The Ohio 4-H Forestry and Wildlife Conservation Camp has been providing youth with hands-on environmental education since its inception in 2016. What began as a one-night overnight experience has grown into a two-night camp designed to deepen participants’ understanding of forestry, wildlife, and natural resources. This year, the camp welcomed 63 campers from over 20 counties and supported 10 counselors in leading them.
This camp is made possible through the support of committed partners, including the Ohio 4-H Foundation, Hocking College, the Ohio Division of Forestry, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, and the University of Rio Grande. Since its first year, the camp has focused on two primary goals: introducing youth to career opportunities in natural resources—specifically forestry and wildlife—and promoting higher education pathways in these fields.
Each spring, campers travel from across Ohio to Canter’s Cave 4-H Camp in Jackson, Ohio. As the camp brings together youth from counties across the state, participants have the opportunity to meet new friends while experiencing a new camping environment. Youth in grades 7–11 attend as campers, while older youth in grades 9–12 may serve as camp counselors, gaining leadership experience.
Camp begins Friday evening with traditional camp activities led by counselors, including icebreakers, games, and group initiatives that help campers get acquainted and prepare for the weekend ahead.
Saturday is a day filled with educational programming, featuring both morning and afternoon sessions. These hands-on learning opportunities are led by guest speakers from organizations such as the Ohio Division of Wildlife, Hocking College, the U.S. Forest Service, and local Soil and Water Conservation Districts. The evening concludes with engaging live animal demonstrations presented by Hocking College, a naturalist, The Ohio State University Bug Lab, and other conservation partners. Campers then gather for a traditional 4-H campfire, providing time for reflection and connection at the end of a meaningful day.
This year’s camp featured a wide variety of hands-on learning experiences, including tree climbing, operating a mobile sawmill, tree and wildlife identification, fire ecology, and radio telemetry. Campers also participated in a program focused on urban wildlife interactions, highlighted by a fox ambassador from the Ohio Canid Center. In addition, youth explored emerging technology by using new acoustic recording equipment to detect and study bats after dark.
The final day of camp gives youth the chance to experience classic 4-H camp activities and enjoy the outdoors. Popular options include boating, hiking, fishing, archery, and nature crafts.
Tracy Winters, former Forestry and Wildlife Conservation Camp director and current Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator in Gallia County, shared, “The 4-H Forestry and Wildlife Conservation Camp has been one of my favorite camps to work with in my 20-plus years of Extension work. I think the partnerships with outside agencies are the key to its success.”
To support this Ohio 4-H Forestry and Wildlife Conservation Camp or other 4-H Natural Resources programming, please give to the State 4-H Natural Resources Education fund today!