Teton Co 4-H Members “Wound Up for a Round Up”

A dozen 4-H camp counselors, along with their camp director, Marla Holmquist, and Extension Agents worked from February to June as they “Wound Up for a Round Up” at Teton County 4-H Camp held at Camp Rotary near Monarch July 18-20.  Camp counselors included Hanna Antonsen, Daniel Asselstine, Kwin Briscoe, Justin Forseth, Quincy Holmquist, Conner Klick, Nicholas Konen, Rebekah Major, Luke Ostberg, Caroline Roeder, Casey Simons and Zane Somerfeld.

Each counselor is responsible for planning and teaching at least one class at camp, leading group activities and working with youth in their cabins.  Classes included rope making, leathercraft, branding, soil profiling, western dance, goal setting and history.  Counselors highlighted the cultural diversity of the west with a class that touched on the Asian contributions and one that allowed youth to try a variety of traditional Native American games.  MSU Extension Agents Roeder and Wolery taught classes on archery and butter making.  4-H volunteer, Susan Snyder, came to camp to share the rich history of the Treasure State in terms of geology and mining for sapphires.

Teton County 4-H Camp was attended by 49 youth, a majority of them from Teton County 4-H members along with some non-members.  The camp is open to all youth and boasts an extraordinary amount of return campers.  The camp focuses on active entertainment, in contrast to the overwhelming passive entertainment that permeates much of our world today.  One of the highlights is a skit night where everyone gets involved.  This year, the camp counselors set the stage with an original play, Mystery at Monarch, written and directed by Caroline Roeder.  Counselors showed their acting skills getting into characters of an old west mining town.

In addition to classes and skits, campers enjoyed campfires, hiking, water fights and dancing.  Campers all take turns setting up for meals, doing dishes after meals, cleaning the campground and learning good work and service skills.  As campers get older, they take on more leadership responsibilities.  The counselor training program provides a variety of work skills for youth.

4-H Camp would not be possible without 4-H volunteers Leona Somerfeld, camp cook, Cathy Campbell, assistant cook, Jo Lynn Miller, nurse and Marla Holmquist, director.

By Jane Wolery, MSU Extension Teton County Agent