Rekindling the 'Spirit of Swannanoa' 4-H Center
Renovations and operations expansion are planned for the 77-year-old camp facilities.
Photo by Art Latham
On Oct. 21, 4-H'ers, 4-H program alumni, North Carolina Cooperative Extension employees and retirees, as well as friends of Swannanoa 4-H Education Center, gathered to celebrate the center at a special event, the "Spirit of Swannanoa."
The celebration of the 77-year history of the center featured the announcement of plans for the camp, which include a $12 million campaign to renovate existing facilities and to expand the center to year-round operation.
"The Spirit of Swannanoa" also marked the first step in a capital campaign with groundbreaking of a new facility to house camp staff as well as the camp infirmary. The previous staff house was destroyed by fire in early 2005. Elected officials from across western North Carolina will help celebrate the "Spirit of Swannanoa" as the 4-H Center moves into the future.
Special guests included Dr. Marshall Stewart, current 4-H state program leader; Dr. Harvey Fouts, west district director for North Carolina Cooperative Extension; 47th District Sen. Keith Presnell; 115th District Rep. Bruce Goforth; 11th District Rep. Charles Taylor; and Dr. Dean Colvard, the oldest living Swannanoa historian and the original superintendent of construction for Swannanoa 4-H Camp. Colvard also served as president of Mississippi State University, inaugural chancellor of UNC-Charlotte and dean of N.C. State University's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
First open to campers in 1929, the 90-acre Swannanoa 4-H Center is the oldest camp in the North Carolina 4-H camping system. Thousands of young people in western North Carolina have attended summer camp at Swannanoa, where they learned about nature, mountain heritage, leadership and citizenship.
- Natalie Hampton
The celebration of the 77-year history of the center featured the announcement of plans for the camp, which include a $12 million campaign to renovate existing facilities and to expand the center to year-round operation.
"The Spirit of Swannanoa" also marked the first step in a capital campaign with groundbreaking of a new facility to house camp staff as well as the camp infirmary. The previous staff house was destroyed by fire in early 2005. Elected officials from across western North Carolina will help celebrate the "Spirit of Swannanoa" as the 4-H Center moves into the future.
Special guests included Dr. Marshall Stewart, current 4-H state program leader; Dr. Harvey Fouts, west district director for North Carolina Cooperative Extension; 47th District Sen. Keith Presnell; 115th District Rep. Bruce Goforth; 11th District Rep. Charles Taylor; and Dr. Dean Colvard, the oldest living Swannanoa historian and the original superintendent of construction for Swannanoa 4-H Camp. Colvard also served as president of Mississippi State University, inaugural chancellor of UNC-Charlotte and dean of N.C. State University's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
First open to campers in 1929, the 90-acre Swannanoa 4-H Center is the oldest camp in the North Carolina 4-H camping system. Thousands of young people in western North Carolina have attended summer camp at Swannanoa, where they learned about nature, mountain heritage, leadership and citizenship.
- Natalie Hampton