56 4-H’ers Attend County Camp

Pendleton County 4-H’ers concluded their week of camp with council circle June 8 at Thorn Spring Park.  Fifty-six 4-H’ers were enrolled for this year’s camp.  The week’s theme was “Down Home on the Farm.” 

Camp classes and instructors included air pistol – Wes Puffenbarger, air rifle and shotgun – Rick Pownell, animal investigation service – John Pingley, basket making – Vickie Skavenski and Janet Hartman, first-year camper – Creed Ammons (extension camping instructor), friendship bracelets – Creed Ammons and Brooke Alt, summertime drinks and snacks – Heidi Kimble, tie dyeing- Amanda Simmons, horticulture judging – Carrie Ruddle, fly fishing – Jeff Blare and Steven Miller; STEM – Ceila Alder (STEM ambassador); tribal painting class and Dollar Tree crafts – Sue Alt; charting – Moth Lovejoy and Autumn Baker (extension camping instructors) and outdoor cooking – Ashley Harper.

Camp specials included the following: Monday – activities with Ceila Alder, Rosey Santerre and CJ Kesner of West Virginia Division of Forestry, Sam Urban of West Virginia Conservation Agency and Hannah Imhoff of the U.S. Forest Service; Tuesday – trip to Blackwater Falls, where campers hiked and boated at Pendleton Lake; Wednesday – swimming at the Franklin Town Pool; and Thursday – the forest service explained the Capitol Christmas Tree Project and campers painted their own ornament to hang on a tree in Washington, DC, later this year. A field day, full of different sports and water games, was also held. 

During the closing council circle the following awards were given:

Lucky penny certificates to eight first-year campers — Claira Kimble, Kenden Champ, Brantly Propst, Maycee Woods, Sean Waggy, Bella Hoover, Colton Drake and Jakob Dove;

Lucky nickel certificates — Abby Judy, Aiden Shirk, Ava Bowers, Breymann Keesekcer, Caleb Armentrout, Carly Kimble, Chesnee Colaw, Chevelle Noble, Chloe Barkley, Cody Miller, Easton Boner, Emma Puffenbarger, Gary Smith, Hannah Heavner, Jayce Thompson, Jayden Souza, Kynleigh Sponaugle, Lexi Hedrick, Maddie Kirk, Marion Williams, Marley Champ, Owen Champ, Reagyn Atkins, Ross Pownell, Shayne Clutter, Tia Heavner, Tori Heavner, Ty Armentrout, Ty Heavner and Vaylee Harper;

Third-year felt awards — Jax Bennett, Mason Harper, Katie Heavner, Alanna Miller, Phoebe Pownell, and Tanner Hedrick; and

Fifth-year felt awards were presented to Jameigh Miller, Vivian Pownell and Madison Arbaugh. 

Thirty, $10 scholarships were awarded to the outstanding class participants, recipients of the Mr. and Miss Congeniality, four H’s and Camp Spirit. The scholarships were provided by 4-H alumnus Stephen A. Cassell.  His gift was made to encourage Pendleton County 4-H’ers to attend camps, to use each experience as a way to continuously learn new things and meet new people and to take part in as many activities as possible. 

Outstanding class participants were air pistol – Kendon Champ, air rifle – Breymann Keesecker, animal investigation service – Marion Williams, basket making – Claira Kimble, Dollar Tree crafts – Emma Puffenbarger and Ava Bowers, first-year camper – Maycee Woods, trible painting – Maddie Kirk, friendship bracelets – Bella Hoover and Reagyn Atkins, summertime drinks and snacks – Tia Heavner, Madison Arbaugh and Chesnee Colaw, shotgun – Callie Judy, tie dyeing – Lexi Hedrick and Hannah Heavner, outdoor cooking – Jamiegh Miller and Jayce Thompson, horticulture – Katie Heavner, fly fishing – Shayne Clutter, Colton Drake and Zander Adams and STEM – Brantly Propst and Owen Champ.

