Carroll County 4-H Residential Camp

The Carroll County 4-H Residential Camp Program rents out the Hashawha Environmental Center located at 300 John Owings Rd. Westminster, MD 21158. Many are familiar with this facility as it is the home of the Carroll County Outdoor School. You can visit https://www.carrollcountymd.gov/government/directory/recreation-parks/places-to-go/hashawha-environmental-center-bear-branch-nature-center/ for more information about the facility or https://youtu.be/5Q6L1XS5lAo for a video tour.

The cabins at camp are split into two bunk rooms. Each side holds 9 bunk beds for a total of 18 beds per side and 36 beds per cabin. Each side of the cabin has its own indoor bathroom with sinks, toilet stalls, and showers. Cabins are not air-conditioned but do have large fans. There are few power outlets, so battery-powered fans are recommended if a camper wants to bring their own.

The American Camp Association (ACA) is the only nationwide accrediting organization for all types and designs of organized camps. ACA Accreditation means that our summer camp cares enough to undergo a thorough peer review of its operation — from staff qualifications and training to emergency management. American Camp Association collaborates with experts from the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Red Cross, and other youth-serving agencies to assure that current practices at our camp reflect the most up-to-date, research-based standards in camp operation. Camps and ACA form a partnership that promotes growth and fun in an environment committed to safety.

ACA helps member camps like ours provide:

• Healthy, developmentally appropriate activities and learning experiences
• Discovery through experiential education
• Caring, competent role models
• Service to the community and the environment
• Opportunities for leadership and personal growth

No, 4-H camp is open to all! Carroll County 4-H Residential Camp accepts campers who are age 8-16 as of January 1 of the current year.  These are the parameters set for us nationally by the 4-H Youth Development Program.  Our overnight weeks are split into younger and older groups.  Any child who fits into the appropriate age range as of January 1 of the current year may apply for that respective session. Typically, our June camp is open to ages 8-11 and July is open to ages 10-16. As we are not primarily a special needs camp, Campers with special needs or allergies must notify us as soon as possible so we can work with our staff and facility managers to meet those needs.

Program activities vary from year to year, depending on the camp theme. Possible activities include: hiking, fishing, seining, group recreational sports & games, crafts, outdoor cookery, archery, and educational classes. Pool time is scheduled each day, weather permitting. The traditional campfire is a highlight of the week and a chance for campers to plan and perform group songs, skits, and cheers with their small groups.

The Carroll County 4-H Camp Program is a sleep-away camp. Campers are dropped off at 9:00 AM the Monday of camp week and remain with us until pick-up either at 1:00 PM Thursday of our June camp or 2:00 PM Friday of our July camp. These dates and times are communicated via email to those who register for camp.

No, our camp is a fully immersive overnight experience, and we do not have the staffing capacity to safely manage daily check-ins and check-outs. Part of the camp experience is helping youth build independence in a supportive environment. Our staff are trained to work with homesick campers, and in the rare instance that a child is unable to adjust, we will work directly with the parent to determine the best course of action.

Our camp program does not provide transportation to and from our camp facility. This is one of the main reasons we can remain so affordable! Drop-off and pick-up are the responsibility of each camper’s family. Detailed information with directions, arrival times, parking, and what to expect is emailed to registered camp families two weeks prior to the start of camp.

We hold two weeks of camp each summer. Week 1 is held at the end of June from Monday through Thursday for campers ages 8-11. Week 2 is held in mid-July from Monday through Friday for campers ages 10-16.

Camp registration opens on February 1st each year. You can find the links to register on Eventbrite at that time on the Carroll County Extension website: https://extension.umd.edu/resource/carroll-county-4-h-residential-camp

Camp registration will close when our cabins are full or two weeks prior to the first week of camp, whichever comes first.

We’re taking responsibility for your child while they are with us for camp, so there are quite a few forms that need to be filled out before they can attend. All camp forms are due two weeks prior to camp. These include:

• Application
• Health Form
• 4-H Code of Conduct
• Publicity Release
• Liability Release
• Sunscreen Authorization
• Archery Permission
• Camp Hashawha Release

These forms will be emailed to you within two weeks of your registration for camp on Eventbrite. Forms are due back with payment no later than 2 weeks prior to our first week of camp.  Please reach out to the Camp Director Team (cc4hcampdirectors@gmail.com) if you do not receive the forms or have any questions about filling them out.

