Iron County youth attend summer camps

Iron County students attended the county’s annual 4-H summer camps earlier this month, an opportunity to get away from home and interact with their peers in a different setting.

Children in third through fifth grade attended the traditional camp at North Lakeland Discovery Center in Manitowish Waters from July 12 to 15, while those in sixth and seventh grades attended outpost camp at Lake of the Falls.

The camp at the discovery center — now in its 16th year — offers a range of activities including swimming, nature activities, archery and arts and crafts projects.

The outpost camp, which began last year, offers students a more traditional tent camping experience.

Neil Klemme, Iron County’s Youth Development Agent with the University of Wisconsin Extension Office, said one of the goals of the outpost camp is to foster a spirit of independence.

This year’s camp also featured a canoe trip to an island in the Turtle Flambeau Flowage where campers pitched tents for the night.

This year’s camps were held shortly after the storms that hit the northern part of the county July 11, which Klemme said may have helped distract some of the campers.

“Despite the rain during camp and the horrible storms that hit the area Monday, the staff worked hard to make sure the kids were having fun,” Klemme said. “Camp helped take their minds off the damage and really enjoy being with friends.”

Along with the fun and games at the discovery center, Klemme said, campers also participated in nature programs taught by members of the Iron County Land and Water Conservation Department.

“I heard great things about the nature program this year, led by Zach Wilson from the (Iron County Land and Water Conservation Department),” Klemme said. “Kids learned about the effects of forest fires and used their observation skills to be ‘nature scene investigators.’”

Klemme said Wilson also used bird calls to allow campers to observe the behavior of area birds.

While the camps benefit the campers, Klemme said he also strives to make them a learning experience for the student counselors.

“(The staff members) work really hard and I couldn’t offer such a great program without their dedication. I can’t thank them enough,” he said.

With camp complete, the 4-H program is beginning to shift its focus to the upcoming county fair.