By Blake Fox
In 2013, I arrived at Ohio 4-H State Leadership Camp as a 17-year-old eager to take on the week and meet other 4-H’ers from across the state. I didn’t know then that the next five days would become one of the most influential experiences of my entire 4-H career. More than a decade later, I still return each summer, now as a session instructor, and I continue to see firsthand the impact this program has on young people.
This year, State Leadership Camp welcomed 51 campers from 30 counties across Ohio. Widely recognized as Ohio 4-H’s premier leadership development opportunity, the camp brings together teens with demonstrated leadership potential and challenges them to grow through hands-on experiences and peer collaboration. Campers participate in six sessions based on the Pillars of Leadership: Communication, Courage, Discipline, Motivation, Planning and Initiative, and Trust.
As a camper, Leadership Camp challenged me in ways I had never experienced before. I spent the week learning alongside young people from nearly every corner of the state, each bringing different perspectives, experiences, and ideas. Through camp activities and discussions, I became a better listener, a more critical thinker, and someone who understood the difference between being a leader and simply being in charge.
Two summers later, I returned as a counselor and spent six years helping guide campers through the same experience that had meant so much to me. Watching young people take on challenges, build confidence, and discover their own leadership abilities was every bit as rewarding as being a camper myself.
In 2021, I transitioned to an instructor role, taking on the Motivation session. To this day, I use vacation time from my career to return to Leadership Camp each summer. People occasionally ask why I continue to make that commitment year after year, but the answer is simple: I believe in what this camp does because I experienced it myself, and I continue to see its impact in the young people who attend.
Each year, I meet campers who arrive nervous about spending a week with strangers and leave with friends from across the state. I hear them talk about ideas they want to bring back to their clubs, counties, schools, and communities. I watch them realize they are capable of more than they thought possible. Those moments are why Leadership Camp remains one of my favorite parts of Ohio 4-H.
Many former campers go on to become counselors, volunteers, educators, and community leaders. Some, like me, continue returning because they want to help create the same experience for the next generation. That cycle of leadership development is what makes this program so special.
I am grateful that Ohio 4-H invested in me as a camper in 2013, and I am equally grateful to continue investing in today’s youth through this remarkable program. Most importantly, I want to thank our generous sponsors, Nationwide, Rural First, and the Dorothy Long Miller Leadership Camp Fund, who are critical in making Leadership Camp possible. Additionally, I would like to thank the countless other donors, supporters, and volunteers who give of their time and resources to Leadership Camp. Because of your generosity, young people from across Ohio have the opportunity to challenge themselves, build lasting friendships, and develop skills that will serve them for years to come.