Summertime Fun For 4-H Youth

Johanna Hicks, B.S., M.Ed.

Fortunately, 4-H activities don’t stop with the end of the school year. During June, July, and August, there are several events for 4-H members and other youth. Pay close attention to dates and registration deadlines. We don’t want anyone left out because of a missed deadline!

• Multi-county 4-H Camp: this camp has been a favorite for 30+ years! In the beautiful East Texas setting of Lakeview Baptist Conference Center in Lone Star, this camp offers workshops, swimming, canoeing, paddle-boating, team-building activities, and much more. Workshops for the 2022 camp will include Archery, Sportfishing, Horticulture, Healthy Lifestyles (team games), Zip Line/Rock Wall, and Crafting. The dates of the camp are July 11-13, 2022. The cost is $125, covering two nights of lodging, six meals, workshop materials, recreation, and great camp experiences. The facility also offers a gift shop, snack shack, swimming pool, and lake for outdoor recreation.

The deadline to submit the registration form is noon on June 1. Forms are available at the Hopkins County Extension Office, 1200-B W. Houston, Sulphur Springs, and all Extension Offices in northeast Texas. Ages are 3rd thru 12th grade. Adult chaperones must take the Child Protection Training before attending.

• 4-H Record Books: This is an excellent opportunity to lead to recognition on the county, district, and state levels! The 4-H Record book includes your 4-H Story (about yourself, your family, why and when you joined 4-H, and your project experiences), your top 2 to 4 projects, leadership, community service, 4-H awards & recognition, non-4-H experiences, and career exploration. Entry categories include Animal Agriculture; Beef; Citizenship, Civic Education & Community Service; Dog Care & Training; Consumer Education; Entomology; Fashion & Interior Design; Foods & Nutrition; Gardening & Horticulture; Goat; Health & Personal Safety; Horse; Leadership; Natural Resources; Photography; Plant & Soil Science; Poultry; Public Speaking; Rabbit; STEM; Sheep; Shooting Sports; Swine; Visual & Performing Arts; and Veterinary Science.

Age divisions are Junior (3-5 grade); intermediate (6-8 grade); and senior (9-12 grade). Record books are to be submitted online beginning June 1. Registration closes on June 15.

• 4-H Project Tour Day: This is a highlight of the summer for many 4-H members. Tour Day includes various 4-H projects each year, with the 2022 event focusing on natural resources (Sulphur Springs Municipal Water Treatment Plant), companion animals (Sulphur Springs Animal Shelter), and aeronautics/STEM (Sulphur Springs Municipal Airport). This event is open to all 4-H members, but the deadline to sign up is June 1. We will provide lunch and elect County 4-H Council officers during the lunch meeting.
• District 4-H Ultra Leadership Lab: We designed this experience for youth in grades 9-12 for the coming school year. The purpose is to help youth build leadership skills, gain information to take back to their respective counties, and have fun while meeting and interacting with other youth across our district, with June 27-29 dates at Camp Copass in Denton, TX. Special theme days will include Hawaiian Day, Country vs. Country Club, and Camp t-shirt day. The cost is $145 per 4-H’er, but due to the generosity of the Tractor Supply Paper Clover Campaign, our 4-H program will reimburse Hopkins County youth who attend. More information is available at the County Extension Office.
• Youth Sewing workshop: Set for August 8-10, this workshop is designed for youth 3 – 12th grade regardless of sewing experience. Make-and-take projects will be available each day. We’ll begin at 10:00 the first day and end around 2:00 pm Bring a sack lunch, sewing scissors, pins, seam ripper, and tape measure. Participants will determine times for the following days. Please call 903-885-3443 to sign up. Spaces are limited. (Workshop for adults will be August 2-4 – more on that!)
• County-wide 4-H Achievement Banquet: This event is a great way to wrap up the 4-H year! We recognize 4-H members for the county, district, and state participation. We will also acknowledge 4-H Rookie of the Year, Outstanding Junior, Outstanding Intermediate, Gold Star recipients, and year pins for those who apply, with a meal and entertainment provided. Saturday, August 20, at the League Street Church of Christ, 6:00 pm. The 4-H Foods project group will prepare desserts, and the County 4-H Council will decorate for the banquet.

Whew! Those are some fantastic opportunities for our youth! More information is available at the Hopkins County Extension Office, 1200-B W. Houston Street, Sulphur Springs. Give us a call at 903-885-3443. In addition, 4-H membership registration information for the 2022/2023 4-H year will be available soon, so stay tuned!

Johanna Hicks, B.S., M.Ed.

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension

Family & Community Health Agent

Hopkins County

P.O. Box 518

1200-B W. Houston

Sulphur Springs, TX 75483

903-885-3443