Alpine 4-H Camp offers great experiences for Wyoming and Idaho youth
Every summer, kids from 16 counties in southeastern Idaho and two counties in western Wyoming have the opportunity to spend three days at 4-H Camp near Alpine.
Bonneville County 4-H Extension Educator Paige Wray has been helping at this camp for two years, as her job with the University of Idaho entails positive youth development and 4-H programming.
Alpine 4-H Camp
Wray explained the Alpine 4-H Camp is operated by these 18 counties under the American Camp Association, in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service.
Each summer, kids ages eight to 12 from three or four different counties are bused to camp for three days throughout the month of June.
“We take busloads of kids to each camp, and they are there Monday through Wednesday or Wednesday through Friday,” she explained. “Each group is there for two and a half to three days and they all do different things, but it serves the same purpose – to get kids outdoors and to do some outdoor education.”
Wray shared the camp is split into rotational groups so each kid has a chance to participate in every activity.
“The overall goal is well-rounded kids, and the goal of 4-H Camp is well-rounded outdoor education,” she stated.
Wray also noted, “As part of outdoor education, we do shooting sports. We have a rifle range and an archery range where the kids can practice. We also do crafts and a service project. This last year our theme was “Games,” and for their service project, the kids made game bags for the Ronald MacDonald House. They got to make a game bag for themselves as well.”
Wray further explained teen leaders help run the camp.
“Our teen leaders have training sessions throughout the spring so they can help run the kids’ groups and activities,” she said. “They put on a campfire program and a dance, and they are trained to work with kids and help make it a good experience for them.”
Making improvements
In existence for 75 years, the Alpine 4-H Camp requires periodic upkeep and maintenance, and while a groundskeeper lives nearby to conduct routine maintenance, volunteer help is required for the major improvements.
Wray shared, during one day each spring and fall, volunteers help clean up the camp and prepare for summer activity or winterize everything, depending on the season.
“Some people who participated in 4-H Camp as campers or advisors enjoy coming to help us, because they love the camp,” Wray stated. “We hope to expand on the help they provide through fundraisers, but for now a lot of the work is done by faculty and staff.”
“We have some projects we hope to move forward with this next year in terms of improvements,” Wray continued. “We want to update all of the cabin roofs and bathrooms. These are big projects, so we will be grateful for any help we can get.”
Volunteers and donations are always welcome at the Alpine 4-H Camp.
“We try to be self-sustaining, but with a camp this large, it is sometimes difficult,” she said. “We appreciate any support we can get because it is special place where some kids get their first experience being outdoors or their first experience being a leader.”
Other uses
Although the overarching focus of the Alpine camp is on youth education, it has also opened up to other uses in order to remain sustainable. For instance, the camp can also be booked for family reunions, weddings, etc.
Additionally, in July there is a region-wide, family-friendly 4-H Horse Camp held at the facility.
According to Wray, the camp is a four-day event drawing nearly 80 youth participants and their horses to learn a variety of equine disciplines and skills from English equitation to leather work. Youth counselors assist with administration of the camp and lead younger campers in activities to enhance the fun of the camp.
Wray said, “4-H kids and their families can come spend a week learning more about horsemanship. This camp is geared toward kids who already have horses and have been participating in horse 4-H projects. They come here to strengthen their skills.”
In 2023, the Alpine 4-H Horse Camp celebrated its 50th anniversary.
“I was up there for one of the days during 4-H Horse Camp, and it was amazing to see how many people were there and all of the fun they were having,” she shared. “Besides horsemanship, camp leaders were teaching line dancing and other fun activities.”
There is no doubt, the 4-H experiences provided at the Alpine camp provide youth lasting benefits.
A survey of 14 previous camp counselors found 100 percent of respondents gained leadership abilities, knowledge and skills as a result of their 4-H Camp experience, while four out of five who selected the “Other” category specifically stated meaningful friendships in their response.
These camps are a great social outing for kids, providing a safe venue to meet friends from other counties that often turn into lifelong relationships. These experiences also broaden their horizons.
“The same kids often come back for multiple years and enjoy seeing the friends they met earlier,” Wray said. “This camp has made a big difference in many kids’ lives.”
Heather Smith Thomas is a corresponding writer for the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.
