Older Members Conference | Extension | West Virginia University

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What Is Older Member's Conference?

Four 4-H'ers stand together with the Wirt County agent at Older Members Conference at WVU Jackson's Mill.

Older Member's Conference (OMC) is statewide, week-long, 4-H camp held annually at WVU Jackson's Mill.

OMC is designed to develop leadership skills through facilitating camp activities, increase civic engagement and education through discussions on current issues and participate in week-long workshops.

Campers will also master new skills that can be used in local 4-H programs and community activities!

WHO

West Virginia youth age 14 - 21 as of September 30, 2024.

WHEN

Sunday, June 16, 2024 - Friday, June 21, 2024

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 1, 2024 at 7:00 a.m. and will close on May 28, 2024 at 11:55 p.m. Payment must be made by 10 a.m. on May 29, 2024. If payment is not received by 10 a.m. on May 29, 2024, your registration will be canceled, and your spot will be given to the next person on the waitlist. Refunds can be requested until May 29, 2024.

Refunds can be requested after the payment deadline but will incur a $200.00 processing fee. 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

Campers will have the option to choose either (2) one-hour workshops or (1) two-hour workshop. The workshop's descriptions are listed below. Tap the headings below to expand the respective list.

One-Hour Workshops

Astronomy: Participants will gain an understanding of the workings and scale of the universe. This workshop will cover the major topics within astronomy. Participants will have the opportunity to create representations of our ever-changing solar system/universe.
Beekeeping 101: This workshop will serve as an introduction to all things beekeeping for beginners.
Camp Makerspace: Unleash your creativity in our camp class at the Annette S. Boggs STEAM Education Center Maker Space! Dive into the world of technology, where campers will design and build exciting projects while learning valuable STEM skills in a hands-on environment. Campers will utilize arts and craft skills while honing technology skills to complete projects with the Glowforge, 3D printers and microcontrollers.
Clifton Strengths, Strengths to Success: This workshop will take the Clifton Strengths one step further by helping participants further develop and discover their top five talents. Campers will learn how to spot their potential and bring it to life.
Dance: Participants will have an enhanced awareness of skills in specific heritage and folk dances. They will provide in depth training for 4-H’ers to lead or teach heritage and folk dances.
Disc Golf: Learn different techniques to improve your disc golf game! Participants will play a few holes each day.
Discussion: Participants will discuss a variety of topics and learn how to convey their points of view. Individuals will build conversational skills for any environment; they will engage in the art of discussion.
Make it, Share it, Take It: Opportunity to relax while creating items to donate to others, share with OMC participants and take home with you as a reminder of your OMC experience.
OMC Chronicles: Embark on an exciting journey into the world of journalism with our new OMC newspaper. Whether you're passionate about storytelling, love to express yourself through writing, or simply curious about the power of the press, this class is perfect for you. OMC Chronicle offers a hands-on experience in newspaper production, from brainstorming story ideas to layout design that will be shared with campers every day.
Personal Finance: Empower yourself with essential financial skills that will set you on the path to financial independence with this personal finance workshop. This workshop provides practical knowledge and tools to navigate the complex world of personal finance confidently. Campers will be empowered to take control of their financial future, providing them with the knowledge and skills needed to make smart financial decisions and build a solid foundation for a lifetime of financial well-being.
Shooting Sports: Come and learn different shooting sport disciplines. This workshop is for any level, you do not need to have any prior shooting sports experience.

Two-Hour Workshops

WV 4-H Charting: West Virginia 4-H is offering the charting experience at state camp! The Charting program strives to encourage 4-H members to see themselves as they are and to help them plan their personal goals. The class is open to 4-H members who have completed 10th grade and are enrolled in the 4-H Charting program. 4-H member must have completed the 4-H Charting book before camp. By actively participating in this workshop, interview, and activities, members will have the opportunity to earn their charting pin.
Building Flooding Resilience in West Virginia: Despite being one the most flood-prone states in the country, West Virginia's water resources are what make the Mountain State unique and magical. This class offers campers the chance to explore the magic of water by learning how rivers and watersheds work, what floods are, and how we can better prepare and plan for flooding in our communities. Campers will learn these lessons in, on, and around the river at Jackson's Mill. Campers who register for this class and attend each day will receive a $200 scholarship to offset their camping expenses. If you love water, this unique opportunity is for you.
Camp Choir: Do you love to sing anything and everything? This workshop is for you! Campers will be engaged with music appropriate for their skill level and timeframe, perform at assemblies and special events like the banquet, and teach music theory and vocal technique throughout.
Canoeing at the Mill: If you enjoy being on the water on a hot summer day this class is for you! Come join us for canoeing and fun. No experience is necessary!
Hands-On Preservation: Do you love Jackson’s Mill? Do you like working with your hands? Are you interested in learning how to work on historic buildings/learn a neat skill? If you answered “yes” to any of these, we have the class for you! Join preservation professionals as they teach you how to assess, repair, and refinish old stone. You will get to work on our beloved Mount Vernon Dining Hall. You will not only learn from industry professionals how to identify issues with old stone, but also how to repair damage and replace them as needed. Join us for this exciting class and you can proudly say that you helped keep Jackson’s Mill looking great for years to come!
JM Service Class: Participants will spend time doing various community service projects at The Mill.
Outdoor Adventure: The Outdoor Adventure Class gives campers the opportunity 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. The campers will have the opportunity to choose their own adventure and pick from the activities we offer to find what suits them best.
Outdoor Cooking: Participants will learn how to cook over a campfire or at the pavilion cooking pit. There will be a variety of items for participants to try!
Film: Campers will learn different aspects of film. Participants will learn about camera style, storytelling tools, etc.

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 May 29, 2024. If a refund is requested on or before May 29, 2024 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 in credit towards another state event.