you might experience at Leadership Camp?
Watch this video:

2025 Leadership Camp--June 1-5, 2025

The 2025 Ohio 4-H State Leadership Camp will be held from June 1-5, 2025 at 4-H Camp Ohio. Individuals must be nominated by their county and then will receive additional information about registering. If you are interested in attending, please first contact your county's 4-H professional. If you have any additional questions about Leadership Camp, please contact Hannah Epley (epley.24@osu.edu) or Sarah Longo (longo.79@osu.edu).

Additional Information:                                                                 

Campers:

Prior to selecting and submitting the information for your 2025 Leadership Camp participants, please review the Ideal Characteristics for Leadership Camp Participants document.

County Camper Commitment Forms for 2025 will be available in early 2025 and due March 15, 2025. Interested campers should contact their local county extension office to inquire about attending. Campers who are nominated for the experience will receive a personal email after April 1, 2025 to complete the registration process.

Counselors/Staff:

Applications for 2025 will be available in early 2025. Deadline for applications will be March 24, 2025.

• Please review the 2025 Potential Leadership Camp Counselor/Staff Information prior to completing the application.
• Questions can be emailed to Sarah Longo (longo.79@osu.edu) or Hannah Epley (epley.24@osu.edu).

Thanks to our 2025 Sponsors!

The partial participant scholarships for the 2025 Ohio 4-H State Leadership Camp have been graciously funded by our sponsors Nationwide, Rural 1st, and the Dorothy Long Miller 4-H Leadership Camp Fund.  

Please use the press release to recognize the participants and our generous sponsors! 

We will send thank you notes following camp via the state office. If you would like to send an additional note, thanks can be addressed to:

• Nationwide: Attn: Kristen Rost
• Rural 1st: Attn: David Griffin
• Dorothy Long Miller 4-H Leadership Camp Fund

Please send notes to "Nationwide & Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center, Attn:Sarah Longo, 2201 Fred Taylor Dr, Columbus, OH 43210" and we will forward on to donors.