Summertime is just around the corner, and Chatham County 4-H is excited to offer a variety of engaging and fun-filled camp opportunities for the 2026 season of summer fun! Explore our camp offerings below and find the perfect experience for your youth.
Camp Registration opens on February 1st, 2026
Remember, you don’t have to wait for camp registration to open to join 4-H! Our programs run year-round, so sign up today to stay informed and gain priority access to exciting opportunities! 4-H membership is free and available to youth ages 5 to 18. Enroll or re-enroll at 4-HOnline!
Chatham County 4-H is once again offering both day and residential camp programs for summer 2026. These fun and educational experiences provide meaningful learning opportunities for youth in our community. Thanks to the continued generous support of the United Way of Chatham County, a limited number of need-based scholarships will be available to qualifying families. For more information on how to apply and important deadlines, visit our Scholarship Information section below.
Camp offerings for 2026:
4-H Adventure Day Camp (4-Days)
Who: Youth ages 5 to 12
What: A fun-filled 4-day day camp for youth ages 5 to 12 years old. Campers will participate in educational sessions, crafts, recreational games, swimming, and so much more! Campers will need to bring a bag lunch each day. Enrollment space is limited and processed on a first-come-first serve basis.
When: June 15th to 18th (Mon. – Thurs.), 8:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. (Note: No arrivals before 8:20 a.m. Campers must be dropped off and picked up on time; a fee will be assessed for late pick-ups.)
Where: Northwest District Park (2413 Woody Store Road, Siler City, NC 27344)
Cost: $80 (Limited number of need-based scholarships are available; please see the information in the Scholarship section below for more information on how to apply.)
What: An awesome week-long day camp with STEM based educational sessions, crafts, hiking, field-trips, nature exploration and more! Campers will need to bring a bag lunch each day. Enrollment space is limited and processed on a first-come-first serve basis.
When: June 22nd to 26th (Mon. – Fri.), 8:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. (Note: No arrivals before 8:20 a.m. Campers must be dropped off and picked up on time; a fee will be assessed for late pick-ups. Campers who arrive late may miss scheduled morning departures on field trip days.)
Where: Chatham County Cooperative Extension Teaching Kitchen (1192 US Hwy 64W Business, Pittsboro, NC 27312)
Cost: $100 (Limited number of need-based scholarships are available; please see the information in the Scholarship section below for more information on how to apply.)
What: An exciting day camp opportunity for youth 11-15 years old with a focus on cooking! Campers will join Tara Gregory, FCS Agent for the Chatham County Center, to learn some new skills (and delicious recipes) in the kitchen! Campers will be making their lunch during the camp session. Enrollment space is limited to 8 youth per session.
When: Two sessions will be offered on the following dates: July 21st & 23rd; from 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. (Note: No arrivals before 9:20 a.m. Campers must be dropped off and picked up on time; a fee will be assessed for late pick-ups.) Each session varies with content and recipes, so youth attending multiple sessions will have the opportunity to try out new recipes.
July 21st: Day 1 Campers will prepare an egg scramble, fruit salad, red beans and rice, and mini lemon meringue pies.
July 23rd: Day 2 Campers will prepare mini pound cakes, meatballs and marinara from scratch, and a watermelon-cucumber salad.
Where: Chatham County Cooperative Extension Teaching Kitchen (1192 US Hwy 64W Business, Pittsboro, NC 27312)
Cost: $35 per day session (Limited number of need-based scholarships are available; please see the information in the Scholarship section below for more information on how to apply.)
**Any dietary restrictions should be relayed to FCS Agent Tara Gregory at least one month prior to ensure accommodations**
What: Join Ms. Tara and 4-H Staff for a week-long hands-on learning experience that explores food systems from the ground up. Youth will engage in educational field trips focused on agriculture and food production, develop essential kitchen, nutrition, and food safety skills, and prepare their own lunch each day during camp. The week culminates in a friendly cooking competition where participants showcase the skills, creativity, and knowledge they have gained throughout the camp. Enrollment space is limited and processed on a first-come-first serve basis.
When: August 10th - 14th (Mon. – Fri.), 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (Note: No arrivals before 8:20 a.m. Campers must be dropped off and picked up on time; a fee will be assessed for late pick-ups. Campers who arrive late may miss scheduled morning departures for field trips.)
Where: Chatham County Cooperative Extension Teaching Kitchen (1192 US Hwy 64W Business, Pittsboro, NC 27312)
Cost: $100 (Limited number of need-based scholarships are available; please see the information in the Scholarship section below for more information on how to apply.)
