We're in the Swing of Things Here...

It was a beautiful morning here at Betsy Jeff Penn.  The sun was shinning bright and the tempreture was up but not so hot as to make it miserable.  Our campers got up and went to breakfast and cleaned their cabins.  this is the time to do it right becuase while they are at breakfast the judges misght just come by to decide who will win the coveted golden faucet and silver toilet seat.

Our 4-H Agents at camp took time to sit on the incredible swing and enjoy the view, weather, and a little quiet time as campers transitioned between their morning chores/meals and the activities.  This swing is a great quiet place at camp and offers a moment of peace and as much solitude as you could want amongsst the laughter, squealing, and fun of camp.  Just another reason to take a moment for everyone to stop and reflect.

Our campers hit the activities first thing and boy were they excited.  At Arts and crafts we had campers finishing their loom projects and there are all sorts of cool mats and brackets out there.  The older youth are working on Jelly fish and will finish those up tomorrow.

The group on the archery range was having fun and honing in their skills while the climbing wall and boulder wall were getting plenty of action today.  The lake was fairley quiet as our Trekkers are off camp headed for a fun hike, a night in the great outdoors, and to climb Pilot mountain tomorrow.

We know our parents reading this like to know there was food their child likes and recognizes at camp.  So today we thought we would offer you a snap shot of our menu for the day.  Please note we do everything we can to make sure our youth are eating becuase they are expending a lot of energy out there at camp.

Our menu for Wednesday:

Breakfast:  Turkey Sausage and french toast sticks with a fresh fruit bar with yougurt and cottage cheese

Lunch:  Chicken Patties and potato wedges.  Fresh salad bar with locally harvested greens.

Dinner:  Sphghetti and meatballs, garlic bread sticks, and spice cake for dessert.  Fresh salad bar with loccally harvested greens.

The big talk of the day, at all of the meals and activities was the talent show.  Youth and conselors signed up to perform and everyone was taking every spare moment to practice their talent or be talked into signing up and getting up on the stage to perform.  New talents were being brought out and everyone was very encouraging. 

Our afternoon was filled with activities but all anyone was talking about was the talent show. so after dinner, and flag lowering it was time to get ready and head to the rec hall for the big event!  We had youth singing, doing gymnastics, playing instruments, yo-yo'ing, telling jokes, dancing, burping, crosing fingers with double joints... the array of talent was just amazing.  Even more amazing was how respectifully and supportive the kids were.  They applauded for everyone.  There was no criticism, everyone who was brave enough to get up on the stage felt supported and valued.  Just as we should throughout life. 

The LIT's also got to serve snack during intermission and they had it going on with Kevin the Bee helping and our 4-H Mascot Trifolium, TJ, TJ 2.5, and our newest edition, Sprout.  All the campers loved out 3-D printed helpers and at the end of camp they will be telling you how much they enjoyed camp and what their view, as first time Baby Lucky Dragons and a croc at camp was like,

After talent show it was time to head back to the cabins, take a shower, and hit the hay,  We have one more full day at camp before heading home and our campers are starting to realize they will miss all the firends they have made and can't wait to tell you about the time they have had.

To see all of today's fun check out our photos.  Stay tuned as we live our best moments on Thursday and get ready for the dance.

Well This is the GOAT Camp!

   In case you haven't figured it out camp is about fun and adventures in a safe a nurturing environment.  This just might be the Greatest Of All Time (GOAT) Camps...just keep reading and you will see why.

  This morning we woke up to partly cloudy skies and a cool breeze.  Everyone at camp was up and 7 and either at breakfast or cleaning the cabins.  Because there are so many folksat camp they eat in shifts and swap so everyone does everything at camp, just on a different time table.  Breakfast this morning was mini-bagels, bacons, and scrambled eggs.  Of course fresh fruit is always available to the youth at breakfast as well as the ceral bar.  No need for anyone to go hungry at camp.  After all they need to be fueld for all the physical activity in front of them and not to mention all the walking they do everyday.  There is sooooo much going on.

After the morning routine it was time for activities.  Pool, climbing wall, Ga-ga pitt, Arts and Crafts, and so much more.  However campers had a big surprise today they got the chance to learn a little science, test a little cheese, and play with some goats.  Yup that's right.  They had a demonstration on making Ricotta cheese from goats milk and then had the opportunity to try some that was already made.  The majority of the campers really like the cheese.  However what blew their minds was what came next....playing with the goats.  After a few pointers from the owner she let the youth interact with the goats and even feed them some feed.  

At the same time our Trekkers were up at the High Ropes Course enjoying some new to them experiences and gaining all sorts of confidence as they worked their way around the course.  Must admit they are really determined when they get up there and do their best not to let fear get the best of them.

