Alpha I | Extension | West Virginia University

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What is Alpha I Camp?

Group of campers singing 4-H songs inside.

Alpha I 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 6, 2025 - Friday, July 11, 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 17, 2025 at 11:55 p.m. Payment must be made by 10 a.m. on June 18, 2025. If payment is not received by 10 a.m. on June 18, 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 19, 2025.

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

Air Rifle – Campers will learn the use and safety of shooting with an Air Rifle.
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 toed shoes and proper riding attire, and provide a signed waiver. This is an extended class period, which means it will go into the next scheduled activity.
Baking - Campers will practice baking simple deserts that can be recreated at home.
BioQuest - Dive into the world of biotech with exciting experiments, innovations, and real-world applications.
Blacksmith Basics - Campers will learn a bit about the basics and safety of blacksmith work.
Beekeeping 101 - This hands-on workshop will allow campers to work with on-site beehives with trained instructors.
Camp Chorus - Learn and perform a variety of songs at various camp-wide events.
Canoe/Kayaking - Campers will learn hos to use water vessels safely and about the West Virginia waterways and nature around Jackson’s Mill.
Cross-Stitch - Learn the basics of cross-stitch, and create your own cross-stitch name tag!
Dungeons & Dragons - Dungeons & Dragons is a table-top roleplaying game where fantasy is your imagination. Create your own unique character that you will play as in an adventure with others. D&D is for all!
Friendship Bracelets - Practice different knots/patterns while creating colorful friendship bracelets.
Folk Dancing - Learn and practice traditional (and new) Folk Dances, Line Dances, and more!
Hair Braiding - Participants will learn different hair braiding techniques and have the opportunity to practice them on one another.
Jam Band - Sit around, pick, and sing some music while learning about the history and traditions of Appalachian Music. Must provide your own instrument.
Mountain Biking - We will be riding bikes around beautiful, historic Jacksons Mill. We will also learn to perform basic maintenance and pre-ride inspections.
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.
Outdoor Cooking - Hone your cooking skills in an outdoor setting!
Outdoor Recreation/Sports & Conditioning - Fun in the sun (or shade!) doing something active (typically with a ball)! One day, it may be flag football or wink, and the next day, may include teambuilding activities or a scavenger hunt! It could be ANYTHING!
Stream 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 skills to monitor and protect our waterways.
String Art - Create decorative wall hangings using wood, nails, and string.
TechnoLab - Unleash your creativity and bring your ideas to life with CAD, 3D printing, and coding.
The Great Fires Starts with Great Wood - We make big wood into little wood. Its wood splitting. We split wood for an hour.
Tie Dye - Learn different tying and dye methods!
Walk, Talk and Explore - Walk around camp, talk with friends in the class and explore some sites at Jackson's Mill.
Wood Crafting - Artistic and creative work in assembling useful wooden household items. Class includes instruction in painting, staining, woodburning, and scroll work.

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 18, 2025. If a refund is requested on or before June 18, 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 in credit towards another state event.