Ashley Hunter
ECB Publishing, Inc.
This year, there will be no Camp Cherry Lake and no 4-H Day Camps, says John Lilly, the Jefferson County 4-H Director at the local UF/IFAS Extension Office.
“Florida 4-H has continued to monitor the COVID-19 situation,” writes Lilly. “In line with the direction of the University of Florida, the CDC and others, I am very disappointed to share with you that all in-person Florida 4-H summer programs have been canceled through July 31, 2020.”
The summer programs that would have taken place in Jefferson County during that time would have been: 4-H Legislature, 4-H University, residential camping at Camp Cherry Lake and 4-H Day Camps.
“This is undoubtedly disappointing. Please know it is to us too,” says Lilly. “This has been an agonizing decision that was not made lightly but was made in consideration of the health of all in our 4-H family.”
To help fill the empty slot left behind by these camp cancelations, Lilly says his office is working on ways to allow local youth to connect and participate in new, virtual programs.
“We know this may not look the same, but we feel a great responsibility to continue to provide our 4-H members and families [with] a place to learn, lead, serve, grow and belong,” adds Lilly.
As this is a new challenge to the Jefferson County and statewide 4-H staff, Lilly advises that at the moment, he has no clear concept of what these virtual programs will look like, but assured local families that the programs will reflect the 4-H attitude of problem-solving.
“4-H has a history of youth-adult partnership and we value our youth as the problem-solvers they are,” says Lilly - adding that with those values in mind, the virtual programs will be drawing on the creative problem-solving skills of young leaders to put forth ideas and innovative concepts. “We will be tasking some of our own youth leaders to create innovative solutions.”
“This is unprecedented for us and we realize this is disappointing news. We believe we will hit the ground running with the start of the 4-H year on September 1, 2020,” Lilly concluded. “Please know though that the safety of our 4-H members, volunteers, families, staff and faculty is always our top priority, and thank you for your cooperation in keeping us all healthy.”
Parents and youth with questions about these cancelations or ideas on virtual programs are invited to contact the local Jefferson County Extension Office at (850) 342-0187 or can email 4-H Director John Lilly at jgl@ufl.edu.
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