Moniteau County 4-H participants took part in their annual summer camp at the Moniteau County Fairgrounds June 29.
Throughout the day, children engaged in a number of activities and team building practices.
While at the camp, participants put together extension cords with assistance from Co-Mo Electric Co-op. Other activities on the agenda included painting objects through hydro dipping and participating in an egg challenge.
4-H Youth Specialist Elaine Anderson said the 4-H summer camp program is a great opportunity for participants to come together and have fun. Also among the activities for the day were several arts and crafts sessions, where team building between participants was encouraged.
"I've gotten some really positive feedback," Anderson said after the camp. "Several parents came in and said their kids had so much fun, they can't wait till next year because they want to do it again. One of them wrote me a little note and said, 'Thank you for allowing me to do it.'"
While Anderson said some assume that much of her job includes working with children, that is only a small part of her occupation. With more than 50 children participating, Anderson said organizing the summer camp is her favorite part of working with Moniteau County 4-H because she finally gets to work alongside campers.
One aspect Anderson said she enjoyed about this year's camp was the several members in attendance who weren't a part of 4-H. She said the camp was open to anyone who wanted to attend; through participating with others who are a part of 4-H groups throughout the county, the hope was that the experience might spark interest in joining a 4-H club in the future.
All in all, Anderson said, it made for a successful day that, hopefully, showed what 4-H is really about.
"A lot of the time, people think that 4-H is only for youths that show animals, but it's a lot more," Anderson said. "4-H happens because of volunteers, and especially our club leaders. If we didn't have those, then it wouldn't happen. But being able to provide opportunities like this (summer camp), (campers) getting to know other kids they may not have in school from other counties and other communities - it's just a really fun time."