July 8th, 2026

Marie's Message

This year's 4-H camp experience was defined by fun, friendship, adventure, and discovery. Using the Bud, Rose, and Thorn reflection framework, campers shared what they looked forward to, what they enjoyed most, and the challenges they experienced throughout the week.

Campers Loved Being Active and Outdoors

Water-based activities were the clear favorite. Campers consistently highlighted swimming, river adventures, canoeing, and waterfront time as the best parts of camp. With hot summer temperatures, water activities provided both excitement and a welcome way to cool off.

Other highly rated experiences included:

Friendships Were at the Heart of the Experience

Many campers named making new friends, getting to know cabin mates, and spending time together around the beach and campfire as some of their most memorable moments. Reflections showed that the camp environment fostered belonging, teamwork, and strong social connections.

Learning Happened Through Hands-On Exploration

Campers didn't just have fun—they learned along the way. Youth reflected on:

These hands-on experiences helped campers connect science, nature, and outdoor recreation in meaningful ways.

Campers Shared Opportunities for Growth

While overall feedback was overwhelmingly positive, campers noted challenges that can help improve future programs. The most common concerns were:

Campers also expressed enthusiasm for more swimming time, additional waterfront opportunities, evening camp traditions, free-choice activities, and opportunities to make personal choices such as selecting groups or bunks.

A Week Filled with Growth and Memories

The reflections paint a clear picture: camp successfully combined outdoor adventure, positive relationships, hands-on learning, and personal growth. Whether conquering Peanut Butter Mountain, cooling off at the waterfront, learning about wildlife, or forming new friendships, campers left with experiences that will remain long after camp ended.

Camp wasn't just a place to spend a week—it was a place where youth built confidence, developed friendships, explored new interests, and created memories that will last a lifetime.

Marie Witzel
Positive Youth Development Educator
marie.witzel@wisc.edu
920-386-3790

If clubs or groups have items to share, send them by noon on Monday to be included in that week’s issue. Anything received after 12 p.m. Monday will be considered for the following week. 

Please send any 4-H or youth development related emails to marie.witzel@wisc.edu

A huge Hats Off and Thank You to our incredible camp counselors for making last week's camp such a memorable and meaningful experience for our campers!

Your energy, enthusiasm, patience, and leadership created an environment where youth felt welcomed, supported, challenged, and encouraged to be themselves. From leading activities and building friendships to handling the unexpected with grace and a smile, you were the heart of camp. Because of your dedication, campers returned home with new skills, stronger connections, greater confidence, and memories that will last a lifetime.

Thank you for the early mornings, late nights, countless acts of kindness, and the positive role modeling you provided every day. Your commitment to creating a fun, safe, and inclusive camp experience did not go unnoticed. The impact you made on our campers—and on each other—will be felt long after camp has ended.

We are grateful for each of you and the passion you bring to helping young people learn, grow, and discover their sparks.

Hats off to a truly outstanding counselor team! Thank you for all you do! 👏🍀

🎩 Hats Off to Our Incredible Adult Staff! 🎩

A heartfelt thank you and hats off to the amazing adult staff who helped make camp such a tremendous success!

Camp would not be possible without your dedication, flexibility, and willingness to step in wherever needed. From planning and preparation to supporting counselors, caring for campers, managing logistics, and solving countless behind-the-scenes challenges, your hard work created the foundation for a safe, fun, and meaningful camp experience.

Thank you for your patience, encouragement, leadership, and commitment to helping young people learn, grow, and thrive. Your calm presence, positive attitude, and tireless efforts ensured that campers could focus on making friends, trying new things, and creating lifelong memories.

The impact of your work often happens behind the scenes, but it is deeply appreciated and never overlooked. Thank you for sharing your time, talents, and heart with our campers and counselor team.

Hats off to an outstanding adult staff team—thank you for helping create an unforgettable week of camp magic! 🏕️💚👏✨

sorry we don't have a photo of the group, they were all busy taking photos!

Dear Youth of Dodge County,

You are needed!

My name is Joshua Roberts (Lakeside 4-H), I’m one of the youth representatives on the Dodge County 4-H Leaders Association Executive Board.

I’m currently serving my second, and last, term on the board. For the last two (2) years I have been serving as the Reporter on the executive board.

The executive board holds meetings on the 3rd Tuesday of every other month at 7:00pm at the Administration building in Juneau.

Being on the Dodge County 4-H Leaders Association Executive Board is a chance for the youth of our county to experience what making choices and attending a higher-level meeting means. It’s where your opinions get heard and you have a chance of being part of changes and improvements that will benefit the 4-H youth in our county.

The 4-H leaders work for the youth, but we need to be a part of it as well – the youth must voice their opinions and let the leaders know! Make the commitment and be the voice for the youth on the board!

What are some of the other reasons why you should join the board? It’s a chance to gain great leadership and communication skills. It will give you an insight into management/board processes. This will also be a good experience/skill to have on your resume when you fill out college or job applications.

We are actively seeking youth to join the board at the start of the next term (October 2026).

If this is something you are interested in, please attend the General Leaders Meeting in September (look for info in the Focus).

If you have any questions or would like to hear more, an adult board member and I would be more than happy to come to your club to talk about it. Please reach out to the Extension Office and they will let us know.

On behalf of the Dodge County 4-H Leaders Association,

Josh Roberts

Reporter

Applications are open for the highest state-level recognition a 4-H member can receive.