It was at this time the first rain shower hit camp and the staff already had a plan in place.  They moved the goats inside to the rec hall and made a special corral for them so the GOAT show could go on.  Other activities continued with litte interruption or adaptation. 

Lunch was next on our daily list.  Campers enjoyed hamburgers and curly fries or the salad bar.  It was fun to be in the air conditioning since the rain showers had turned everything just a little muggy.  Our afternoon was normal as we rotated through activities and the camp store.   One of the fun things about camp store is that there is a little free time to  read a book, play four square, talk to your firends, and have fun with your conselors.  This is a great group of folks and we are excited to have down time to learn more about each of our new friends. 

Dinner was here before we knew it and that is when things got interesting last night.  It was a fun dinner of BBQ chicken, mac and cheese, green beans, and corn bread.  For desert, becuase there is always dessert there was chocolate pudding.  Yum Yum.  Our excitment came when Mother Nature decided second dinner would be a great time to show off.  The thunderstorm and flash with the power wasn't enough for her.  She threw in a quick Tornado Warning.  The camp staff acted quickley and moved all the campers, staff, and county staff to the basement of one of the buildings to ride out the storm.  Some of the youth were a little scared but the conselors clamed them and they distracted them quite nicely.  The Camp Directo and Summer Camp Director followed their emergency plans and all went well smoothly as we waited and had a small thunderstorm and that was it.  When it was over the group at dinner went back to the dinning hall to clean up and radar was checked to determine the plan for the evening activity.  To air on the side of caution, since storms were poppoing up everywhere, evening activites went in doors.  The older youth, Adventurers and Trekkers went into one building to work on leadership activites while the rest of the campers went to the rec hall to play BJP Camp Jeopardy!  They had a ball and all of the kids had fun even though it was a change in plans.  That is one thing I can tell you, is that these youth are adaptible,

After all the excitement was over it was time to head to the cabins for the night.  Showers were had, stories were told, plans were made for tomorrow.  When those heads hit the pillows the camp got so quiet...they had a long day and were exhausted.  Time to rest up to do it all again tomorrow.

Check out our day in photos here.  Also we upload new photos each day as agents upload their photos for us so feel free to go to our previous posts for updated photos you may not have seen before.  Stay tuned as Wednesday is the half way point in the week and things are about to get interesting.

Have You Missed Us?

WOW!  Our first Day was so busy, so fun, so amazing.  The temperature here today was in the low 80's so it wasn't too hot and that made everything way more fun!

So for those of you who may not know are campers are broken up into age groups.  Our youngest group is the Head group.  Then we work our way up through Heart, Hands, Health, Earth, and sun.  Our oldest campers are in the adventurer and trekker groups and they actually sleep out one night and the trekkers go off site for some outdoor fun.

Our campers get up around 7 and head to breakfast and clean their cabins.  The cabins are inspected each day by the agents and the cleanest cabin gets the golden faucet award, second place gets the silver toilet seat award.  These are highly saught after titles and our campers take this very seriously.  Almost as seriously as they take their food.  This morning for breakfast they had pancakes, turkey sausage, a smattering of fresh fruit and if that didn't thrill them they had their choice of cereal. 

By 9 am our campers are at their first activity.  The youngest group (Head) made their way to Arts and Crafts.  The heart group headed to the climbing wall and the gaga pit (you have to see this game to believe it).  Our middle groups headed to the water with canoeing, fishing, and the swimming pool.  These age groups rotated through these activites this morning while our Sun Group was out on the Archery range before hiking to the beaver Pond and the adventurers and Trekker had a great time at Team challenges and Canoeing.

Before we knew it it was time for lunch.  Our table waiters go in and set the tables and sit at the head.  When called they go into the kitchen and use two hands to carry bowls of food out to their tables.  At the end of the meal they help gather dishes and clean the tables.  Today it was chicken nuggets and fries for lunch.  It was a favorite of all the campers.

After lunch our youth were back to activites and we added in the boulder wall which is where you climb horizontally rather than vertically and our camper had a chance to get books and enjoy reading time at the BJP Library.  

Mid afternoon everyone gets a break at the camp store.  Campers have the opportunity to get a drink (water, soda, juice) and a snack (Ice cream or chips) for a dollar each.  After eacting their snack they have free time in the rec hall to talk, play games, listen to music.  It's just a great free moment to enjoy friends and time.  

