Outdoor Recreation Project

What is it All About?

This 4-H project is for those who like hiking and camping! Progress from day hikes to overnight camping trips, and then to extended backpacking expeditions as you hike through the three activity guides and the helper’s guide. Experiences relate to food, shelter, Leave No Trace ethics, safety, navigation, equipment and camp management.

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Grow in Your Project

Beginner

Plan and pack for a day hike
Learn to select appropriate outdoor clothing and shoes for hiking
Understand how to use layering to regulate temperature
Prepare a basic first aid kit
Understand how to care for blisters and hot spots
Practice Leave No Trace principles

Intermediate

Plan an overnight camping trip
Select equipment needed for overnight camping
Determine backpacking gear needed for a team
Demonstrate safe use of camping tools
Learn to tie knots
Select appropriate camping sites and shelters
Plan a camping menu and the supplies needed to cook it

Advanced

Plan a backpacking trip
Select the correct backpack and gear for an overnight trip
Be able to select a non-tent shelter when backpacking
Share responsibilities for campsite tasks
Learn about different environments

Resources

Take Your Project Further!

Attend 4-H camp or 4-H adventure camp
Plan and conduct an outdoor adventure skill-a-thon for your club or the general public
Learn about camouflage and why it is used
Take a first aid or CPR class
Take a Wilderness or First Responder class or course
Have a medical professional come and speak to your project or club
Visit a camping store to explore your equipment options
Sleep under the stars and compare it to sleeping with a shelter
Go on a hike in your community
Visit a wildlife refuge or bird sanctuary
Start a nature sketchbook

Applying Project Skills to Life

Enhance Your Communication Skills

Give a demonstration on how to use a compass
Lead a tent pitching working demonstration
Show you friends or family members how to pack light for a trip

Get Involved in Citizenship and Service

Host an outdoor cooking contest for your community, offer free food for anyone that attends
Create a flyer about working with allergies when planning food for a larger group
Create and design camping equipment for people with different abilities
Organize a clean-up of a park or hiking trail

Learn about Leadership

Organize an outdoor adventure club in your community, see if you can recruit members to join 4-H
Lead a game at your club meeting about Leave No Trace Behind principles

Showing What You’ve Learned

Do a poster on water filtration
Prepare GORP
Display on Leave No Trace principles
Design an outdoor shelter (real or mini version)
Make a display of knots
Make a map of your local area
Make an outdoor cooking recipe
Create a recipe book of outdoor cooking recipes
Poster on how to use a compass
Journal of your camping or hiking adventures
A book of camping songs
A display on selecting a camping site
Poster on how to seal a tent
A tent repair kit
A display about weather safety

Adapted with permission from Wyoming State 4-H, Project Information Sheet, Outdoor Recreation. Retrieved from: https://www.uwyo.edu/4-h/projects/natural-resource-education/outdoor-education.html.

*Resources available at your local Extension office or shop4-H.org.

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