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Ohio 4-H Youth Development

Ohio State University Extension

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Still time to support 4-H Camp Buckeye Funder

3 candles sitting next to each other featuring labels designed by 4-H youth. There are red flowers around the candles as well as ferns.

With the Send S’more Kids to Camp Buckeye Funder campaign half over, supporters should get their donations in soon. There’s still time for you to support 4-H camp and receive an exclusive candle.

“If alumni and friends of 4-H are reading this, I want them to think about the relationships they’ve made because of 4-H camp and the person camp allowed them to be,” said Gretchen, Ross County 4-H member, “4-H camp needs your support.” A group of campers at Tar Hollow.

4-H Camp is back this summer, but keeping campers safe means fewer campers this year, and as a result, less income for camps. After a year of being closed, this is financially challenging for our 4-H camp facilities.

Send S’more Kids to Camp is an online fundraising campaign with the goal of raising $15,000 to support twelve 4-H camps, including Tar Hollow in southern Ohio, Gretchen’s home camp.

Tar Hollow holds a very special place in Gretchen’s life. Her mother previously worked at the camp as a lifeguard and her father worked in the kitchen. Gretchen has been camping at Tar Hollow since she was a Cloverbud and has only missed one year of camp during her 4-H career. She has been a camp counselor for four years, also attended Sea Camp at Kelleys Island, Ohio 4-H Leadership Camp at 4-H Camp Ohio, and she will be attending Camp Canopy this month. 

Tar Hollow is the home of 4-H camping programs for Athens, Fairfield, Pickaway, and Ross counties. Over the span of their camping programs, more than 800 campers and 375 counselors attend camp at Tar Hollow.

Gretchen keeps coming back as a counselor because of the community she has built at Tar Hollow, saying that it feels like a family there. “You just have to be there. The smell of Tar Hollow is different. Waking up there is great, and it feels like home!”A view of the main activity area at Tar Hollow. Kids can be seen in the distance.

The campaign concludes on July 14. If you donate $150 or more, you will receive an exclusive candle with a s’more or campfire scent, featuring special labels designed by Ohio 4-H members. Don’t miss out on this one-time opportunity!

Show your support by donating at give.osu.edu/4hcamps or establishing a larger gift through the Ohio 4-H Foundation. You can also share your support by using #SmoreKids2Camp on your social media pages. For details, contact Crystal Ott at ott.109@osu.edu or 614-688-1454.