From there it was back to one last activity period before getting ready for dinner.  It was Taco Monday and our campers had a great time at dinner with the tacos and all teh fixings.  After they headed to flag lowering and the announcement of who won the cleanest cabin.  The judges informed me that the winners received a nearly perfect score and the runners up were less than a half pint away.  That's stiff compeitition.

Evening activity was next and tonight that was water sports.  Water games ,swimming in Lake Hazel, and time in the pool give the campers a chance to have fun, get wet and by the end of the night they are exhausted.  By the time they get back to the cabins and get showers it's time for lights out.  When the heads hit the pillows the camp gets really quiet.  

That was our day in words,...check out the photos.  Stay tuned for more fun packed action tomorrow.

We Made It

   If we are posting on a Sunday it must be the first day of 4-H Overnight Camp at Betsy Jeff Penn 4-H Educational Center in Reidsville, NC.  After check in and a quick meeting this morning, we left around 10:30 and headed straight to lunch in Asheboro, NC at Golden Coral.  Could not have asked for a nicer staff or happier children with full stomachs when we left.  After climbing back on the bus it was time to head straight to camp which was a little more than an hour away.  We pulled in at 2:45 and unloaded the bus ready for our week long adventure.

  We quickly got our cabin assignments and moved into our cabins.  After unpacking we had lots to do.  A walking tour of the camp, swim tests, and meeting everyone we would be spending the next week with.  It was lots of excitement and lots of moving around when we got here.  

Tonight's dinner was al fresco...in other words we at outside.  Hot dogs with all the fixings, baked beans, chips, watermelon, and the softest chocolate chip cookies you could ever want to eat.  Although a lot of our campers were still full from lunch they recognized that they needed to stay fueled for all of the activities in front of them tonight and in the coming days.

Dinner was followed by a get to know you event in the Rec Hall.  There they met all the counselors, and other adults like county 4-H staff who came all the way to BJP with us.  We learned fun facts, learned about safety tips (like what to do when the big bell rings) and just worked at settling into our new surroundings.

No camp experience would be complete without a campfire.  Tonights campfire was awesome.  There were hysterical skits (ask us about the invisible bench when we get home or ice fisihing), we sang repeat after me songs, and just had the best time ever.

When campfire was over it was time to head back to the cabins, get showers, and then hit the hay.  Most of the cabins had lights out before 10 tonight and that is because lights on come very early in the morning (7 am) for breakfast and cabin cleanup.  Stay tuned there is a contest for the cleanest cabin...you won't want to miss who whens.

To see the photos from our first day's adventure check them out here.  More photos will be coming on Monday to this album. 

Stay tuned for what tomorrow brings.

  

Remembering Joyce Jones

   It is with great sadness that we share the passing of 4-H Volunteer Joyce Jones.  Joyce has been a volunteer for almost 40 years which has had a monumental impact on our program and in our community.  She worked closely with Young Leaders 4-H Club that met at Sandy Grove Baptist Church in Lumberton before the hurricanes.  Mrs. Jones was a devote member of that church and a big supporter of the club, and our overall 4-H program.

Mrs. Jones passed away on July 19th and was proceeded in death by her husband Dr. Robert Jones.  Dr. Jones served in almost every capacity in our Robeson County school system.  The two were married for 54 years before his passing 5 years ago.  Together they were a community driven, civic minded, couple that with grace, kindness and dignity offered a lending hand to others and worked tirelessly to make their community a better place.  She is survived by their two children Rhondette and Bobby.  Our prayers are with them, her church family, and all of us who were impacted by this family's kindness through the years.

Joyce will always be remembered for her smile, generous heart, and kind soul which helped her help others.  She served in any capacity needed whether it be buying snacks for a club meeting or hosting it at her home.  She enjoyed the networking and fellowship of 4-H volunteers and hand no idea that her kindness, can do attitude, and longevity served as an inspiration to volunteers around the state.   Our volunteers awarded her the Dr. Eddie and Mrs. Brenda Locklear Volunteer of the Year award in 2023.  She was shocked to receive it and we could not think of anyone more deserving.   Her presence will be missed but her generous spirit will never be forgotten as we try to remember to walk in the footprints that she left behind.

You can find the obituary for Mrs. Jones here.  A visitation will be held July 28, from 5-7pm, at Colvin Funeral Home on Elizabethtown Road in Lumberton. A celebration of life will be held on July 29th starting at 1 pm at Sandy Grove Baptist Church on MLK Blvd in Lumberton.

We Need Your Help

Happy Summer!

We realize we are midway in our Summer vacations and thinking about back to school.  We have two unique opportunities for you to give back to the community if you can find the time.  Knowing our 4-H members they probably have a few minutes to help out with this one.

