4-H Camp Funds New Shelter House

March 1, 2020, Tar Hollow 4-H Camps launched what they hoped to be a successful 31-day fundraising campaign to raise $40,000 for a new shelter house and restroom at Tar Hollow State Park. A short 10 days later they put the campaign on hold as the world came screeching to a halt at the onset of Covid-19.

Although delayed, the group was surprised to find a passion for the project from longstanding 4-H alumni and friends who have managed to fund the project despite the obvious pandemic obstacles. Approaching two years later, the project is funded, plans are drafted, and approval through the Ohio Department of Natural Resources is in progress. The hope is to have a new shelter house built next spring to be used by camp residents starting in summer 2022. This ambitious project would not have been possible without heavy lifting from our community of financial supporters.

This 48” x 36” shelter house meets a need for an additional large, covered space to run small and large group programming with campers on the hottest and rainiest days. It will be built in a large open field beyond the existing campfire circle. In addition to the shelter house, a small waterless toilet will be constructed for ease of access despite the more remote location.

Since 1938, Tar Hollow 4-H Camp has been held for six weeks annually in the hills of the resident camp at Tar Hollow State Park, and hosts youth from Athens, Fairfield, Pickaway, and Ross County 4-H programs. The camp is run by the non-profit board Ross-Hocking Extension Camp Association comprised of staff and volunteers from each of the county 4-H programs. Tar Hollow 4-H Camps would not be actively engaging over 1,000 kids each summer without the steadfast support of our community members through service, donations, and trust.

For more information about attending a county 4-H camp, contact your county Extension office. To donate to Tar Hollow 4-H camp programming and continued improvements, donors can send funds to OSU Extension Pickaway County, 110 Island Road, Suite B, Circleville, OH 43113. Checks should be made out to The Ohio State University and include “Tar Hollow Support Fund 316857” in the memo.

By: Katie Wells, 4-H Educator, Ross County

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