PARKERSBURG - Wood County 4-H camps, which served more than 350 area youth, were winding down this week as the fourth camp came to a close.

"The camps started in May, there were four, about 357 kids attended, ranging in age from 5-21 years of age. This past week was the last camp, our Horse Camp, which serves kids not only from Wood County but several other counties as well including Lewis, Doddridge, Jackson and Ritchie," said Jodi Smith, West Virginia University Extension Service agent and 4-H coordinator in Wood County.

"The kids participate in a wide variety of activities while attending camp including crafts, learning new skills, leadership training, recreation, to science. This year they participated in recycling projects all summer long, which were coordinated by the teen leaders. They collected cans and bottles which will be turned in at the end of the camps as a fundraiser for the camps. We also participated in water conservation activities, and had an ongoing dental program offered at the camps in cooperation with the Mid-Ohio Valley Health Department's Oral Hygiene program. We have also been working closely with the The Arc of the Mid-Ohio Valley and their summer camp kids have been coming out," Smith said.

The 4-H program is alive and well in Wood County serving about 1,100 youth a year, according to Smith.

"We have very active 4-H afterschool programs as well in partnership with the YMCA, the Arc and the Children's Home Society," she said.

The 4-Hers this week got a special treat, a visit from Dean Hardman, program specialist with WVU Extension with Jackson's Mill who brought along a 1890-1900s-era Thornhill farm wagon manufactured in Lynchburg, Va. made by a 125-year old company. Hardman brought his living history along to share heritage crafts and skills with the campers. "We do more than 50 events a year with our History Hitting the Road program," Hardman said.

On Wednesday, Hardman shared the art of paper marbling with the 4-Hers to create band boxes. The method employs ink on water applied to the boxes. "Larger versions of these types of boxes would have been used to hold men's collars for their shirts for church, some special event or to maybe to go courting," he said.

Kaylee Affolter, 10, was attending her second year of 4-H Horse Camp this week and was excited about the living history classes.

"I think it's fun to learn about history. This will be my second year doing this class," Affolter said.