Miss and Mr. Congeniality awards were earned by Phoebe Pownell, Lexi Hedrick, Addie Rexrode, Ty Heavner, Caleb Armentrout and Jakob Dove.

Lydia Heavner was chosen to represent the Head H, Vivian Pownell, the Heart H, Katie Heavner, the Hands H and Jameigh Miller, the Health H. Lukas Alt was selected as Spirit of Camp and also received a $15 scholarship to a 2024 state camp, the Freida Dunkle scholarship. 

Bella Hoover was awarded the Outstanding First-Year Camper Girl Scholarship, while Kendon Champ was awarded the Outstanding First-Year Camper Boy Scholarship. 

Tribal chiefs, Phoebe Pownell, Vivian Pownell, McKenna Hedrick and Madison Arbaugh, received a half scholarship to the 2024 county camp from the Judy Memorial Scholarship Fund.

The Andy Guy Memorial Scholarship, a scholarship to the 2024 county 4-H camp, was awarded to Ty Heavner.  

Ross Pownell received the Outstanding Second-Year Camper award, a full scholarship to the 2024 county camp funded by the McCoy family in memory of Bill and in honor of Harriet. 

Mason Harper received the 4-H’s award, which provides a third-year camper a full scholarship to the 2024 county camp.  

Vivian Pownell received the Clover Scholarship. Lydia Heavner, the Leadership Scholarship and Callie Judy, the Opportunity Scholarship. Each award is a half-scholarship to a 2024 state 4-H camp of the camper’s choice.

Lukas Alt was the recipient of the 4-H Shooting Sports Scholarship, sponsored by Jim Dever, which is a full scholarship to the 2024 Ultimate Outdoor weekend at Jackson’s Mill.

Tribal loyalty certificates were awarded to Hanna Bennett and Owen Champ (Cherokee), Jax Bennett and Jakob Dove (Delaware), Lydia Heavner and Chevelle Nobel (Mingo) and Addie Rexrode and Vaylee Harper (Seneca). 

Tribal honors were awarded to the Delaware tribe.

Tribes for the week consisted of the following:

Cherokee — McKenna Hedrick (chief), Alex Adams (first sagamore), Callie Judy (second sagamore), Abby Judy, Breymann Keesecker, Hannah Bennett, Easton Boner, Emma Puffenbarger, Hannah Heavner, Kynleigh Sponaugle, Owen Champ, Reagyn Atkins, Ross Pownell, Kenden Champ and Colton Drake; 

Delaware — Phoebe Pownell (chief), Katie Heavner (first sagamore), Caleb Armentrout (second sagamore), Alanna Miller, Ava Bowers, Jax Bennett, Jayden Souza, Marly Champ, Shayne Clutter, Tia Heavner, Aiden Shirk, Jameigh Miller, Sean Waggy and Jakob Dove;

Mingo — Vivian Pownell (chief), Zander Adams (first sagamore), Lukas Alt (second sagamore), Lydia Heavner, Chesnee Colaw, Chevelle Noble, Cody Miller, Tanner Hedrick, Ty Armentrout, Gary Smith, Brantly Propst and Maycee Woods;

Seneca — Madison Arbaugh (chief), Ty Heavner (first sagamore), Jayce Thompson (second sagamore), Addie Rexrode, Cole Harper, Mason Harper, Carly Kimble, Chloe Barkley, Lexi Hedrick, Maddie Kirk, Marion Williams, Tori Heavner, Vaylee Harper, Claira Kimble and Bella Hoover: and 

Big Foot — Brooke Alt (camp director), Janet Hartman (WVU Extension Office administrative assistant), Creed Ammons, Autumn Baker and Moth Lovejoy (extension camping instructors), Ceila Alder (WVU STEM ambassador), Ashley Harper, Carrie Ruddle, Amanda Simmons, Mary Konieczny, Rick Pownell, Bobby Keesecker, Wes Puffenbarger, Jeremy Hedrick, Cody Dent and Gary Hess (counselors) and Nancy Barkley and Jessica Barkley (food service).