4-H Events at Upham Woods

Every year Upham Woods hosts several exciting 4-H Youth Development events including the Operation: Military Kids summer camps, Arts Camp, and the Youth As Partners in Civic Leadership Conference.

Year-Round Fun!

Summer is an action-packed and wonderful time at Upham Woods!  We have many visiting groups over the summer including annual summer 4-H camps from over 30 counties and others such as scout groups, youth organizations and adult professional development workshops.

The winter season is also a great time to experience all that Upham Woods has to offer! Through programs like Nordic skiing, snowshoeing, and broomball, youth and adults learn engaging, lifetime winter sports that a high percentage of people stay committed to. Some outdoor activities, such as skiing, are particularly valuable to youth because youth tend to pursue, or “track” the activity through childhood and into adulthood. Outdoor, physical activities can serve a dual positive function for youth: be a tool to help combat the nation-wide obesity epidemic and a tool for positive youth development.

Camp Counselor Training

Great counselors make summer camp awesome! Counselors can be youth ages 14+, adult volunteers and 4-H staff. We are offer camp counselor training to our camping partners and others in 4-H. Camp counselor training occurs each Spring starting in March.

4-H Goals, Essential Elements and Foundational Topics

Whether through summer camp, winter camp, day programs, or themed weekends (STEM, Archery, Arts, OMK, International programs, and more), our programs meet the goals, essential elements and foundational topics of 4-H Youth Development principles. Upham Woods programming features youth leadership and life skills development opportunities that build on the 4-H goals of:

• Competence in lifetime skills
• Confidence in self and others
• Connection with nature, 4-H leaders, and fellow 4-H’ers
• Caring for the environment, themselves, their peers and leaders
• Character for today’s experiences and tomorrow’s challenges

Upham Woods offers a safe, inclusive, and engaging environment that encourages youth development and mastery through independent and community-building outdoor learning activities.  Through exploration of the natural environment, outdoor land and water pursuits, and our low element challenge course, 4-H campers gain unforgettable experiences learning about the natural world, themselves and each other!