In January 2008, former Senator Randy Ewing committed to chairing a capital campaign to make Grant Walker the best 4-H Camp in the South. With the help of a conceptual master plan, Board of Trustee members of the Louisiana 4-H Foundation and administration from the Louisiana 4-H Youth Development program, the present development plan has been established to address specific improvements within an attainable budget.
The 4-H Camp Capital Campaign intends to raise $15 million by 2022 for the following projects:
Construction of a Multi-purpose Building
4-H Camp is in dire need of one building that can house all 600 campers at one time. There are many occasions when inclement weather scatters campers and staff members across the campground. The construction of this building will allow for 4-H Camp to gather all participants in a safe, educational setting.
Construction of an Environmental Education Building
The Environmental Education Building will include enhanced wet labs to allow students to bring live and organic specimens into a state-of-the-art learning atmosphere. Students will be taught the cumulative impact on the ecosystem of past, present and future utilization by man, current and potential environmental issues, agricultural production and sustainability, economics, management of the resources and the natural process of biological communities on these natural resources. The facility will accommodate approximately 150 campers and be the centerpiece for statewide 4-H environmental and wetlands educational programs. Lodging for 50 people will also be included to allow educational programs to take place year round while keeping participants centrally located to the outside environment and the program they are attending.
3-acre Pond
Excavation work will enlarge the current body of water and provide an environment for canoeing, kayaking, boating safety and learn-to-fish programs. This pond will also be the "outdoor" classroom for students in the adjacent Environmental Education Building.
4-H Shooting Sports Range
This facility will be on the new piece of property on the northeast side of the campground. It will be able to house trap/skeet shooting, rifle and black powder programs. This will allow 4-H Camp to provide comprehensive hunters' education classes. Additionally, the Louisiana 4-H Shooting Sports program will be able to host regional and state shoots for the fastest-growing program in 4-H today.
Endowed Scholarship Fund for Low-income, At-risk Youth
The Louisiana 4-H program is committed to providing a quality camping program to any youth in Louisiana no matter what their social or economic background may be. Over the past few years, private donations in the amount of $55,000 per year have been spent on scholarships for Louisiana youth who under normal circumstances could not afford to attend 4-H Camp. The establishment of this endowment will ensure that scholarship funds are available for future generations of youth to attend 4-H Camp and create memories for a lifetime.
4-H Body Walk Portable Classroom
This program addresses the ever-present youth obesity problem affecting Louisiana. The Body Walk is a portable classroom designed to involve students in learning the skills and choices for a healthy lifestyle. Children learn about the importance of good nutrition choices and being physically active through interactive activities. When 4-H Camp is not taking place, the Body Walk will be used throughout the state at hundreds of school locations
Future Needs
The final portion of this plan looks at future capital improvements that will ultimately be needed with the increase in programming facilities. In addition, a capital reserve fund is to be created for future unknowns and inevitable major expenses associated with the maintenance and upkeep of the 80-acre Grant Walker facility.