About the Iowa 4-H Center

Our Mission

The Iowa 4–H Center promotes life skill development by providing outdoor learning experiences for people of all ages that strengthen their sense of belonging, independence, generosity, and mastery.

What We Believe

Iowa 4–H is a youth development program with a century of experience fostering positive life skills in Iowa youth. At the Iowa 4–H Center every camper has the opportunity to participate in experiences that strengthen their sense of belonging, independence, generosity, and mastery. Iowa 4–H follows the principals of experiential learning, and draws on the knowledge base of Iowa State University and other institutions of higher education in cooperation with the United States Department of Agriculture.

Our History

The Iowa 4–H Center was founded in 1949 by the Iowa 4–H Foundation through the vision of a number of civic-minded individuals. By 1952 the first campers stayed overnight in Elm Village.

The Center consists of over 1100 acres of woodlands, meadows, wetlands and fields in the heart of the scenic Des Moines River Valley . The area is home to deer, wild turkey, raccoons, migratory waterfowl, and birds, making it a haven to many wild species. Richardson 's creek borders the 4–H Center property to the east and flows into the Des Moines River bordering the property on the west and south. The 4–H Center also includes several miles of hiking trails and a small pond.

Outdoor Education is an important component of the 4–H program. Faculty and staff of Iowa State University and the 4–H Youth Department develop and lead programs for youth year-round at the Iowa 4–H Center. Many students at Iowa State University also use the Center as a working classroom.

The 4–H Center property is owned by the Iowa 4–H Foundation and leased to the 4–H youth program of Iowa State University Extension. The facilities are available year-round for use by individual, family, group, or organization with a primary mission of providing opportunities for Iowa 's youth. The 4–H Center has 360 beds among five villages and is available for anyone to rent anytime. Size of rentals can range from a single eight bed cabin to the whole camp; just let us know what your needs are. 4–H membership is not required to use our facilities or to attend our camps. Staff employed by Iowa State University lead summer camps and seasonal programs in team challenge, outdoor camping, environmental education, shooting sports, recreation, and field schools.

Interested in the 4-H Center and what we have to offer?

Check out this video of our facitily.