Iowa State Extension and Outreach Linn County 4-H offered 28 summer day camp experiences in the community reaching over 450 youth. The day-long educational camps harness the power of the experiential learning model to immerse youth in interactive educational experiences. Summer learning experiences bridge the gap in academic engagement youth experience during the summer while away from school.
Linn County 4-H successfully amplified summer’s ‘fun factor’ while partnering with youth to explore STEM, Healthy Living, and more! Summer 4-H day camps are in various community locations, including the Northwest Recreation Center in Cedar Rapids, Wickiup Hill in Toddville, and the Lester Buresh Family Community Wellness Center in Mount Vernon. Linn County 4-H staff strives to offer low-cost day camp opportunities in convenient locations for various ages and interests.
“Our summer programs provide a fun environment for diverse youth to engage in research-based lessons and make new friends,” says Linn County 4-H Outreach Educator Amy Schmitt-D’Amico. Linn County 4-H partners with the Linn County Farm Bureau, the Iowa State University Insect Zoo, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Field Specialists, local naturalists, and others to create a well-developed itinerary for each youth day camp.
Youth participants’ parents and caregivers shared exciting conversations upon picking their children up from day camps. One caregiver shared, “She went to the bug camp and told me all about the bugs. And she wasn’t quite as scared of them. And a few weeks after camp, she even recognized a kind of bug and told me about it. She seems more interested in insects now too, when before she was freaked out by them.” 4-H day camps provide a safe environment that prioritizes a sense of belonging for participants to explore and learn.
Linn County 4-H day camps are funded through program fees and county tax dollars. The Hiawatha Library sponsors Hiawatha day camps to bring this meaningful learning opportunity to residents free of charge. Financial assistance is available to reduce barriers to participating in 4-H camps, experiences, and membership in Linn County.
Iowa 4-H Youth Development is the premier youth development program of Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. Linn County 4-H focuses on Healthy Living, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math), Leadership and Civic Engagement, Agriculture and Natural Resources, and Communication and the Arts. 4-H builds upon more than a century of experience in positive youth development, partnering with youth to help them find their passion through events like summer 4-H day camps. For more information on the Iowa 4-H Youth Development program, please get in touch with your local county ISU Extension and Outreach office or visit the Iowa 4-H website at www.extension.iastate.edu/4h.
Youth participants work as a team at the Mystery Solved day camp to conduct an experiment observing chemical reactions to identify the mystery powder left at the mock crime scene.