THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, July 21, 1994 TAG: 9407200178
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 12 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: COVER STORY
SOURCE: BY PHYLLIS SPEIDELL, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Long : 147 lines
IN THE QUIET of the night, Therbia Parker, a counselor at the 4-H Junior Summer Camp, could hear muffled sobs coming from the bunk above his.
A small camper, away from home for the first time, was crying softly into his pillow.
Therbia's thoughts immediately flashed back half a dozen years to his first time at 4-H camp.
``It was the first thing that popped into my mind,'' Therbia said. ``I remember that I was scared, and that when my parents came for family night, I cried to go home with them.''
With an understanding born of having been there himself, Therbia consoled the child and walked him to the dispensary, where the camp nurse diagnosed homesickness as his only problem.
A cool cloth on his forehead and a heavy dose of tender loving care soon had the lonesome camper sleeping peacefully.
The H's of 4-H stand for head, heart, hands and health, all of which were evident last week at the summer camp sessions at the Airfield 4-H Center in Wakefield.
Especially the heart. Throughout the camp, concern, empathy and a warm spirit of friendship created an atmosphere where young campers could experience new adventures, learn new skills and meet new people.
During the week of July 11-15, more than 200 campers from Suffolk, Norfolk and Prince George County came together at the Wakefield center.
The youngsters, divided into six groups named for Indian tribes, followed a daily schedule that emphasized the responsibilities of group living, leadership and learning by doing.
The campers, most of them 9 to 13, lived in air-conditioned lodges and met for meals in a spacious dining hall decorated with deer and moose heads and a few ferocious-looking stuffed bears.
The youngsters canoed, fished, swam and studied leather craft, theatrical arts, camping skills, riflery and nature lore.
Jamila Jenkins, 15, a sophomore at Maury High School in Norfolk, has been coming to 4-H camp for four years.
``I really like the atmosphere here,'' Jamila said. ``As a camper, I had a lot of fun taking classes and learning new things. Every year that I come back, I learn something new and meet different people.''
Jamila and Therbia, 15, a junior at Lakeland High School, are volunteer counselors who have achieved the additional status of Big Chief within their camp tribe.
``We are in charge of the campers, keeping them in line, pushing them to do their best and making sure they participate in everything,'' Therbia said.
The Big Chiefs, themselves former campers selected by the 4-H extension staff, also oversee the other volunteer teen counselors and counselors-in-training.
``When I was a little camper, I always wanted to be a Big Chief,'' Therbia said. ``I get a free ride to camp and that is pay enough.''
Therbia has been in 4-H for eight years and is currently president of the Holland Dutchmen 4-H club.
Of the 60 campers from Norfolk last week, only about seven were first-timers, Norfolk extension agent Berline Brown said.
``For most of them, camp is the one thing they do with 4-H each year, and they stay involved until they are about 15 or 16, when we start losing them to summer jobs,'' Brown said.
Kristen Oliver, 10, a sixth-grader at John F. Kennedy Middle School, has been a 4-H camper for three years. Full of giggles, Kristen looked more ready for a trip to the mall than a class in riflery, with her spotless purple shorts outfit and bright pink nail polish.
But the giggles stopped when she strapped on safety goggles and picked up and easily loaded an air rifle. Both her dad and brother hunt, and this was not the first time she had held a gun.
``I have aimed a rifle before, a heavier one with bear shot in it, but not shot one,'' Kristen said. ``This was a lot easier.''
Brian Thompson, 14, a freshman at Isle of Wight Academy, has been coming back to the camp for five years because he enjoys the friends and the canoeing.
``It is never boring because they have a lot of things to do,'' Brian said.
This year Brian, who is experienced with canoes, tried paddling a kayak for the first time. As the kayak wobbled out onto the lake on his maiden voyage, he had some second thoughts.
``I don't like this,'' Brian yelled a few times from the lake until he stabilized and paddled around more confidently.
Nicholas Townsend, 11, a sixth-grader at Blair Middle School in Norfolk, chatted while he awaited his turn in a canoe.
``I heard about camp from a friend and came last year,'' Nicholas said. ``I liked it so much, I wanted to come back.''
What is the very best thing about camp? Nicholas had a quick answer.
``The campfires here are really big,'' he said.
Chris Duke, 11, a sixth-grader at John F. Kennedy Middle School, agreed.
``I think it is neat to have the campfires with all the tribes together and singing songs,'' Chris said.
On a point overlooking the lake, 4-H staffer Mike McDermott, 18, of Chesapeake, had his hands full teaching the 12- and 13-year-olds the rudiments of tent camping.
``This class is really about team building and working together,'' McDermott said. ``When you are out in the woods, you have to rely on everyone.''
In preparation for their overnight campout, the class had to learn how to erect a tent.
McDermott divided them into smaller teams, gave each an unassembled tent and allowed them only three questions as they figured out how to set it up.
As the class finished, one camper picked up a large metal canister and opened it to find, among other items, a stack of plastic discs the size of dinner plates.
``Look, we have Frisbees,'' he yelled as he sailed one across the clearing.
``No, actually that is a cooking kit, and that was what you will be eating from,'' McDermott explained patiently, grateful that the class had one more session before they headed into the woods.
Not quite ready for outdoor camping yet, Mia Holmes, 9, a first-time camper, was learning how to make corn bread over an open fire.
Mia, a fifth-grader at Fairlawn Elementary School in Norfolk, was still just a little homesick.
``I miss my mama, and it is hot here,'' Mia said. ``But the food is great, and I am having fun.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff color photo by JOHN H. SHEALLY II
Jennifer O'Berry, center, instructs the campers about canoe safety
at the 4-H Junior Summer Camp in Wakefield. [This photo appeared on
page 1]
Staff photos by JOHN H. SHEALLY II
There's a hint of doubt in Cassandra Carter's expression as she
waits for her corn bread to cook over an open fire at the 4-H camp
in Wakefield. The Norfolk camper knew that supper depended on it.
Instructor Ruben ``Cookie'' Brown finds that Kristen Oliver of
Suffolk already knows a thing or two about shooting a rifle. Both
her dad and brother hunt.
Brian Thompson of Suffolk, who is experienced with canoes, prepares
to try his luck with a kayak. As it wobbled out onto the lake on his
maiden voyage, he had some second thoughts. ``I don't like this,''
he yelled.
Counselor Therbia Parker, left, helps Eric Robinett with a
leathercraft project. The campers also studied theatrical arts and
nature lore.
by CNB