Alpha II | Extension | West Virginia University

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What is Alpha II Camp?

Group of campers posing for a photo outside

Alpha II is a statewide week-long summer camp held at WVU Jackson's Mill and is open to any youth aged 12-21.

Campers participate in week long workshops; build teamwork and leadership skills within small age-specific peer groups; engage with guest speakers during hand-on assemblies; experience array of opportunities to develop and master new skills; as well as learn lifelong habits for a healthier life.

WHO

West Virginia youth ages 12 to 21 as of September 30, 2025

WHEN

Sunday, July 13, 2025 - Friday, July 18, 2025

WHERE

WVU Jackson's Mill

COST

$400

SCHOLARSHIPS

Campers will be eligible for one (1) weekend and one (1) week-long state supported campership within the calendar year (Jan-Dec). Campers who request additional state supported scholarship money will have their request held as pending until all other first-time requests are reviewed.

Additional camperships will be granted on a case by case basis as funding is available. For more information and frequently asked questions about our State Camperships, tap the button below!

State Campership FAQs

Camp Details

Registration Information
Workshop Information
Notes and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Camp Directors

Registration Information

Registration will open on April 7, 2025 at 10 a.m. and will close on June 24, 2025 at 11:55 p.m. Payment must be made by 10 a.m. on June 25, 2025. If payment is not received by 10 a.m. on June 25, 2025, your registration will be canceled, and your spot will be given to the next person on the waitlist. Refunds can be requested until June 26, 2025.

Refunds can be requested after the payment deadline but will incur a $200.00 processing fee and granted on a case by case basis. View full refund policy below.

Registration will be handled through the 4-H ZSuite Online System.

External Registration (No ZSuite Account)

View All WVU 4-H State Camps

Adult Volunteers

All adult volunteers must be fully vetted through WVU Extension and register for the event through ZSuite, our online registration system. The complete vetting process must be completed at least 15 days in advance of the event. Learn more about the volunteer process.

If you are interested in volunteering for this state camp, please contact the Camp Directors.

Workshop Information

Archery - Learn the basic fundamentals of archery!
ATV Safety - Complete the Ridercourse led by an ASI certified instructor - participants learn ATV safety by riding and learning ATV safety skills. Participants must complete pre-course safety, closed toe shoes and proper riding attire, and a provide a signed waiver. This is an extended class period, which means it will run into the next scheduled activity.
Baking - In this baking workshop, campers will have the opportunity to learn how to bake bread, cake, cookies, and other baked goods from scratch.
BioQuest - Dive into the world of biotech with exciting experiments, innovations and real-world applications.
Board Game Bonanza - Play a variety of boardgames! You might even learn a new one.
Chorus - Come learn and have some fun preparing a song to sing for the camp each day at assembly! Also learn and lead the camp in the camp song (clap, clap, clap clap clap, clap clap clap clap)!
Coffee - Boos and Brews - But first, coffee. Learn how to become a barista and make signature coffees.
Cross Stitch Name Tags - Learn how to cross stitch and make a name tag
Crochet Workshop - Yarn, 5mm crochet hooks, stitch markers.
Diamond Painting - There will be diamond painting kits at camp but you can bring your own to complete if you would like. Diamond painting is done by placing diamonds on or a couple at a time to create an image.
Disc Golf - Teaching the basics of disc trajectories.
DJ'ing 101 - Join us for DJ'ing 101, an exciting, hands-on workshop where you'll learn the basics of mixing music, beatmatching, and rocking a crowd! Whether you're brand new or already have some skills, this session willintroduce you to DJ equipment, software, and techniques used by professionals. Led by an experienced DJ, you'll get to practice creating your own mix, explore different genres, and gain confidence behind the decks.
Folk Dancing - Learn the basics of WV Folk Dances!
Global Ed - Language Recognition and World Demonyms, Learning English, Power Outage, Daily Tasks and Modern Conveniences, What is Beauty?, and Bread Taste Test.
Jam Band - Sit around, pick, and sing some music while learning about the history and traditions of Appalachian Music.
Learn to be a Miller - Learn to grind corn into meal and make cornbread from it.
Line Dancing - Learn basic line dances.
Loom Band Fun - Learn how to make not only bracelets, but other cool things, out of just rubber bands!
Mindfulness and Meditation - Meditation and mindfulness practices for the beginner to advanced meditator.
Older Discussion - An opportunity for older campers to discuss issues that affect them and their lives in an open forum.
Outdoor Adventure - The Outdoor Adventure Class allows campers to explore the outdoors and learn about what makes it great. Guided by the philosophy that the outdoors is for everyone, you just need to find what that is for you, this class offers a variety of options for campers to choose from, including paddle sports, biking, outdoor cooking, challenge course, climbing, and more.
Photography - Taking pictures. Tips and tricks to taking better pictures.
Mastering the Art of Public Speaking & PowerPoint Wizardry - Developing a PowerPoint presentation throughout the week to develop presentation and public speaking skills.
Ready, Set, STEM! - Gear up for this engaging, fun-filled adventure exploring science, techmology, engineering, and math.
Scottish Country Dancing - Ballroom dancing of Scotland.
Sport-A-Day - Allowing the youth participate in various sports throughout the week.
STEM Lab: West Fork Bio Survey - Explore the ecological health of the West Fork River as it flows through camp with WV Save Our Streams! In this hands-on class, you'll learn how to assess water quality by collecting and identifying benthic macroinvertebrates (BMIs), analyzing physiochemical conditions, and calculating a biological integrity score. These techniques provide insight into stream health and ecosystem balance. Whether you're a citizen scientist or simply curious about freshwater conservation, this session will equip you with the skills to monitor and protect our waterways.
String Art - Create decorative wall hangings using wood, nails, and string.
Techno Lab - Campers will explore technology in the Annette S. Boggs STEAM Education Center, unleashing their creativity with 3D printers, laser cutters, and micro-controllers in hands-on projects.
Teen Cuisine - Participants will actively engage in food preparation while learning about nutrition, food safety, and health.
Wood Burning - Wood Burning. Create art with heat.

Notes & FAQs

The event registration fee includes five nights of lodging, meals during the event, and event equipment/supplies.
Youth participants sleep in cabins with bunk-style twin beds. Participants are clustered with other youth of the same age and gender. The cabins are supervised by trained and vetted 4-H volunteers and Extension professionals.
The cabins will be stocked with bed linens (sheets, pillows, and blankets). You do not need to bring bed linens. You are welcome to bring your own linens, sleeping bag, blankets, etc. You will need to bring your own toiletries and a bath towel.
Camp clothing must be comfortable and adaptable to varied weather conditions. Camp clothing needs to be functional…not fashionable.
Refund Policy: Refunds can be requested until June 26, 2025. If a refund is requested on or before June 26, 2025 it will not incur a processing fee and requesters will receive a full refund. Refunds may be requested after the payment deadline but will incur a $200.00 processing fee which will be withheld from the refund and granted on a case by case basis. This processing fee is to account for meal and supply purchases which cannot be reconciled after the payment deadline. Refunds can take up to 10 weeks to be processed. Refunds for check payments will be required to register as a vendor with West Virginia University to receive a check payment. Refunds can also be issued as credit towards another state event.