Effingham County Cloverleaf 4-H’ers camped at Rock Eagle 4-H Center, the largest 4-H Center in the world, located in Eatonton. This summer camp is designed for fourth- and fifth-grade students. Effingham 4-H camped 295 total participants, including Cloverleaf campers, teen leaders and adult volunteers. Rock Eagle’s summer camping program centers on the Native American culture and offers traditional hands-on classes in major interest areas that include lake ecology, canoeing, herpetology, sailing, and low- and high-rope elements (zipline, rock wall, swing shot) for returning campers. Rock Eagle summer camp provides an outdoor summer program incomparable in the nation. The many different workshops offer a hands-on experience that makes learning fun! While at Rock Eagle, campers participate in workshops and learned many life skills, including managing and spending money, care for personal belongings, time management, problem solving, developing interpersonal communication, conflict management, decision making, teamwork, leadershipand much more! Among the desirable qualities that Cloverleaf camp helps to develop are independence, sense of belonging to something greater than self, mastery, generosity, willingness to try new things and, above all, self-confidence. 4-H summer camp at Rock Eagle is week full of fun and adventure for students who have completed the 4th or 5th grade in Effingham County. It is a wonderful opportunity that creates memories that students will always remember. Effingham County 4-H also has summer camps for older 4-H’ers. 4-H took 23 campers and adult volunteers to camp. For sixth-grade 4-H’ers, summer camp has a different view. They spent a week at Camp Jekyll on Jekyll Island. During their time at Camp Jekyll, 4-H’ers learned about beach ecology, marsh ecology, herpetology, seining and more! These fun, educational sessions allow campers to explore Jekyll Island from a new perspective. Besides those few classes, campers also went biking, spent a day at Summer Waves Water Park, explored the famous Driftwood Beach and visited the Historic District of Jekyll Island! A trip to the beach isn’t complete without a sand castle contest, which the 4-H’ers happily completed in as well. The campers also gained a higher respect for local wildlife on the beach and a respect for themselves and their belongings. Although most of their day is spent learning, campers also spend time with their old friends and get the chance to make new ones from all over the state — a highlight of Georgia 4-H. For more information about the summer camp program, or the 4-H Youth Development program, contact the Effingham County Extension Office at awsmith@uga.edu or (912) 754-8040.