Please do not wait to fill out these forms. A lot of information and multiple signatures are needed. If your child takes any kind of over-the-counter or prescription medications then a medication form will need to be signed by your doctor. Your child will not be able to attend camp unless each form is fully filled out and returned.

Due to a University of Maryland policy, we are unable to accept electronically signed forms. All forms must have wet signatures. Our mailing address for forms is 700 Agriculture Center Drive, Westminster, MD, 21157.

Registrants are always welcome to stop by the office in person to drop off their forms. We are open Monday-Friday from 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM. For after-hours drop-off, there is a locked box just to the left of the office front door which is checked daily by staff.

Payment for camp is due at the time of registration. Payment can either be completed on Eventbrite with Eventbrite’s user fees or by sending in a check to the Carroll County Extension Office. Checks can be made out to the CCEAB which stands for the Carroll County Extension Advisory Board. Our mailing address is 700 Agriculture Center Drive, Westminster, MD, 21157.

We can work with you on a payment plan for camp if needed; however, payment must be completed before your child arrives at camp. Please reach out to the Camp Director Team (cc4hcampdirectors@gmail.com) to set something up.

Registrants are always welcome to stop by the office in person to drop off payments and forms. We are open Monday-Friday from 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM. For after-hours drop-off, there is a locked box just to the left of the office front door.

Camp scholarship applications are offered to anyone who requests them. Contact the Carroll County Extension Office care of Torrey Silliman for a scholarship application. Applications can be emailed or mailed upon request. The deadline to return scholarship applications is April 30th each year - no exceptions. Applications can be mailed to the office (Attn: Torrey Silliman, 700 Agriculture Center Drive, Westminster, MD 21175), dropped off at the office in the locked drop-box to the left of the front door, or emailed to the Camp Director Team (cc4hcampdirectors@gmail.com). Please be aware that scholarship awards are need-based. Award amounts vary year to year depending on the amount of community donations received throughout the year and the number of scholarship applicants. Your child is not guaranteed a scholarship or may receive only a partial scholarship.

All scholarship applicants will receive email notification two weeks after the scholarship deadline has passed, whether they receive an award or not. All scholarship recipients are responsible for paying their remaining balance in full before the start of camp. 

Of course! Please indicate up to 3 campers that your child would like to be in a cabin with on the Application form. We always honor these requests and find that campers who have a friend in the cabin tend to be less homesick.

Please note that one of our goals at 4-H Camp is for campers to make new friends. As such we do not honor these friend requests when arranging our Small Groups that stick together throughout the day. Please reach out to the Camp Director Team (cc4hcampdirectors@gmail.com) if your child has anxiety or if you have any other concerns. We can be flexible so that your child has a successful camp experience. 

At camp, we encourage kids to step outside their comfort zones and build new friendships. Small groups are intentionally mixed to help campers develop social skills and connect with new peers. However, friends will still have plenty of time together in their cabins, during meals, and throughout camp activities. This approach helps create a more inclusive and enriching experience for everyone!

If you have any concerns, please reach out to the Camp Director Team at cc4hcampdirectors@gmail.com. We do monitor our Small Groups and have made adjustments based on camper interactions when needed. Our goal is to ensure every child has a successful and positive camp experience.

The Carroll County 4-H Residential Camp is a cell phone & electronic-free camp. These restrictions are in place for camper safety and the safety of your personal property. Additionally, there is no WIFI access, very few outlets for charging at camp, and limited cell service so many of these items wouldn’t work anyway. Campers are kept busy from Rise & Shine to Lights Out and rarely miss their electronics.

Of course! There is a space on both the Application and the Health Forms for you to detail any dietary restrictions or food allergies your child may have. The kitchen staff cooks for the school district at Outdoor School and is very experienced in making dietary accommodations. If you are concerned that your child will not eat or won’t have enough options you are welcome to leave food with the adult staff at camp check-in. We will make sure that it is made available to your child. You’re also welcome to leave alternate milk options for your child with adult staff at check-in so that it is available to them at breakfast with cereal. All food items must be labeled with the child’s name. Food is not allowed in the cabin, so do not send it directly with your child. 4-H signs a rental agreement with Hashawha Environmental Center to rent the facility and keep food (and thus mice) out of the cabins as part of the agreement.

The Carroll County 4-H Residential Camp Program falls under the University of Maryland. This means that: University programs, activities, and facilities are available to all without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, age, national origin, political affiliation, physical or mental disability, religion, protected veteran status, genetic information, personal appearance, or any other legally protected class.

