Splashing through a creek.

Netting crawfish and water bugs.

Spying on snakes sunning on a low hanging branch.

Sleeping with the windows open and a fan running.

It doesn’t get much better than taking 4-H’ers to Wahsega 4-H Center in Dahlonega.

They conquered the climbing wall, flew down the zip line, cannonballed into the pond and played basketball at every free moment.

We panned for gold near the site of the first American gold rush, and a few lucky 4-H’ers came home with vials holding tiny bits of gold.

The 4-H’ers — rising fourth through seventh graders — had the independence to decide when to shower, what to wear each day, and how to care for their own belongings.

Newton, Rockdale and Irwin County joined together this week with 167 youths and 23 teen and adult leaders for a week of summer most will never forget.

The 69 students from Newton County were accompanied by adult volunteers Cati Aevaliotis, Isaac Bostick, Isaiah Bostick, Scott Fullerton, Dianna Galloway, Karen Jenkins and Michelle Lewis; teen leaders Kacie Gartner, Kara Gartner and Chelsea Turner; and 4-H staff Terri Fullerton and Kim Lawrence.

Volunteer leaders gave up a week of vacation to work from the 7 a.m. wake up bell to sometimes well after the 11 p.m. lights out.

Nine collegiate 4-H counselors, six cafeteria staff, three other camp staff and camp director Travis Williams work all summer to provide the excitement and education of 4-H camp.

I imagine I’m not the only one sleeping in a little this weekend after packing a summer’s worth of fun into just 5 days.
Check out these photos and be sure to sign up for 4-H this year if you’d like to head to camp next summer with us.

Terri Kimble Fullerton is a Newton County 4-H Agent through UGA Cooperative Extension. She can be reached at tkimble@uga.edu.