4-H'ers who have won the County Key Award in 2024, 2025 or 2026 may apply to be selected as one of the Top 10 Key Award winners. 

Help with Recycling at Fair!
The Recycling Program needs youth volunteers to help get ready for the Fair. We will be getting ready for Fair Recycling on Sunday, August 2, 9, & 16th from 1-3pm at the fairgrounds. Please contact Melissa Lake for more details or to sign up.  920-382-9605 or JuneauVictorians4H@gmail.com

Our Dodge County Pig Pals Swine Spectacular Show is looking for 4-H and FFA Swine Project members that are involved with the Swine Project this year. Our show is scheduled for Sunday, August 23th beginning with all workers and partners arriving at 9:30 am in the Swine arena. This great activity offers people with disabilities a chance to shine in the show ring with your help. This is also a great way to grow your leadership by partnering or working in a variety of roles.
 
We will once again be expecting approximately 23 Pig Pal participants so that means we’ll need: *23 swine exhibitor mentors to be partners along with 23 well trained pigs (5th gr. & up)
* barn safety people, lots of them to make it a safe show (youth and adults)
* ring safety workers (youth and adults)
* water safety youth (1st/2nd year swine members) 

Parents and adults associated with swine project members can also volunteer. ALL volunteers will receive a Dodge County Pig Pals T-shirt too. This is a really fun and rewarding opportunity for all involved. T-shirt order due by July 15th.

Please contact Mary Pat Boschert at 920-382-7943, call or text or email at
billboschert@gmail.com to volunteer names and t-shirt sizes, and answer any questions. 
Thanks everyone!

There will be up to 3 scholarships for no less than $1,000 each. Applications are due by July 25th of the current year.

Please sign up to help at the Cream Puffs & Carmel Apple Slices stand, the WWA Ice Cream Booth, Fish Pond, and 4-H Promotion Booth! 

While many 4-H youth participate in the Dodge County Fair, UW-Madison Extension and the Dodge County Fair are separate organizations with different responsibilities.

In the past, the Extension Office has accepted Fair paperwork and items as a courtesy for delivery to the Junior Fair Office. Effective immediately, this courtesy will no longer be available.

If you have items to drop off, please leave them with Margot at the Junior Fair Office or in the basket at the County Administrator's Office.

Questions regarding Fair enrollment, policies, or paperwork should be directed to the Dodge County Jr. Fair Office at 920-386-3834 or dodgecountyjrfair@gmail.com. 

Dodge dairy-judging teams advance to state

Dodge County youth competed at one of the Wisconsin 4-H Area Animal Science Days held in June, traveling to Clark County on June 30, 2026. Despite the extreme heat, both the junior and senior dairy-judging teams delivered solid performances, earning invitations to the Wisconsin 4-H State Dairy Judging Contest on Sunday, Aug. 23, 2026.

Congratulations to all of our youth. In addition, thank you to coaches Matthew Gunst and Haley Beukema for the countless hours they invest in developing these young judges. Your knowledge, encouragement, and dedication make a lasting impact, and we are grateful to have you as part of the Dodge County dairy-youth program. Results ...

Looking for Dodge dairy historical photos

The Wisconsin State Fair is celebrating 175 years this year, along with America's 250th. The junior-dairy state-fair kids are focusing their state-fair display on the history of Dodge County dairy: parents, grandparents, etc. Photos are needed of animals and/or people to incorporate into the display. Pictures can be e-mailed to brendagudex@gmail.com by July 3, 2026. Please help the kids by passing this message along to family members who showed dairy with Dodge County throughout the years.

Mandatory dairy-exhibitor meeting

In an effort to be more efficient, all dairy-activity cards must be printed and have signatures prior to arrival for the annual mandatory dairy-exhibitor meeting on July 27, 2026, 7 p.m., at the Dodge County Fairgrounds. The exception to this effort is the line for "attendance at the mandatory exhibitor meeting."

General questions? Contact DYAC via e-mail: dodgecountydyac@gmail.com.

LtoR Dairy Junior 2026 Hattie Smith (first alternate) Leah Smith, Mylie Wendorf, Danica Schraufnagel, and Finn Spoke

LtoR Dairy Senior 2026 Sevanna Fairbank(first alternate), Allison Zwald, Marissa Spoke, Vivian Lichty, and Mary Zwald

JULY

9 - Wild Wacky Weekdays 9 AM

15 - Optical Illusions @ the Brownsville Public Library 4 PM

16 - Wild Wacky Weekdays 9 AM

20 - Wild Wacky Weekdays 9 AM

30 - Wild Wacky Weekdays 9 AM

21 - 4-H Leader's Executive Board Meeting, 7 PM

AUGUST

18 - 4-H Leaders Association Meeting

PYD Media Collection Project Resources Follow the link to learn more about the collection and request materials.

4HOnline  Log in to your account at the Wisconsin 4-H Online Sign in page

Visit the Wisconsin 4-H Website

WI 4-H Policy Updates

The University of Wisconsin–Madison Division of Extension provides equal opportunities in employment and programming in compliance with state and federal law.

University of Wisconsin-Madison, Division of Extension
Dodge County 4-H
Extension Dodge County  127 E. Oak Street  Juneau, WI 53039-1329
tel: 920.386.3790    fax: 920.386.3928