hometownsource. com / heartland / Stories of the Heartland • Sunday, September 20, 2026 Page 29
Ahoy, Mateys! Nearly 100 youth set sail on the adventure of a lifetime at Camp Benton
BENTON COUNTY 4-H
Laughter echoed through the trees. Pirate flags waved in the breeze. Canoes skimmed across the lake, campfire songs filled the evening air, and nearly 100 Benton County 4-H youth discovered that the greatest treasure wasn’ t hidden on a map— it was the friendships, confidence, and memories they made together.
From July 6-10, Camp Koronis in Paynesville transformed into Hidden Cove: The Great Pirate Quest as Benton County 4-H hosted two unforgettable sessions of Camp Benton. Camp 1 welcomed youth entering grades 3-5 from July 6-8, followed immediately by Camp 2 for youth entering grades 6-8 from
July 8-10.
Before campers ever stepped off the bus, more than 20 teen counselors and adult chaperones spent a full day transforming Camp Koronis into a pirate’ s paradise. Cabin doors became ports along the coastline, colorful decorations filled the grounds, pirate costumes were organized, activity stations prepared, and every detail was planned so campers could jump right into the adventure the moment they arrived.
As the buses rolled into camp, nervous smiles quickly turned into excitement. Camp counselors climbed aboard to greet each camper by name before leading them to their cabin groups, helping them unpack, make their beds, meet new friends, and begin what would become three unforgettable days. The excitement started immediately with colorful team introductions, pirate-themed mixers, and Adventure Initiatives that challenged campers to work together, communicate, and solve problems. By the end of the first afternoon, strangers had become teammates and teammates were already becoming friends.
Swimming in Green Lake quickly became a favorite activity. Whether splashing in the water, relaxing along the shore, or cheering on cabin mates, campers enjoyed cooling off during the warm summer afternoons while counselors and chaperones kept watch through frequent buddy checks and rotating supervision.
Ahoy / See page 45
Photo provided
Laughter was everywhere during Camp Benton 2 as campers took part in the silly“ Granny Pants” icebreaker, one of the many get-to-know-you activities led by the camp counselors. Pictured left to right are campers Mia Messerli, Jacob Udermann, and Merrie Schneider.
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