**Any dietary restrictions should be relayed to FCS Agent Tara Gregory at least one month prior to ensure accommodations**
Betsy-Jeff Penn (BJP) 4-H Residential Camp (Reidsville, NC): July 26 to 31 (Weeklong, Overnight Camp)
Who: Youth ages 8 - 14
What: Accredited by the American Camping Association, youth will travel to Reidsville, NC to spend an unforgettable fun-filled week at the BJP 4-H Educational Center. Campers will take part in swimming, canoeing, environmental education programs, ropes courses, archery, crafts, and much and more—all in a fun, supportive setting where they can make new friends, try new things, and build confidence. Enrollment space is limited.
When: July 26th – July 31st; Campers will report to the Chatham County Agriculture & Conference Center (1192 US Hwy 64W Business, Pittsboro, NC 27312) to depart for Reidsville with transportation provided by Chatham County 4-H.
Where: BJP 4-H Educational Center (Reidsville, NC) **Note: Transportation to/from BJP 4-H Camp will be provided by Chatham County 4-H. Campers must arrive on-site at the Chatham County Agriculture & Conference Center on Sunday, July 26th for transport. Campers will be picked up from the Chatham County Agriculture & Conference Center on Friday, July 31st.**
Cost: $555 for traditional campers. Inquire directly for information on limited availability Trekker spots. (Limited number of need-based scholarships are available; please see the information in the Scholarship section below for more information on how to apply. Registration fee covers all expenses for the week: transportation, food, crafts, insurance, t-shirt, and $15 in camp store funds.)
You must be enrolled in 4-HOnline 2.0 to register for camp. If you have not yet enrolled, please visit our 4-HOnline 2.0 information page on how to successfully do this. (As an added bonus, enrolled members get instant notifications to register for county events – like summer camps – and much more!) 4-H membership is FREE and is now required to participate in county 4-H programs. If you are not interested in joining a 4-H club, that is no problem. Just make sure to select “Chatham County Members-At-Large Club” as your club selection in 4-HOnline.
After completing 4-HOnline enrollment, 4-H staff will approve your initial enrollment which will allow you to see the available camp offerings for Summer 2026 starting when camps go live on February 1st.
Log back into your 4-HOnline account and scroll to the bottom to see the summer camp opportunities for this year. **There are multiple summer opportunities, so make sure you click on the “event” link on the left side of the page to see the complete list of events.** After choosing your camp event selections, 4-H staff will be able to approve your camp registration(s) based on space availability.
Payment (and additional medical paperwork for BJP Residential 4-H Camp) should be remitted to the Cooperative Extension/4-H office at 1192 US Hwy 64W Business, Suite 400, Pittsboro, NC 27312. Payment and paperwork can be dropped off in-person between the hours of 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Mon.- Fri. or mailed to the address above. Checks should be made payable to Chatham County 4-H. See the section below for information regarding need-based scholarship assistance.
ONLY after their 4-HOnline enrollment has been approved, all required additional paperwork has been received (BJP Camp only), and either payment has been submitted to the 4-H office or scholarship confirmation has been received are campers formally registered for camp. Staff are unable to hold spaces for youth who have not completed all registration steps. Cooperative Extension staff will send you a confirmation email to acknowledge a spot has been secured for you for summer camp, along with a camp confirmation packet and guardian welcome letter.
Scholarship Information:
Only a limited number of need-based scholarships are available for 4-H camps this summer due to the generous support and donations of local organizations such as the United Way of Chatham County. These need-based scholarships are offered on a first-come, first-served basis, so please understand that available funds may be depleted by late spring.
To be considered for a camp scholarship, applicants must complete the linked letter/application form and return it with all required paperwork to the Chatham County 4-H Office. Examples of required paperwork are included in the linked letter/application form. Applications for local scholarships will be accepted until all funds have been allocated or until May 25th. Due to the volume of scholarship requests received in previous years, we recommend you apply as early as possible in case available funds are depleted early.
Due to the high volume of scholarship applications, notification timelines may be extended. When possible, applicants will be notified of acceptance/denial within 14 days of submission of application and all required documentation. If additional time is needed, notice of an extended review timeline will be communicated on a case-by-case basis.
Youth interested in gaining some valuable experience, having fun, earning volunteer hours, and making new friends might be eligible to volunteer as camp counselors during our 4-H Adventure Day Camp and our STEM and Go To Nature Camp. For more information, please reach out directly to our local 4-H Staff.
Counselor applications should be turned in by May 25th to 4-H staff and you will be notified if you will be joining us by June 1st. Counselor training will be required and will be held on June 11th. More information will be shared with counselors as camp gets closer.
*Please note that counselors of any age will have to enroll in 4-H Online as either a Youth or Adult Volunteer.*
We look forward to seeing you this summer!
N.C. Cooperative Extension is an equal opportunity provider.
Persons with disabilities and persons with limited English proficiency may request accommodations to participate by contacting Ginger Cunningham, County Extension Director, at 919.542.8202, ginger_cunningham@ncsu.edu, or in person at the County Extension Office at least 30 days prior to the event.
