“Up, Up and Away” was the theme of the 2023 Dawson County 4-H Camp at Comeca south of Cozad. Twenty-three campers, four counselors, and three staff gathered from June 6-8 for fun, fellowship, and education in a camp setting.

2023 Dawson County 4-H campers were kept busy with traditional 4-H camp activities such as canoeing, swimming, creating leather craft projects, sports tournaments, archery, rock wall climbing, and a campfire and s’mores. Campers also built bottle rockets, paper airplanes, and gliders to go with the 2023 theme of “Up, Up and Away.” Many laughs and memories were created in just a short amount of time at the Dawson County 4-H Camp.

Best camper medals, selected by the 4-H members themselves, went to Grant Walahoski of Overton and Bristol Kubert of Johnson Lake. Best leather craft medals, selected by the 4-H counselors, were given to Dylanger Schledewitz of Oconto and Mollie Spradlin of Cozad. Prizes also were awarded to the campers that had the cleanest cabin, the team that won the sports tournament, and to the team that won the Lip Sync Contest.

The cleanest cabin award went to the “Astronauts,” consisting of Anna Dillon, Michelle McArdle, and Mollie Spradlin of Cozad; Lysa Duryea of Lexington; Kamery Schledewitz of Oconto; and Brynlee Reil, Mickailee Reil, Megan Walahoski, and Paige Walahoski of Overton.

The sports tournament was very competitive with some new games included with the traditional 4-H camp games such as volleyball, softball, steal sticks, and the water relay. Team 2 was the overall winner. Team members included: Mollie Spradlin and Cadey Wolf of Cozad; Reid Wahlgren of Gothenburg; Kylee Kubert of Johnson Lake; Gabby Caraway and Bodee Klemm of Lexington; Dylanger Schledewitz and Kamery Schledewitz of Oconto; Megan Walahoski of Overton; and Arya Marburger of Talmage. The Lip Sync contest was won by the “Scientists.” They choreographed a performance of the song “Money, Money, Money.” Members included Kristina Burns, Rebecca Burns, and Cadey Wolf of Cozad; Marjorie Koopman and Kylee Kubert of Johnson Lake; Gabby Caraway and Maggie Duryea of Lexington; and Arya Marburger of Talmage.

4-H Counselors were Rilyn Schledewitz of Oconto, Krystal Venegas-Villezcas of Lexington, Samuel Venegas-Villezcas of Lexington, and Ryan Fitzgerald of Lexington. Mike Wolff, Dawson County 4-H Extension Assistant; Sarah Treffer, Dawson County 4-H Extension Intern; and Chris Wolff, 4-H Club Leader; completed the camp staff.