Horizons Camp

BROWNWOOD – Registration has begun for the Horizons Camp to be held June 29 – July 3 at the Texas 4-H Conference Center in Brownwood for Texas youth who have completed fourth through eighth grade by the end of May 2014, said the center’s director.

Participants at the Horizons summer camp at the 4-H center near Brownwood have their choice of one among six programs and also participate in a variety of other games and activities.

The center is located at 5600 Farm-to-Market Road3021 and information on it may be found at http://texas4hcenter.tamu.edu/.

Camp Program Selections:
– Taxidermy: In the Taxidermy and Habitat workshop participants will learn about contest rules and guidelines, required hunting licensing, possible equipment and costs associated with various aspects of the project. They will learn how to prepare the specimens by skinning, curing, painting or mounting.
– Sport Fishing: Participants will have the opportunity to become certified youth anglers from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department anglers program. They will get hands-on experience in lure making, casting and tying knots, as well as fishing, including seasonal fishing patterns, water conditions, technology, fishing regulations, competition and water safety.
– Share the Fun: This session is designed to expand the theater arts experience for participants by providing them an opportunity to gain self-confidence while expanding creativity and building a wide range of life skills. It will cover a number of theater arts topics dedicated to assisting each participant to shine in the spotlight.
– Photography: Participants will learn to use their camera properly to capture images of everything from still lifes to people to animals. This program will address lighting, photographic composition and other technical aspects while enjoying and communing with nature.
– Food Challenge: The 4-H Food Challenge is a session that allows 4-H members to demonstrate their culinary knowledge and skills. Participants will learn how to prepare a dish from a predetermined list of ingredients. 4-H members work as a team to develop a recipe and prepare the dish within 40 minutes, which they will present to a judging panel.
– Fashion: This session for youth interested in learning about apparel accessories and textile designs will include hands-on activities such as collecting and organizing design ideas and fashion drawing, as well as a science of a fabric lab, a runway project and a take-home sewing project.

“Horizons Camp will also include many of the fun activities youth have come to enjoy at the 4-H center, such as dancing, swimming and more,” Carroll said. “More than just camping, we strive to provide opportunities for young people to understand themselves and others, promote teamwork and decision-making, experience adventures and challenges, respect and enjoy nature and the outdoors, and apply knowledge, skills and attitudes to real-life situations.”
He said the camps also provide an excellent opportunity for youth to get outdoor exercise, make new friends and have fun.
“The 78-acre center on the western side of Lake Brownwood is owned by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service,” Carroll said. “There are nature trails and lots of wildlife, such as deer, raccoons, roadrunners and wild turkey. And summer camps abound with youth activities like kayaking, canoeing, swimming, challenge course, dancing and more.”
The camp is presented in cooperation with the Texas A&M University System, U.S. Department of Agriculture and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas.
The cost for the camp covers all meals, lodging, refreshments, health-care services, facility and programming fees for the four-night, five-day event. For early registration through June 14, the cost is $280 per youth and $135 per adult. For late registration from June 15-23, the cost is $294 per youth and $142 per adult.
Register at http://texas4hcenter.tamu.edu. Registrants are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis until the camp is filled, Carroll said.
“Youth are assigned to dormitories with other youth from their county and they may request a dorm roommate during the registration process,” he said.
Attendees are requested to note any food allergies or special meal requests, such as gluten-free or vegetarian, on the registration form.
Camp T-shirts may be purchased in advance during registration. Initial registration can be made with a $25 non-refundable deposit through June 14 and all payments must be received by June 23. Canceled registrations will result in forfeit of the $25 deposit if received 10 days prior to start of camp. Otherwise there will be a 50 percent forfeiture of registration.
For more information, call 325-784-5482 or email texas4-hcenter@ag.tamu.edu.