Hillsboro Great Oaks FFA members attend Camp Muskingum

On June 29-July 3, 12 members from the Hillsboro Great Oaks FFA Chapter attended Ohio FFA Camp Muskingum.

FFA Camp was time spent participating in activities, learning new information about a multitude of different topics, spending time with friends, creating new bonds and learning valuable lessons to help members in their daily lives.

Each day at camp was filled with activities, whether it was going on a tour on a pontoon boat, or spending your free time learning a new line dance. Every morning and every evening, there would be a flag raising/lowering, and two state officers would discuss an important person or event in history that relates to the goals of FFA. Every morning campers, or staff, would have the opportunity to do a polar plunge, where you would jump in the lake at around 6:45 a.m., or a sunrise walk.

The first day we arrived at camp, we were assigned to our bunks and into groups of randomized members. The first day of camp was spent getting to know the people in your groups, going over basic camp introductions and instructions, and we finished off the night with a camp dance.

Day two consisted of different rotations based on if you were a senior or grad or if you were a junior or younger. There was also a workshop that campers attended that was created and directed by two state officers. David Kohout arrived at camp and spoke for “Talk Is Cheap,” and the campers finished off the night with a scavenger hunt, or if you were a junior, the junior overnighter.

Day three also was structured around different rotations depending on if you were in an even group number or an odd group number. We finished off day three with a game in which all members and staff at camp participated.

Day four, being similar to day three, included rotations depending on your group number. Then, after rotations were finished, we played multiple water games and participated in a few tournaments of different activities. After water games, we finished the night with our second and last camp dance.

Day five was spent cleaning up and going over winners of tournaments and special shoutouts from each of the state officers.

At the end of every day, there was a campfire where campers and staff would reflect on the day. There was a building called the Canteen where there was merchandise and slushies sold during any time there was free time.

Lessons learned at FFA camp will be used in the future to help members remember why they joined FFA and how they will persevere through the daily game of life.

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