Teens from several West Virginia counties recently gathered at the Wetzel County 4-H Campground for the Northern Panhandle Teen Weekend. (Submitted photo)

NEW MARTINSVILLE, W.Va. – Fifty teens from Wetzel, Marshall, Ohio, Brooke, and Hancock counties recently gathered at the Wetzel County 4-H Campground for the Northern Panhandle Teen Weekend, a unique, video game-inspired camp focused on Leveling Up into Adulthood.

The weekend combined fun with practical learning, giving teens the opportunity to gain skills often not taught in schools. Campers participated in activities covering budgeting, cooking, healthy relationships, wellness, communication, meal planning, basic first aid, and even tool use.

“They also explored leadership through the Teens as Teachers program, taking part in STEM, Agriculture, and Healthy Living teach-backs, giving them hands-on experience teaching peers,” said the camp directors.

“The video game-inspired format allowed us to meet teens where they are and engage them in a way that truly resonated,” said the camp directors. “By connecting life skills to a theme that they already enjoy, we were able to teach practical lessons that often aren’t covered in traditional classrooms. Our goal is to help teens feel confident and prepared as they transition into adulthood, and this program gave them the tools to do just that.”

Parents also praised the experience. One parent shared, “[My child] has been talking nonstop since she got home. She learned a lot and enjoyed hanging out and meeting new people! She really likes all the new opportunities she is getting from 4-H.”

The camp was led by Mollie Toppe, Lisa Ingram, Lewis Honaker, Jason Rine, and Zach White, WVU Extension 4-H Agents from Wetzel, Marshall, Ohio, Brooke, and Hancock Counties, and supported by 16 volunteers from across the region, creating a fun and educational experience for all campers.

Organizers hope to continue offering similar programs that combine hands-on activities with real-world skills, helping teens in the Northern Panhandle build confidence, independence, and leadership skills in a supportive environment.

For information on how to join 4-H, contact the local WVU Extension office: https://extension.wvu.edu/contact-us.