>La Grande Observer | Union and Wallowa Counties' News Leader

COUNTY EXTENSION AGENTS Carole Smith, Deb Schreiber and Janice Cowan pose for a group shot with real-life survivors at the February 2005 Survivor Camp held at Camp Elkanah. The program received a national award for excellence. (Submitted photo).

The 4-H Survivor Camp, a unique camping experience for older youth, was recently recognized at the National Association of Extension 4-H Agents Conference in Seattle.

The camp was developed in Union County six years ago in partnership with Wallowa and Baker county's 4-H programs.

Local 4-H Extension agents Carole Smith, Union County, Deb Schreiber, Wallowa County and Janice Cowan, Baker County, received the national association's Search for Excellence in Teen Programming Award for 4-H Survivor Camp.

This is a competitive award selected from 4-H program nominations throughout the United States. The recipient is selected based on the program's effectiveness in meeting the needs of a teen audience, evidence it will be an ongoing program and proof of positive impacts on the lives of youth attending the camp.

This program is different than other 4-H events in that it gives teens a three-day experience of

living on their own.

They learn to budget a paycheck, plan and cook their own meals, live with roommates, shop for apartments and deal with landlords and utility companies. Teens also have bills to pay, checking accounts to balance and learn employment skills — interviewing for jobs, writing resumes — and other skills related to real-life situations.

The next Survivor Camp is scheduled for November and is open to 9th through 12th graders in Union, Baker and Wallowa counties.

For more information about Survivor Camp, call Smith at the 4-H extension office in Union County at 963-1010, or Schreiber at 541-426-3143 in Wallowa County or Cowan 541-523-6418 in Baker County.