Lewis & Clark County 4-H Camp, August 3-7, 2025
Hello 4-H campers (and parents and guardians),
We’re thrilled that you are joining us for camp this summer! Some of you have been to camp before, and for others, this will be their first time—either way, get ready for a fun and unforgettable 4-H experience! This year’s camp theme is “Mythical & Magical Adventures,” and your camp counselors have been working hard at planning activities, challenges, games and more that celebrate the mythological creatures of our imagination.
Following is some info about camp, our policies, and a packing list for what and what not to bring. We’re pleased to be returning to Loon Lake 4-H camp near Bigfork this year. This is a dedicated 4-H camp set in the trees, with beautiful Loon Lake providing opportunities for canoeing, swimming and water games. Campers will be paired with one or two camp counselors in each cabin (cabins hold eight people). The camp has a main lodge where we will eat, hold workshops and craft activities. There is a large open field in the middle of the camp where we will play traditional 4-H camp group games. As long as Flathead County remains clear of fire restrictions, we’ll hold nightly campfires and enjoy skits, snacks, songs and cameraderie. More info about Loon Lake 4-H Camp is here: https://loonlake4hcamp.com/
Rest assured, parents, our teen camp counselors will accompany your kids every step of the way.
In addition to camp counselors, we will be joined by several adult chaperones: 4-H County Agent Alyssa Schmidt, volunteers Gretchen Mundinger, and Danyel Bauer, nurse Jen McKay, and and camp coordinator Luke Duran. Meals will be prepared by camp kitchen staff. We are grateful to Loon Lake Camp Director Jill Kahanek who maintains excellent facilities and provides a fantastic camp experience.
Check-in
We will be checking in campers and loading the buses Sunday morning, August 3 from 11:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., at the Lewis & Clark County Fairgrounds. Please don’t come early. Buses will be parked in the lot near the main exhibit hall, and we’ll have a table set up outside the BHB for check-in. All medications must be checked in at registration with our camp nurse, Jen.
Breakfast and lunch are not provided this day, so please make sure you have had something to eat to start your day. The buses will stop at a rest area halfway for a late lunch break—please bring a sack lunch to eat there.
After camp, we will be returning to the Fairgrounds on Thursday afternoon, August 7 around 4 p.m. Traffic and construction may extend our arrival time. Parents must be on hand to pick campers up when we return. If we’re running early or late, we’ll let you know.
Service Project
Each year, Lewis & Clark County 4-H contributes a service to benefit or improve Loon Lake 4-H Camp. In the past, we have provided recreational equipment and donated a gaga ball pit. This year, we intend to build a book library that will be permanently installed in the nurses’ cabin. Loon Lake is providing a bookcase. Campers and counselors, please bring at least one age-appropriate book to contribute to the library. Think of the books you might find in a school library: fiction, entertainment, reference, local interest, etc. If you want to contribute several books, that’s even better. We hope to launch this library with around 100 books, and may continue this service project in to the next year. Campers will be able to “check out” books from our new library during down-time.
Food
Other than a sack lunch for the first day, do not bring food, gum or snacks to camp. This is grizzly country—food is not allowed in the cabins. If you have a health reason to bring your own food, let us know prior to boarding the bus so we can make arrangements to store your food in the camp kitchen. Important: the kitchen staff cannot accommodate serious food allergies like nuts. They will provide some lactose-intolerant and gluten-free choices.
Teen counselors will host a concession stand with some candy and snacks available for purchase during two afternoons of camp. This is a fundraiser for our teen camp counselors to celebrate and assess their efforts after camp is over. We are not responsible for lost money, and we don’t want you to get sick from eating a bunch of sugar, so please just bring a small amount to purchase a few snacks. We suggest no more than $10.
During camp, the kitchen staff has notified us that in order to conserve water and reduce dish-washing, they will not be providing glasses for water throughout the day. You must bring a water bottle to stay hydrated. There is a water-bottle filling station at camp. The kitchen staff prepare healthy, delicious kid-friendly meals. Please respect their efforts—just like you would at home, practice good table manners, and let’s work hard to avoid waste—take only what you are going to eat. We don’t want to see a bunch of food going in to the trash. All campers will assist with scheduled kitchen and bathroom cleanup duties after meals.
Schedule
Like the last two years, camp is a day longer than it used to be. We did this to allow more down time for rest, reading, crafts and recharging. Campers, you can expect long, active days—we’re out of bed at 7:00 a.m., and lights go out in the cabins around 10:00 or 10:30 p.m. You will be exhausted and ready for bedtime each night! We’ve built in rest time if you want to take a nap in the afternoon, and down time during our swimming hours if you just want to sit by the water, read a book, do a puzzle, or hang out.
Phone/electronic devices policy
We strive to make 4-H camp an immersive “off-the-grid” experience, free from the distractions of phone calls, social media and mobile games. All phones will be checked in at the beginning of camp. This policy applies to both campers and camp counselors. We will allow campers to use their phones on the last night so that they can take selfies and photos of the friends they have made at camp. Rest assured, adults at camp will be taking photos to capture the moments, and will share those photos after camp. Other than a cell phone, no other electronic devices are permitted at camp. We will confiscate all devices until camp ends. Cabins will have alarm clocks to wake by. Phones will be returned to campers for the bus ride home.
4-H Camp rules and policies
When you registered for camp, you signed an agreement to abide by our camper rules. We will go over these rules again with you at the beginning of camp so we can avoid potential issues, to respect the camp facilities, and to make sure we support each other and have a great time. Some older campers may be the same age as our youngest camp counselors—despite the age similarity, it’s important that you afford our camp counselors the courtesy and respect they deserve, and recognize their authority in the cabins and during activities.
Parents, we do not honor special placements in cabins, pairing with friends, etc. Please don’t ask. The goal is for our campers to make new friends, and become part of our “camp village.” We recognize that for some campers, this may be their first overnight away from home, and we take great care to make sure every camper is included and recognized. It’s an excellent opportunity for kids to practice self-awareness and independence.
Water safety
We permit campers to play along a designated shore area of Loon Lake, on the dock, and in canoes. Canoes must have an adult or teen counselor accompanying. In all areas, life jackets are mandatory for all campers and counselors, no exceptions. The camp has lots of life jackets in all sizes, but you may bring your own. No diving is allowed. All swim time is monitored by adult chaperones and teen counselors.
Lewis & Clark County 4-H Camp is a youth-driven experience. Your teen counselors have been planning camp activities and training to be excellent leaders for the past six months. They have created an exciting agenda filled with games, adventure, learning, creativity and exploration. We intend to have a fun-filled, inclusive, memorable and drama-free experience. We expect your full participation and engagement in all the fun, games and activities your counselors have planned. See you at 4-H Summer Camp!
Adult leaders: Luke Duran, Jennifer McKay, Alyssa Schmidt, Danyel Bauer and Gretchen Mundinger
Teen camp counselors: Alyssa, Ayla, Hahn, Kennedy D., Kenlei, Liam, Lexi, Kennedy A., William, Kortney, Luke, Macey, Gavin, Maya and Trevor
In case of emergency, you can reach Loon Lake 4-H camp at 406.758.5553