WVU Extension Agent Fincham updates Rotary
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ELKINS -- WVU Extension Agent Hannah Fincham updated the Rotary Club of Elkins regarding current projects at 4-H Camp Pioneer.
The WVU Extension Service works to improve the lives and livelihoods of all West Virginians. It works to provide programs that help people, businesses, and communities. One such collaboration is the operation of 4-H Camp Pioneer near Beverly.
4-H Camp Pioneer exists to provide a quality, multi-use recreational facility for the use of everyone in Randolph County but particularly the Randolph County 4-H program. "We have tons of things simultaneously going on at 4-H camp all the time. We have some projects that I want to highlight," said Fincham.
In the lower campus area, the location of the barns and the Dakan arena, a restroom facility is in the process of being completed. The arena attracts a large number of organizations and associations outside the county and state. There is a restroom facility inside the agriculture building but a separate restroom and shower facility are needed. There will be large men's, women's, and family restrooms. Currently, the family bathrooms are operational. To complete this project, funding is needed for the final plumbing of the restrooms and the shower rooms.
The upper campus consists of dorms, dining hall, an old schoolhouse and council circle. The boy's dorm is one focus of attention in this area. "The ultimate goal for this dorm is to double its size. It only holds 42 individuals while the girls' dorm holds 120. We would really love to double its size but that's in the future. Right now, we are completely renovating the inside. The restroom area has been done recently. The sleeping quarters are currently being renovated," said Fincham. "We have all new electrical outlets between all sets of beds, there's new insulation, a new fire alarm system as well as new heat and air conditioning and fire doors." Painting the walls, completion of the flooring and window and door casings are the only items necessary for the dorm to be ready for 4-H camp in June.
The other project on the upper campus is the renovation of the Mt. Vernon schoolhouse. The building was originally located across the road from the Mt. Vernon cemetery which borders Camp Pioneer.
"It was moved to its current location in Camp Pioneer [in the 1960's] and it's been used as a dorm. Sometime probably in the '70's or 80's, walls were built to make one big rectangle and storage," added Fincham. "A group of teen leaders have adopted this schoolhouse. We pressure washed the outside and did all we could to the outside. The eaves and soffit are really bad, and they need scraped and painted." A grant from the Snowshoe Foundation has been received to fund a professional painter to work on those areas.
The inside of the schoolhouse still needs work. To complete this project, baseboards need to be installed, the floor needs attention, furniture is needed and organized storage for items such as bikes and canoes needs to be constructed.
"We want to make this area a classroom, a meeting space, usable space instead of just storage. I love old buildings and I really want to highlight it and keep it going," concluded Fincham.
There are several ways the community can help with these and other Extension projects: 1) volunteer; 2) help build partnerships between the Extension Service and community individuals or businesses; 3) sponsor a program or a building improvement project; or 4) make sure the County Commissioners know how important Camp Pioneer is to the community.
4-H Camp registration is currently happening, also. Youth ages 5-21 have options for day or overnight camps. For more information about the WVU Randolph County Extension Service, summer 4-H camps, to make a donation or to volunteer, visit the organization's website, www.extension.wvu.edu or call 304-636-2455.
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Visit www.Rotary.org to learn more about Rotary International, visit the club's Facebook page -- Rotary Club of Elkins -- or contact club president Kristie Vandevander at k_ware@yahoo.com for more information about the Rotary Club of Elkins.