Story and photos by JEFFREY POWELL
Close to 120 4-H students gathered at Camp Timpoochee in Villa Tasso, recently for the organizations annual summer camp. The camp began on June 13, and continued throughout the week. Summer like weather forced camp counselors to be flexible in their scheduled events but that is nothing new for experienced campers or Walton County 4-H agent Jena Brooks.
“Camp has been great this year and the kids have been doing very well,” said Brooks. “It is nice to meets participants and campers from different counties. Summer camp is a great perk for being involved with 4-H, we get to spend the week by the bay. The kids look forward to camp all year and many of the kids get hooked to 4-H for life right here at camp.”
This year’s campers were from Walton, Holmes and Washington counties. The students were able to participate in both serious learning classes and funfilled outdoor activities. Those activities ranged from team building exercises meant to build skills for later professional lives to a rambunctious game of gaga ball, which is a modern twist on dodge ball.
“This is a great way to get out of the house during the summer and meet new people,” said summer camp veteran Jackson Leath. “The kids enjoy the outdoors and traditions of camp. Some campers are second and third generation campers. Some of the campers’ parents may have sang the same songs we are singing and participated in similar events. I really enjoy being here.”