Are we the best?

Lately, the Eastern 4-H Center has experienced an increase in traffic...local visitors, school groups, retreats, church retreats, and summer campers... But why?

I have several reasons in my tiny head, but I'll leave that up to our wonderful guests to decide why this place seems to tbe the ticket for school groups, field trips, retreats, and summer camp.

Most states have some type of 4-H Camp or 4-H Camping system...States like Georgia have several camps...there system is designed a lot like ours. Rock Eagle, near Eatonton, is gigantic. I heard that over 1000 people can overnight there. That's nice, but I don't know if i want to hang out with 1000 of my closest friends. Nevertheless, they have some pretty amazing programs...Another Georgia 4-H Camp is located on Tybee Island...that would be a pretty neat place, too.

West Virginia has Jackson's Mill 4-H Camp. It's near a town called Weston. To get there you have to go down several dirt roads, turn at the third mountain, swim the stream, and park - not really. But it, like everything else in West Virginia can be tricky to locate, especially for us flatlanders. Nevertheless, once you arrive, prepared to be blown away. The southern Alleghenny Mountains serve as the backdrop to this place. It's all the birthplace of Stonewall Jackson, who might have fought in a war or two. Jackson's Mill is massive, with the ability to overnight several hundred guests...and while it is pretty primitive in most of the cabins, some housing is pretty comfortable...food isn't bad either, but they can't seem to get a handle on grits. It's also the oldest 4-H Camp in the country. It is the most "traditional", in my mind - and I have enjoyed a couple of visits there.

The Alabama 4-H Center is where I grew up at camp. Like most 4-H Camps, it's got some impressive scenery. The main lodge also overlooks the Coosa River, which is the Alabama equivalent of the Mighty Mississippi. The Alabama 4-H Center is a relatively new facility...it, to me, tends to be suited more towards retreats, and not so much summer camp...but the additions of the cottages will certainly enable them to serve larger camping groups. They do have a pretty impressive EE program, as well as a good teambuilding program. The hotel-style rooms are exactly that...they have rooms with TV. At Camp. BOOOOO! Actually, I was lcky enough to post up in one of those rooms in my childhood. I enjoyed the TV, but I enjoyed bragging about it to the other campers. I won a State 4-H Forestry Judging Team Championship at theat facility. My name was even on a plaque on the wall in the lodge (it was, anyway). I even know about the secret glass bottle in the big fireplace!

The Eastern 4-H Center is a hybrid of all of these places. Like Rock Eagle, we are pretty renowned in these parts...and while 1000 people can't spend the night here, we can comfortably accomodate over 200 people. Our Stronghold in this region on sumer camp, and our ability to serve large numbers of diverse populations, is akin to Rock Eagle's.

Much like Jackson's Mill, the Eastern 4-H Center can be tough to find. But it is certainly a treasure...it may be the east's best kept secret, but rest assured, that secret is being shared...Like the rich tradition of Camp at Jackson's Mill, we have our own rich tradition, though it is young. Jackson's Mill is the end-all-be-all of 4-H Camping in West Virginia...could that be in our plans? That's up to our guests...

And like the Alabama 4-H Center, our exterior seems more befitting of a top-notch corporate retreat with world-class teambuilding opportunities...at a great price. However, a deeper look exposes all of the kid-friendly and kid-conducive programs and activities we have...The Alabama 4-H Center overlooks a mile wide strech of the Coosa River....the Eastern 4-H Center offers one of the best water views in the country...13 miles across the beautiful Albemarle Sound. We are surrounded by raw and natural pocosin swamp on one side, and beautiful soundside homes to the the other...in a community that supports us at every chance.

Are we the best? I don't know...but we are a combination of several of the "other" best...

Enjoy the day...