Hancock County 4-H campers enjoy their time learning new skills and making lifelong friends. (Submitted photo)

This summer marked the busiest and most successful season of 4-H Camping in Hancock County, with four camps serving a total of 135 youth from across the county. Campers explored new skills, made lifelong friends, and discovered the power of teamwork, creativity, and learning through hands-on experiences.

Hancock County 4-H Camp kicked off the summer with 60 campers and 26 dedicated staff members at a week-long overnight camp. This year’s theme, Ancient Greek Heroes, brought history to life as campers took part in themed games, activities, and challenges inspired by mythology and the legendary figures of ancient Greece.

Hancock County 4-H Cloverbud Camp welcomed 25 of the youngest members for three days of fun and discovery under the Heroes theme. Campers met real-life community heroes, learned about courage and perseverance, and celebrated the hero inside each of them.

For the first time ever, Hancock County hosted a Weekend STEM Camp, welcoming 25 campers to dive into science, technology, engineering, and math. From coding to strawberry DNA extraction, the weekend was filled with curiosity, problem-solving, and hands-on experiments that sparked a love for STEM learning.

The summer wrapped up with the Weirton Cloverbud 4-H Day Camp, where 25 young campers explored the Dinosaur theme. Campers learned about different species, created their own volcanoes, and enjoyed special visits from the Carnegie Museum of Natural History. They also celebrated the 10th anniversary of the Dolly Parton Imagination Library with activities honoring a decade of inspiring young readers.

“Our 4-H camps are more than just fun — they’re opportunities for youth to learn, grow, and connect,” said Zachary White, WVU Extension 4-H & Youth Development Agent for Hancock County. “We have officially recovered from COVID, and we refuse to go back! This summer proved that 4-H is stronger than ever, and our community’s youth are ready to make the most of every opportunity.”

Hancock County 4-H is grateful to all volunteers, staff, and community partners who made these camps possible. With record-breaking participation and enthusiastic campers, this summer set the bar higher than ever for the future of 4-H in Hancock County.