Page 60 - Robeson Living Summer 2022

Summer Fun

Like Nothing

They’ve

Experienced

Before!

By Shea Ann DeJarnette,
Extension 4-H Youth Development Agent

Lumberton, N.C. -- Summer was a great time of year for me as occasion, like a Saturday when there were no other campers
a child. I got to go to the community swimming pool, play ten- and I was allowed access to the phone (long distance calls – no
nis, golf, and ride my bicycle as much as I wanted. My parents cell phones back in the day). Of course, I could write home
had this theory if I was not engaged in activities I would be in whenever I wanted, but rarely did.
front of the TV, and that was not acceptable. So they signed me
up for lessons, five weeks of overnight camp, and anything else I tell you all of this so you can understand, in the role I am in
they could find to make sure I was engaged in the world around right now, why taking youth to camp is so important to me. I
me and not too close to the TV set. feel like every child should have this opportunity. North Caro-
lina 4-H is in a unique position having three residential camps
So when I tell this story, the first thing I notice is people’s eyes to choose from: Millstone, which is located in Richmond
get really wide when I say five weeks of overnight camp. The County, The Eastern 4-H Center located in Columbia, and Bet-
first question is, “You mean spread out all summer, not all at sy-Jeff Penn 4-H Center located in Reidsville. For the last 20
one time?” No, I usually left at the end of June and flew (yes,
on an airplane, by myself) to Erie, Pennsylvania, to a camp
my mother attended called Camp Glinodo. It was run by the
Benedictine Nuns, who had their Mother House down the road
from the camp. We went horseback riding, swimming, played
tennis, took part in archery, did arts and crafts, and had camp
fires and all sorts of fun stuff. More than that, it was the place I
learned I needed to make my bed, pick up after myself, learned
to do laundry, made lifelong friends (yes, that I still communi-
cate with today) and I had people to help guide me as I started
making decisions on my own. I enjoyed being at this camp so
much I became a Counselor-in-Training, moved up to Coun-
selor, and then Head Counselor. I spent 11 summers at this
camp and they saw me grow up – the good, bad, and ugly of it
all – and still welcomed me back.

Before you ask (because this is everyone’s next question), no,
I did not get homesick. This adventure gave me some freedom,
and a way to figure out who I was. However, my parents did
get campsick. I received the color comics in the mail each
week, I got lots of letters (this was well before email), and
other treats arrived while I was away from home that made me
feel loved. We did not talk while I was gone, except for a rare
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