4-H Youth Development

4-H Junior Camp is a 5-day event where youth ages 9-13 have the opportunity to participate in a variety of activities including ropes courses, canoeing, swimming, archery, outdoor sports and arts and crafts.  Camp time for King George, Caroline and Spotsylvania Counties is usually the third week of July.  

We release camper applications in mid-February, when applications are distributed to the elementary schools in King George County.  Upon receipt of applications, campers receive a packet containing the forms listed at the bottom of this section.

4-H Congress is for youth ages 14-19 and is held at Virginia Tech in mid-June. 

We have a number of active 4-H clubs in King George County. Please check them out!

Fancy's Friends 4-H Dog Club is a very active club in which club members learn all aspects of dog care, obedience, agility and showmanship.  Members spend many hours training their dogs and compete in several shows each year.  This club has taken top dog at the state show for a number of years, which shows the dedication of the club leaders and members.  To join, sign up early, as there is a waiting list each year. 

2009 Livestock Show

4-H Livestock Club members meet monthly from August until June.  Each year, members purchase an animal to train and care for until the annual Fredericksburg Area Livestock Show and Sale.  Animals are judged, youth are judged on their showmanship abilities, and youth can take a stockman's test on their knowledge of breeds, feeds, equipment and meat cuts.  Youth also have opportunities to participate in stockman's and judging competitions at Virginia Tech and the State Fair.

There are 2 horse and pony clubs in King George, the LaGrange Riding Team which practices at LaGrange Farm and the King George Horse and Pony Club which practices at the F-5-W Stables.  Both clubs teach specifics of riding/caring for a horse and all the equipment associated for horsemanship and how to use it.  The clubs enter competitions at district, state and regional levels and have been very successful at all levels.

The Helping Hands Community Club plans and organizes several community service projects throughout the year and engage in Natural Resources Education.  Members focus on being good stewards and learning about the environment.

The Shooting Education Club provides youth with the opportunity to learn the rules of safe and responsible use of firearms and develop concentration and physical control to improve marksmanship.  They participate in numerous competitions as well, and always do very well.

The King George Elementary School Garden Club holds monthly meetings after school.  Youth learn concepts of gardening, horticulture and about the relationships between plants, animals and soil.

The Ecology Club meets twice per month after school at King George Middle School.  The club focus is on conservation of natural resources and educating the public on conservation issues.

The King George Alpaca Club is the first of its kind in the state.  With the support of the Virginia Alpaca Owners and Breeders Association (VAOBA), youth participate in several shows including the state show in October.  Youth learn about and show alpacas, support during shearing of the animals, assemble and complete presentations about alpacas and learn how to care for these beautiful, gentle animals.

The Heritage Club meets at George Washington's Birthplace National Monument and youth learn how to become living history demonstrators.  There are several opportunities to practice their craft at the birthplace, and youth have opportunities to learn such colonial crafts as blacksmithing and open hearth cooking.