CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A young girl who found herself being bullied at school found the self-confidence to stand up to her abusers after attending a Kanawha County 4-H camp.

Last year, classmates were bullying the young girl at her school. Her parents decided to pull her out of public school and enroll her in private school to get her away from her attackers.

After a year of stress, the young girl decided that she wasn't going to let a few mean classmates make her leave her friends and school. Her mother said the only change her daughter went through was attending the Kanawha County 4-H camp at Camp Virgil Tate in Sissonville -- one of the many camps supported by donations through the Gazette Charities Send-A-Child-To-Camp Fund.

The camp helped the young girl find new self-confidence while becoming more active in sports and doing more tasks independently.

4-H camps focus on developing independence in campers and the willingness to try new things, such as fishing, hiking, making their own bed or presenting during the campfire program.

During the camp, campers are allowed to be in one of four groups, called tribes, which become a second home. The tribes are a welcoming group that gives each camper a sense of belonging.

4-H campers are given the opportunities to express success and learn by doing. 4-H is a voluntary organization for youth who receive training in citizenship, leadership life skills and positive youth development.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A young girl who found herself being bullied at school found the self-confidence to stand up to her abusers after attending a Kanawha County 4-H camp.

Last year, classmates were bullying the young girl at her school. Her parents decided to pull her out of public school and enroll her in private school to get her away from her attackers.

After a year of stress, the young girl decided that she wasn't going to let a few mean classmates make her leave her friends and school. Her mother said the only change her daughter went through was attending the Kanawha County 4-H camp at Camp Virgil Tate in Sissonville -- one of the many camps supported by donations through the Gazette Charities Send-A-Child-To-Camp Fund.

The camp helped the young girl find new self-confidence while becoming more active in sports and doing more tasks independently.

4-H camps focus on developing independence in campers and the willingness to try new things, such as fishing, hiking, making their own bed or presenting during the campfire program.

During the camp, campers are allowed to be in one of four groups, called tribes, which become a second home. The tribes are a welcoming group that gives each camper a sense of belonging.

4-H campers are given the opportunities to express success and learn by doing. 4-H is a voluntary organization for youth who receive training in citizenship, leadership life skills and positive youth development.

Campers choose from classes such as archery, outdoor cooking, art, stress management, decision-making, healthy living, science myths, robotics, cross-stitch and dance.

Campers ages 13 to 21 are eligible to attend the weeklong Kanawha County Older 4-H Camp June 4-8. Campers ages 9 to 12 are eligible to attend the weeklong Kanawha County Younger 4-H Camp June 11-15.

The program is looking for 12 partial scholarships of $100 each.

For information, visit Kanawha.ext.wvu.edu/ or call Sherry Swint at (304)-720-9889.

To help a child attend this camp or others like it, mail your donation to the Gazette Charities Send-A-Child-To-Camp Fund, 1001 Virginia St. E., Charleston, WV 25301. To donate online, go to wvgazette.com and look for the camp fund logo.

Every penny donated goes to camp scholarships. The Charleston Gazette covers all administrative costs.

Reach Kathryn Gregory at kathr...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-5119.