2023 4-H Summer Camp Scholarship Application
Applications due April 3, 2023

The Virginia Forestry Educational Foundation (VFEF), the Virginia Forestry Association (VFA), the Virginia Forest Products Association (VFPA), and the Virginia Loggers Association (VLA) are announcing the second annual Preston R. Willson Virginia 4-H Camp Scholarships for the summer of 2023. Applications for youth ages 9 – 14 can be submitted to VFEF to attend one of six (6) Virginia 4-H Center’s 4-H Summer Camps which include: Airfield, Holiday Lake, Jamestown, Northern VA, Southwest VA, and W.E. Skelton. A total of 48 (forty-eight) youth will be randomly selected for these scholarships. Each of the six 4-H Centers will host eight (8) scholarship recipients.

Preston, who is currently President/CEO of Holiday Lake 4-H Educational Center (HL4HEC), has spent over 50 years positively impacting youth through his service in Central and Southside Virginia. He attended 4-H Camp and served as a Junior Leader at 4-H Camp Farrar in Virginia Beach, served as President, Vice-President and Treasurer on the HL4HEC Board of Directors. Preston’s vision and hard work has led to many successful projects for the 4-H Center and his commitment to the Virginia 4-H Program has improved the lives of many young people. In 2019 Preston R. Willson was awarded the Virginia 4-H All Stars Hall of Fame Award which is the highest recognition that a Virginia 4-H'er can achieve. In 2021 the Virginia Forestry Association (VFA) recognized him with the VFA Distinguished Service Award for his significant, continuing, and lasting contribution to the conservation of Virginia’s forest resources and the enhancement of Virginia’s forest-based community. Upon retirement in 1995 he joined the staff at the 4-H Center and continues to serve the 4-H community.

4-H has been around for almost 110 years. 4-H camping emphasizes “learning by doing.” 4 H believes in the power of young people. Every child has valuable strengths and real influence to improve the world around us. When it comes to providing a child with a life-changing experience, there’s nothing quite like 4 H summer camp. Camp provides the full benefits of a 4 H experience coupled with the fun and wonder of camping in the great outdoors.

These scholarships are made possible by the Virginia Forestry Educational Foundation, the Virginia Forestry Association, the Forest Products Association, and the Virginia Loggers Association. Founded in 1943, the Virginia Forestry Educational Foundation is a charitable and educational 501(c)3 organization. The mission of the Virginia Forestry Educational Foundation is to financially support state wide youth education promoting sustainable forests for environmental, social, and economic benefit of all Virginians. The Virginia Forestry Association is a not-for-profit, privately supported organization with the mission of representing Virginia's diverse forestry community and promoting the sustainable use and conservation of forest resources to ensure their long-term social benefits for all Virginians. The Virginia Forest Products Association is a non-profit, non-governmental association of individuals, firms, and corporations having an interest in the Commonwealth’s lumber and wood products industry. The Virginia Loggers Association is a private, non-profit 501(c)6 organization dedicated to educational training and promoting a better understanding of the Forest Products Industry to the Commonwealth of Virginia and to promote legislative awareness and representation. To learn more or to apply offline go to www.vfef.net. Applications must be received by April, 3 2023.