Alamo 4-H Camp welcomes community for Family Night

Families from throughout Lincoln County were invited to explore, learn and play Thursday, Aug. 13, as the Alamo 4-H Camp opened its doors for a Family Night featuring hands-on activities and opportunities to discover what the 72-acre facility offers.

“Camp Alamo Family Fun Day invited residents of Alamo, Caliente, Panaca and Pioche to explore the beautiful acreage and experience a taste of the 4-H activities provided at Camp Alamo,” said Kelly Lehr, 4-H Camp Alamo coordinator.

More than 80 residents attended the open house, held from 4 to 7 p.m. Overcast skies, light sprinkles and temperatures around 74 degrees made for a comfortable August evening as families explored the grounds.

Upon arrival, families signed in and children received bingo cards, collecting stamps as they visited stations throughout the property. Completed cards entered participants into drawings for Amazon gift cards, 4-H shirts and other prizes.

Down by the pond, children cooled off on a large inflatable water slide. At the archery range, instructors taught safety and proper techniques before allowing children to take aim at targets. Families could also explore the ropes course and climbing wall or participate in crafts, hover ball, air hockey and cornhole.

The evening also gave families an opportunity to tour the Alamo 4-H Learning Center. The property previously operated as a conference retreat facility.

Its approximately 17,000-square-foot main building includes guest rooms, conference rooms and a commercial kitchen. The current configuration offers 15 rooms with accommodations for up to 60 guests, along with several outdoor recreational amenities.

Family Night showed that the center’s offerings extend beyond traditional youth 4-H activities. Information was available about Master Gardener programs, healthy aging, camping experiences and other educational opportunities for adults and families through 4-H.

“Our goal is to not only establish a positive relationship with this wonderful community, but to provide and serve Pahranagat Valley families with fun, exploratory and positive youth-development opportunities in an outdoor educational setting,” Lehr said.

Representatives also shared information about becoming involved with 4-H. Volunteers and leaders are continually needed, and community members can share their skills and interests by helping create or lead clubs.

The Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuge participated in the event, teaching children about local birds, ducks and wildlife. Families also learned about upcoming refuge programs, including Birding 101 at Upper Pahranagat Lake on Oct. 3, a Halloween Hike on Oct. 31 and an Eagle Watch on Dec. 19.

“It was a pleasure meeting the neighbors who surround this beautiful property,” Lehr said.

The open house gave families a chance to discover resources available in their own backyard and see that 4-H can be much more than a single club or activity. For more information, email [email protected]