To make accommodations we need to know how to do so successfully no later than May 31st each year. You can contact the Camp Director Team (cc4hcampdirectors@gmail.com), call at 410-386-2760, or schedule an in-person or Zoom meeting at the Carroll County Extension Office at 700 Agriculture Center Drive, Westminster, MD, 21157. In the past, some camp families have submitted their child’s 504 plan or IEP to help us understand their child’s needs.

You can leave camp mail with the Adult Staff at camp check-in to be given out daily during lunch. You can also send your child with stamped and addressed envelopes for return mail from camp!

In case of an emergency where you need to contact your child, you can email the Camp Director Team (cc4hcampdirectors@gmail.com) or call the Camp Hashawha Health Room phone at 410-386-3564.

Camp orientation occurs every year in June over Zoom. Parents and campers are encouraged to attend and ask questions. If you can’t make it to the meeting, no worries! We will record and email out the video afterward.

A packing list will be sent out 2 weeks before camp with all the drop-off information.

4-H is a Positive Youth Development Organization and our Youth Volunteer Leadership Program is no different! Beginning at age 12 campers can elect to become a Youth Volunteer.

• Small Group Leader (SGL) - Small Group Leaders will provide support and guidance to a group of 16 to 18 enthusiastic youth campers. They will collaborate closely with their assigned Small Group, Youth Directors, and Adult Director Team to coordinate engaging camp activities and programs. Youth must be 15 years old as of June 2024 to apply for this role.
• Activity Leader (AL) - Activity Leaders will work together to choose, plan, and lead camp craft and recreation activities for groups of 16 to 18 young campers. They will also assist Small Group Leaders in coordinating Small Group activities. Youth must be 14 years old as of June 2024 to apply for this role.
• Leader-In-Training (LIT) - Leader-In-Training participants will provide leadership and guidance to a cabin of 15 campers, collaborate to create a LIT-led camp activity, and support their Small Group Leader in executing Small Group activities. Youth must be 12 years old as of June 2024 to apply for this role.

These positions are strictly volunteer and allow youth to gain leadership skills while earning Maryland service-learning hours for school. Applications will be available the last week of October each year and are due back the Friday of the second full week in December. Youth will interview either via Zoom or in person in late December to early January.

Because our camp is accredited by the American Camp Association each of our Camp Volunteers must complete 30 hours of training each year. We plan our training to take place once a month from January-June at the Carroll County Extension Office (700 Agriculture Center Drive, Westminster, MD, 21157). In April or March, training will take place from Saturday morning to noon on Sunday at Camp Hashawha. It is expected that when a Youth Volunteer Leader commits to the program they attend each training. Please be aware that our Youth Volunteers still pay to attend camp as these youth still receive all the benefits of camp including food, housing, and all crafts & activities.

All Adult Camp Volunteers go through the University of Maryland Extension 4-H Volunteer process. Adult Camp Volunteers will need to be fingerprinted and approved before working with youth. Because our camp is accredited by the American Camp Association each of our Camp Volunteers must complete 30 hours of training each year. We plan our training to take place once a month from January-June at the Carroll County Extension Office (700 Agriculture Center Drive, Westminster, MD, 21157). In April or March, training will take place from Saturday morning to noon on Sunday at Camp Hashawha. If you would like to join our Adult Volunteer Staff, please reach out to the Camp Director Team (cc4hcampdirectors@gmail.com).

The Camp Volunteer Staff does a sweep of the grounds before leaving the facility. Anything collected goes to the Carroll County Extension Office (700 Agriculture Center Drive, Westminster, MD, 21157). Pictures of lost items will be posted on the Camp Facebook Page and emailed out to families. If your item isn’t pictured, then it is not at the Extension Office. In that case, the staff at Bear Branch Nature Center will need to be contacted to see if it was found there.

Lost and found items will be discarded if not claimed within 30 days.

We understand that summer plans change! Please contact the Camp Director Team (cc4hcampdirectors@gmail.com) as soon as you know you will not be able to attend camp. With enough notice, we can refund you the cost of camp minus any Eventbrite fees. With less than 30 days of notice, the 4-H Camp will not be able to refund you at all given that supplies have been purchased and the rental facility has already been paid for your camper’s attendance.

Please contact the Camp Director Team at cc4hcampdirectors@gmail.com to get your specific question answered!