KINGSVILLE (June 17, 2024) — Students representing 20 South Texas counties and 15 Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Agents convened at Texas A&M University-Kingsville (TAMUK) for the annual District 12 4-H Leadership Lab overnight camp on June 12-14.
The camp, named “ELEVATE” this year, was hosted at the Kleberg Agriculture Building and taught campers leadership and life skills through activities, team-building exercises, and learning sessions.
“This has been a great experience to see the camp from an officer’s perspective,” said Lia Kathleen Gutierrez, District 12 4-H Youth Advisor Starr County. “I think the growth we’ve seen from the kids has been honestly amazing. The camp was good and everyone got to work together and got to meet new people and that’s what the purpose of this camp is.”
Activities included games such as teaming up to design and present a spirit stick to judges to practice public speaking and presentation.
Teamwork challenges featured stacking cups and passing through crossed ropes to teach teamwork and communication.
“I thought the camp was really fun and the leaders were great,” Lyford senior Keller Busse said. “I learned a lot of things I will actually take with me. I feel comfortable speaking in front of a crowd of people now and I even learned to dance a lot better. The activities were challenging and frustrating, but we eventually went through with them and were able to finish them.”
For county agents, the camp was a way to encourage more participation in each county.
“We want the campers to learn leadership skills and activities that they can take back to their counties,” said Leslie Dominguez, TAMUK alumni and Zavala County Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent. “We’re hoping that the skills they learn here they can apply back home and that it encourages them to run for district officer, county council or club officer. We want them to help encourage kids to get more involved as well.”
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