4-H Summer Camp

There’s no place like summer camp! LaPorte County is a part of the Lake, LaPorte, Porter and Starke county camping group! We gather with 4-H’ers in those neighboring counties for a 3-day camp experience at Camp Mack in Milford, IN each summer. 4-H Camp is for enrolled 4-H members who are in grades 3-6 as of January 1 of the current program year. Camp counselors are in grades 9-12 and Counselors in Training (CITs) are in grades 7-8. 

Camp dates for 2024: We are looking forward to lots of fun and excitement at 4-H Camp this summer! This year, camp begins on Tuesday afternoon, June 4 and ends on Thursday morning, June 6. Our counselors and CITs are planning many activities for you to enjoy. We will be swimming, boating, hiking, making crafts, doing leadership activities, learning about 4-H, and the list goes on and on! We will pack loads of fun into the short time we are there.

Questions?

Contact the LaPorte County 4-H office:

2857 W. State Road 2
LaPorte, IN 46350
(219) 324-9407

Become a 4-H Camp Counselor!

Serving as a 4-H camp counselor is an incredible and rewarding experience for young people in grades 9-12 or a counselor in training for grades 7-8. As a counselor/CIT, you'll have the chance to work with young people and help them make unforgettable memories while enjoying the great outdoors. Scroll below for more information!

Information for Campers (Grades 3-6) and families

HOW TO REGISTER

To register for camp, log into 4-H Online, click your child's name, go to the events tab, and continue from there. The registration in 4-H Online will ask for a health form and other camp related documents. Registration closes May 15.

Your payment of $50.00 per camper is due with your registration forms by May 15. This fee includes all meals and your own camp t-shirt. Make checks payable to LaPorte 4-H Council. Refunds for cancellations cannot be made after May 15.

The first 41 campers will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Once we have reached 41 registered campers, potential campers will be added to a waiting list and notified of any openings.

If you prefer to be in a cabin with a particular camper, please note the camper’s name in the "Any Special Requests" section of registration. There is no guarantee that we can make this happen, but we will try our best.

GETTING TO AND FROM CAMP

It is requested that you take the bus that is provided by LaPorte County to and from camp. Contact us if you need other arrangements.

Departure time: Tuesday, June 4 at 8:30 AM CST at Wanatah Elementary. Please check in with the volunteers present when you arrive at the bus. The bus will depart promptly at 8:45 AM. From there the bus will head to the LaPorte County Fairgrounds to pick up campers. Please have your kids ready around 9:30 AM as the bus will leave the LaPorte County Fairgrounds promptly at 9:45 AM.

Arrival Home: Thursday, June 6 at the LaPorte County Fairgrounds at a time to be determined. You are responsible for your child being picked up from the fairgrounds. Once those campers are dropped off, we will head to Wanatah Elementary School. Your Child may ride home with another parent ONLY with your written permission in advance.

WHAT TO BRING TO CAMP

Please label your belongings whenever possible!

  • Sleeping bag or bedroll, sheet, pillow, pajamas, stuffed animal (if desired)
  • 4 changes of clothing (include 1 pair of jeans or sweats). Bring a 4-H shirt if you have one!
  • 5-7 pairs of socks
  • Jacket or sweatshirt
  • Swim suit and beach towel
  • Towel, wash cloth, soap, shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrush, hairbrush, any other hygiene articles
  • Rainwear – umbrella, poncho (Camp goes on, even in the rain!)
  • Good pair of walking shoes with closed toes and heels
  • Sunscreen, insect repellent, flashlight
  • Water bottle or canteen (Some water bottles have carrying straps.)
  • Money for concessions and craft kits - $20.00 in small bills. (Parents should discuss with their camper(s) the importance of being responsible for money brought to camp. Lost money is impossible to identify, so please keep money in more than one safe place. Twenty-dollar bills are discouraged, as that’s a lot of money to lose if it falls out of your pocket. Use smaller bills instead, and keep them in separate places among your belongings.)

Do NOT bring the following to camp:

  • Cell phone, tablet, radio, CD player, electronic games or toys
  • Fishing equipment, knives, ammo, or fireworks
  • Hot rollers or curling irons
  • Clothing or swim wear that does not reflect the positive values taught in 4-H. Please use common sense and modesty when choosing your clothing.

HEALTH FORMS AND MEDICATIONS

Your health is important! All campers must have a health form in order to attend. Be sure to complete both sides of the form and check if the camp nurse can give Tylenol or Advil if needed or anticipated. Please list any food allergies on the health form as well.

Send prescription medications in the container they came in with directions. The container should be in a Ziploc bag with a completed half-sheet medication form and the camper’s name on the outside. These should be given to the camp nurse upon arrival at camp or to an Extension Educator before boarding the bus.

This includes bee sting kits (if your child is allergic to bee stings) and inhalers. If your child uses an inhaler, he or she is expected to know how to use it independently. We will have Tylenol and skin ointments for bug bites and general scrapes, splinters, etc.

PHONE CALLS AT CAMP

Parents, if you need to contact your child, please call Camp Mack at 574-658-4831 and they will transfer your call to the Extension Educators who will locate your child based on their scheduled activity and get them to the phone.

You can also download the GroupMe app and direct message Kelsey. The GroupMe link will be sent to all campers that are registered. We will post pictures to Facebook as often as we can but please know that we are trying to give your 4-Her a safe and fun experience and post to social media takes time away from that.


BECOME A CAMP COUNSELOR!

Are you looking for a fun and rewarding summer experience? Then consider becoming a 4-H camp counselor! Camp counselors are in grades 9-12 and counselors in training (CITs) are in grades 7-8. Not only will you have a blast at camp, but you'll also gain valuable leadership and teamwork skills that will serve you well in the future.

As a camp counselor, your role will be to help lead the younger campers through activities like swimming, boating, hiking, making crafts, leadership activities, learning about 4-H, and much more! 4-H Camp is for 4-H members who are in grades 3-6, so your campers will be between the ages of 8 and 11.

To sign up to be a camp counselor, you will submit your application through 4-H online by March 1. Your payment of $50.00 per counselor is due to the Extension Office upon notification that you have been accepted as a counselor or CIT (around March 15).

WHAT TO DO BEFORE CAMP

Camp Counselors meet 2-3 times between April and June to prepare for camp with counselor training's with one weekend retreat. During these meetings you will work to plan all camp activities. These training's are a lot of fun and give you a chance to meet the other counselors you will be working with at camp!