First we need books for our lending library.  If you are doing a cleanup at home and happen to have books you would like to donate we would love to have them.  We are looking for gently used books for all ages.  Younger readers tend to get from our library more than others but we would love books for everyone.  Since March we have had more than 150 books picked up from our library.  We have also had 70 books donated in that same time frame.  However we are starting to run short and would love some to support our lending library.  Having youth read from an early age helps battle illiteracy and we love that our youth came up with this idea to make reading fun and affordable.

Second Young Leaders 4-H Club has partnered with Covenant Worship Center & New Beginnings Church  to help collect school supplies for a community back to school event on August 1.  The list of items they are looking for includes:

• #2 Pencils
• Blue or Black Ink Pens
• Highlighters
• Crayons or Colored Pencils
• Washable Markers
• Pink Easers or Pencil Top Erasers
• Spiral Notebooks
• Loose-Leaf Notebook Paper
• Pocket Folders
• Index Cards
• Pencil Boxes or Zippered Pencil Pouches
• Glue Sticks
• Blunt-Tip or Pointed Scissors

To donate just drop off the items at our office.  We will have two specifically labeled boxes in the lobby and you can just run in and leave them there.  Of course if you would like us to know who is dropping off, let Jessica at the front desk know and if we are here (you know summer is a busy time for us) we will come out and thank you in person for your generosity.  If we are not here just let Jessica know you were here so we can give you a call, shoot you a text, or give you a big shout out.  You know how much we love seeing our 4-H Families.

Thank you in advance for any of these things you can help with,

Jade and Shea Ann

Breaking News!

 

NC 4-H Introduces New Online System for Project Records

— Written by Jacob Hanlon — Contributors: Lauren Hoesli, Shannon McCollum | July 17, 2026

North Carolina 4-H is excited to announce a new option for completing 4-H project records. Beginning with the 2026 program year, members may complete their project record online through Kaleidoscope, marking the first step in a transition toward a fully digital project record system.

The development of this project has been underway for several years. During that time, the state 4-H team has worked to redesign project records for a digital environment. The system has undergone pilot testing and feedback from 4-H members, volunteers, and staff to help refine the experience before statewide implementation.

Introducing Kaleidoscope

Kaleidoscope is an online application platform used by organizations to manage awards, scholarships and other application-based programs. NC 4-H has contracted Kaleidoscope to provide a modern, user-friendly way for members to complete project records electronically.

Through the platform, members can:

Save their progress throughout the year

Return to their project record at any time

Generate a completed record for printing

By providing a more accessible and flexible way to complete project records, Kaleidoscope supports both the needs of today's 4-H members and the future direction of the program.

Preparing Youth for the Future

This transition is part of NC 4-H's ongoing effort to modernize parts of our programming and prepare youth for success in an increasingly digital world. As most scholarships, college applications, internships, and career opportunities increasingly rely on online application systems, moving to an online system will allow the next generation of leaders to develop valuable skills in digital record keeping, organization, and written communication.

Accessibility is another important factor in this initiative. Web-based systems can better support screen readers, keyboard navigation, and other assistive technologies, helping NC 4-H improve compliance with accessibility expectations established by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Moving online helps ensure more members can fully participate in the project record process.

The online project record maintains the same general structure and requirements as the traditional format while providing a more streamlined experience, allowing members to update activities, achievements, project work, and reflections throughout the year.

While the long-term goal is to move toward a fully online system where project records can be both completed and submitted electronically, the transition will occur gradually to ensure counties, volunteers, families, and members have time to adapt to the new process.

What This Means for 2026

For the 2026 program year (project records documenting 2026 activities), project records completed through Kaleidoscope must still be printed and submitted as physical copies through county 4-H programs. Electronic submission through Kaleidoscope is not available at this time.

Recognizing that some members and counties may need additional time to adjust to the new system, NC 4-H will continue to offer alternative formats during this transition year.

In addition to Kaleidoscope, members may choose from the following formats:

• Fillable Google Doc version, which can be completed electronically
• Printable PDF version, which can be completed by hand

All three formats will be accepted for the 2026 program year. Regardless of which format is used, project records must still be printed and submitted according to county instructions and deadlines.

The 2026 program year represents an important milestone in the transition process. By introducing Kaleidoscope as an option now, we can continue gathering feedback and refining the online project record experience for future generations of 4-H members.

Looking ahead, we aim to eventually integrate features such as online submission, reviewer feedback within Kaleidoscope prior to submission, and electronic review and judging following submission.

At this time, portfolios cannot be completed through Kaleidoscope and must be completed using the traditional portfolio format.

We encourage members, volunteers, and families to explore Kaleidoscope and become familiar with the new system.