Wood County 4-H seeks help with campground improvements
MINERAL WELLS — Local 4-H and WVU Extension officials are looking for community support to help upgrade and improve the Wood County 4-H Camp near Mineral Wells.
The camp has been in operation more than 80 years and is in constant need of maintenance and repairs.
For nearly three years, 4-H volunteers on the Camp Improvement Committee have worked to raise funds to make improvements to the facility on Butcher Bend Road.
“We’ve worked hard to make improvements to our campground facility. Many upgrades were necessary to make this move possible,” said Jodi Smith, WVU Extension Service 4-H youth development agent.
The WVU Foundation has been instrumental in helping the Camp Improvement Committee raise the funds to renovate buildings at the Wood County 4-H Camp. A new 88-by-40-foot barn addition for the market hogs, electrical upgrades throughout the grounds, heating and cooling repairs and a brand new metal roof to the show barn including cupolas to help with air flow are projects which have been completed.
“We are grateful to our donors for helping us make these much-needed improvements,” Smith said. “However, we are not finished. The committee needs to raise additional funds to continue with planned improvements and assist with continued maintenance.”
Construction and electrical updates have totaled $194,130.
“We still need to raise $165,000 to complete the rest of the needed upgrades at the camp, and hope to raise an additional $100,000 for a quasi-endowment to provide long-term maintenance and future repairs,” Smith said.
The campground is used year-round by 4-H and FFA youth programs. It is also rented throughout the year for craft shows, livestock shows, meetings, parties, family reunions and weddings.
“The upgrades will help us continue to provide these opportunities and make the campgrounds safe and available for everyone,” Smith said.
Major donors to the 4-H Campground include the Ross Foundation, the Esbenshade Advised Fund/Spartan Foundation/Tri-State Roofing and Sheet Metal Company, the Bernard McDonough Foundation, Our Community Foundation, and other area businesses and individuals.
The Wood County 4-H Camp is managed by an all-volunteer board of trustees. Community support is imperative to keeping the facility running.
People interested in donating can get more information about the camp improvement campaign and visit the donation link at http://give.wvu.edu/woodcountycamp
Donations can be earmarked to the fund as well. Checks should be made payable to WVU Foundation for Fund #2W1417 and mailed to:
West Virginia University Foundation One Waterfront Place, 7th Floor P.O. Box 1650 Morgantown, WV 26105.
America’s largest youth development organization, 4-H serves nearly 6 million children with skills which will last a lifetime. FFA prepares members for leadership and careers in the science, business and technology of agriculture.
For more information about the 4-H grounds, people can contact the Wood County WVU Extension Office at (304) 424-1960.