Summer Camps in North Carolina: Millstone 4H Camp, Ellerbe (Moore County)

One of the best experiences I've ever had growing up was attending Millstone 4H Camp in North Carolina. I learned more about myself the first summer there than I ever head my entire life up to that point. And that was when I was 19.

Millstone 4H Camp offers one of the best summer camps in North Carolina. Only a short drive from Rockingham (home of the Rocky Motor Speedway for you non-race fans), Millstone offers a wide variety of activities for children from 5 years old to 18 years old. Its rustic setting in the middle of 365,000 acres of federal woodland keeps the camp atmosphere during your entire stay. Even as you exit the camp, you're sure to agree with one of the founder's sayings posted along the road: "You will leave this place a different person. I hope you leave this place a better person." How could you not if you can canoe, swim, shoot arrows, ride horses, or practically fly on the high ropes course?

One of the main elements of design in this camp is the lake and cabin placement. Boys and girls cabins are separated by about 200 yards and rest about 40 feet from the edge of a beautiful, dark-soiled lake. When the rain pours down, the lake turns almost a pure silver color, giving a spectacular view from the cabins.

One the other side of the lake (which you can cross on either a pontoon bridge or swinging bridge) is the archery and shooting range, two of the many activities offered at Millstone 4H camp. If your child has an interest in shooting sports and is between 10 and 16 years old, he or she can sign up for the Shooting Sports Mini Camp that lasts an entire week. Your child will receive personalized instruction on shooting techniques, firearm safety training, and even hunting ethics as well as orienteering.

The camp also sports a huge area for riding horses. If you have an avid horse rider, attending Horsemanship Camp may be perfect for him or her! The best North Carolina 4H horse specialists will be at Millstone between June 17^th and June 23^rd to offer your young rider lessons in animal husbandry, special riding skills and overall knowledge of what it takes to own and love a horse.

If you have a younger child (between 5 and 8), maybe you can introduce them to the camping world by attending Clover bud camp with them. Designed to just have plain ole fun, Clover bud camp features craft making, camp songs, field day, and canoeing for that young child who wants to spend time in the woods. The camp is shorter than a regular camp week, so the whole day will be filled with fun activities.

There are several other specialty camps that Millstone 4H camp hosts to include Fur, Fish and Game and Project camp. If you are a leader of a special group you can sometimes book the campgrounds during the off-season. This is a great option, especially if you want to take your group on a hike around the grounds to see some strange nature mixes like bamboo growing next to pine trees, or even look for old Millstones that early Scottish settlers left behind. Or maybe you just want to get on the high ropes course and fly!

All in all, Millstone is the most well-rounded 4H camp in North Carolina that offers experiences and scenery you can't erase. Log onto their website to get more information for registration and fees. Like I said, it's one of the best experiences I've had in my life. I never went to camp as a child, but I was a counselor my first summer after college. I came back every summer for 4 years straight, and every time, I left a better person.