{"id":1728,"date":"2023-04-17T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-04-17T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/magazine.cals.ncsu.edu\/?p=1728"},"modified":"2023-04-14T15:42:09","modified_gmt":"2023-04-14T15:42:09","slug":"a-place-for-every-child","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/magazine.cals.ncsu.edu\/a-place-for-every-child\/","title":{"rendered":"A Place for Every Child"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

As summer approaches, thoughts turn toward a relaxed, carefree time. For many of us, summer plans are already in the works\u2014the family vacation, weekends at the pool and, best of all, summer camp for the kids.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While summer is a time of great anticipation for most children, for others it can be a daunting time filled with uncertainty, lack of a clear schedule, and sometimes even hunger as school breakfast and lunch programs take a break. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Economic disadvantages manifest themselves in many ways, from the child lacking supervision because a single parent works three jobs to pay for rent and food, to the foster child bounced from home to home because of trauma that was not their fault, to the teen living in a home where there is drug abuse or other addictions. Kids facing situations like these need a supportive adult to help them clear the hurdles life has in store for them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Summer vacation and summer camp have just been more dreams unfulfilled. For 4-H agents and staff, those are kids\u2019 dreams worth fulfilling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4-H Makes Camp Accessible<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

4-H is the largest youth organization in North Carolina, serving more than 200,000 children and teens statewide through local Cooperative Extension centers in every county. And most of those counties make visits to 4-H summer camps a reality for local youth. While many kids attending camp have parents or grandparents paying their camp tuition, about one-third of campers could not afford to attend without the work of dedicated 4-H, Extension and partner staff, as well as program donors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c4-H, at both the national and state levels, wants to provide the summer camp opportunity to every youth. But there have been times when our national organization has not had the resources to fund scholarships. In 2019, NC 4-H established our own state scholarship program, and we work hard to find the funds to serve the most vulnerable,\u201d said Angela Brisson, 4-H camping program assistant for NC State Extension.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe 4-H camp model naturally facilitates positive mental health outcomes for youth, and camp becomes a place of belonging and family.\u201d\u00a0<\/p><\/div><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

The state scholarship program has historically provided camp to most kids who apply. About 175 youth attending 4-H summer camp in 2022 did so thanks to state funds, donor gifts and the hard work of 4-H camp staff. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For vulnerable young people, Brisson said, the experience is priceless.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe 4-H camp model naturally facilitates positive mental health outcomes for youth, and camp becomes a place of belonging and family. Our camp staff receive specialized training to meet the needs of our most vulnerable campers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to Make <\/strong>
Dreams Come True<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

NC State Extension and 4-H work hard to educate potential financial donors about the opportunity to provide disadvantaged kids with \u201ccamperships,\u201d 4-H camps\u2019 version of a scholarship, and a number of agents across the state go the extra mile to bring the dream of camp to deserving children. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Ginger Cunningham and Liz Mauney in Chatham County, a single extra mile is not enough. These dedicated 4-H educators go miles beyond the expected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYouth can find a safe place in 4-H,\u201d said Cunningham, the county Extension director and 4-H youth development agent, \u201cso we partner with organizations as a way to find youth that need help.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"4-H
A campfire circle at the Betsy-Jeff Penn 4-H Educational Center near Reidsville.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Communities in Schools (CIS) in Chatham County is one such organization. Cunningham and Mauney, a 4-H program assistant, work closely with Shirille Lee, CIS\u2019 General Youth Services\u2019 Youth First program coordinator, to identify and support vulnerable kids who would benefit from 4-H summer camp.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Mauney and Cunningham started working in Chatham County, the partnership between Extension and CIS had already been built. \u201cFrom Shirille I learned that what I see of local youth is not the full picture. I realized that I can\u2019t see what (their) home life is like,\u201d Cunningham said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With the help of Lee, CIS children could not only be better identified, but it became far easier to connect with guardians. \u201cWe tried to get at-risk kids to be a part of our camp program, but found that they don\u2019t always have access to computers. Now, Shirille gets the information from 4-H online out to everyone,\u201d Mauney said. \u201cHaving a trusted partner at CIS keeps the mission going.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n