By Kara Wray
Kansas 4-H Camp at Rock Springs Ranch has been an important tradition to Cindy Walker and her family for generations. Walker’s children are the 3rd generation in a row to spend their summers at Rock Springs Ranch.
How has Rock Springs Ranch been a positive influence on your children?
Rock Springs is a place where my children feel like they belong. It is a safe space for them to make new friends, try new things, and practice independent living skills. Returning from Rock Springs 4-H Camp in the summer, they always seem more confident and energized. They unplug and learn teamwork, leadership skills, and how to engage with nature in ways they would not get outside of camp. While campers do similar activities [each year], my daughters come back with unique takeaways every summer.
As a former camper, how did 4-H camp impact your life?
4-H Camp helped build my confidence as a 4-H’er. I couldn’t rely on my family or club members to help me make friends or get me to join in, I had to do it myself. Camp was the first state 4-H event I participated in. It introduced me to the idea that 4-H was much bigger than my club and county. It allowed me to spend time with other 4-H’ers from my county in a non-competitive environment helping to create connections and deepen friendships.
What memories have you kids shared from their time at Rock Springs?
I have a child who was terrified of heights, but she voluntarily tried the ropes course at camp and learned that she could do hard things with the support of her new friends and counselors. It wasn’t as scary as she thought and was a huge confidence boost. Another daughter shared that she remembers a time when she wasn’t really excited about making the same crafts as everyone else, but she was allowed to use the supplies to create her own unique craft that turned out very well. She was encouraged and allowed to enjoy the creative process without fear of failure. Because of this experience at camp, she was inspired to continue this creative process in the Visual Arts project. This boldness resulted in a purple at the Kansas State Fair for a mixed media creation.
What should other parents know about the benefits of sending their kids to Rock Springs?
While there are some new things at Rock Springs as they continue to grow and bring in fresh ideas to stay relevant to today’s youth, the fundamentals of the things that have kept 4-H’ers coming back for generations are still the same. Kids today are incredibly busy and seem under more pressure than ever before, but not at Rock Springs. It truly allows youth to step away from everything, relax, and be kids. A few days each summer, they switch off their devices and connect with nature and other people. Text messages and emojis are replaced with eye contact, real conversation, and laughter. They are part of a team that learns, explores, and grows together. They get to experience fresh air, sunshine, and parts of childhood that are more like what my mother, my sister and I were able to experience as kids.